One of my favorite things about Critical Role is when Travis Willingham politely states that he would like to rage. There’s something about the juxtaposition of the gruff voice and gentle statement that always makes me smile. Of course, Travis isn’t all gruff all the time. In fact, he has a far greater range thank you might think. It’s amazing some of the tidbits I’ve uncovered. Here are a few of his noted roles:
Roy Mustang – Fullmetal Alchemist
Image credit: FUNimation
Roy Mustang was Travis’ breakout role in anime. Mustang is a military leader and state alchemist who specializes in manipulating fire. He’s as clever as he is talented in battle, making him one of the most beloved heroes among anime fans. Though you gotta wonder if things got awkward when Travis had to voice a battle between Mustang and Lust, played by his wife Laura Bailey.
Thor – Marvel Avengers Assemble
Image credit: Marvel
Upon researching this article, I discovered that Travis is the voice of everybody’s favorite Asgardian god (or 2nd favorite if Loki is more your type) in several video games and cartoons. Just look at this list: Disney Infinity 3.0, Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight!, Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, Ultimate Spider Man, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., The Marvel Experience, Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload, Lego Marvel Superheroes, and…Phineas & Ferb? Really? Wow.
Fred-104 – Halo 5 Guardians
Image credit: Microsoft Studios
Frederic Ellsworth is one of the few surviving Spartan-II Commandos. He’s known for being a quick thinker and strong leader, but sometimes his empathy for wounded fellow soldiers can hinder him. He’s been on over 130 missions and is also one of 33 soldiers to have survived the brutal augmentation surgeries. Some advice? Don’t mess with Fred-104.
Knuckles the Echidna – Sonic Boom
Knuckles is the muscle behind Team Sonic in Sonic Boom. In this rendition of the character, Knuckles is physically taller and broader than he was originally conceived. In the TV series Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, Knuckles tries to convince Sonic to become his sidekick. That doesn’t go so well. Knuckles isn’t exactly famous for his tact. He may not always see eye to eye with Sonic, but he’s still one of the good guys.
Gazlowe – Heroes of the Storm
Image credit: Blizzard
Gazlowe originated at a level 60 quest giver in World of Warcraft, but became playable in his own right in Heroes of the Storm. Gazlowe is a goblin tinkerer who created his own war machine via an exoskeleton. In the game, he’s a Specialist who excels at clearing mercenary camps as well as zone control. He can fire gravity bombs, death lasers, rockets, and all sorts of fun explodey stuff. Plus he can build anything from a turret to an entire city.
Bonus: Hero Man – Shelf Life
Image credit: Monkey Kingdom Productions
If you’ve read this far, then you already know how delightful Travis is as Grog. But this isn’t the first time that he’s appeared in a web series created by voice actors. Another role in which you must see him is Hero Man in Shelf Life. The web series follows the hilarious misadventures of super hero action figures. It’s like Toy Story, but for adults. Naughty, naughty adults.
Travis can also be heard at King Roland in Sofia the First, Karax in StarCraft 2, Guile in Street Fighter IV and V, Superman in Lego Batman, Scabrous Scrotus in Mad Max (video game), and Reggie in Infamous: Second Son. As his career continues to grow, we’ll be listening.
For now, you can watch Travis play the beloved goliath Grog on Critical Role, Thursdays at 7pm PST on Geek & Sundry’s Twitch channel and again on Mondays at Geekandsundry.com.
Featured image credit: Pamela Joy Photography