The first English Voice of Astro Boy: Billie Lou Watt

[AprilSeven]

This is very interesting to read, as it gives you an insight to the "first" Astro Boy that viewers of the American English dub will remember

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Lou_Watt

Some of you might know Billie Lou also voiced Kimba and Jimmy Sparks (from Gigantor). As a kid, I definitely remember recognizing her voice.

But I didn't know she was also Borden's "Elsie the Cow" on TV commercials (and I grew up in Elsie's home town!!). Billie Lou's birthday was also the same day as mine (June 20) -- TOOOO FREAKY!!! Guess it was fate for me to be an Astro-fan!!

[the 鉄腕アトム fan]

That's a really interesting find April

[Prettywitchiusaka]

I must say, I rather like teh little I've heard of Lou Watt's Astro voice; it's very easy on the ears, and it sounds like teh voice a little boy may have.

[AprilSeven]

I agree - my nephew's voice as a child was VERY 60's Astro-like. Today it's very deep . . . not quite as deep as 03 Tenma! -- and there is still a hint of gentleness to it. I often think that's what Astro would sound like all grown up!! XD

[Prettywitchiusaka]

Probably. Actually, now that you mention it, I wonder if maybe that's what Astro should've sounded like in the 09 film, provided that they would have let her audition if she was still alive by then.

[Shiyonasan]

I didn't know she was the first voice of Muriel from Courage the Cowardly Dog! Now I know why Muriel's voice changed near the end of the series.

Anyway, that was an interesting read. Also interesting that she also voiced Kimba and the main character on Gigantor. Not to mention that many of the dub voice actors seemed to have roles in other anime that was dubbed at the time.

Although I prefer to watch the Japanese version, I definitely have respect for Watt and other voice actors from that time providing voices in the first American dubbed anime ever.

[Anime Girl]

That is very interesting. Her birthday is 10 days before mine. And I never knew she voiced Muriel in Corage the Cowardly Dog. I used to love that show.

[Shiyonasan]

That is very interesting. Her birthday is 10 days before mine. And I never knew she voiced Muriel in Corage the Cowardly Dog. I used to love that show.

Woops. After checking it again, Watt actually voiced Ma Bagge (Eustace's mother) in Courage the Cowardly Dog. The Wikipedia article has it wrong. Kind of an interesting final role to be in, since Ma Bagge was probably the biggest jerk in that cartoon.

I used to love Courage the Cowardly Dog too. It's one of my favorite cartoons from that era.

Apparently, the guy who voiced Eustace has the same birthday as me. Interesting...

[ASTROBUDDY]

I just wanted to add that technically Bille Lou Watt was not the first American actress to voice Astro Boy. In an interview Fred Ladd first featured in an issue of "FilmFax" magazine and later expanded upon in his book, "Astro Boy and Anime come to America..." he mentions that an actress by the name of Mary Lou Foster who had been chosen by NBC voiced Astro Boy in the pilot episodes, "The Birth of Astro Boy" and "Expedtion to Mars"! He then goes on to say that because Ms. Foster was lacking in her range of doing different voices that he then decided to hire Billie Lou Watt to do the rest of the episodes and the rest is history.

I had mentioned this fact in a post on this website back in 2009. I also mentioned how I met Ms. Watt at a anime convention back in 1995. I had specifically attended that convention in the hope of meeting Ms. Watt when I was told she had been scheduled to be part of a panel of voice actors from the first wave of anime to come to the US, but had been a no-show. I was on my way out of the convention with my girl when I decided to take one last look around before leaving and had entered the elevator going back up to the convention floor, when I noticed two women talking and the older lady had a distinct voice that sounded very familiar. As we followed the women I was right! It was Billie Lou Watt who had arrived late to the convention. I wanted to speak with her when every time I tried to get close this guy who was monopolizing her time kept moving her away from me. Well I was kind of starstruck and was afraid to say anything to her when thanks to my girl who kindly interrupted the dude who was monopolizing her time so I could get in and tell her that of all the actors who have voiced Astro Boy she was the best (at least in my opinion) and thanked her for providing such an enjoyable memory. She was most gracious and showed real surprise that people remembered her performance and spoke about what a great time she had voicing Astro Boy. My only regret is that I forgot to get her autograph.
BTW the other woman with her in the elevator was Corrine Corr, the voice of Trixie on the original Speed Racer show.

I

[AprilSeven]

Thanks, Astrobuddy, I wasn't aware of that (and I guess I missed that thread!). You know it seemed like Astro's voice was different in the first episode (I figured she was still working on getting the character "in place" - but it was actually a different actor!)

What a great story. It's nice to know she cared enough about the fans to go to the conventions (she was over 70 when you met her). Trixie and Astro/Kimba/Jimmy Sparks at once - that's awesome!!!