Celebrity Voices for Disney Charcters or not?

[IggieKuzco]

Hey people! for the past whlie we have been hearing lots of celebrities in our disney movies. Especially over the course of the past few years. A lot of peope think this is good.... and a lot don't. Personally I think it's cool but somtimes takes away from the specialness of the movie or changes the way you feel about the character
I mean, when I realized during watching finding Nemo that it was Ellen DeGeneres, It changed my aditude completely. same with billy crystal as mike in monsters inc. same with michael J. Fox in Atlantis!

[Loomis]

I think I see what you are getting at, but to me it is not as a clear-cut as celebrity/unknown distinction.

In some cases having an unknown serves the story better, but in other cases having a familiar voice in a role makes perfect sense if the character is very similar to the types of roles that person usually plays (e.g. David Hyde-Pierce in Treasure Planet).

This doesn't really answer the question (and as such I haven't voted).
But I think sometimes the story is served better by one or the other.

What I DISLIKE is having celebrities for the sake of it (a charge that has been levelled against Dreamworks, and a discussion that we probably shouldn't dredge up again or we'll get all that Disney v DW stuff happening... ). I think Disney have used celebrity voices effectively in the past, and never gone for the 'star value' over ability to read the lines well.

[2099net]

Voices for animated characters simply have to match the character and design. There's no reason why a celebrity should be used - especially if the celebrity is 'putting on a voice' when he voices the character.

However a lot of comedy actors are justified in being used as voices for animated characters - especially those from a background of skits and improvisations. Skills learnt in these environments - especially timing - are ideally suited for such voice work.

I think when Disney or Dreamworks or whatever go for a major movie star for a celebrity voice, it's done simply to (attempt to) get 'bums on seats'. When they go for a television celebrity (such as Ellen in Finding Nemo) it's done based on best fit for the part.

[IggieKuzco]

Lame money making teqnique.

[poco]

Personally, I like a mix of voices. One celebrity voice can bring people to see movie. For example, my friend went to see Finding Nemo because Ellen was the voice of Dory. Of course, he couldn't get out of his mind what orientation Dory was...anyway, he enjoyed the movie and said that he would have not seen it if it didnt' have celebrity voices in it.

However, sometimes celebrity voices take too much from the movie, just as my friend said, he couldn't get out of his mind what orientation Dory was. That came directly from Ellen, not the character.

[IggieKuzco]

There ya go poco! that's exactly what i was getting at! finally someone agrees with me!

[poco]

Well, glad you agree with me, however you must know that the Ellen character and her quarks and things that she does on TV and Film was perfect for Dory. Dory was just....well...funny in that she was scatterbrained. Ellen is a prime example of that. They did pick a good character, but her recent tell all experience took away from my friends viewing of the film. YOUNG Kids now-a-days probably dont' even know who Ellen is.

[IggieKuzco]

I guess you're right... but like 2099 said earlier:

I think when Disney or Dreamworks or whatever go for a major movie star for a celebrity voice, it's done simply to (attempt to) get 'bums on seats'. When they go for a television celebrity (such as Ellen in Finding Nemo) it's done based on best fit for the part.

What im sayin is.... its a little too oriented for her... no what i mean? like thay made the part just for her.
There was sa line Dory said in Nemo that triggered my memory of something Ellen said on one of her shows.... and thats how i made the connection. before that i didn't even realize that DeGeneres was voicing!

[Luke]

A few random points.

Young kids definitely don't know who Ellen is. If/when they do find out about her, it may change their perception of the Dory character.

The Dory character was kind of written in mind for Ellen, and a lot of was, you can tell, improvised or simply something that Ellen brought to the role.

I like the ideas of celebrities doing voices for animated characters. Sure, there are voice actors who can bring something unique to some of the roles, too. But when there's a perfect marriage of voice and character (look no further than The Lion King - is James Earl Jones not PERFECT for Mufasa...Jeremy Irons for Scar?), I think it really improves the picture a lot.

I'm not crazy about advertising the voice cast (and showing accompanying footage of them in the studio doing the voices) as SOME studios have chosen to do. Disney for the most part has always downplayed their voice cast - rarely do they appear on the back of the packages, ads, or opening credits. The two exceptions I can think of - Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc.

[IggieKuzco]

You've got some nice points... but...

Young kids definitely don't know who Ellen is. If/when they do find out about her, it may change their perception of the Dory character.

Fine.... but what about older people and teens who see the movie and know it's Ellen.... doesn't that change somthing for them?

The Dory character was kind of written in mind for Ellen, and a lot of was, you can tell, improvised or simply something that Ellen brought to the role.

