DreamWorks Animation is set to release its all-new animated comedy, "The Bad Guys," on March 18. Based on the bestselling Scholastic children's book series by Aaron Blabey, the film follows the most notorious criminal crew in history: the suave mastermind Mr. Wolf (voiced by Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell), expert safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), the hot-headed "muscle" Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and the sharp-tongued hacker Ms. Tarantula, a.k.a. "Webs" (Awkwafina). After years of countless heists that have made them the world's most wanted villains, the gang is finally caught. To save them all from prison, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal he has no intention of keeping: The Bad Guys will go good. For the film's Mandarin-language release, popular new-generation singer-songwriters Chih Siou and Shi Shi Sun have been brought on to voice Mr. Piranha and Ms. Tarantula, respectively, marking their Hollywood animation debut.
Chih Siou Falls in Love with Voice Acting, Finds a Home with Animated Characters
Chih Siou, an avid fan of American and Japanese animation, expressed his excitement about his first foray into voice acting, calling the experience incredibly fun. He voices Mr. Piranha, a character whose impulsive and cool demeanor is a stark contrast to his own more rational and calculated personality. While initially nervous about the role, he did some mental preparation after the first test reading, allowing him to quickly adapt his performance to the director's feedback. He was full of praise for the profession, noting, "Everyone can talk, but transforming your voice to capture a character's personality, emotion, and dramatic tension is a real skill. This was an excellent training opportunity." He hopes to take on more voice work in the future. Known to his fans as "The President" and someone who feels more at home in a 2D world, Chih Siou said that simply seeing the animated characters in the studio made him feel a sense of belonging, completely dissolving his nervousness and allowing him to perform freely. He even joked that if his voice acting career takes off, he might just quit singing.
Shi Shi Sun's Deep, Sultry Voice a Perfect Match for Ms. Tarantula
Shi Shi Sun revealed that voice acting has always been something she wanted to try, and she feels grateful and lucky for the opportunity. She voices the genius hacker Ms. Tarantula, a character whose cool and slightly sultry exterior, warm heart, and low-pitched voice align perfectly with her own. However, Ms. Tarantula's eight-legged efficiency and rapid-fire speech patterns were a challenge to match. A lifelong animation fan, Shi Shi grew up singing along with cartoons and acting out scenes with her brother, a habit she continues even when watching dramas today. In the recording booth, she credited the voice director for his patient guidance, especially with the difficult task of matching the rhythm of English dialogue and conveying the right emotional highs and lows. The director coached her line by line, and by the end, his own voice was hoarse. Although Shi Shi's voice can get raspy, her experience as a singer helped her manage her vocal condition. "This was a whole different field," she said, expressing relief at having successfully completed the project. She also shared a funny tip for audiences: "Keep your eyes peeled for Ms. Tarantula, because she's so small you might hear her voice but not be able to find her on screen!" It was a problem she frequently encountered during recording, often asking the director, "Where is she?"
When asked which of the five infamous animals they fear most, Chih Siou picked the tarantula, noting that while the others are rarely encountered, spiders are a part of everyday life. Shi Shi confessed her fear of fish, finding the thought of sharks and piranhas eating people "absolutely terrifying and bloody." Finally, both artists recommended "The Bad Guys" to their fans, praising its unique art style, lovable rogue characters, and a story that is both humorous and touching. They added that the film shows anyone can choose to do good, and even bad guys can have a heart of gold.
Released by Universal Pictures, "The Bad Guys" hits theaters in Taiwan on March 18, ahead of the US release.
Both Mandarin and English versions will be available.