Kevin Afghani Fire & Ice RGX 2026 Interview – Iconic VA Talks Growth & “Just Doing It”

Voicing Genshin Impact’s Ask-Me-For-Directions Arnold, Rivals of Aether II’s Forsburn, and legendary plumbers like Mario and Luigi, Professional Voice Actor Kevin Afghani has touched countless lives across many iconic properties.

We recently spoke with Kevin Afghani at Fire & Ice RGX 2026 about his rich line of work and the importance of “just doing it” – learn more with our interview…

Kevin Afghani Fire & Ice RGX 2026 Interview – Iconic VA Talks Growth & “Just Doing It”

Gamers Heroes

All right, rock and roll. Let’s kick things off with some praise! 

You’ve been in so much, and do such great work.

I especially love your work in Super Mario Bros. Wonder – I even gave it a perfect score on Metacritic! 

I actually have a projector at home – playing through as Mario (of course!), my cat Sassy followed my whole journey through the Flower Kingdom. 

It was great!

Talking about your work, how has your previous experience across different properties like Genshin Impact or Dragon Ball R&R helped develop your voice acting tool set?

Kevin Afghani 

A lot of those! Especially because one of those is a fan project…

I think it’s a really important stepping stone – I met a lot of my friends doing it. 

We really push each other to become better actors, better people, and better performers.

I think those like stepping stones are really, really important! They let me go into the booth, do my thing, and be a goober.

Gamers Heroes

You’ve got to embrace the gooberness! I hear you.

Kevin Afghani 

It definitely helped me get my sea legs in the booth and helped me overcome the nervousness.

You know, it can be intimidating to go and record for professional gaming!

Gamers Heroes

I totally understand! It sounds like you’ve built up a toolbox over time.

Is there something in your toolbox – Kevin’s toolbox – that you’re especially proud of? 

Kevin Afghani 

I like to be fun, and I like to be funny – those are my two favorite things to be in the booth. 

Sometimes I’m a bit too funny – and they have to bring me back down. 

I don’t know if that’s possible! 

Sometimes, every once in a while if I’m coming off the coattails of something really fun, happy, and exciting…

You go to the next job – and you’re supposed to be serious; it’s all dark. 

We just still have that happy! I like to think that I have infectious energy – I have a silliness to me!

Gamers Heroes

I like infectious and silliness!

I try to do that too – it’s like,

“Come along for the journey!” 

On that note, is there a piece of advice you wish you tell your past self when it comes to the world of voice acting?

Like, “Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the signs?”

Kevin Afghani 

This goes out to everybody who’s thinking about doing voiceover: It doesn’t matter how small, it doesn’t matter how little, it doesn’t matter what kind or what capacity…

Just start doing it!

The more that you do it, the more comfortable you’ll get doing it! 

You’ll meet friends, you’ll meet people, you guys will uplift each other into the world of voice over. 

Just go for it and have fun!

Gamers Heroes

I love throwing myself into things too!

One thing I love too is how voice actors always build each other up.

Talking Genshin, I did previously interview Zach Aguilar. Before the interview he did a Super Battle Golf stream with his co-stars. 

The silliness and infectiousness was just great! 

Kind of a segue, but are there any voice actors you especially admire that you grew up with, say on Toonami, or – of course! – Dragon Ball Z – that made you say:

“I want to do that!”

Kevin Afghani 

I’s going to be really cheesy and a little bit of a cop out, but I admire my friends a lot! 

They have skills that I don’t have and have abilities that I admire and want to strive to be.

Every time I’m on a new game, or anytime I meet my co-stars in a game, I’m enamored with how talented they are!

It inspires me to be better!

Gamers Heroes

All good!

About to say, we love them all – we’ll all go even further beyond!

Kevin Afghani 

Yeah! 

There are very few voice actors that are not unbelievably talented and unbelievably nice.

Gamers Heroes

I’ll co-sign that one!

Everybody here at Fire & Ice RGX obviously, but all Voice Actors I’ve met have just been so incredible. 

On that note, another segue…what are some of your favorite community stories? 

You got your fans! I know you have fan artwork, and I was just at your panel yesterday. 

They’re there for you, from Mario to other properties. 

What are some of your favorite community stories across all the different properties you’ve done?

Kevin Afghani 

I really like it when people like dig deep and bring up some of the more niche things!

Like,

“I really liked you in this obscure fan thing that was 10 billion years ago.”

I just get so excited – it’s so fun!

I just like hearing about how people are enjoying themselves playing games that I play. 

It makes me really happy, because I know how important these games are to me. It makes me smile to know that they’re also important to others.

Gamers Heroes

And they’re smiling right back! 

On one last note, I was just at Summer Game Fest – and GDC before that.

A number of people, from developers to content creators to even press like me, want to get into the Voice Acting space themselves.

I’ve asked this question to different voice actors, and they’ve all given me a different answer. Not necessarily a wrong answer, but different answers nonetheless.

What would you personally suggest to those looking to enter the voice acting space? 

Some say you should do fan dubs on places like Newgrounds, others suggest iwanttobeavoiceactor.com.

Courtney Lin suggested drama!

Of course, just do it, as you said…we’ll build on that!

Kevin Afghani

I’m going to double down and say, 

“Just do it! Just go for it and learn!”

Obviously, be open to learning and growing as an actor.

I think as an actor, you never stop growing. There’s never a lack of experience to pull from as an actor.

And again, “Just do it!” 

You would be shocked at how many animators want to animate – but they don’t have voice actors.

And how many voice actors are like – “I want to be in things, but I can’t animate.”

And how many writers are like – “Man I want to write things, but I can’t animate, and I can’t voice act.”

All these people are just doing it by themselves, and wishing that they had all these other people – but they all want each other! 

You’ve got this wealth of people with who you can collaborate with.

In short, it’s not going to be an AAA title; you’re not going to be in a $50 million-billion dollar game instantly. 

But you get to do those things, and you get to have those experiences.

Some of my best experiences – some of my best friends – are from those types of programs.

So…

“Just do it, just do it!”

Gamers Heroes

I love it – Shia LaBeouf-style!

About to say, you just clocked me age-wise with that reference! [laughs]

But I follow that same advice – and that’s how we’re here talking right now! 

Nothing but respect for you and your work – thank you for the time.

Pleasure was all mine!

Kevin Afghani 

Thank you so much!

For those feeling social, be sure to follow Kevin Afghani on Twitter/X and Instagram!

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