Sean-Ryan Petersen Talks Victor and Valentino – Exclusive Interview

Sean-Ryan Petersen talks Victor and Valentino, from Cartoon Network, with BSCKids in an exclusive interview. We get to learn a lot about Sean-Ryan and find out some interesting information about his career. Victor and Valentino will return for fun in season 2, congratulations to the team for such a great show.

BSCKIDS: Sean-Ryan, tell us a bit about your role on the Cartoon Network show Victor and Valentino.

Sean-Ryan Petersen: I play Valentino the savvy, book smart, cautious, and calmer brother of the half-hermanos. He takes everything nice and slow breathing in the beauty of nature looking for that hint of cornflower blue. He enjoys taking photos, admiring architecture, collecting rare coins, typewriter keys, and to a lesser degree saving Vic from some deranged beast. Valentino finds himself in some insane adventures and crazy hijinks usually involving some ancient mesoamerican inspired artifact, monster, or being rooted in traditional Latino culture and folklore. All of these wonderful adventures come from the mastermind and Victor’s VA (voice actor) Diego Molano, creator of Victor and Valentino.

Do you have anything in common with the character Valentino?

I have a lot of common with Valentino. So much so it is an ongoing joke with Diego on where Val ends and Sean-Ryan begins. We are both more book smart than street smart and enjoy the little things in life. I love to take things slow, enjoy the scenery, but I am sometimes, reluctantly, still down to go on an adventure to discover something new.

Were you able to watch the short of the show that aired in 2016 before you tried out for the role?

When I auditioned for the role of Victor first then Valentino I did have the short available to me. To have a short to watch is amazing in terms of audition prep and helps give a general idea of the show, the tone, and helps with your character interpretation.

Knowing that Rico Rodriguez voiced the pilot, how hard was it following him up as Valentino? Did you get to talk to him at all?

I did not get a chance to meet the wonderfully talented Rico Rodriguez when auditioning for the role of Valentino. In actuality the auditions for the characters went out 2 years after the initial pilot I believe. When following up a previous performance, it is part of our profession to research what the previous actor did and not try to copy it, but build from it. His performance actually served as a start for my own interpretation of Valentino.

What do you find to be most interesting about Monte Macabre?

What isn’t there to find interesting in Monte Macabre. What appears to be a small albeit beautifully designed town in terms of architecture hides many artifacts, mythical beasts, creatures, and ancient beings of Mesoamerican culture. There will be a lot to look forward to in the coming episodes of Victor and Valentino.

What has been your favorite show to guest star on and why?

My favorite show to guest star on was Game Shakers mainly because that was my first time being on a major network’s set for on camera acting. It was an incredible experience and the cast and crew were amazing to work with.

If you could guest star on a show you haven’t been on which one would it be and why?

I would have loved to guest star on Game of Thrones or one of their future spin-offs. They film in some beautiful locations and I absolutely love traveling the world. Besides that I really do like the show because of the sheer volume of talented and amazing actors and actresses on it.

Do you find being in front of the camera or voice acting to be harder?

I got into acting because I wanted to be a voice on TV so I may have my own bias in this answer, but I believe that voice acting is harder than on camera acting. To be a professional voice actor you need to be able to do more than your own voice to be successful. On any given day you will receive multiple auditions asking for 6 different personalities, voices, or beast noises. Yes you will be asked to play monsters from a dragon to a zombie to a tiny mouse that should sound like he has the courage of a lion while still making only mouse noises.

Besides Victor and Valentino what are some of your favorite animated show?

Animation is something I hold near and dear to my art and list of favorite shows expands high into the sky and back down, but to name a few I love Pokemon movies and series, I love Digimon, Yu-gi-oh, Codename Kids Next Door a classic CN project. Animated films like Star Wars the Clone Wars done by Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of Samurai Jack). Animation is just what I grew up on.

Tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you.

Something people don’t generally know about me or would be surprised to know is that I also love Japanese animation or anime. From more obscure series to classics such as Cowboy Bebop I enjoy watching anime and would love to one day work on one for the dub. To add to this I also speak Japanese semi-conversationally and have visited during one Spring Break and really was able to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms.

Tell us a bit about your work with Children’s Hospital and No Kid Hungry.

In the past I have gone to many Children’s Hospital events to use my influence to bring awareness and raise money to help the children affected by these diseases to help give them a chance at life and a bright beautiful future. While I have not been directly involved with No Kid Hungry I support their message because no child should ever go hungry, which is why I have my own family run charity known as the “Petersen Charity Club” in which we take food to tabernacles and shelters to feed the less fortunate that stay there.

Anything new you want to tell us about what you have coming up in the future?

I actually have some personal projects coming up in the future that, while I cannot divulge into what they are, will be some very fun projects that I hope everyone enjoys, I have put a lot of love into them and last but not least some new shows I will be 😀