With the conclusion of the highly anticipated third season of the animated series The Legend of Vox Machina, the talented Critical Role team, known for their immersive role-playing adventures, finds themselves reflecting on the beloved Vox Machina storyline while simultaneously casting their gaze forward to the future. Plans for a fourth season of the animated adaptation are brewing, alongside a new project aimed at capturing the essence of their second major D&D campaign. In an exclusive interview with Polygon, writer-producer Travis Willingham, the voice behind the goliath barbarian Grog Strongjaw, and fellow writers Marisha Ray (the half-elf druid Keyleth) and Liam O’Brien (the versatile elf Vax’ildan) shared insights into their various projects and the challenging decisions they face during development.
The creative team had an array of “regerts” and triumphs to discuss from season 3, particularly as they shift focus toward their next animated venture: Mighty Nein, an adaptation of Critical Role’s second major campaign. This transition sparked the opportunity to pose a challenging and thought-provoking question about their creative priorities and which project holds a special place in their hearts.
Polygon: Where are you at this point in developing the Mighty Nein animated series?
Travis Willingham: We have completed writing all of season 1, and the storyboards are in the process of being finalized. The production has moved to our overseas animation studio. We are now receiving animation tests, and the excitement builds as we see the characters come to life in vibrant colors. Extensive character designs have been developed, magical spells are being carefully crafted, and we are exploring diverse musical elements that will set it apart from Vox Machina.
It’s a thrilling stage of development, well past the halfway mark, and I firmly believe viewers will be thrilled with the final product. However, we aim to create a distinct tone for Mighty Nein. While Vox Machina commenced with a motley crew quickly thrown together in chaotic circumstances, we intend to take our time. In Mighty Nein, we plan to start from what is essentially a Session Zero perspective, allowing audiences to meet each character individually, understand their motivations, and explore how they come together as a party.
As any fan of the Mighty Nein campaign is aware, the characters themselves struggle to define their roles in the larger narrative, often unaware if they are the protagonists or antagonists. This dynamic presents an exciting avenue for exploration.
Marisha Ray: Exactly! When we first began, the characters were far from friendly.[[[[Everyone laughs]In fact, they had quite a bit of animosity between them.
What have three seasons of Legend of Vox Machina taught you that you’re taking into Mighty Nein from the beginning?
Willingham: The valuable lessons learned from Vox Machina cannot be overstated, particularly regarding animation. When featuring a diverse ensemble of seven characters, distributing focus effectively becomes a challenge. During the production of The Legend of Vox Machina, we had to creatively explore ways to separate the group or ensure that particular characters received emphasis in pivotal moments. Traditionally, tabletop players advocate for the mantra “Never split the party.” However, in animation, the opposite holds true: it’s essential to find every possible opportunity to showcase character individuality.
The need to split the party is not only practical but also enhances character focus, leading to a richer narrative experience.
Liam O’Brien: Interestingly, while some may think the developing shows influence our role-playing style, very little of that pressure exists. If you observe our current team, the Bells Hells crew, they embody a wonderfully bizarre combination of characters. At first glance, they seem like an unlikely group, raising questions about their cohesion. Our games consistently stem from a place of genuine fun; the storytelling is organic, and any moments that lend themselves to animation arise as a natural afterthought rather than a primary objective.
Ray: When diving into Mighty Nein, we felt a surge of excitement over the group’s eccentricities. We jested about their chaotic nature reminiscent of the Suicide Squad. Yet, Bell Hells took that chaos to an entirely new level! During the mini-series, a phrase we often invoke is, “Drive it like you stole it.” With limited episodes, it demands an intense commitment to storytelling.
This approach primarily reflects the challenges posed by shorter arc formats rather than significantly altering how we play our games. However, it does spark conversations about which moments would translate beautifully into animation.
So speaking of those series, Mighty Nein and Bells Hells, here’s the meanest question I can think of for you. Amazon comes to you with one big pile of money and says, “You can use this to finish Legend of Vox Machina as you imagined it, or make a Mighty Nein show, or make a Bells Hells show, or make an original show of your choosing — but only one of those, and nothing else, ever.” What do you choose?
O’Brien: A brutal question indeed! If I must choose, the thought of sacrificing one of our creations is daunting, yet captivating!
Willingham: Ha! What a ruthless question! If I had to decide, I believe I would go with Mighty Nein because we’ve already had the opportunity to explore and develop the Vox Machina story. Furthermore, I believe that the larger narrative realm would be enriched by diving into the adventures of Mighty Nein. Given that season 3 of Legend of Vox Machina concludes on a satisfying note, I feel comfortable moving forward, knowing we would enhance the universe through Mighty Nein.
O’Brien: That makes sense, and I concur!
Willingham: That was an exceptionally tough decision!
Ray: I wholeheartedly agree! The emotional weight of the decision is immense!
Willingham: I never wanted to face such difficult choices! It feels like the pressure of a heavyweight!
Ray: Imagining a grand scale production akin to Calamity with a substantial budget is an exciting prospect. Picture an adaptation with the same scale as Rings of Power—that would be a dream come true!
