The Critical Role founders have created a media empire that spans ten years of original actual play series. Beyond the original show, they have expanded into comics, novels, gaming, and animated series. In every storytelling avenue the founders have a hand on the wheel. Whether as an advisor giving notes on the comics and novels or an executive producer, writer, and actor in the animated series.
These stories stay true to the heart, soul, and narrative they tell throughout Exandria. “The Legend of Vox Machina” began their venture into animation as executive producers collaborating with a writer’s room, animation team, and other actors. The teams at Titmouse, Amazon, and beyond have worked with them to craft two animated series that honor and expand beyond the original story they told in their first two campaigns.
In an exclusive interview with Temple of Geek, Sung Jin Ahn reflects on working with Critical Role founders Travis Willingham and Sam Riegel. Willingham and Riegel are very hands-on executive producers who have written numerous episodes across all four seasons. He also discusses working in the writer’s room for the final two seasons.
Sung Jin Ahn Talks Working With Travis Willingham & Sam Riegel
Sung Jin Ahn:
Yeah, no. Sam and Travis and the rest of Critical Role, they’re so chill. They’re just super cozy accepting of anyone and everybody. So, I thought there would be a prerequisite when I first started working with them, but they’re like, “Please don’t. It’s so many hours of footage.” Luckily, they could just give us a download.
Temple of Geek: I feel like it’s probably helpful having people that are not as knowledgeable about the campaign working on the show because it would mean that you can come at it from different angles, but also more of a story focused angle and an art focused angle versus someone who’s like, “Well, we have to get this right because if we don’t have this from the campaign, then fans will be mad.” And it’s like, yeah, but this works better for the story.
Sung Jin Ahn:
Yeah, I think that’s exactly what Travis and Sam mentioned when we started back in season one. To me, it was like, it’s great that you are unexposed to it because they also recognize that there’s a whole different medium so there can be some organic evolution to the story and how we tell it. So yeah, absolutely.
Temple of Geek: Well, especially because there are changes from the campaign to this. I thought a lot of the changes in this season were really, really good. And even just Pike’s storyline overall is such a change because she wasn’t there as much. It’s great to actually see her have this progressive storyline that is not as much of her getting sidelined just logistically.
Sung Jin Ahn:
Yes. I concur. And fun fact, I’m like, I don’t know what the changes are because I’m just in the writer’s room of the show and luckily working so closely being the writer room too, as I’m developing the story. So I think their goal is always to just make a story that feels right, but also honors the fan, but also honors the audience moving forward of just something worth watching
Sung Jin Ahn Joined The Writers’ Room In The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4
Temple of Geek: How about because you’re in the writer’s room with them a lot, how has the not necessarily collaborative process with the Critical Role founders changed, but how has it maybe evolved as the season’s gone on as more of them have gotten more involved in the writing process?
Sung Jin Ahn:
Yeah, I mean it’s been really great for me to see because I didn’t really get involved in the writer’s room until I think season four and five. So, it’s an onboarding trajectory and I think that’s just a side of, oh, because it not only was a sign of trust, but they didn’t even realize I wanted to be in there. At first, I was too hesitant or shy to ask because usually every production’s different, but once I was like, “Hey, is it cool?” They’re like, “Oh yeah, sure.” I was like, “Dang, I should asked sooner.”
But I would say it was cool to witness their wisdom and experience and knowledge of what they’re thinking and actually writing and how it directly affects the picture or production of the picture because now Sam and Travis, they’re pretty much experienced in animation. They’ve made multiple scenes of the show. So in the beginning, it was the first time and they really was relying on us to guide them.
But now I think they’ve developed a lot of great senses of, “Okay, it’s this constant balance of what’s the best choice and what’s the biggest spectacle,” but now understanding there are some strategic limitations that we want to keep in mind. And it was cool when I got to join the writer’s room in season four or five, especially since I was there; they would constantly refer to me or constantly be like, “Okay, is this going to be feasible?” So it was a very thoughtful philosophy that I really appreciated them for adopting.
All four seasons of “The Legend of Vox Machina” are available on Prime Video now.
