JEFF 'SWAMPY' MARSH!

The creator of Phineas & Ferb!

Can you tell us a bit about the competition you’re involved in? And the kids you’re involving?

The mentorship programme we’re involved in came about when we decided to help kids with drawing and animation. This time they came to the class and wanted to do voiceover work, which really is one of the most fun parts of the project. Both Dan and I are lucky enough to do voice over on the show, it’s a blast!

How did you come up with the idea initially for Phineas and Ferb?

Dan and I were working on another show together a long time ago and we had a lot of fun working together and that was what really inspired us. We settled on remembering when we were kids and how fabulous our summer was. We used to just do things, crazy things.

Who was invented first, Phineas or Ferb?

Phineas! It was Dan who was doodling on a paper tablecloth in a restaurant and literally started creating this triangle character shape. We still have this first drawing hanging in Dan’s office. This is the drawing around which all the other characters are made, geometric shapes.

Whose idea was it to have a ‘P’ for Phineas’ head and an 'F' for Ferb?

We just thought it was a triangle and Ferb’s head was just based on a rectangle, it wasn’t ‘til later one of the guys on our staff came up with the idea of the letters as the logo and it was such a cool thing that we were like, ‘Oh my god that’s brilliant!’

What’s it like working with Marvel, there’s going to be a special episode for us next year so what was it like working with those guys?

We grew up with the Marvel comics so the thought of working with those guys was in equal parts exciting and incredibly intimidating! We love these characters so we didn’t want to mess it up, nor did we want to ruin our own characters. I’m genuinely thrilled with the way it has turned out.

 

Does it have every superhero from the Avengers in?

No, it has Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk and Thor. The super villains we got were Moda, Venim, Ash and Red skull. No Captain America unfortunately.

What would Phineas and Ferb’s super powers be if they were super heroes?

Well I think Ferb’s ability to build anything would clearly be his super power. Phineas’ imagination and problem solving ability would clearly be his.

How different is it working on Phineas and Ferb to working on the Simpsons?

This is a series where we really get to be in control and do whatever we want. Which is a very different process from the Simpsons, which is really a script written show. Phineas and Ferb is great for us. We get to write the song and nurture the characters. We will never get this level of involvement again.

Which celeb would you most like to get as a guest star?

Rowan Atkinson and Helen Mirren. Getting both of them on the show would be a perfect episode.

What was it like working with David Beckham?

We had him involved in the talk show, he was awesome! And an incredibly good sport. He was hysterically funny, I would really love to see him with a role on the show. He has the ability to really get into it and made us laugh all day long. If he ever wants to come back let us know, because he was very good!

If you could be involved in any other cartoon which would it be?

Wow! Good question! I don’t know, I think Phineas and Ferb is perfect for me and I can’t imagine being anywhere else!

Phineas and Ferb creator Jeff "Swampy" Marsh is the latest Disney XD Aim High mentor, offering fans the chance to take part in a one off voice acting mentorship and win the opportunity to voice a role in BAFTA nominated and Emmy Award-winning animated comedy series Phineas and Ferb. Make sure you are part of Disney XD’s Aim High and go to www.disneyxd.co.uk/aimhigh.

DANNY DEVITO

The voice of The Lorax talks to Toxic!

 

Did you read The Lorax when you were a kid?

Doctor Seuss is a mainstay in my house. I have three kids, so when you get to revisit the books it’s great. My education really began when I had children. The Lorax is something they grew up with, and I experienced along the way.

Why did you want to do the voice of the Lorax?

When I was asked to voice it, I remembered the character – a cuddly guy with a big moustache. I said, “Oh my goodness, I remember this so well!” I jumped at the chance to have my voice coming out of this guy.

Zac Efron is in the movie – did you give him any advice?

Zac is like 24, he’s my son’s age! He’s such a nice guy, a genuinely sweet kid. We didn’t really get to work together though, I was in a room with a headset and so were they! That’s the way it works. I loved Zac, and I love Taylor Swift too.

What’s an interesting thing about doing a voice for a character?

Well it’s funny because although they’re recording your voice, they are also shooting film of you – so when I’m saying something as The Lorax and I’m gesturing, they add that stuff into the film as well to make it look more like me!

Did you grow a big moustache for the film?

No, I didn’t get that much into the role! I have had a moustache in the past, it was really scraggly and I was in Mexico at the time and nobody was shaving.

Who does the voices in the foreign versions of the film?

I do! I can speak English, barely. New Jersey English! I got it in my head that I wanted to try this voice in Italian, and then I started thinking it would be cool to do it in other languages.

What was your favourite book as a kid?

I was a big comic book guy, I liked all the DC Comics and Batman. If you’d have gone up to the kid I was back then and said, “Someday you’re gonna play The Penguin in a Batman movie!” it would have been amazing! I liked Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, all the Disney cartoons and comics as well.

What tips would you give Taylor Swift and Zac Efron?

They have their heads right on their shoulders. They should try to stay in the middle, if something really great happens to you, embrace it and let it go. If something really bad happens, embrace it and let it go.

There’s lots of gadgets in the film, do you like gadgets and stuff?

Oh, I love gadgets – I wish I had that doorbell from the film! Wouldn’t you like to have his motorbike as well, with the one wheel? Man, they should make those bikes!

The Lorax is in cinemas now!