If you grew up during Mega Man's PlayStation era, you've no doubt had Ruth Marie Jarman's voice forever etched into your brain. She's the actor behind Mega Man 8's Mega Man (and Clown Man) and X in Mega Man X4! And if you ever wanted to know more about what went on during those famous recording sessions, Ruth sat down with Ramblin' Reploids to spill the beans!
Throughout the above hour-long interview, Ruth shares a tremendous amount of interesting information and behind-the-scenes facts we've never heard before! So, really, check this out when you can. She's so nice! And if you're in a pinch, though, I've included some interesting bits after the break!
- Ruth believes that the "-Man" in "Rockman" or "Mega Man" was not meant to outright place an emphasis on masculinity. As Ruth explains, in Japan, when people talk about an important "key person" in a conversation, they will say "key-man". For example, if you're a salesman in Japan, you're called "eigyo-man". Ruth firmly believes that when "they thought of the name Mega Man (Rockman) in Japan, they were not going to target it at boys. 'Mega Man' is kind of like 'Mega Person' that we can ALL relate to."
- "Yell as if you're falling... and keep yelling until you stop!" Can you guess what scene Ruth's talking about? Yup; THAT one. Ruth said she screamed multiple times for multiple takes. They were saying to her, "don't make it sound like he's suffering and in pain - make it sound like he's trying to fight back, not trying to give in." She recorded six or seven different versions of that scene! She attributes her scream to "the lungs of a cheerleader."
- Mega Man 8 and X4 were recorded in the same session and Ruth didn't know her session was for two separate games. For X, Ruth believes that they altered her voice somewhat to sound a little older the Mega Man.
- Ruth addresses the famous Dr. Light flub! Revo asked Ruth if the voice actor for Dr. Light meant to say "Rockman" instead of "Mega Man", hence the flub. Ruth says, "I remember very clearly that we were told it's Rockman. I remember later on realizing that Rockman was called Mega Man in the U.S." Ruth then recalls that she may have done versions of the script where she (and other actors) say "Rockman" and "Mega Man". So that little flub, where it sounds like Dr. Light's voice actor is correcting himself, could very well be because of that!
- When recording Mega Man 8, Ruth distinctly remembers that the script did not spell Bass' name phonetically; she didn't know nor was she directed to pronounce it as "base". Nobody corrected her during the session and, until this very interview, she had NO IDEA it was supposed to be "Bass"! So yeah; watch this interview if you want to hear Ruth correctly say Bass' name!
- What does X say when he uses "Twin Shot" in X4? Ruth says it's definitely "feel it!" After all these years, mystery solved! Ruth said she remembers being very careful doing certain lines, trying to not make some sound too "sensual". Again, she wasn't provided much, if any context during her session so she wanted to be super careful with phrases like "feel it!"
Thank you for featuring this! Ruth was a pleasure to work with and extremely wholesome. One thing that I'd point out above that was missed was that they had basically no direction on the lines. If we can ever have her on again, it'll be a pleasure. I'm glad we got to lay some old rumors and questions to rest. Thanks again, Protodude!
ReplyDeleteOoooh, then it's technically on the voice director for not specifying she had to voice for 2 different characters?
ReplyDeleteWell then, mystery solved!
Yeah, that'd do it.
DeleteWait, "Bass & Treble"? Like a fish? I feel like it should be "Base", am I crazy?
ReplyDeleteNo, you're right.
DeleteIt's a problem with the localization, communication during development, and people working on the game who don't know the characters beyond scripts. As it says in a comment above: "they had basically no direction on the lines." Nobody corrected her, as they probably didn't know any better either.
If it's "Forte" in Japan, which means "loud" in musical terms, and is in-keeping with the "Rock & Roll" convention: why would it switch to "fish" in English? "Fish and his high-frequency companion" doesn't make sense as a team, whereas "loud and high-frequency" does.
I have worked in music for decades, and nobody says "bass" (like the fish) frequency; b-a-s-s is always pronounced like "base."
I think the problem is that most people not specifically familiar with the serie won't realiqe that the characters have a musical theme naming. In Japan it's obvious because of the Rock & Roll and Blues names, but with Blues & Rock renamed as Proto & Mega Man it is kinda lost.
