From Phineas and Ferb to Blue Lock: Héctor Ireta de Alba, the Mexican Voice Behind the Characters That Marked Your Childhood — and You Never Imagined

• Héctor Ireta de Alba: 26 Years of a Successful Career
• The Only Original Child Voice From Phineas and Ferb
• Protected Against AI in Mexico

The world of Spanish-language dubbing has voices that remain engraved in the collective memory of millions of people.

One of those talents is Héctor Ireta de Alba, who, at 30 years old, is celebrating more than two decades of uninterrupted work in voice acting.

In a revealing interview with Alonso Bañuelas for MundoNOW, the actor, director, and talent coordinator looked back on his beginnings in childhood, the evolution of his most iconic characters, such as Baljeet in Phineas and Ferb, and shared his position on the most intense debates currently facing the industry: the arrival of Artificial Intelligence and the inclusion of content creators or some singers in the field.

Héctor Ireta de Alba: His Beginnings in Dubbing

Héctor Ireta de Alba began in the world of commercial voice-over at age 4, inspired by his mother, who is a certified announcer.

Over time, he lent his voice to major brands and institutional projects before making the leap into formal dubbing. His first major leading character came with Austin in the third season of The Backyardigans, followed by Christopher Robin in My Friends Tigger & Pooh.

However, at age 11, he landed the role that would mark a before and after in his career: Baljeet in the hit Disney series Phineas and Ferb.

“I feel very fortunate that, 11 years after the series ended in October 2014, when the project returned a year ago, I was the only original child cast member who came back to record it as an adult,” Ireta explained, attributing this achievement to his wide vocal range.

“The producers wanted to hear me and asked me to do Baljeet’s voice. When they heard me, they said: ‘You still sound the same, it’s intact.’ As long as you know how to manage your voice, how to place it, don’t lose the rhythm, and keep working in this, you preserve it very well.”

The Anime Phenomenon and His Role as a Director: Héctor Ireta de Alba

In recent years, Ireta has established himself as a reference for the anime community thanks to his performances as Armin Arlert in Attack on Titan and Nagi in Blue Lock.

The actor highlighted the unique connection this audience has with Spanish-language voices: “Anime has the magic of telling very different stories. I get very excited to go to conventions because girls arrive who watched the series ten years ago, and now they come with a second generation, their children, who are also fans of these characters.”

In addition to working in front of the microphone, Héctor has successfully worked as a dubbing director and talent coordinator, a role he defines as a major responsibility.

“A director must coordinate the cast, adapt scripts, and supervise timing. I always try to call people who are punctual and dedicated, because in this industry, if you arrive late, they change the call. Fortunately, in my projects, there are almost no retakes, and that is something companies find wonderful about my work,” he said.

His Position on Artificial Intelligence and “Star Talents”

Faced with the growing global concern over the use of Artificial Intelligence in entertainment, Ireta expressed optimism about the future of his profession. “From my perspective, I don’t think voice dubbing is going to end. Personally, I haven’t felt affected; I didn’t lack work even at the most critical point of the pandemic, nor now with the arrival of AI,” he said.

The director highlighted the legal advantage that the guild has in his home country: “Fortunately, here in Mexico, legislation has already been passed and we are protected or covered. If they are going to use your voice or your image, they have to ask for your authorization and pay the corresponding rights.”

Finally, when asked about the trend among distributors of hiring influencers or celebrities without experience, known as “Star Talents,” to lead film projects, Ireta offered an empathetic and constructive view, distancing himself from the industry’s usual criticism.

“Sometimes they call them so the movie draws more attention, but you shouldn’t blame content creators if the result doesn’t convince the public, because this is not their field. Dubbing is very difficult; you have to read perfectly, act at the same time as the character on screen, and fit into an exact timing,” he explained.

Alfonso Herrera and Luis Manuel Ávila Surprised Him With Their Dubbing

Throughout his career as a director, Héctor Ireta de Alba has had the opportunity to guide figures who come from television or theater, and he has been pleasantly surprised by their level of commitment. One of the most satisfying cases for him was Luis Manuel Ávila, whom Ireta de Alba supported at a key moment before he became a global phenomenon.

“I started calling Luis Manuel Ávila, and he grew tremendously. I brought him back to dubbing in 2019 by inviting him to several projects. Just when the boom started on social media, where fans were making memes asking for him to be the new voice of Gohan in Dragon Ball, he was working with me on a Brazilian telenovela. He asked me what he could do, and I suggested he send all that digital support to the production; I also recommended him because the company had no idea he was already working with us. They considered him for the audition, he got the role, and today it is a source of pride to see his growth,” the director recalled.

Another artist who left a deep impression on Héctor because of his humility and professionalism was former RBD member Alfonso Herrera, whom he directed in a complex format process. “His acting, dedication, and the great momentum he had surprised me a lot. I had the chance to direct him in a self-dubbing process for the Spanish series Sitiados. Alfonso is a wonderful human being who lets himself be directed in an incredible way; he would always come over with total simplicity to ask me if the tone had worked or if I preferred another intention. He is a tremendous actor with enormous talent,” Ireta de Alba concluded.

The director closed by making clear that his doors are always open to new talent: “I don’t dislike people coming from other specialties, whether television, theater, or social media. On the contrary, I have invited many external people to participate, and I have always been open to teaching them along the way, which is exactly how I learned this wonderful craft.”

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