Actress Nyokabi Macharia shares her breakthrough in animation
Award winning actor, director and producer Nyokabi Macharia is making waves in the animation world, showcasing her talent in projects like Super Sema and the latest venture, Twende.
The recipient of her first Kalasha Award for Chaguo and notable roles in County 49 and Country Queen, Macharia has solidified herself as one of Kenya’s breakthrough stars in the past year.
Not content with just acting, she has also co-founded the performing arts company Shorts from Africa, displaying her versatility and commitment to the creative realm.
Macharia’s animation journey kicked off with Super Sema, and her prowess in the field was further affirmed with Twende, Showmax’s first 2D animation.
In Twende, she takes on the spirited role of Binti, a charismatic warthog who commands the biggest and best party bus in Milima.
In an interview with Nairobi News, Macharia delved into her experiences and insights into animation and voice acting:
Super Sema was your first animation project. How did it feel to land your second with Twende?
“It was affirming. It was nice that I got Super Sema, but I still had some doubt of whether or not it was a thing for me. Twende put a stamp on it. It was like getting the verified badge on Instagram, but for animation.”
Would you say being a voice actor gets easier with every role?
“Absolutely. The more roles you get, the more you explore what your voice can do, the more confidence you get as you practice.”
Are there any voice actors or animation projects that have shaped your love or interest in animation?
“I admire how Elsaphan Njora, my cast mate in Super Sema, plays around with his voice and is able to play multiple characters in the same show. He is also very playful as an actor, which I believe is what makes a great voice actor. He’s also my cast mate in Twende.”
What made you laugh the hardest when you first read the scripts?
“Genuinely can’t remember but we laughed really hard during my audition though. It was one of the best auditions I’ve ever had because I got to play around a lot with my voice.”
How is animation different from working in live action?
“You work way harder in animation. It’s more physical because you have to work to transfer the energy in your body to your voice so that if someone closes their eyes, they can still tell what you’re doing.”
What are some of the learnings from Super Sema that you brought into this project? “Voice tonality. Before Super Sema, because of my background in acting, I thought text is just that… text. But I noticed animation has a different swing to how you say things.”
What did you enjoy most about voicing your character Binti in Twende?
“Binti as a character was very clear in my mind because I could name about five people who talk like that so I was able to add some juice to her every time I voiced her.”
What was your preparation process for Twende?
“Showing up to the studio with an open mind and not taking alcohol on the days leading up to the recording because I can tell how alcohol affects the quality of my voice. And no loud concerts because I always end up screaming when I go to these, which affects the quality of my voice.”
What’s the most rewarding aspect about bringing a character to life through your voice?
“It feels nice when someone else doesn’t recognize me from the voice when they first watch an animated project I’m in. And then their reaction when they discover it is me or when I tell them.”
What advice would you give aspiring voice actors?
“For actors out there who want to get into voice acting, don’t be afraid to experiment with the craziest of ideas. The more absurd it looks, the better it sounds.”