VIXEN’s Megalyn Echikunwoke on Mari’s Journey: ‘This is Her Moment of Discovery’

DC Comics’ latest TV offering is a bit different than what is currently airing in that genre: not only is VIXEN a CW Seed (AKA online/app) exclusive, but the series is also animated. But because it exists in the current DC universe, some familiar characters (and their portrayers’ voices) will pop up in the first six installments of VIXEN.

As for the title superhero, when the show finds Mari/Vixen, she’s just starting to use the powers she’s gained from her inherited Tantu Totem. “Mari’s power is super cool, and it’s super cool how she uses the spirits of animals,” Megalyn Echikunwoke (Mari/Vixen) teased. “It’s a really cool superhero power.”

I spoke with Echikunwoke about joining the DC universe, Vixen’s journey, and more…

How much did you know about the DC TV universe before you joined VIXEN?
Megalyn Echikunwoke: To be honest, not very familiar. A little familiar, but not very familiar.

What did they give you to help you catch up?
ME: Nothing. [Laughs] I think that’s an actor’s work: you have to do your own research. It was only after I got the job I realized how super cool it is. And how excited the fans are for this character. That is what is really cool.

What research did you end up doing?
ME: Just watching the shows. Going back and getting a sense of who Vixen was — she’s been around, she’s existed, but she’s more of a pure character in the world. [I] familiarized myself with what The CW is doing currently, and who Vixen was when she was first introduced into the comic books.

What can you say about Vixen’s journey in the series?
ME: In the first installment of six episodes, the audience is going to be discovering along with her. She starts this first episode kind of lost, she doesn’t know who she is, she kind of just discovers her power and her identity through the first installment. By the end, that’s when she claims her identity. This is her moment of discovery, this first installment.

Who does she lean on during this transition?
ME: She’s kind of a lone wolf, which is one of the cool things about her. But she does meet the Arrow and the Flash; they come find her, and help her understand who she is and how important a character she is.

She does actually have a family. She’s an orphan, but she has foster parents who kind of help her say yes to this. She has a lot of anger and a lot of frustration at the beginning, which is the thing I think is interesting about her: her journey.

What was the recording process like for doing Mari’s voice?
ME: Kind of do it all at once.  They’re pretty small [episodes]; they’re five minute webisodes. They did it all as one story, and then they chop it up.

I was all alone [recording]. We all kind of did it remotely. I didn’t get to meet [Stephen Amell (Oliver/Arrow)] or [Grant Gustin (Barry/Flash)], sadly. It’s all based on availability, and geographical location. So unless all the actors are in the same city, it’s probably not going to go down [together]. And even if they are, it’s just so easy to patch vocals in, you can do it from anywhere.

How did having to rely only on your voice change your approach to acting?
ME: It actually doesn’t change all that much, except for I don’t have to get my hair and makeup done to do the voice [work]! I get to go into the sound booth and no one sees my no-makeup look, which is good.  It’s actually very refreshing.

But in terms of how you use your body, it’s actually very similar; voice acting, you have to put your whole body into it. It’s actually more physical in a way, than acting on camera, because no one can see you, so you have to put it all into your voice.

What’s the process of trying to vocalize the stunts Mari does?
ME: That is kind of tricky, but it’s more fun than anything. You’re doing these stunts, but you’re really just grunting and making little effort noises. It’s kind of fun!

What kinds of conversations have you had with the producers about Mari’s role in the DC world going forward?
ME: I think there’s a lot of possibilities. It’s all contingent on how this first installment goes. If it’s really well received, I think there’s plans for more episodes, and maybe, eventually, some sort of live-action kind of thing. But it’s all unclear, and it’s all up to the fans.

Since it is living online, what special steps are you doing to draw attention to the premiere?
ME: [Monday was] my day of Tweeting and Instagramming. We’re doing a lot of pres…I’m going to continue as the weeks go on. I’m going to get the word out, as much as possible, because obviously I want it to go forward, and I want people to be excited about this.

Given the evolving landscape, when you see a project isn’t going to traditional television, does that change anything for you?
ME: I guess it depends on the project. For something like this, it’s a new age of how we consume entertainment. It’s so different. It’s kind of a new frontier. I’m just happy to be a part of a cool, interesting project, wherever it is, wherever people will consume that. As new platforms emerge, as long as it’s available, people will find it.

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VIXEN’s first episode is streaming on CW Seed now.

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