Kari Walgren is an American voice actress who has voiced over 100 characters in various cartoons, anime and video games. She made her anime debut as the voice of Haruko Haruhara in the FLCL animated series. She later voiced the central characters in a number of shows and films, in American animation and video games. Also known by her nicknames Kay Jensen and Jennifer Jean.
Biography
Kari Walgren was born on July 13, 1977 in Hoisington, Kansas. As a child, young Kari was inspired by Disney princesses and other animation characters. Her parents worked as teachers and subsequently encouraged their daughter as she began working with charities and organizations that promote reading and education in high school.
At the age of 11, Kari traveled to California with his family. On this trip, they visited the Focus on Family building, and there Kari was offered a small role as an 11-year-old character named Gloria McCoy in their radio show, Odyssey Adventures.
Walgren received her education at the University of Kansas. She graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. After that, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she starred in several radio shows.
In 2000, the actress moved to Los Angeles to work on her acting career. In an interview with Lawrence Magazine-Mir, she said that she had trouble getting a job on camera, so she put all her energy into voice acting. Her experience of studying Shakespeare helped her a lot in thinking about roles: playing different characters, she made different accents for them, according to a certain historical period.
Career
Kari Walgren debuted in 2002 as the voice actor of Haruko Haruhara in the 6-episode anime series FLCL. In an interview with Anime Tourist magazine, she said that Haruko was the only character she auditioned for. She played her character as a hero close to the historical original, but with some American interpretation to attract the audience. Depending on the plot, she changed the voice of her character from caricature and childish to realistic. Critic Bryce Coulter of Mania.com later wrote an article about her, impressed by her character: "Walgren definitely gave Haruko the characters of twenty-something sarcastic and punk characters." Subsequently, in 2018, Walgren took part in the scoring of the new seasons of FLCL. Progressive "and" FLCL. Alternative”, where she became the voice of her character Haruhara.
The next lead voice role was played by Kari in Walgren's anime "The Witch Hunter Robin", where Walgren voiced the titular character Robin Sena, a modest young girl who joins a group of witch hunters, but she herself has some magical powers that make her kindred with witches. Zach Burchey of Anime News Network wrote in his article that her voice is "sweet, thin and perfect for the role" and wanted the rest of the voices of this picture to show such qualities.
Walgren voiced the main character Lavi Head in the steampunk fantasy TV series Last Link. Allen Divers of Anime News Network recognized Kari at the time as "one of the most famous names in the voice acting scene in California."
Walgren later voiced the main character Sakura Kinomoto in the entertainment program Bang Zoom! And re-recorded Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card. The latest work was commended by Allen Deavers (critic at Anime News Networks) in superlative degree: "The voice actors did an excellent job of juxtaposing the emotions of the original Japanese voices, including Sakura's trademark 'Hoe!' Which was sorely lacking in previous English adaptations."
In live-action work, Walgren starred as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan's 2003 independent film Neverland. Her character has been described as "a morose and woozy sidekick."
In 2004, she starred in the animated feature film Steamboy, opposite Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart and Alfred Molina. In it, she played the teenage Scarlett, the granddaughter of the president of the corporation, who was spoiled, cruel and annoying to everyone. IGN critic Peter Sanderson has named Scarlett's character one of the most disgusting characters he has ever encountered. In the same 2004, Walgren voiced Chiku Minazuki in the anime "Ai Yori Aoshi", who was the sister of the protagonist's little cousin. This heroine was described by critics as an energetic, innocent and simple girl, but in strong contrast to the central character.
In 2005, Walgren voiced the role of the main character Fuu Kasumi in the anime "Simray Champloo". Critics then noted that Walgren's voice was "appropriate for her personality," but pointed out that over time, Foo's voice "would sound like any other anime girl."
In the anime "Scrapped Princess", the actress voiced the main character Pacifica Casull, who is being hunted for a prophecy that she will cause the destruction of the world if she lives to her 16th birthday. The critics noted Walgren's work as "cold-blooded and deeply sensitive, but different from other Japanese characters in the absence of some arrogance."
Creativity in video games
Walgren has been the voice of many characters in video games. She first voiced Willow Rosenberg in the video game Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Bloody chaos. " She voiced James Bond's girlfriend as Sean Connery in the 2005 video game From Russia with Love. In 2008, she voiced the main character Ash in Final Fantasy XII and the main character Silk in Dirge of Cerberus - Final Fantasy VII. In an interview with UFFSite and RGSite, the actress said that the franchise was like "the holy grail of acting in video games." She played Ash in a regal tone, as in her opinion, he looks like "smart, diplomatic and able to kick ass." Silk's voice, on the contrary, she portrayed as very cold and insensitive. Also in 2007, Walgren voiced the playable title character in the strategy RPG Jeanne d'Arc.
Voiceover career
Since 2004, Walgren has been involved as a voice-over for animation. She first appeared as a storyteller in the Disney / Jetix Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! This show aired over 4 seasons from 2004 to 2006. She played recurring roles as villains Samantha "Magness" Payne in ATOM and Charkmaster in Ben 10. In 2007, she voiced Taka's girlfriend Jira in Nickelodeon's animated series Juju's Strength. She voiced her sister Susie Johnson in the Disney TV series Phineas and Ferb, participated in the second season of the animated comedy Lily and Bush, where she voiced Lily Hilary and Lily Condi.
Walgren became a regular cast member in the animated feature Fish Hooks (2010), where she voiced Shelsey, as well as many supporting and guest characters. She voiced the tigress in the television adaptation of Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, which ran for four seasons starting in 2011. In 2012, she had the lead role of Ellie Underhill in the 52-episode action movie Kaijudo. In the same year, the actress got roles in other cartoons: "Gravity Falls", "Randy Cunningham: 9th grade ninja" and "Winx Club". She voiced Meg, the main subject of crush on Disney's short film Wallet, which aired in theaters prior to Sunken Ralph in 2012. The recording for this film was only 30 minutes long and consisted of almost nothing but vocal sounds. However, Wallet won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
In 2015, Walgren joined the cast of Fairy OddParents, which starred Chloe Carmichael in the show's 10th season. In the third season, Rick and Morty provided the voice for Jessica and other characters. She voiced Amanda in the Bunsen Beast, directed by Butch Hartman, which aired on Nickelodeon in February 2017. In July 2017, she voiced Dorothy Gale in the animated series Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, which aired on Boomerang.
Awards
Many of Walgren's works have received awards and prizes from anime and animation websites. Kari was named Best Actress at the 2008 Anime Dubbles Awards.
The Voices Behind Characters website selected Walgren as their 2012 Voice Actress of the Year. She was also nominated for this award in 2011 and 2013. She was also nominated for Best Female Vocal Artist for an Anime in 2011 and 2013, and Best Female Vocalist in a Television Series in 2012 and 2013.
