Please introduce yourself, what you do, why you do it, and what you want people to know about you.
Yo! My name is Jacob Hopkins, I’m an actor/voice actor, and I do it cause I love it!
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
I’ve been acting on camera since I was five years old, and I’ve been voice acting since I was eleven. I like to think that my years of experience working with many talented people have enriched my acting skills.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you wanted to do what you do now. Who did you tell first? What has it been like since that moment?
Like I said before, I started acting when I was five. At that age, acting was just something that I thought was fun and I didn’t really see it as my future. But when I hit eleven and booked Gumball Watterson on The Amazing World of Gumball, everything changed. I was raised on cartoons, and the prospect of actually being in one was mind-blowing.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to face and how did you overcome it?
Careerwise, the biggest challenge I’ve faced has definitely been voicing Gumball, but in all the best ways possible. During my four years of voicing him, I learned everything I know about voice acting to this day. Gumball was my first cartoon role ever, so I had no prior voice-over experience, and he’s a tough character to play already. He talks insanely fast, has a sharp wit, and has an endless supply of hyperactive energy (as an eleven-year-old boy, I had that last part in spades, so no worries there!). I remember having to train my vocal cords to last long periods of talking/yelling/voice manipulation, my jaw muscles to help with my diction, I had to practice dubbing to preexisting episodes to really get the feel and tone of the show, and I even was brought in to record whole episodes as tests to see if I was ready to take on the role. All in all, Gumball felt like a lifetime that I would love to live over and over again.
Tell us about your character Fushi in To Your Eternity. What was your reaction when you found out you got the role?
Fushi is a godlike being who can take on the form of anything he comes into contact with. He can transform into a wolf, a monstrous bear, and a nameless boy who was the first person to show him love, all who I voice! Fushi was the first anime role I booked, and something like that has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. He’s an extremely dynamic character, given all the things he transforms into. I have an incredible opportunity to show off my vocal range with this character, but even more than that, To Your Eternity is a drama. Fushi is immortal and can never die. He will live forever, meaning he has to watch everyone he grows to love eventually die someday. He is a tragic character who is broken by betrayal and loss, and I am honored to play such a beautifully written character.
Tell us about your role in Prince of Tennis and Prince of Tennis II. For fans who have never seen the show, what can you tell us about it?
Prince of Tennis is a long-running franchise (since 2001) about a middle school tennis club who competes against other schools, all the way up to the youth division of nationals. I voice Shuichiro Oishi, the vice-captain and occasional acting captain of the Seigaku team, the show’s main school it revolves around. Oishi has been branded by his teammates as the “mom” of the team, constantly making sure everyone is hydrated, well rested, and healthy enough to play. While he isn’t the strongest on the team, he has a kind, gentle heart and will win for his friends no matter what! Oh, and he also makes a killer doubles team with his doubles partner Kikumaru, hence their nickname “Seigaku’s Golden Pair.”
Can you tell us about other anime projects you have coming up?
Unfortunately, I can’t get into all the details quite just yet, but I can say that I have two coming up! One is a popular new franchise, and the other one is a very popular long-running franchise! One of them is coming out in September, and I’m super excited to announce it!
What do you enjoy most about playing Chad Kremp on The Goldbergs?
To play a character who loves 80s rock, Tron, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Goonies, and Elvis is basically playing myself. I love being immersed in all the 80s pop culture as it’s what I grew up on as a kid! I also love playing the dynamic between Adam Goldberg and Chad. Out of all the chaos in the Goldbergs family, Adam was spawned. Out of the overbearing neatness of the Kremp family, Chad was spawned. They come from two vastly different families and couldn’t be more alike. They both have an affinity for nerd culture and cinema and are the perfect dynamic duo. I’m very good friends with Sean Giambrone, who plays Adam, and playing our friendship in the show never fails to be a good time.
What is your dream role on TV and in film?
MARVEL/DC SUPERHERO. ‘NUFF SAID.
What is one interesting thing your fans don’t know about you?
I never talk about this, but I actually don’t draw with a pencil. I’ll always draw with a pen purely because I can’t erase, so it challenges me to really think and plan out my sketch/anatomy before I actually draw it. It’s almost like a strategy game where each pen stroke has to have a purpose with clear intent, making me a better artist along the way. Plus, shading in pen is so freaking cool.
What advice would you give to other young people who want to pursue acting?
Learn the craft! If you want to get an agent and manager, you have to obtain acting skills first. Like any job, you have to go through training and workshops to get the necessary skills needed for getting hired. And remember, any experience is a good experience. Google local acting workshops, improv classes, voice-over classes, etc. Even try out for local theater! Start small and work your way up.
What are your professional goals in the next year?
I’m actually going to the University of Central Florida for business management and entrepreneurship so I can open up my own recording studio one day! I want to continue going to school while maintaining my voice acting career (as I’ve been doing for years now!). I finished my last semester with all A’s, so here’s to charging on! Oh, and booking a Marvel series wouldn’t hurt either.
If you had to pick the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could take your career (or business) to the next level…who would those 3 people be?
I can really only think of one person, and it’s none other than Christopher Sabat. He’s been voice acting before I was even born and owns Okratron, a recording studio company that has LA and Dallas locations. I admire him and his dedication to his work, and I would love to be mentored by him so I can learn how to develop a recording business while also pursuing a voice-acting career.
List the direct links/URL to your social media profiles so people can follow you.
Instagram: Jacob Hopkins (@hopkinsjake) • Instagram photos and videos