DeleteIf i read "Bass" in a musical context, i pronounce it properly. But without context, when i read the character's name for the first time (before i even knew Mega Man is known as Rockman in Japan) i just assumed a "a" followed by two "s" was pronouced like in "ass" or "sassy" (And i did'nt even knew the word "Bass" had anything to do with fishes).
And, as Ruth stated, the directors probably barely had a grasp on English as it was, so I doubt they knew that there was even a difference in the first place.
DeleteActually, Forte means Strong in Portuguese. Quote: Known under his American name, "Bass", (pronounced "Base") Forte was created by Dr. Wily to deal with RockMan, known by HIS American name, MegaMan. Forte is a brash and arrogant Robot who deems himself the strongest of all, and is utterly obsessed with defeating MegaMan to prove it.
DeleteWell now I really want to see some commentary from her while she watches someone play MM8 or X4... This can’t be the last time I hear POWER SHOT outside of the game!
ReplyDeleteWe discussed having her on for a stream sometime. She said that April would be the earliest chance. That is, of course, if we could get it worked out again. If we get something worked out, I'll let Protodude know and he can put it on blast.
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ReplyDeleteJust thinking out loud... Ever since I saw Bass' name I personally read is as "Base". My sister DID read it as "boss", and I tease her about it to this day. But I don't fully understand how Bass could be pronounced like "bas", as in the type of fish. Maybe it's the things on his helmet. Now I just think of it as MM himself can't pronounce the name and it annoys Bass. Just my imagination and personal opinion.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, back then it's not like there were voice actors in games. There are a lot of names I never knew how to pronounce.
DeleteIt still blows my mind that Cyan is pronounced "Kai Ann" not "Sai Ann". Don't get me started on the Sephiroth/Aerith problem...
Personally, they should have just kept his name as Forte. Then we could have an argument about people calling him "Fort" but at least it would be correct.
I also prefer "Forte," honestly.
DeleteForte makes MUCH more sense than Bass. Almost as funny as it would be if Treble/Gospel's name was Piano to match Forte.
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ReplyDelete- Ruth believes that the "-Man" in "Rockman" or "Mega Man" was not meant to outright place an emphasis on masculinity. As Ruth explains, in Japan, when people talk about an important "key person" in a conversation, they will say "key-man". For example, if you're a salesman in Japan, you're called "eigyo-man". Ruth firmly believes that when "they thought of the name Mega Man (Rockman) in Japan, they were not going to target it at boys. 'Mega Man' is kind of like 'Mega Person' that we can ALL relate to."
ReplyDeleteRuth believes, but she isn't correct. Most games and anime were targeted at boys and sometimes grown men at the time Mega Man was first released. Girls didn't show much interest in video games during the 80s and 90s, they were rarely the target audience, and it was like that for a long time. It's not sexist, it's just how it was back then.
I always associated more with him being "super". Like Superman, Batman, and Astro Boy. The other Robot Masters tend to have 'man' as part of their name, too, to denote their status as Robot Masters.
DeleteThere is Splash Woman
DeleteQuake Woman if you count that one.
splashwo man, iirc. I dont count Quake, no.
DeleteI am a girl and I can say that I don't honestly care that almost all of the powerful characters are male. Neither do any of my other friends in the fandom. Honestly, splash woman might be one of my least favorite ones, just because I think they tried to force a female in there.
DeleteI am a girl and I can say that I don't honestly care that almost all of the powerful characters are male. Neither do any of my other friends in the fandom. Honestly, splash woman might be one of my least favorite ones, just because I think they tried to force a female in there.
DeleteSo, Unknown, if you were to be part of something that is male-dominated, I'd have to believe you were forced in there, being the only feemale and all. 🙃
Delete^Well said, Unknown.
DeletePlus it'd sound strange to have a Robot Master just called Ice, Guts, Wood, and Heat.
ReplyDeleteI SO want to make a clever remark...
Deletedo it!
DeleteIt's because I mistyped and said singular RM and not pulra, innit?
DeleteNo, it was a joke that came to mind referring to the masters that way, and maybe if you applied the same thing to their weapons. Forget it.
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DeleteDid X7 also lack a voice director?
ReplyDeleteMan, I don't think X7 had a game director at all...
DeleteMuch less a voice director.