Nickelodeon's Max and the Midknights cast discuss the connection to their characters

Make room for Nickelodeon's latest release Max and the Midknights in your television diet. The animated series is set to premiere on Oct. 30 and will bring all the adventure, action, and misfit-ready fun for the whole family!

Max and the Midknights is based on the best-selling children's books by author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce. It follows an adventurous 10-year-old named Max who embarks on a quest with her newfound friends, a group of misfits aptly known as the Midknights, to save the Kingdom of Byjovia from ominous forces. The show is executive-produced by Lincoln Peirce and Jane Startz. Sharon Flynn and David Skelly serve as co-executive producers and showrunners.

Blu del Barrio leads the cast as the voice of Max alongside the other voice talent which includes Zeno Robinson (Transformers: EarthSpark) as Simon, Caleb Yen (Beyblade X) as Kevyn, a genius with photographic memory, and Melissa Villaseñor (Saturday Night Live) as Millie, a wacky yet super positive and magical girl.

We spoke with del Barrio, Robinson, Yen, and Villasenor to get insight into how they approached their characters and how live-action acting differs from voice-over. Read on to get all the details you need before you watch the show!

The Parent Watch: Were you familiar with the graphic novel prior to saying yes, or if not, what made you want to say yes to this project?

Blu del Barrio: I wasn't familiar with the novel before this project came to me. After my first audition and meeting David, one of our showrunners, I realized that it was his energy about the show and the story that made me want to pursue it and truly care about the process. From the moment I met him, I could sense how excited he was about this project and how much passion he had for it. He was really determined to make this work. As things progressed, once I knew I had gotten the part, I started reading through the books, which made it all the more exciting. I think we did a great job of bringing something special from the page to television, and that’s thanks to David, Sharon, and everyone else involved who loves this show so much.

TPW: Melissa, Zeno, and Caleb, with your experience voicing animated characters, do you ever feel a connection to your character in this show? Do you feel like there’s a part of you that comes through in the dialogue?

Melissa Villasenor: It took me a few tries to really hone in on Millie’s voice and point of view. We even re-recorded some lines because it takes time to sink in. A couple of episodes in, we all agreed, “This is it. This is Millie.” I think we needed to redo those lines because it takes a little time to get it right. But once you do, you think, “I see it now. I feel it now.” It’s so cool.

Zeno Robinson: Once you step in and start recording those first couple of episodes, you really get to know the character. I found myself relating to Simon in similar ways to how Melissa connected with Millie. I discovered aspects of the character that reminded me of myself, like the fondness for animals. Simon is sweet and sensitive, and I see those qualities in myself, making it easy to embody him while recording.

Caleb Yen: I’d say Kevin and I are similar in that we’re both “a lot,” but we have very different brands of “a lot.” A big part of Kevin's character is that he really wants to take action, but he’s also afraid at times. I definitely empathize with that feeling—wanting to dive into something exciting but feeling scared when the moment arrives. Also, Kevin makes a lot of weird sounds, and so do I, so that’s a plus!

TPW: Did any of you feel a connection to the storylines or characters, particularly those that mirrored your own experiences?

ZR: A key part of the show is its self-awareness. It can get wacky and feature larger-than-life adventures, but at the core, all the characters have their own perspectives, goals, and points of view. They genuinely care about one another. During recording, there have been many heartfelt moments where one character delivers a touching speech to another. Their priorities bond them, and this shared sentiment of caring for one another, especially as a family, adds depth to the story. On these adventures, their bonds are both strengthened and tested, resulting in some great character moments that enhance the show’s relatability and quality.

MV: I can relate to Millie in that she often means well but messes up. That’s something I connect with; I often try to do the right thing, but it doesn’t always come out as intended. It’s important for kids to see that you can try your best even if it doesn’t go perfectly.

TPW: I’m curious about your thoughts on the process in the booth. Do you typically record together as an ensemble, or is it mostly individual sessions?

BD: Mostly individual for most of us, but we've gotten the privilege of getting to do some ensemble records, which are always really fun. So it's a good mix.

TPW: How does the jump from live-action to animation feel? Do you think the character development process is similar, or does it change when you’re in the booth with the script?

CY: For me, it’s different. Both mediums involve a lot of character work and figuring out who the character is, but in animation and voiceover, you often make more spontaneous choices and don’t have as much time with the material. You’re not memorizing lines, so you get to quickly figure out moment-to-moment choices. In contrast, live-action might involve waiting around for setups, while voiceover allows you to just dive into the whole episode.

BD: I was just going to say that I really love voiceover work. What’s interesting for me— and I don’t know if anyone feels the same way—is that I get more physically exhausted doing voiceover than I do on camera. I think it’s because I’m a very physical actor and come from a theater background. Suddenly, when I started doing voiceover, I found myself in this small U-shaped box, and somehow I had to project the same level of energy as I would on stage without moving out of that confined space. I always end up leaving those recording sessions completely sweaty, as if I’ve just performed on stage. It’s because the same energy is trying to come out of me; I just don’t have the freedom of space. Voiceover is really cool and very challenging for that reason.

MV: That’s such a good point! Sometimes I want to say, “Hey, over there!” but then they remind me, “You can’t raise your hands; you’ll ruin the microphone’s sound.” You’re right; I didn't think about that.

Looking for the trailer after reading the interview? You're in luck! Check out the Max and the Midknights trailer on Nicktoon's official YouTube!

Max and the Midknights premieres on Nickelodeon on Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m ET / 6:00 p.m. CT.