Saab and McFarland worked together on major properties like One Piece and Dragon Ball Super. But their bond wasn’t just about hitting lines on a script. It was about the moments in between—the pre-session banter, the shared snacks, and the way McFarland could turn a stressful recording into a relaxed hangout.
“He had this habit of cracking a terrible pun right before a serious take,” Saab recalls. “You’d be ready to cry as a character, and he’d just whisper something ridiculous. Then you’d nail the scene because you weren’t tense anymore.”
That ability to release pressure is a lesson for anyone, not just voice actors. Practical tip: Before a high-stakes moment—a presentation, a tough conversation—try a silly joke or a deep breath. You’ll find your center much faster than you will by gritting your teeth.
What “Kind and Smart” Really Looked Like
McFarland’s kindness wasn’t performative. Saab remembers a time he was struggling with a complex emotional scene—a character losing a loved one. “I was in my head, overthinking. Mike didn’t give me notes. He just looked at me and said, ‘Hey, you got this. Let’s do it once for fun.’ And I did. And it was the take they used.”
That blend of emotional intelligence and professional instinct is rare. McFarland directed hundreds of episodes across anime and video games, but he treated every actor like a collaborator, not a tool. He’d say things like, “What if your character was secretly hungry?” or “Imagine you’re telling this to your best friend, not the audience.”
Alejandro Voice Actor 60 Photos - Moonagedaydream.film
It’s a masterclass in empathy—something we can all practice. Next time you’re giving feedback to a friend or colleague, try framing it as a question, not a directive. “What if we tried this angle?” feels a lot better than “Do it this way.”
