Yuri Lowenthal "Haseo" Vol. 3//Redemption




The final exclusive interview with the man behind our beloved badass PKKer, Haseo (aka Yuri Lowenthal) is here, and might I add that it is the best of the series. A big thanks to all the fans who contributed to the interview questions. For more information on Yuri, visit his official website at yurilowenthal.com. Enjoy!

Did you enjoy playing Haseo as the crazed power hungry jerk more, or the kinder, more caring version of Haseo?

"I have to say, not really being the crazed power hungry jerk in real life, I had a blast playing at it, but the thing that made my job and my Haseo journey the most interesting (and I may be speaking for a lot of actors) was that I got to start out as that guy and become the kinder, more caring version. Change is always more interesting."


Any particular experience you would like to share with us when working on .hack//G.U.?

"I think it would have to be this story:

One day during the record, we were taking a break and I was outside hanging out with the producer of the game. He asked me if I had ever cosplayed any of the characters I've voiced. I was like, "Fuck no! And it's not even that I feel I'm "too cool" for that, but it's just that I know I would show up at the convention, decked out in the kickass costume I had made, and, inevitably, there would be 5 or 6 guys with better costumes than me. And I'M supposed to be the guy, for all intents and purposes...

Now, that said, Haseo has probably the coolest outfit of any character I've ever played and if I could get away with wearing that shit in my day-to-day life, like to the store and whatnot, I'd totally do it." So he nodded and that was the end of that. Until the next day when I showed up for work. He says to me, "So, Yuri, I was talking to the lead designer on the game and the head of promotions and they're willing to spend very decent money to make you a kickass Haseo outfit if you wear it to Anime Expo in July." I honestly didn't know how to respond. I had opened that door. The logical, safe part of my brain said, "Just say no. End it here. Tell him you were kidding." But had I been...? I decided to put my moneywhere my mouth was, and, well, you can see the pictures on the Internet... For the record, I was right. There were several guys whoshowed up as Haseo, and their costumes were ten times better than mine. And one of them was a chick."

What was it like working with the other .hack//G.U. voice actors?

"Once again, we record separately, so we don't really work "together," but I know pretty much all of them-- am in love most of them, actually --and it was fun to touch base with them throughout the process. For example, I had to call Liam O'Brien, who plays Endrance, and let him know that there were several possible outcomes to the game, and we had a particularly exciting one..."

Will you be voicing Haseo in the OVA, .hack//Returner (just released in Japan)?

"Man, I have no idea. Suffice to say, it still hurts that we didn't get to record .Hack//ROOTS here in L.A. I would love to, of course, if anyone out there's listening..."

How would you say your overall experience on this project has been?

"Loved it. I would be very sad if this were the last time I got to play Haseo. But I'm very happy that I got to do it at all."

And finally, the most important question: If Haseo and Sasuke fought who do you think would win?

"Didn't someone ask this last time...? What, are you trying to trick me? Okay, here's an answer for you: Sasuke is still driven by vengeance. Haseo spent some time there, too, but has moved beyond that. Now Haseo fights for love. I have to believe that's a more powerful place to come from. Haseo would win."

"Provided Sasuke doesn't jump him from behind and lay a Chidori smackdown on his ass."

If you like to add an extra part to say farewell to your .hack fan base following, go ahead. :)

"Yeah, this is easy. You guys rule too much. I choose NOT to say farewell to you. See you soon.