A Dubbing Director’s Journey with Her Son

Fifteen years. It feels like a lifetime, but it’s also gone by in the blink of an eye. Fifteen years of working as a dubbing director in Romania, spending countless hours in the studio, breathing life into animated characters and making stories accessible to audiences in their native language. Fifteen years of challenges, creativity, and growth.

But my story isn’t just about my professional journey - it’s about the profound joy and pride I’ve felt sharing this part of my life with my son, Sa?a.

When I began my career (by accident), I didn’t know how much this work would shape my personal life. I didn’t know that the voices I lent to cartoons as a voice actor, the projects I directed, and the worlds I helped create would become a part of my son’s childhood. Back then, I was simply pursuing my passion - making stories come alive through the power of voice and performance.

But then came Sa?a, and everything changed.

I remember the first time I saw him react to one of my dubbed characters on screen. He was so little, his face glued to the TV, laughing at a cartoon character that, unbeknownst to him at the time, was voiced by his mom. As he grew older, he started to notice. One day, while watching his favorite show, he looked at me and said, wide-eyed, “Is that you?”

I laughed and nodded, and from that moment, it became a source of pride for him.

I’ll never forget the day we went to kindergarten, to a party for kids and their parents, and told his classmates, “That’s my mom’s voice in that cartoon!” He said it with so much excitement that it melted my heart. His teachers later told me how animated he was when explaining what I did for a living, and I couldn’t help but smile at the irony: my work had brought characters to life for him, and now he was bringing my work to life for others.

As he grew older, this pride continued. When he started school, he loved pointing out my work to his friends. “My mom voices that character!” became something he’d casually say, and seeing his joy filled me with a sense of accomplishment that no award or recognition ever could.

But it wasn’t just about him recognizing my work - it was about the way it strengthened our bond.

Sharing our Worlds

Being a dubbing director and voice actor has always required me to stay in tune with the world of kids and young audiences. I have to know what they laugh at, what they care about, and what stories resonate with them. For years, my job helped me understand the ever-changing interests of children and teens. But having Sa?a gave me a deeper, more personal connection to this world.

As he got older, he became my link to his generation. He’d show me what he loved - new characters, funny trends, and even silly sounds that he found hilarious. And somewhere along the way, our worlds started to overlap.

When TikTok became the new thing, he pulled me into it. At first, I was skeptical. It seemed chaotic and too fast-paced for me. But then we started making videos together, blending his creativity and my knowledge of performance. It became our thing, a place where we could play, collaborate, and just have fun.

He taught me what kids his age loved, from the latest dance trends to the memes they couldn’t stop sharing. And I, in turn, shared my knowledge of voice, timing, and storytelling. It became a true collaboration - a way for us to connect and understand each other better.

A Full-Circle Moment

Through all of this, my work and my relationship with Sa?a have become deeply intertwined. My job isn’t just about directing voice actors or ensuring that lip-sync matches perfectly - it’s about creating something meaningful for audiences of all ages, including my own child.

Every time I step into the studio, I think about him. I think about what kids like him would enjoy, what would make them laugh or feel inspired. I approach my work with the awareness that it could be shaping someone’s childhood - just like it shaped his.

What’s truly remarkable is how much my work has come full circle. For years, I tried to bring joy to kids through the characters I directed and voiced. Now, as Sa?a grows older, he helps me stay connected to his world, so I can continue doing that. It’s a beautiful exchange, and it reminds me that creativity doesn’t just flow one way—it’s a shared journey.

“I Grew Up with Your Voice”

A few weeks ago, a young adult walked into the studio for a casting session. He looked eager, with that nervous excitement that so many young actors have when they first step into the world of dubbing. As we chatted, he suddenly said, “I grew up with your voice.”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Part of me thought, Wow, am I that old already? But as I looked at him, I realized how deeply meaningful those words were.

This person, standing in front of me, wasn’t just another aspiring actor - he was someone whose childhood had been shaped, in some small way, by my work. It was humbling and surreal to realize that the stories I had helped bring to life had left a mark on someone else’s life.

I thought about my son at that moment. For years, I’d been focused on how my work shaped his childhood, how proud he was to recognize my voice. But hearing those words from a stranger reminded me that my work reached far beyond my own little family. It was a powerful moment of perspective, one that filled me with gratitude and renewed purpose.

The Bigger Picture

Looking back on the past 15 years, I feel nothing but gratitude. Gratitude for a career that allows me to tell stories and connect with audiences. Gratitude for the talented teams I’ve worked with, who share my passion for creating magic through voice. But most of all, gratitude for the way this work has enriched my relationship with my son.

Seeing his pride in what I do has been the greatest reward of all. It reminds me that the work we do, no matter how small it might seem in the grand scheme of things, can have a profound impact on the people we love.

Fifteen years in this industry has taught me that storytelling isn’t just about characters and scripts - it’s about connection. It’s about finding common ground, bridging generations, and creating moments of joy.

For me, the greatest story I’ve ever been part of isn’t in a cartoon or an animated film. It’s the one I’m living every day with my son - one where my passion became his pride, and where his world continues to inspire mine.

And I can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us.