Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors FAQ

Archive-name:dmoz.org/Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors
Posting-Frequency:none
Last-modified:2004-12-09 14:42:29
URL:http://dmoz.org/Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors/faq.html
Category:Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors

Table of Contents

1  Submitting Sites
     1.1  I am a professional voice actor with my own website. How do I get listed here?
     1.2  Is it possible to get my site listed in more than one category?
     1.3  Does this category list individual resumes for those aspiring to be voice actors and voice-over artists?
     1.4  How do I submit my site?
     1.5  Where do I submit my fanpage or tribute to a voice actor?
     1.6  Why wasn't my site accepted?
2  Organization
     2.1  What's the difference between the Professional Services category, the Voice Talent category, and the main Voice Actors category?
     2.2  Where are individual actors listed?
     2.3  Why don't you include Seiyuu?
     2.4  Is there a way to do a quick search to find certain voice actors or other specific information?
     2.5  Why doesn't [insert voice actor's name here] have a category yet?
     2.6  How are entries arranged in each category?
     2.7  What is the "Cast Lists" category for?
     2.8  Didn't you once have a "Recordings" category?
3  General Questions
     3.1  What all does Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors include?
     3.2  Who maintains Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors?
     3.3  Is there a resource for locating open audtions, tryouts and/or screen tests?
     3.4  Why is the "Cast Lists" category so incomplete?
     3.5  You have over 1000 links here! Where did you find them all?
     3.6  What is a "Seiyuu"?
     3.7  Why don't you link every voice actor page from Voice Chasers and IMDb?
     3.8  Did you ask permission from webmasters to link their sites or pages?
     3.9  I found a link that doesn't work or took me to the wrong site - what happened?
     3.10  What are those little "star" icons for?
     3.11  Is there an ODP logo or banner I can use for my site?
     3.12  I found a category that doesn't have any description - any reason why?
     3.13  A site I visited through ODP just recently is gone - what happened to it?
     3.14  It seems like I've seen this directory in other places - are you sure ODP is the only home for Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors?
     3.15  I found an error or typo - what do I do?
4  Glossary - Definition of Terms
     4.1  ad-lib (ad-libbed; ad-libbing)
     4.2  outtake(s)
     4.3  What is a "Seiyuu"?
     4.4  voice actor(s); voice acting
     4.5  voice chaser; voice chasing
     4.6  voice-over (also: voice over; voiceover)
5  Abbreviations & Symbols
     5.1  ADR
     5.2  What does "ODP" stand for, and what is it?
     5.3  FAQ(s)
     5.4  IMDb
     5.5  VA (VAs)
     5.6  VO (VOs)
     5.7  What does the "@" stand for that follows the names for certain actors and categories?
6  Sources/Credits

1   Submitting Sites
1.1   Q: I am a professional voice actor with my own website. How do I get listed here?
A: This category is first and foremost a resource for voice actor enthusiasts. Professionals may submit their sites to the Professional Services subcategory. Please read the FAQ there for further details.

If you have few to no credits in animation, you should submit your site to the following category - a general directory for all voice talent active in voice-over for radio, television and other broadcast media:

Business: Arts & Entertainment: Media Production: Voice Talent

by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:04:23
1.2   Q: Is it possible to get my site listed in more than one category?
A: Yes, if you work in a distinct geographic area, you may wish to submit your site here and also in the appropriate Regional subcategory for the area where you live.
by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:06:18
1.3   Q: Does this category list individual resumes for those aspiring to be voice actors and voice-over artists?
A: This category exists primarily as a resource for voice actor enthusiasts, so individual resumes are not accepted here.

Individual resumes may be submitted to the Voice Talent category in Business and/or the Professional Services subcategory, provided they meet the submission guidelines.

by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:02:01
1.4   Q: How do I submit my site?
A: Before submitting anything, seek out the most appropriate category for your site. Then read the category description and FAQ carefully (if available). As stated in 1.1, these sometimes contain submission guidelines. Also make careful note of ODP's Official submission guidelines on the "Suggest URL" form.