Willingham: Now I’m filled with regrets!
Ray: It’s alright! We’re exploring our options and ensuring we broaden our creative landscape!
O’Brien: While those ideas are fantastic, it’s tough to dismiss Vox Machina, the story that introduced us all to this journey. Though we cherish each project, that first narrative taught us the foundations of crafting captivating tales. I yearn to see them complete their journey.
Willingham: We’ve thoroughly addressed this dilemma. Thank goodness we can explore many paths!
The conclusion of The Legend of Vox Machina season 3 is available for streaming on Prime Video now.
Interview with Travis Willingham, Marisha Ray, and Liam O’Brien on The Mighty Nein Animated Series
Interviewer: Thank you all for joining us today! With the third season of The Legend of Vox Machina wrapped up, how excited are you about shifting your focus to adapting The Mighty Nein storyline?
Travis Willingham: It’s incredibly exciting! We’ve wrapped up the writing for season one and are finalizing the storyboards. The animation is underway, and it’s thrilling to see the characters come to life. We’re aiming for a distinct tone compared to Vox Machina, really diving into the individual character arcs.
Marisha Ray: Absolutely! The characters in Mighty Nein have this chaotic energy to them—they were never friendly at the start. We’ll take our time to explore their dynamics and how they evolve as a group, which will be different from the fast-paced nature of Vox Machina.
Interviewer: What valuable lessons from Vox Machina are you bringing into this new project?
Travis Willingham: One of the key lessons has been about balancing focus among a diverse ensemble. In a traditional tabletop setting, players are told not to split the party, but in animation, it’s often beneficial to do so to highlight individual character moments. We’re really committed to enriching the narrative through each character’s unique journey.
Liam O’Brien: It’s interesting because while the shows impact our role-playing, the core of what we do is about organic storytelling. The Bells Hells crew has taken the eccentricity to a whole new level, which adds even more depth to our narrative.
Interviewer: Speaking of depth, here’s a challenging question for you: if Amazon offered a large budget, allowing you to choose only one show to continue—Legend of Vox Machina, Mighty Nein, or an original project—what would it be?
Liam O’Brien: What a tough question! But if I must choose, I think I’d lean toward Mighty Nein as well. The opportunity to explore that story and enrich the universe is too good to pass up.
Travis Willingham: I agree! Vox Machina has had its moment, and I feel satisfied with its conclusion. Mighty Nein offers fresh adventures, and I believe it would resonate well with fans.
Marisha Ray: Same here! The weight of that decision is heavy, but I think we’re all eager to dive into new storytelling horizons with Mighty Nein.
Interviewer: Thank you all for your insights! It sounds like Mighty Nein is going to be a thrilling continuation of the world you’ve all built, and I’m sure fans can’t wait to see it come to life.
E’re in a place where our role-playing games still stem from pure fun, not the weight of adapting these stories. The character interactions in *The Mighty Nein* have some truly bizarre moments, and the improvisation is natural. The animation possibilities just enhance what we already enjoy.
Interviewer: That’s fascinating! If I could pose a hypothetical: if Amazon offered you to either finish *The Legend of Vox Machina* as you originally envisioned, or produce *Mighty Nein* or any other project—what would you choose?
Liam O’Brien: Wow, that’s a tough one! Each project holds its own treasure, but I’d probably lean towards *Mighty Nein*. It’s so rich and still relatively unexplored, and we believe that it can significantly expand this beloved universe.
Travis Willingham: I agree! We’ve had our journey with *Vox Machina*, which has been fulfilling, and now we want to breathe life into *Mighty Nein*. There’s so much potential and depth we can delve into, especially in exploring character roles.
Marisha Ray: Yes, and I see *Mighty Nein* as an incredible opportunity to showcase emotional growth and the complexities that come from these characters. Their chaotic beginnings create a contrast we’ll enjoy portraying on screen.
Interviewer: It sounds like there’s a strong sense of community and collaboration in your projects. As *Mighty Nein* progresses, how do you envision evolving your storytelling style from what you’ve done in *Vox Machina*?
Travis Willingham: Well, we’re approaching it with a more patient pace. Starting from a Session Zero perspective allows us to authentically introduce each character and their motivations. It creates this slower build-up that contrasts with *Vox Machina’s* more immediate chaos.
Liam O’Brien: It’s all about embracing the distinct tones of each series. Just because *Vox Machina* was frenetic doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the quieter moments in *Mighty Nein*—moments that may initially appear unimportant, but are pivotal for character development.
Interviewer: Thank you both for sharing your insights! Fans are eager to see what you create next. Any final thoughts you’d like to share with your audience as they await *Mighty Nein*?
Marisha Ray: We’re thrilled and already losing sleep over the fun and creative challenges ahead! We want to ensure everyone knows how much we cherish the storytelling journey, and we can’t wait to share it with all of you!
Travis Willingham: Absolutely! Every decision we make is with you, the fans, in mind. We’re committed to creating something memorable. Thank you for supporting us on this adventure!
Liam O’Brien: And remember, it’s just as thrilling for us as it is for you! Here’s to all the stories still waiting to be told!
