Gianni Sallese, a versatile actor known for his commanding presence, is also a European history buff. He found a fitting role when lending his voice to perhaps one of history’s most iconic, yet often misunderstood, figures: Napoleon Bonaparte.
In “Blown Apart!”, an adult animated historical sitcom, Sallese portrays the titular Emperor, offering audiences a refreshingly human, and often hilariously petty, take on the legendary leader.
Sallese, a Toronto-raised actor with an Honours Bachelor in History and Political Science from the University of Toronto, brings a unique blend of academic insight and theatrical flair to the role. Trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, his extensive performing arts background includes lead roles in film and theater, and proficiency in a wide range of dialects, including Italian and French—skills that proved invaluable in shaping his animated (rather chubby) Emperor.
Created by Youp Zondag and Nick Alberelli of Tiny Media Productions, “Blown Apart!” delves into the often-absurd realities of Napoleon’s life, his dysfunctional family, and his sprawling empire. “Napoleon was a freak, shocker I know,” Sallese said. “The focus of the series are his insecurities, his fraught relationship with Empress Josephine, and his ‘work-life-balance’ as a dictator.” The series humorously juxtaposes these relatable, day-to-day problems with the grand, mythical context of the historical figure.
Sallese elaborates on the series’ unique angle: “It’s that Napoleon was really just such a petty man. He had such an ego, he was self-conscious about his rank compared to the French Aristocracy, he was deeply traumatized by the Revolution, so he was again desperate for the approval, and would do so by any means. He wasn’t charming, he was smelly because of his time in the artillery and he was self conscious about all of the affairs Josephine was having. In Blown Apart, the series, we focus on his struggles ruling, his fondness for flattery, and his struggles to manage an empire and his difficulty loving the people in his life.”
Sallese’s journey to becoming the voice of Napoleon is rooted in a long-standing collaboration and a twist of fate. “Nick Alberelli, the producer and I, have been friends for years,” Sallese recounts, explaining how they bonded over filmmaking and sound design in high school while he pursued musicals. With Sallese’s academic background in history (focusing on the French Revolution) and his talent for “silly voices,” Alberelli made the fateful call. “He essentially says ‘hey, you do silly voices, how much do you know about Napoleon?'” After working on a proof of concept and meeting director Youp Zondag, the team decided to self-produce, developing the series during the pandemic.
Perhaps one of the most distinctive elements of Sallese’s portrayal is Napoleon’s voice – a “pudgy New York Italian” accent. This unexpected choice, Sallese explains, emerged from a deep dive into Napoleon’s historical context. “The thing most people may not know about Napoleon is that he was a lot lower class than the people around him. The only reason he got his position in the artillery was because it was the only place a commoner could become an officer,” he says, noting Napoleon’s Corsican (Italian) roots.
“I realized the way that he operated, like installing all of his family in positions of power, and essential behaving like a protection racket, and I realised ‘this guy was basically a gangster’ so I did the math ‘lower class, vaguely Italian, and like a mobster’ and so this kind of pudgy ‘New York Italian’ voice manifested when I did his voiceover,” he said. “And it worked for the character so well, we kept it.”
While the series injects humor, Sallese’s respect for historical accuracy shines through in his understanding of the Emperor. “I love that Napoleon was so obsessed with approval,” he said. “He was insecure about his position in life. He had this unreal ego and was kind of a bit of a shit-disturber (like when he crowned himself in front of the pope just to piss the pope off).”
Sallese highlights Napoleon’s bizarre letters to Josephine (“I come home in three days, don’t wash”). “He was considered to be smelly, a little bit weird and hard to talk to. But also, people just kind of loved the guy; I would not say that I like the guy, I think he was the model for so many dictators we have nowadays, but I think he is a useful example to study and to see and reflect a lot of what we see today.”
This unique blend of humor and historical insight has garnered “Blown Apart!” a dedicated global fanbase. With the trailer amassing over 10,000 views and episodes reaching between 50,000 to 150,000 views on YouTube, the series has cultivated a passionate online community. “From fans of animation to fans of history, we were shocked by how quickly and organically it grew and how consistent it still is,” Sallese notes. The key, he believes, is the “combination of the humour with the commitment to historical accuracy.” He emphasizes that “historical truth is a lot more interesting than we give it credit for,” making for genuinely entertaining, self-writing narratives that history “nerds” appreciate.
The series’ success also rests on the directorial prowess of Youp Zondag and Nick Alberelli. Sallese praises their understanding that “animation is just like any medium, it’s about people, it’s stories about people and the honesty therein.” He details how Zondag and Alberelli meticulously translated his physical portrayals into the animated characters, adding “such a dimension of realism and believability.” Sallese commends Youp’s evocative illustration and animation, Nick’s relentless work ethic, and their innovation with Blender software, all contributing to the series’ incredible performance.
Through “Blown Apart!”, Sallese, Zondag, and Alberelli have not only revived a historical figure for a new generation but have proven that history, when told with wit, insight, and a healthy dose of audacity, can be more compelling than fiction.
Photos of Gianni Sallese by Ashley Cotto and Zane Gan.
