FRANCE

- How did you get cast as the singing voice of ANastasia?

A friend of mine, Emmanuel Dahl, who has done a great deal of dubbings (French singing voice of Hercules, Kovu, Flynn Rider...), spoke of me to Georges Costa who worked at Dubbing Brothers (French dubbing studio). The latter called me to audition.
It was the song "Once Upon A December" (Loin du Froid de Décembre in French), on the final part of the song because the note is long and the vocal gap isn't easy.

The song done, we wait a few weeks for an answer coming from The United States... the only decision-makers in the end :)
I didn't audition for the speaking parts, the cast was already done. I remember being very moved to be the French voice of an animated feature, because it was the first time *__*

- How did the preparation of the songs and the recordings go?

Of course we have the score in advance and more or less the lyrics because the latter sometimes change with the image. Thus, I could enjoy the voice of the original singer (Liz Callaway) !! During the recording, I was also rehearsing for a show which was going to be played in Bobino (famous Musical Hall in Paris), and I had only three hours available in the morning during two days. It was short, it was early... but it was fabulous !!!

Liz Callaway

Richard Darbois

©Puy du Fou

I didn't meet the other performers. But one day, I went searching for some papers at Dubbing Brothers, and Georges Costa told me to follow him in the studios... I did, and up there I saw at work an extraordinary man !! A cigarette in the hand and a drink in the other, he was singing, talking, and there I was thinking "I know this voice !!" The man was following up jumps of voice with ease that I had my mind blown !! It was Richard Darbois! Who, among others, was the voice of Rasputin !! Awesome !!! (Richard Darbois is also the French voice of the Genie in Aladdin, Shan-Yu, Buzz Lightyear...)

- What was your feeling at the end of the dubbing?

I admit I was very proud of my work on this character. Lots of young girls I meet during shows in which I play say they are now singing because one day when they were little (ouch!! :p) they saw and listened to Anastasia.
I've worked a long time thanks to my dubbing on this animated film! I've lent my voice to Mirou and Melissa in the shows about Noddy (Les Aventures de Oui-Oui in French) of NDP productions.

- What is your favourite song of the movie?

My favourite remains Loin du Froid de Décembre (Once Upon A December). But I tell you that with almost 20 years of difference with the recording, because at that time we only listen and hear the work we do.

- What other animated characters would you have liked to dub?

I'd have loved to do Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête in French) but I was too young ! And I love Tangled !!!

... Thank you very much for the attention you give to the Anastasia adventure !
... Merci beaucoup pour l'attention que vous apportez à l'aventure Anastasia !

Interview by Jean-Cyprien Chenberg
July 22, 2016