Fabio, the condescending scholar and right-hand man to Dietrich in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, has emerged as a fan favorite. Actor Jimmy Yamaguchi's performance has been widely praised, and he recently shared that his vocal inspiration for the character came from an iconic Disney villain: Scar from The Lion King.
Yamaguchi told Polygon that he initially aimed for a mid-Atlantic accent, suggesting someone who has lived in multiple locations. "One of the inspirations, at first, was Jeremy Irons," Yamaguchi said, referring to the actor who voiced Scar. He described an early reading where he adopted a tone reminiscent of Scar's dialogue, specifically a line where the villain refers to Simba as a "little hairball."
Fabio has become a standout character in the expansive strategy RPG since its release several weeks ago. Yamaguchi, who has also lent his voice to games such as Zenless Zone Zero, 2XKO, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelmingly positive reception Fabio has received from Fire Emblem fans. "It meant so much to me that people enjoyed it, that it meant something to people, that it made them tear up, or cry, or made them happy that I brought the character to life in such a positive way," he stated.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is currently available on Nintendo Switch 2.