After locating the proper category, click on "Suggest URL".

  • In the first line, "copy/paste" or manually type in the website or webpage location.
  • In the second line, type the site's title.
  • In the text box, type a brief description of the site/page, listing the site's content and best features.
  • In the last line, you may also enter your e-mail address if you like. No, you won't be added onto any advertiser's list - it's there in case an editor needs to contact you. I do my best to personally thank those who include their e-mail addresses because I'm always interested to meet other fans of voice actors.
  • Finally, please review your entry once more to make sure there are no typos and then click on "Submit".
by tschild at 2003-08-07 12:24:59
1.5   Q: Where do I submit my fanpage or tribute to a voice actor?
A: Individual voice actors are indexed under the alphabet bar, according to the first letter of their last name. If you have a tribute to Rob Paulsen, for example, you should submit your site to Arts: Animation: Voice Actors: P: Paulsen, Rob.

If it happens that we do not yet have a category for the actor, submit to the first letter of the actor's last name and a category will be created on approval of the site.

If your site covers more than one voice actor, submit your site to the Fan Pages category.

by voiceroy at 2000-12-08 06:42:23
1.6   Q: Why wasn't my site accepted?
A: For possibly any one of the following reasons:
  • See 1.1.
  • It didn't meet the submission guidelines.
  • It was submitted to the wrong category, in which case it was "shipped off" to one the editor felt was more appropriate. The decision to accept the site would then be up to the editor in that category.
  • Lack of content, meaning that it was currently under heavy construction or had meager content, such as having only contact information available, no original content, or just a page of links.
It's rare that we decline submissions (being an open directory), but it does happen sometimes, though never without a valid reason. We are under no obligation to list any site, but the main reason for any submission being rejected is for a lack of content. Other reasons are explained in detail by staff on the "Suggest URL" submission form.

For Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors, the content we look for are sites or pages containing biographical data, pictures, articles, trivia, interviews, or any other infomation we feel would be of interest to voice actor enthusiasts.

by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:40:30
2   Organization
2.1   Q: What's the difference between the Professional Services category, the Voice Talent category, and the main Voice Actors category?
A:
by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:08:46
2.2   Q: Where are individual actors listed?
A: Under the alphabet bar according to the first letter of the actor's last name. For example, Mel Blanc is listed as "Blanc, Mel" and is located in the "B" category.
by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:10:23
2.3   Q: Why don't you include Seiyuu?
A: Because Seiyuu (Japanese voice actors) are the voices of Anime (Japanese Animation), ODP editors decided they should be listed separately under ODP's Anime category. We believed that was where fans of Anime and Seiyuu would expect to find Seiyuu listed.

This category has a symlink to the Seiyuu category, to assist people who are looking for Seiyuu information.

by orlady at 2004-12-09 14:39:33
2.4   Q: Is there a way to do a quick search to find certain voice actors or other specific information?
A: Yes. There are two ways to do this:

1) Go to ODP's Homepage - directly beneath the logo you'll find the search feature. This will search ODP's content only.

2) For The Voice Actors category, it's a simple, three-step process:

  • Go to The Voice Actor directory page.
  • Click on the "drop-down" box to the right of the search feature and drag down so it reads "only in voice actors".
  • In the text box, type in whatever or whomever it is you are looking for. Then click "search", or simply hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard.
by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:12:03
2.5   Q: Why doesn't [insert voice actor's name here] have a category yet?
A: These are the criteria used to determine what actors are included:
  • At least 3 voice credits in animation.
  • An official site.
  • A fan page or tribute website dedicated to a specific voice actor.
  • Besides what was listed at Voice Chasers and IMDb, webpages with photos, articles, interviews or other information we thought would be of interest to visitors.
Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors has only been in existence since the beginning of April, 1999, and we just haven't had time to add them all. If there's a Voice Actor you believe should be included, and there are at least 3 quality, useful links available on the actor besides what is listed at Voice Chasers and IMDb, please feel free to suggest the sites. We'll review the suggestions and, if necessary, create a subcategory for that voice actor.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:15:42
2.6   Q: How are entries arranged in each category?
A: Alphabetically.
by voiceroy at 1999-07-04 08:28:52
2.7   Q: What is the "Cast Lists" category for?
A: It's intended to be a collection of voice casts for animated cartoons and movies - but more than that, to link the actors in the database to the cartoons they provide the voices for (which are located in Arts: Animation: Cartoons). The Cast Lists category also contains articles, interviews, sound and video clips and trivia for the cartoons the casts were involved in.
by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:27:46
2.8   Q: Didn't you once have a "Recordings" category?
A: Yes, but because of ODP's directory guidelines, editors can no longer list individual product listings. This unfortunately applies to all recordings which have involved voice actors known for their work in animation.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:23:38
3   General Questions
3.1   Q: What all does Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors include?
A: It's the most comprehensive source for voice actor-related links available on the World Wide Web.

