Rosearik Rikki Simons

Rikki Simons, also known as Rosearik Rikki Simons, is an American voice actor, writer, graphic novelist, and artist. His best-known work as the voice of GIR in the Nickelodeon animated series, Invader Zim. Simons has also written a number of novels and comic series, often working with his wife, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.

Rosearik Rikki Simons
Simons in May 2019
Born
Rosearik Rikki Allen Simons

(1970-09-08) September 8, 1970
Fontana, California, U.S.
Other namesRikki Simons
OccupationVoice actor, artist, writer
Years active1995–present
Spouse(s)Tavisha Wolfgarth (1994–present)

Biography

Invader Zim and other voice work

Simons was the color designer for the animated TV show Invader Zim, and also voiced the robot character of GIR on the show.[1] Show creator Jhonen Vasquez wanted someone with no experience in voice acting to play the part of GIR, as a reflection of how broken and messed up GIR really is.[2] Vasquez was disappointed with actors who auditioned for GIR saying they were "good actors" who just did a "stock crazy robot voice". Simons was Vasquez's friend and was working on I Feel Sick with him, and he asked Simons to try to audition for GIR, saying he "couldn't screw it up anymore than anyone else".[3]

Simons did a few different voices for his audition for GIR, including one where he was trying to imitate his mother-in-law, but decided it was too "shrieky". He then remembered when he used to play with hand puppets with his father as a kid and tried to do one of those voices. Vasquez said he gave Simons the part of GIR because he was "bad at it", and that fit the character.[4] When voicing GIR, Simons' voice was edited to make it sound higher-pitched and metallic. While Simons eventually learned to perform the voice without the high-pitch editing, the metallic quality still had to be added. Unedited versions of Simons' voice-overs can be heard in voice recordings for the unfinished episodes.[5]

Simons said in a 2004 interview that he approached the role of GIR "by pretending (which didn't take much effort) that it wasn't a job... A lot of people comment that I sound like I was just making things up on the spot. That's partly true, but I'm not a voice actor... while I did the voice-actor thing of taking his direction on inflection and I read the lines provided, I was really having the best time ever just yelling and screaming and being stupid."[1]

Simons reprised his role of GIR in a number of video games and in a 2019 movie, Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus.[6] In 2011, Nickelodeon approached Rikki Simons, the voice of GIR, about doing some animated shorts revolving around GIR. While Simons was open to reprising his role, nothing ever came of these shorts for unknown reasons.[7][8] During an Invader Zim panel at Long Beach Comic Con 2019, Simons said the reason why these GIR shorts never went anywhere might have been because "It's kinda weird to do GIR by himself. I don't know what that would be."[9]

Simons was also involved in the Invader Zim comic series; he was credited as a writer in issue #0 of the Invader Zim comic series as well as a colorist for two issues.

Simons has gone on to other voice acting roles, including on the cartoon Mighty Magiswords.[6]

Comics and writing

Simons has written multiple novels and comics. Many of these are illustrated or co-illustrated by Simon's wife, illustrator Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.

Works

Acting

Unless stated, all roles below are voice acting.

Work Format Date(s) Character(s) and other notes Notes and citations
Invader Zim Television 2001–2006 GIR, Bloaty, and various background characters [6]
NieA_7 Television 2007 Bobby Part of the English dub; the original anime was released in 2000.[6][10]
SpongeBob and Friends: Attack of the Toybots Video game 2007 GIR from Invader Zim [6]
SpongeBob SquarePants featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom Video game 2008
Nicktoons MLB Video game 2011
Touch Short film 2013 Levy On-screen role[6]
The Norm Short film 2014 Norm, the main character
Mighty Magiswords Television 2017–2018 Multiple characters Appeared in 7 of the 91 episodes[6]
Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus TV film 2019 GIR; Bloaty [6]
The Inspector Chronicles Film Not yet released T.A.R.V.I.S. Announced, but filming has not begun.[6]

Colorist

Writer
  • ShutterBox (writer, co-artist) (2003–2005)
  • Super Information Hijinks: Reality Check! (1995–2002) - comic book series, illustrated by Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons
  • Ranklechick and His Three-Legged Cat (2006) - novel, with illustrations by Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons[11]
  • Trinkkits - webcomic
  • Hitherto a Lion (2011) - novel, with illustrations by Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[12]

References
  1. Tierney, Adam (September 2, 2004). "An Interview with Jhonen Vasquez and Rikki Simons". IGN.
  2. "107 Invader Zim Facts Everyone Should Know-(ToonedUp #170) ChannelFrederator". Channel Frederator. July 29, 2016.
  3. "Episode 27: The Invader Zim Cast Nick Animation Podcast". Nickelodeon Animation Podcast. January 6, 2017.
  4. "Episode 14: Jhonen Vasquez Nick Animation Podcast". Nickelodeon Animation Podcast. August 12, 2016.
  5. Powell, Dougie (November 23, 2017). "25 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Invader Zim". TheGamer. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  6. "Rikki Simons". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  7. "Invader Zim - What Ever Happened to... ChannelFrederator (Ep. 1)". Channel Frederator. February 8, 2017.
  8. "107 Invader Zim Facts Everyone Should Know-(ToonedUp #170) ChannelFrederator". Channel Frederator. July 29, 2016.
  9. "Long Beach Comic Con 2019 Invader Zim Enter The Florpus Panel". September 11, 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019 – via YouTube.
  10. "NieA_7 (TV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  11. Simons, Rikki (2006). Ranklechick and His Three-Legged Cat. Lulu.com. ISBN 1411675797.
  12. Simons, Rikki (2011). Hitherto a Lion. Rikkitikki Tavicat. ISBN 0692693696.
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