As we await the arrivals of Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, Kung Fu Panda, and the recently announced sci-fi spoof, Monsters vs. Aliens, in theory, audiences around the world would instinctively conjure up images of cute and cuddly animals and fantastical characters. However, this being 2008 (not 1908), the images that moviegoers associate with these upcoming animated films are, in fact, not animated (well, depending on your definition of the word, of course): Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Carol Burnett, Seth Rogan, and Amy Poehler (Horton); Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, and Angelina Jolie (Kung Fu Panda); and Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Will Arnett, Kieifer Sutherland, and Stephen Colbert (Monsters vs. Aliens).
Throughout the years of feature animation, the format may have changed dramatically – from the celebrity-less sounds of Steamboat Willie in 1928 to stop-motion, claymation, anime, 2D, motion capture, and CGI – but in the last twenty years, Hollywood has consistently adhered to a trend that is essential for the potential success of an animated film: celebrities.
In light of the upcoming releases that seem to be filled with unprecedented star-studded casts, we at RT thought now would be the right time to take a look back at some notable celebrity voice-overs.
Who could grant the wish of a beggar trying to marry the sultan’s daughter? The same guy who could grant Disney’s wish to gross over $500 million at the office: A wisecracking genie played by Robin Williams, who also won an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance. Believed by many to be the funniest animated feature of all time, Aladdin was one of the first animated features that used a celebrity of this caliber for both voice-over and marketing of the film. Perhaps Disney was on to something?
There’s one reason that Dreamworks was willing to produce four films based on a gargantuan and grumpy ogre: Mike Myers. After revealing his comic genius as Austin Powers (as well as Dr. Evil and Fat Bastard), Myers’ follow-up as Shrek almost didn’t happen. Chris Farley was originally cast for the title character but died halfway into recording the audio. Despite the tragic events of the film’s development, the addition of Myers helped turn the story into a $2.2 billion box office fairy tale.
ELLEN DEGENERES – FINDING NEMO
After starring in two of her own sitcoms and receiving several standing ovations as the brilliant host of the 2001 Emmy Awards, DeGeneres was at the top of her game. But it wasn’t only her tremendous popularity at the time that would get her hired for a leading role in one of the most beloved animated movies of all time; rather, it was her unique ability to constantly change the subject before finishing her sentences. The correlation between the actress and a scatterbrained blue tang that suffered from short-term memory loss was uncanny, which explains why her acting seemed so effortless and heartwarming.
As one of the most successful, ambitious, and hardest-working actors in Hollywood, it was a brilliant casting choice to have Will Smith voice a notoriously underachieving fish. Although it could be argued that every movie in this list would not have performed as well without the its lead celebrity voice-over, this theory is especially true for Shark Tale. The movie revolves around Will Smith – his attitude, humor, and likeableness included – and at times even reminds us of the Fresh Prince. Following the recent successes of Men In Black II (2002) and Bad Boys II (2003), Smith had shown the world his ability to tackle any genre and connect with all audiences – especially those overseas. In fact, it’s fair to say there’s no bigger box office draw.
If there was ever a lovable character who deserved our sympathy, it’s Woody – voiced outstandingly by Hanks, whose wit and charm helped make the movie a joy to watch for audiences of all ages. After the phenomenal successes of A League of their Own (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Philadelphia (1993), Forrest Gump (1994), and Apollo 13 (1995), Hanks was the undisputed heavyweight in Hollywood by the time Toy Story was released in 1995. Lucky for Pixar, they couldn’t afford Jim Carrey’s fee and had to “settle” for Hanks.
Romano, who at the time was only a couple years away from becoming the highest paid television actor in history, was essentially the wooly mammoth of sitcom stars. So he could not have been more perfect for the role of Manfred. Both Manny and Ray (TV version) were not that into social activities and seemed to be content doing their own thing. Romano’s brand of pessimistic, somewhat depressed comedy and unique voice set the tone for the character, who truly seemed to embody the actor.
It was inevitable – after the final episode of Seinfeld in 1998, Jerry Seinfeld had to star in a movie at some point, right? All we had were glimpses of him in a few comedy clubs and American Express commercials. Well, the anticipation and suspense paid off. Not only did Seinfeld show up in movie theaters, but he cleaned up at the box office, as well (he only made a few hundred million from syndication, so now he can officially retire). It was hard to top Jerry Seinfeld playing Jerry Seinfeld, but he was able to pull it off with ease as Barry B. Benson. Despite many of the jokes playing as repurposed Seinfeld jokes, nobody seemed to mind. No matter what form he takes to present us with his shtick, he’ll always be Seinfeld – and that’s good enough for us.
Timing is everything. Had Chicken Run premiered in 2008, we’re not sure if Rocky, the American rooster, would have earned as much endearing affection from moviegoers. Gibson’s recent drunk driving, preferential treatment by the police, and anti-Semitic tirade would have made it a challenge for audiences to root for him – even in the form of a heroic chicken. But this was 2000 and Gibson was enjoying the successful releases of Ransom (1996), Conspiracy Theory (1997), and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998). And if there ever was any question whether Gibson was the right choice for Chicken Run, this was answered when Rocky flew into the chicken coop for the first time and screamed “Freedom!” Braveheart fans (and even the two or three lunatics who didn’t love Braveheart) rejoiced and knew that Gibson was the ideal candidate for the role.
He’s been described as hotheaded, brash, and talkative, but also as a profoundly likeable leading man who lives his life in the fast lane. Sound like Owen Wilson? Sure, but we were referring to Lightning McQueen. In keeping with the resemblances between celebrities and their animated counterparts, Cars is a perfect example of how casting the right actor for a lead role in an animated movie can pay off in a big way at the box office. And casting the star of the recently-released mega-hit, Wedding Crashers, probably wasn’t a bad idea either. Wilson is one of the few actors who can pull off both arrogance and innocence, which exemplifies an inimitable talent that makes Lightning McQueen such an appealing character (not unlike Wilson himself).
SAMUEL L. JACKSON – THE INCREDIBLES
Whether it’s as a leading man in Snakes on a Plane or Coach Carter or in a supporting role in Star Wars: Episode II or xXx or even Coming to America (he was the guy that tried to hold up McDowell’s), any movie that features Samuel L. Jackson could inevitably be considered a Samuel L. Jackson movie. His style and presence are so distinctive and powerful, every performance is guaranteed to be a memorable one. And Jackson’s role as Lucius Best/Frozone is no exception. It’s not surprising to learn that he was cast as the voice of Frozone because director Brad Bird wanted the character to have the coolest voice in the film. In fact, when you look at Jackson’s resume, it’s fair to say that he’s played the coolest character in every film he’s been in.