Within it, visitors will find hundreds of great links on voice actors, including pictures (photographs and professional headshots), biographies, filmographies, articles, interviews, sound clips, bits of interesting facts and trivia, and even contact information. And all this on Voice Actors - those gifted individuals who provide the character voices for animated cartoons.

by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:16:49
3.2   Q: Who maintains Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors?
A: Any editors listed at the bottom of the category (or its subcategories) as well as all editors of parents categories and all editalls, meta editors, admin editors, and Arts catmods and cateditalls can edit within this category.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:41:19
3.3   Q: Is there a resource for locating open audtions, tryouts and/or screen tests?
A: Check backstage.com - and then bookmark it. It's an excellent resource for both aspiring and professional actors. For a direct link to their nationwide casting notices, click here. For additional resources, see Actors Access for daily-updated casting notices across the US, the Casting and Auditions category, and a general category for actors: Actor Databases and Listing Services.

Sorry, I don't have any overseas information.

by voiceroy at 2000-08-29 19:35:27
3.4   Q: Why is the "Cast Lists" category so incomplete?
A: See 2.8.
by voiceroy at 2000-02-25 22:49:39
3.5   Q: You have over 1000 links here! Where did you find them all?
A: They are the result of a lot of patience, hard work, and the assistance of some great search engines. The following search engines consistently yielded the best results (listed here in alphabetical order):
by voiceroy at 2000-08-24 21:01:47
3.6   Q: What is a "Seiyuu"?
A: See 4.3
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:42:10
3.7   Q: Why don't you link every voice actor page from Voice Chasers and IMDb?
A: Whoa... that's a lot of extra work, don't you think?

It should be a given that most noted voice actors have their own pages at those two sites. If we have already found quality links that contained voice credits or photos, it seems unnecessary and redundant to link both Voice Chasers and The Internet Movie Database. We have added those links for some actors only because they included details not found elsewhere.

by voiceroy at 1999-12-14 13:35:07
3.8   Q: Did you ask permission from webmasters to link their sites or pages?
A: That seemed unnecessary, but we have contacted many webmasters to make sure the listings met with their approval. None of them seem to mind seeing that our adding their sites here saves them a great deal of the trouble of submitting to search engines. And being listed here frequently results in earning more traffic for their sites. On those occasions where we have taken the liberty of adding sites on our own, we have often contacted webmasters, offering them the opportunity to submit their own site description if they chose to do so.

We try to insure that all listings here are credited properly, including articles and interviews. If you find any entries where no credit is given to the website/webpage owner, please let us know and the correction will be made at the earliest convenience.

