SPIRAL ZONE - Earth's Most Powerful Soldiers!

Story - Episodes - Zone Riders - Black Widows - Toys - Comics - Interviews - Other Stuff - DVD Collection

I recently had the good fortune of getting in touch with Dan Gilvezan, the voice actor of Commander Dirk Courage! Here's what he had to say about his memories of working on the SPIRAL ZONE animated series:

How did you get involved in voice acting?
AN ACCIDENT, REALLY. A VOICEOVER AGENT WAS SHARING SPACE WITH MY COMMERCIAL AGENT. ONE DAY I POKED MY HEAD INTO HIS OFFICE AND SAID "WHAT DO YOU DO HERE?" HE SAID "VOICEOVER." I SAID, "CAN I TRY?" AND THAT WAS THAT.

How did you get involved specifically with SPIRAL ZONE?
AN AUDITION LIKE ANY OTHER, I READ FOR DIRK COURAGE AND WAS HIRED TO PLAY THE PART.

Tell me some fond memories you have of working on SPIRAL ZONE.
OK, HERE'S A FEW:

THE RECORDING SESSIONS WERE INTERESTING. THE WHOLE CAST WAS TOGETHER BUT WE WERE SEGREGATED IN STALLS WITH PARTITIONS (ALMOST LIKE A BATHROOM!) SO NO ONE COULD SEE ANYONE ELSE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS MADE FOR EVEN MORE FUN BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE GOT OFF A GOOD JOKE, YOU NEVER KNEW WHERE OR FROM WHOM IT WAS COMING.

THERE WAS A PIANO IN THE RECORDING STUDIO AND AFTER THE SESSIONS WE WOULD ALL SIT AROUND IT AND SING SHOW TUNES. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A PIANO BAR, WITHOUT THE COCKTAILS.

MICHAEL BELL WAS LANDSCAPING HIS HOME AT THE TIME. EVERY TIME WE FINISHED A SESSION, HE'D SAY "THAT'S 3 BUSHES!" OR "THAT'S A HEDGE!" OR "THERE'S A NICE FRUIT TREE!" HE WASN'T SEEING HIS SESSIONS AS BEING PAID IN MONEY, BUT IN GREENERY.

Do you have a favorite episode?
NO, I ENJOYED THEM ALL.

Why do you think SPIRAL ZONE wasn't a huge success, financially?
I THINK BY THE TIME IT CAME OUT THE MARKET WAS FLOODED WITH TOY-BASED ANIMATED SERIES. THERE JUST WASN'T ROOM FOR IT ON A LOT OF STATION'S SCHEDULES.

Even though SPIRAL ZONE wasn't a financial success, do you personally regard the experience as successful and satisfying?
EXTREMELY SO. I MADE MONEY, HAD FUN PLAYING WITH MY FRIENDS, AND PRODUCED, I THINK, A PRETTY GOOD SHOW.

I'd like to personally thank Dan Gilvezan for taking the time to answer these questions and his manager for arranging the interview. Visit Dan's web site at www.dangilvezan.com.