Houston – Fans know Vic Mignogna as the voice behind some of anime’s most recognizable characters, but when he stopped by Houston Life, the conversation went far beyond voice acting.
The actor, producer, musician and director appeared ahead of this weekend’s Anime Matsuri at the George R. Brown Convention Center, where he’s appearing as a featured guest. Mignogna also shared stories from his decades-long career, his passion for creating, and why Houston continues to hold a special place in his heart.
Anime Matsuri is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and Mignogna says organizers have worked to make the event more accessible for fans. One of the biggest highlights is free admission to the vendor hall from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, giving visitors a chance to browse merchandise and meet exhibitors without purchasing a convention pass.
“I’ve done 1,500 or maybe 2,000 conventions in my life, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this,” Mignogna said. “The people that run the show are very committed to making it the best experience for the fans.”
While millions of fans recognize his voice from more than 400 anime series and video games, including Dragon Ball, Pokémon, Naruto, Bleach and One Piece, Mignogna admitted he can usually blend into a crowd until he starts talking.
One of his proudest accomplishments, however, isn’t animated at all.
Mignogna created and starred in Star Trek Continues, a fan-produced web series that completes the original five-year mission from the classic Star Trek television series. Portraying his childhood hero, Captain James T. Kirk, became a labor of love that brought together talented actors, filmmakers and artists to produce 11 episodes.
Today, the series has amassed nearly 22 million views online.
“I decided to fulfill my childhood dream,” he said. “I’m very proud of the work that we did.”
Despite a career spanning more than 25 years, Mignogna says his motivation has never been fame or financial success.
“Everything that I’ve ever done has been out of love and passion for the craft,” he said. “I never asked how much I was going to get paid or if I was going to be famous.”
That philosophy began in Houston, where he was working in video production when someone encouraged him to audition for a small company dubbing Japanese anime. What started as a fun opportunity eventually became a career that introduced his work to fans around the world.
The conversation also turned to another creative influence: music.
Mignogna, who writes, produces and plays piano by ear, recalled meeting one of his musical heroes, Barry Manilow. During a backstage meet-and-greet, he shared that Manilow had inspired him to begin playing piano as a teenager. To his surprise, the legendary performer encouraged him to send along some of his original music.
Back in Houston, Mignogna said he even wrote commercial jingles for local advertising agencies, including work for Academy Sports + Outdoors.
The interview also offered a glimpse into his life with wife and former KPRC 2 anchorDominique Sachse. The couple, who frequently collaborate on creative projects, say they understand one another because they’ve each built careers centered on storytelling and content creation.
“We talk the same language,” Mignogna said. “She’ll show me something she’s creating, and I’ll give her feedback. I’ll do the same with my projects.”
Sachse even joined the show by phone while driving to Houston, saying the pair are passionate about their work because it never feels like work.
“What we share is a passion for what we do,” she said. “It feels like fun and play.”
As for this weekend’s convention, Mignogna says there’s plenty for fans to look forward to, including celebrity guests, panels and a special reunion celebrating the Netflix series Vampire Knight.
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