Animated Characters and the Voices Behind Them
We’ve all watched our fair share of cartoons when we were children. In fact, some of us still enjoy them every once in a while. Watching all those animated characters get up to mischief and what not would put a smile on our faces and naturally, it was hard not to pick a favorite. But, have you ever wondered how important the voices behind those characters were? Well, they were very important. They practically breathed life into those characters. If it wasn’t for those artists, our favorites wouldn’t have been our favorites. But, what happens when that voice talent isn’t available to lend his/her vice anymore. Is there a plan to deal with such a major change?
How Voice Creates a Memorable Character
It’s been observed that some of these legendary animated characters have a few qualities that make them so memorable. For starters, a lot of it has to do with the dedication and integrity shown by the creators. The entire team, from the writer to the voice artist, plays a key role in preserving the character and maintaining the character’s persona throughout the passage of time. That’s why characters like Donald Duck or Bugs Bunny still remain popular despite the successions that have taken place.
In fact, some voice actors have voluntarily bowed out so that others could take over. A good example of this would be Walt Disney. However, the challenge is greater when the talent passes away. Finding a replacement right away is next to impossible, especially when the character and the voice are tied up very closely.
Case in Point
One such scenario that comes to mind is Genie from Aladdin, who was voiced by the Late Robin Williams. Of course, Robin, being the smart man he is, made sure there was a successor to take his place; a Jim Meskimen, who has already been voicing the character for almost a decade. But, Jim, himself, says that he experienced a dilemma in taking up the challenge full time. However, Robin didn’t make a bad decision because Jim filled those shoes perfectly. However, Jim is the only hope we have or now. What happens when Jim isn’t there to voice the character anymore? Are we guaranteed to be as fortunate as we are now? Voice succession is a big deal for iconic characters and ensuring that their longevity is maintained is a serious task. What would you do in such a situation?
About Roberta
Roberta is a Professional AND International Award Winning trained Voice-Over Actor, as well as an accomplished On-Camera Actress and Spokesperson. She is the owner of Roberta Kennedy Voice Talent and RK Productions, Inc. As a professional voice actor located in the San Francisco Bay Area, she’s recorded Voiceovers for companies around the world using her state of the art, broadcast quality studio. Her home studio is equipped with state-of-the-art ipDTL and ISDN with phone patch capability and lightning fast turnaround times.
A Voiceover talent with over 20 years of voiceover acting experience, she offers a full range of voiceover services at highly competitive rates & will work with your budget to help you promote your business to new levels of excellence!
