In Disney’s Pretty Freekin Scary, Yonas Kibreab plays regular character Remy Ripp alongside Eliana Su’a as his on-screen sister Frankie. Yonas joined Series 2 of the live-action DC fantasy series Sweet Tooth, and he had his first major screen role as Luna in the Blumhouse film Blood Moon, which was one of the first productions to shoot during the COVID pandemic. As a voice actor, Yonas plays the lead role of Phinny in the Disney Junior series Pupstruction, and he voices Damian Wayne / Little Batman in the Merry Little Batman film. With the success of Merry Little Batman, there will be a new spin-off series next year with Yonas reprising his role, and at the D23 Expo, it was announced that Yonas will be starring as Elio in the Disney Pixar film Elio, with a summer 2025 release. We chatted to Yonas about playing regular character Remy Ripp in Pretty Freekin Scary, voicing Phinny in Pupstruction and working on Merry Little Batman as Damian Wayne / Little Batman.

You played regular character Remy Ripp in Pretty Freekin Scary for Disney, was there anything that drew you to the character and what was he like to play?

I loved playing Remy. Remy was a character that was exactly like my own personality. So I just had to be myself. Playing Remy was also fun, because the storylines were so much fun and allowed me to be funny and silly.

Can you tell us about Pretty Freekin Scary and Remy, and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role?

Disney’s Pretty Freekin Scary was an amazing show and my first Disney show as a series regular. I loved working with the amazing cast and crew, the writers and all the executives of the show. Remy was the little brother to Frankie Ripp, played by Eliana Su’a, and he was a typical little brother that was in his older sister’s business.

I actually did the first self-tape audition in New Zealand, I was there working on the Netflix show Sweet Tooth. A few weeks later, when I returned to Los Angeles, I received a callback audition and went through the usual process of producer sessions, network test and finally chemistry test with the other actors that were being considered for the other roles. So after working on Sweet Tooth for five months in New Zealand, I was so fortunate to go straight into a new series. I had auditioned for several Disney projects and to finally book one felt amazing.

What was it like on set of the series and how was it filming alongside Eliana Su’a as your on-screen sister Frankie and with the rest of the cast?

I wish for every young actor to experience working on a Disney show. It is such a great experience. You learn so much about the process of how multi-cam shows are made. Also, Disney is really good at creating a nurturing environment that makes the young actors feel heard and safe. But, being in a series is hard work. You are expected to be professional and to come prepared to set.

Working with Eliana Su’a and the rest of the cast was great. We quickly became like a family on set and got along really well. We all still keep in touch. I will always treasure my time on the show and working with all of the cast and crew.

How is it working on the live-action DC fantasy series Sweet Tooth?

Working on a live-action DC fantasy series was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The show was being made in New Zealand, so I got to move to NZ for five months, which made it such an overall amazing experience. In addition, I was very fortunate to work alongside amazing actors from all over the world.

What was it like joining the show in Series 2 and how much did you know about Sweet Tooth before auditioning?

I was a huge fan of the show. My mom and I binge-watched Season 1 and shortly after finishing the series, I was so surprised to get an audition for Season 2. I felt fortunate to get an audition, but it is always a long process to go from the initial audition to booking a role. So when I finally got the role and flew out to Auckland, NZ, it all became real. Working on Season 2 was very special and I made lifelong friends and learned so much.

What do you remember most from playing Luna in the Blumhouse film Blood Moon for your first major screen role?

Blood Moon was my first major role, and I am very grateful for Blumhouse, Emma Tammi (director) and Melissa Kostenbauder (casting director) for giving me the opportunity at such a young age. I remember that Blood Moon was one of the first productions to shoot during the COVID pandemic, so it was all a new and very different experience. What I remember most was that working on my first movie was so much fun and I felt no pressure at all as both Megalyn Echikunwoke (my mom in the film) and Emma Tammi were so patient and fun to work with.

As a voiceover actor, you voice the lead role of Phinny in the Disney Junior series Pupstruction, what does a typical day in the recording studio look like for Pupstruction and what do you enjoy most about being part of the series?

A typical day recording a VO episode starts with receiving the script a few days in advance. I go through the script ahead of time. On the day of recording the episode, we usually record in a studio in Burbank, CA. The sessions are directed by a director, and Pupstruction is directed by the amazing Collette Sunderman. A typical episode will take two to three hours to record, and sometimes the whole cast will be in the studio recording. I really enjoy working on VO and to work on a successful Disney Junior series is such a privilege.

What was it like voicing Damian Wayne / Little Batman in Merry Little Batman and how did you prepare for the role?

This was another project that I auditioned for while I was in New Zealand, and I got the news that I had booked it while I was in NZ. I recorded most of the film while I was in NZ. To portray and voice Damian / Little Batman was super cool and every kid’s dream to play a superhero. The team working on the film were all great people to work with and they let me explore different takes and encouraged me to let loose. Damian is a hyper kid that gets into all kinds of crazy situations so I had fun working on the film.

How was it seeing the completed film for the first time and how do you feel being part of the Batman franchise?

I got to the see the film on the big screen and it was a surreal experience to hear yourself in a big theatre with surround sound. The film was so great, the animation style was fresh, and the actors playing the other characters were so good. The film was well-received and a series is in the works. I feel very blessed to be in a Batman franchise.

It has been announced that you will be starring as Elio in the upcoming Disney Pixar film Elio, is there anything you can tell us about the film and your time working on the project?

I will be portraying Elio in the next Disney Pixar original film called Elio. It has been announced that it will premiere summer of 2025. It is a top-secret project so I am not able to disclose anything else.

How was it attending the D23 Expo to announce Elio and what are you looking forward to for the release of the film?

Nothing I can say can justify what the experience feels like to attend D23. The event is a first class display of the power of the Disney brand and Disney fans from all over the world. I was super fortunate enough to attend and experience close up the festivities, mingling with all the actors working on Disney projects, and meeting Disney fans. Being in front of 13,000 Disney fans announcing the film was an experience I will never forget. And I am grateful for the team at Disney and Pixar to trust me to be part of the publicity of Elio.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I watch all kinds of films and TV shows. If I had to name a few: The Incredibles, Coco, Napoleon Dynamite, Seinfeld and Sweet Tooth.

How do you like to spend your free time?

My free time, I usually spend it hanging out with my friends, skating, watching movies and bike riding around the neighbourhood.

What are you hoping this year brings for you and do you have any projects, other than Elio, coming up that you can tell us about?

I hope that I continue to get to do what I love and try new things. Other than Elio, I have been working on the new spin-off series Bat Family.

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