Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters
View Poll Results: Celebrity Voicing : does it really add anything?
Yes
12
22.22%
No
42
77.78%
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Old 10-18-09, 02:59 PM
  #51  
Banned by request
 
Supermallet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Termite Terrace
Posts: 54,150
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

At this point, there's very little modern animation outside of Dreamworks and Pixar that don't use Billy West or John DiMaggio.
Old 10-18-09, 03:06 PM
  #52  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Daytona Beach, FL
Posts: 23,487
Received 195 Likes on 151 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

FWIW, I will say that I have become accustomed to certain actors doing voices for characters in animation. I cannot fathom an animated Batman without Kevin Conroy doing the voice, or one with the Joker minus Mark Hamill (the best Joker ever until Heath Ledger came along, IMO), or Harley Quinn minus Arleen Sorkin.

It was actually the realization that Tim Daly and Clancy Brown would be involved with the Public Enemies movie that got me interested.
Old 10-19-09, 01:21 AM
  #53  
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,982
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Al Pacino's voice would be perfect for these kids films.
He can scream all he wants and the artists will have a field day drawing that.
Old 10-19-09, 02:07 AM
  #54  
Banned by request
 
Supermallet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Termite Terrace
Posts: 54,150
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by Dr. DVD
FWIW, I will say that I have become accustomed to certain actors doing voices for characters in animation. I cannot fathom an animated Batman without Kevin Conroy doing the voice, or one with the Joker minus Mark Hamill (the best Joker ever until Heath Ledger came along, IMO), or Harley Quinn minus Arleen Sorkin.

It was actually the realization that Tim Daly and Clancy Brown would be involved with the Public Enemies movie that got me interested.
Those actors are primarily voice actors now. And Michael McKean doesn't do a bad Joker, either.
Old 10-19-09, 03:04 AM
  #55  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
UAIOE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LV-426
Posts: 6,598
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by Suprmallet
At this point, there's very little modern animation outside of Dreamworks and Pixar that don't use Billy West or John DiMaggio.
That is because those guys are good, and they are voice actors, not "celebrities lending their voices".

Tress Macneille - voice actor

Cameron Diaz - celebrity doing voice work.
Old 10-19-09, 08:40 AM
  #56  
Moderator
 
Giles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 33,630
Received 16 Likes on 12 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by Giantrobo
Yep. But most dvdtalkers think the world revolves around them and they look down on the unwashed masses of moviegoers.
but why reiterate the obvious?
Old 10-19-09, 09:20 AM
  #57  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Michael Corvin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 62,508
Received 909 Likes on 644 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

In defense of Dreamworks, the Prince of Egypt had plenty of stunt casting and I thought they all worked perfectly for the characters they portrayed. Of course, that was the last quality Dreamworks animated film, IMO.
Old 10-19-09, 02:26 PM
  #58  
Banned by request
 
Supermallet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Termite Terrace
Posts: 54,150
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by UAIOE
That is because those guys are good, and they are voice actors, not "celebrities lending their voices".

Tress Macneille - voice actor

Cameron Diaz - celebrity doing voice work.
Oh, I absolutely agree. I wasn't complaining about the real voice actors at all. On the contrary, I wish they would get even more work.
Old 10-19-09, 04:03 PM
  #59  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Posts: 34,032
Received 708 Likes on 516 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
I'll add Disney to the list of companies that get it right.
I would like to present Exhibit A.
Old 10-19-09, 07:06 PM
  #60  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Rypro 525's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: a frikin hellhole
Posts: 28,264
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by calhoun07
I bet most of us here would go see a movie our favorite director did even if they cast a bunch of unknowns over the Next Big Popcorn Movie with 5 top billed stars and some no name director.
yep, see the Coen's brothers latest "A Serious Man", no real name stars in the movie, but since they directed, my interest peaked up
Old 10-19-09, 07:54 PM
  #61  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: a mile high, give or take a few feet
Posts: 14,839
Received 219 Likes on 175 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by calhoun07
It really depends, but I would say for the majority of the time the answer is no. If the celeb voice is chosen because it adds something to the character I really don't mind. Vin Diesel as the Iron Giant, for example, was great casting. If it's just arbitrary like Dreamworks does with most of their movies just to spout off celeb names in the credits then, no...not really.

Dreamworks really is the worst offender of this. Shoot, for a few movies there they even tried to make the animated characters resemble the celebs playing them. Will Smith in Shark Tale and the design for the shark was really the worst. I avoided the movie for that reason alone.
This is how I feel, as well. If an actor is a good choice for the character, I'm fine. If a character is designed around the actor, it usually turns out poorly.
Old 10-20-09, 08:05 AM
  #62  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Michael Corvin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 62,508
Received 909 Likes on 644 Posts
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

Originally Posted by devilshalo
I would like to present Exhibit A.
So one casting choice out of hundreds in the past 20 years is the example? See my list above, on the whole they get it right more often than not. When they do get it wrong though, it's waaaay wrong. Rosanne & Rosie O'Donnel come to mind.
Old 10-20-09, 09:42 AM
  #63  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: Celebrity Voices in animated/puppet movies: Does it really add anything?

I had the exact same converstaion with a buddy of mine this weekend. I say save the millions each high end actor gets cuz I doubt they make a big difference in box office sales. Kids will wanna see the movie regardless. Us adults may find those voices a little distracting too.

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.