I don’t know how many Kow fans know me well, but I used to be a really shy boy. In junior high, I took Drama as an option because, despite my shyness, I liked being on stage pretending to be someone I wasn’t, or do something I wouldn’t normally do. This has led to a lifelong love of performing and receiving applause from a satisfied audience. I’ve done everything from Shakespeare to one-acts written by friends, comedies to dramas, improv, sketch comedy, emceeing, and even amateur film. And, of course, there’s my singing “career” which includes classical choirs, a jazz choir, an a cappella choir, and Apocalypse Kow.
This past year, I was given the opportunity to do some new things. I have a very small role in an upcoming episode of local television comedy Tiny Plastic Men (viewable only on Super Channel, unforunately). And I was hired to voice an animated character. I’ve always been fascinated by cartoons and voicing, and over the years, I’ve just gotten more and more intrigued by character voicing and voice-over. A decade ago, I was so intrigued that I took a couple of voice workshops, which I loved. I never did anything with it because I had a really good day job at the time, but since leaving that job in 2012, I’ve been tentatively dipping my toe back into those waters.
A former co-worker founded his own software company and was developing educational apps. A new app series he was developing needed a character, and a mutual friend (another former co-worker) was aware of my aspirations so connected the two of us. And now I can finally talk about it because the project has been officially announced!
Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaKBbsOEiC0&feature=youtu.be
Yup, that’s me as the voice of Spellyfish in Pyxwise Software’s “Spellyfish – Short ‘A’ Words”, an educational iOS app for young children. If you have kindergarten-aged children, or know someone who does, I’d love it if you would pass along this link. Or better yet, pick up the app for your kids. If it’s successful enough, then this little ninja may get hired on to do more Spellyfish in the series!