In a small, makeshift studio, essentially a corner decked with heavy blankets, a stool, a light, and a microphone—Joshua Moon brings fictional characters to life. It’s far from the glamorous recording studios of Hollywood, but this humble setup is where a remarkable journey in voice acting unfolds daily.
“Yeah, that’s my booth,” Moon says. “That is where the magic happens.”
Five years ago, Moon had no intention of becoming a voice actor. The soft-spoken Southerner, who grew up in a small Georgia town “where everybody knew everyone,” was initially pursuing criminal justice with dreams of becoming a private investigator. But a growing restlessness led him to question his path.
The turning point came unexpectedly when a friend introduced him to VRChat, a free online social platform. What began as casual gaming soon revealed Moon’s hidden talent for voice impressions—a talent he would often showcase alongside his little sister as they visited different virtual lobbies.
“People would tell us things like, ‘I was having a bad day, but then you two showed up, and it just made me smile,'” Moon recalls. These moments of connection sparked something in him. “It was as if a switch got flipped.”
After discovering a casting call for a fan project, Moon realized he could transform this newfound passion into a career. His first significant project was a fan dub of an old Sonic game, which, despite never being completed, ignited his love for character work. Later, a series called Kind World gave him his first experience with live direction.
“I was nervous,” he admits about that initial professional recording session. “But they were amazing, and I loved working on that project; it is still one of my favorites.”
Today, Moon’s routine revolves around his craft. His day begins by reviewing potential casting calls, planning his schedule, and moving between auditions. When recording for projects, punctuality is non-negotiable—”Time is money here, so being early is on time,” he emphasizes.
Preparation is key to Moon’s process. Before sessions, he performs vocal warm-ups including yawning, tongue and lip trills, and tongue twisters. He avoids dairy, spicy foods, and caffeine, which can affect performance. “I make sure I have plenty of water; trust me, that’s the most important thing,” he advises. “Then I say a quick prayer, and it’s time to dive into playing pretend.”
Getting into character requires imagination and technique. Moon uses what he calls “trigger words or phrases”—sentences or words he can say particularly well in a character’s voice—to jumpstart his performance. Physical posture also plays a role; for Ajax, a character from the series Rumors, Moon often leans over his microphone with arms crossed, embodying the character’s protective yet grumpy demeanor.
“I visualize myself as if I was the character looking at someone else and talking to them,” he explains. “I zone out from the microphone and allow myself to get lost in a made-up world in my mind. You really have to reach back to when you were a kid and would imagine the floor as lava.”
The industry isn’t without challenges. Moon points to “the silence,” as particularly difficult—the lack of feedback after countless auditions. “You’re rarely contacted to be told you didn’t make the cut,” he says. “You have to stay motivated and know that each audition brings you closer to a role that you fit.”
When asked about the impact of AI on voice acting, Moon offers a balanced perspective. While acknowledging the concerns, he remains confident in the irreplaceable human element of the craft. “AI will never replace people because those voices need people to fuel their creativity,” he asserts. “AI will never be original because it can only copy. We are the originals.”
For aspiring voice actors, Moon’s advice is heartfelt: “Find a reason or reasons you love voice acting and never forget it.” This passion sustains him through challenges and fuels his long-term vision—to one day voice characters in animated shows or movies that his future children could watch with pride.
What keeps Moon passionate after five years in the industry? “The joy I see when I’m able to bring someone’s character to life, and they get to hear my voice come out of it for the first time. Or a child when they hear their favorite cartoon character speak to them, as I do an impression.”
Joshua Moon represents something refreshingly authentic—a talent driven not by fame but by the simple joy of bringing characters to life and making others smile. From a small-town dreamer to a working voice actor, his journey reminds us that sometimes our true calling finds us in the most unexpected places.