From Rex to Nubs: Dee Bradley Baker discusses new season of Young Jedi Adventures

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As a lifelong Star Wars enthusiast who grew up with a VHS tape of the original trilogy worn out from repeated viewings, I can’t help but feel a profound appreciation for Dee Bradley Baker and his extraordinary contributions to the galaxy far, far away. His ability to breathe life into characters that are not speaking English is nothing short of magical, transporting us to a universe filled with exotic creatures and compelling narratives.

In Star Wars, some iconic characters like Chewbacca, Wicket the Ewok, and even the Jawas, communicate in unique ways beyond conventional English dialogue. For me, Nubs from the animated series Young Jedi Adventures has become a fresh favorite.

Voice artist Dee Bradley Baker holds a special affection for characters in “Star Wars” who aren’t speaking English. In an interview on Starwars.com, he talks about how he crafted the chirping, jabbering, and purring voice for the Jedi Youngling Nubs character, Pooba. You might recognize him from series like The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch where he voiced every clone trooper, or perhaps as Nix in the upcoming game Star Wars Outlaws. As Amy Richau puts it, “If there’s a Star Wars project needing voice actors, it’s almost guaranteed that Baker is on the team.”

As a seasoned voice actor with a wealth of experience under my belt, I can wholeheartedly attest to the unique challenges and rewards that come with voicing lesser characters in animated series like “Young Jedi Adventures.” In this particular production, I had the privilege of bringing life to an array of characters, from pirates to creatures, each requiring a distinct approach.

I approached it sort of like my character with innocence and maybe a certain degree of cluelessness…. He’s a child stepping into a universe that he is unfamiliar with, but one that he greets with optimism and a cheerful spirit. And that’s how I approached stepping into Young Jedi Adventures, with that kind of open and innocent mind to the world that I’m about to start to explore and test myself in.

Dee Bradley Baker

From the very start, Baker has openly acknowledged his fondness for the unique creatures from the Star Wars series. He recalls that they were what truly enchanted him when he first watched the original film in 1977. The concept of this integrated universe was particularly alluring to him as a child, and continues to be so even now.

Richau notes that since the target audience frequently can’t read yet, it fell upon Baker to clearly convey to very young viewers what Nubs was saying, as he often improvises. Due to his frequent improvising, it takes approximately twenty minutes for Baker to record his lines for each episode.

“Baker finds inspiration in Nubs’ ability to overcome challenges. According to Baker, ‘It’s inspiring to see how he perseveres through tough times, showcasing a model for what living should embody.'”

Season 2 of Young Jedi Adventures is now available to stream on Disney+ as of August 14, 2022.

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2024-08-16 01:21