by voiceroy at 2000-10-25 07:52:52
3.9   Q: I found a link that doesn't work or took me to the wrong site - what happened?
A: Possibly one of two things:
  • The website or webpage has moved or is no longer available.
  • We made a boo-boo and put the wrong URL in there. Send us a note and it will be updated shortly. If you happen to know the correct location, click on "Update URL" at the top of the category.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:39:15
3.10   Q: What are those little "star" icons for?
A: Those are to signify a website chosen by ODP editors as a "Cool Site". The purpose of the "Cool Site" or star designation is to bring attention to the one or two best sites of a category, so they'll be listed first. That way visitors are made aware of the best sites to visit - they are the editors' recomendations. And with that honor, webmasters receive an "award" to display on their site.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:38:43
3.11   Q: Is there an ODP logo or banner I can use for my site?
A: Yes. Quite a few of them, in fact. We have graphics for both banners and links:
by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:19:31
3.12   Q: I found a category that doesn't have any description - any reason why?
A: We probably just haven't gotten around to it yet. Just let us know via e-mail and we'll try to get one up ASAP.
by voiceroy at 1999-07-05 11:56:44
3.13   Q: A site I visited through ODP just recently is gone - what happened to it?
A:
  • The server is down temporarily.
  • It changed locations.
  • It is simply no longer available.
One unfortunate thing about the Internet is that it is transient - in a state of constant change. If you find some very useful information on a site, particularly an article - something that you would want to keep for personal reference - it would be a very good idea to print yourself a physical copy of it. You never know when you might need it again, and you really can't rely on it always being there if it's on the Internet.

But before printing anything, be sure to see if there are legal restraints regarding copyrighted material. You might have to request permission from the webmaster to avoid copyright violation.

by voiceroy at 2000-01-30 02:09:38
3.14   Q: It seems like I've seen this directory in other places - are you sure ODP is the only home for Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors?
A: Netscape's Open Directory is indeed the original - the one and the only home for Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors More than likely, what you found was an older version of the data located here, downloaded from our RDF dump and used legitimately (hopefully) as outlined in our terms of use.

For a list of all sites using ODP's data, click here. Such wide coverage means increased traffic for your own site when it is listed here.

For those sites using our data, you should find some form of the following graphic displayed:

Even though ODP allows free license of our open source content, there have still been a small percentage who have attempted to use our content without acknowledging us as their source. If you find any site or search engine that you suspect is using our content and does not have the "Become an Editor" graphic in place, they are in violation of our license agreement. We would be extremely grateful if you would bring it to our attention as soon as possible.

by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:19:28
3.15   Q: I found an error or typo - what do I do?
A: Use the "Update URL" link at the top of each category to let us know what corrections you think should be made.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:27:03
4   Glossary - Definition of Terms
4.1   Q: ad-lib (ad-libbed; ad-libbing)
A:
  • To deliver spontaneously.
  • To improvise especially lines or a speech.
Source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
by voiceroy at 2000-01-30 03:26:07
4.2   Q: outtake(s)
A: A "take" or voice dialog removed (or "taken out") in editing recorded material for broadcast.
by voiceroy at 2000-01-30 03:40:33
4.3   Q: What is a "Seiyuu"?
A: "Seiyuu" is the Japanese word for "voice actor". It can be singular or plural. In Kanji (Japanese written language), "Seiyuu" looks like this: (courtesy of Jeffrey's Japanese-English Dictionary Server). Literally translated, these two characters mean "voice actor" - the first character is "voice" and the second is "actor". As Seiyuu authority Kyoko Takara explains, "Seiyuu is sometimes translated as tenderness or superiority. In essence, the connotation of it is a superior voice... at least that's [what it means to me]."

In Japan, Seiyuu are the individuals who perform the voices for Anime or Japanese Animation. Americans once called this "Japanimation", but as it has become increasingly more popular, Anime has become the accepted term and "Japanimation" has fallen out of use.

While the fans of North American voice actors are often disappointed that the actors don't get the credit, attention, or recognition they deserve - it's the direct opposite in Japan. In their country, Anime is enormously popular - it's a large part of their pop culture. And because of this popularity, Seiyuu are considered "celebrities" - instantly and widely recognized for their talents and have a huge fan (or "otaku") following. They are often guests on talk shows and make many other public appearances, and they even have magazines devoted to them. Many Seiyuu are also pop music stars whose albums are big hits with fans, as are their live concert performances.

by voiceroy at 2001-01-02 08:26:55
4.4   Q: voice actor(s); voice acting
A: A male or female performer who conveys expression, emotion and character using only the human voice; featured in animated cartoons as well as radio, television and other forms of broadcast media.
by voiceroy at 2000-01-30 03:42:26
4.5   Q: voice chaser; voice chasing
A: Terms coined by Kristy Borkes, webmaster of Voice Chasers, as a casual way to describe the "research" involved in matching voices from animated cartoons (or voice-over in other entertainment mediums) with the actors and actresses who perform them.

The collective name, "Voicechasers", is now commonly used by voice actor fans as a way to describe themselves, and "voicechasing" is the actual hobby or activity itself.

For a further history and explanation of this term, see Kristy's introduction at Voice Chasers.

by voiceroy at 2000-01-30 02:36:41
4.6   Q: voice-over (also: voice over; voiceover)
A:
  • See 5.5.
  • "Storytelling with a point of view, [having] much more to do with attitude and emotion than voice quality." --Beau Weaver
  • "A spoken-word recording." --Edge Studio
  • "Acting with your voice, really working the words and phrases." --Michael Knott
  • "The voice of an unseen narrator speaking (as in a motion picture or television commercial); the voice of a visible character (as in a motion picture) expressing unspoken thoughts; a recording of a voice-over." --Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
  • Used in reference to professionals in place of "actor", "voice artist", "voice talent" and/or "voice-over artist/talent".
by voiceroy at 2000-01-30 03:50:56
5   Abbreviations & Symbols
5.1   Q: ADR
A: Automatic (or Automated) Dialog Replacement. Also known as "looping" or "dubbing".
For a more thorough definition, visit Film Sound Design.
by voiceroy at 2000-03-02 21:33:44
5.2   Q: What does "ODP" stand for, and what is it?
A: It's certainly not "Oysters Dance Party".

"ODP" is the abbreviation we use for the Open Directory Project.

Before ODP began, the only way to find infomation on the Web was to use automated search engines. These would pull up hundreds, yea, even thousands of search results under a subject, forcing you to muck through them all to find what you were looking for. And if you're a fan of voice actors at all, you're probably all too familiar with what I'm talking about here.

It is our aim to spare you of this hassle. ODP's knowledgeable editors volunteer their time and services to mine the net for links relevant to any particular topic in several thousand different categories. This makes it better than even the most advanced search engines, and proving, as we say at ODP, that "humans do it better".

You'll find more details on the Open Directory Project at the following location: http://dmoz.org/about.html

by orlady at 2004-12-09 14:42:27
5.3   Q: FAQ(s)
A: Frequently Asked Questions" - questions commonly and repeatedly asked.
by voiceroy at 2000-01-29 11:33:26
5.4   Q: IMDb
A: The Internet Movie Database - "the ultimate movie reference source and covers everything you could ever possibly want to know about movies".
by voiceroy at 2000-01-29 11:28:40
5.5   Q: VA (VAs)
A: Voice actor and/or voice artist.
See 4.4.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:44:27
5.6   Q: VO (VOs)
A: Voice-over. Also V/O or V-O.
See 4.6.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:44:40
5.7   Q: What does the "@" stand for that follows the names for certain actors and categories?
A: We call those "@links" (at-links), or "symlinks", and they point to other categories within ODP. The little "@" functions much like it does in an e-mail address, though for ODP, these "@links" simply redirect you to a specific category. Many noted celebrity actors are often difficult to classify since they tend to cross genres, so they are listed in Arts: People and we "@linked" those categories here. For example, clicking on Arts: Animation: Voice Actors: H: Hartman, Phil@ will take you directly to Arts: People: H: Hartman, Phil.
by orlady at 2004-12-09 03:14:56
6   Q: Sources/Credits
A: Biographical data appears courtesy of Voice Chasers, The Internet Movie Database or was provided by the actors themselves.
by motsa at 2004-12-09 13:21:12

Help build the largest human-edited directory of the web!
Open Directory Home:http://dmoz.org/
About the Open Directory:http://dmoz.org/about.html
This FAQ:http://dmoz.org/Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors/faq.html
Open Directory Category:Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors

    Copyright © 1998-2005 Netscape     Terms of Use