That's just the problem... instead of coming up with new material (and when I say that i mean NEW material... ex: the lion king), they're building on stars that they would like to put in their movies.

I like the ideas of celebrities doing voices for animated characters. Sure, there are voice actors who can bring something unique to some of the roles, too. But when there's a perfect marriage of voice and character (look no further than The Lion King - is James Earl Jones not PERFECT for Mufasa...Jeremy Irons for Scar?), I think it really improves the picture a lot.

Of course it improves the picture! but the parts were not intended for these particular actors during the writing process!

I'm not crazy about advertising the voice cast (and showing accompanying footage of them in the studio doing the voices) as SOME studios have chosen to do. Disney for the most part has always downplayed their voice cast - rarely do they appear on the back of the packages, ads, or opening credits. The two exceptions I can think of - Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc.

What about Aladdin and Mulan? Remember all th Robin Williams/ Eddie Murphy hype? though i must admit that it's not like in dreamworks where they actually put the people who voice the characters on the box cover or poster (hence Shrek), except in the case of the third aladdin (prince of thieves) where it said in big letters "STARRING ROBIN WILLIAMS" right under the movie title.

[Luke]

Of course it improves the picture! but the parts were not intended for these particular actors during the writing process!

Honestly, I don't remember the promotions for Aladdin and Mulan, but I didn't think Aladdin highlighted Robin Williams' name (just his character and the Robin Williams-isms). Maybe I'm wrong. The sequel was a different matter.

As for the point I quoted, writing and casting are almost always two unrelated things. A screenwriter may write a part with an actor in mind, but that's normally detrimental and unadvised, unless that actor is certainly connected. The characters are animated with the voice actor in mind, and that's important. How many people know what Frank Welker and Russi Taylor look like? Okay, how many people not on this board know what they look like?

Characters have to be cast to someone, and the reason why it's appropriate to go with notable actors isn't merely because they're known by the public (or by heavy moviegoing public). Part of the reason they're known is the acting, part of which is delivery and voice performance. So, it's not like getting Allan Iverson to advertise baseball bats.

[herman_the_german]

Celebrity voices in dubbing (or even celebrity voices impersonations) are nothing new. We also have already discussed this:

"Celebrity cartoon voices go way further back than that. Is anybody here old enough to know who Jack Benny, Jim Backus, Hans Conried, Eva Gabor, Maurice Chevalier, Phil Harris, Jimmy Durante, Edward Everett Horton, Sterling Holloway, Mia Farrow, Orson Bean, John Huston, Ringo Starr, Ruth Buzzi, Don Knotts, Bill Cosby, Mel Brooks, Phyllis Diller, Sonny & Cher, Tom Bosley, Danny DeVito, Dom DeLuise, Paul Ruebens, Billy Joel, etc., etc. are?"

[Matty-Mouse]

I say use Celebrity voices providing they are right for the character. But I don't really think it matters whether the person voicing a character is famous or not.

[2099net]

I must say, given the nature of the film - I do think Dreamworks are right to go for celebrity voices for Sharkslayer (or whatever it ends up being called).

It's a spoof on gangster movies, and as such conventions of ganster movies (including well associated actors) will help to bring out the humour.

What I do not agree with is the vast sums of money being offered to the voice artists - especially from Dreamworks.

Watching the Shrek DVD, you could be mistaken for thinking Mike Myers et al created 95% of their characters. As if anything as lowly as animators had any major involvement. And they certainly didn't get the same financial rewards.

[Chernabog]

Why so much talk abot the Dory carachter in NEMO?
What about Ellen DeGeneres?
Is it something here that I have missed?
Why should people get another oppinion when they know that it´s this actress behind the voice of Dory?
Please explain!

[Prince Phillip]

Ellen DeGeneres is a lezbian, however, I could care less about her sexual oriantation, and that did not reflect on the character whatso ever in my mind... never once did I think, I wonder if Dory is Gay, just because Ellen was, I think Ellen is a hillarious actress, and love her for who she is, and I am glad she was Dory...

I understand what you are saying Iggiekuzco, but I think Disney does a good job of not over advertising their celebrities... Dreamworks is a different matter.... I don't think it matters if they are famous or not as long as they are perfect for that character... Although the Robin Williams thing with Aladdin does tend to get on my nerves, especially since he isn't even my fave character and pewople are always talking like he made the movie....

Yeah Eddie Murphy was a bit hiped up for the part of Mushu, but he made that role and I think he did a great job...

Sorry if this wasn't what you were going for...

I voted for the 3rd option that wasn't listed... A mix of the 2.

[Prince Adam]

I really don't care who does the voice, as long as their voice is suited for the character. I know that John Goodman didn't do any preparation for his work as Baloo in JB2, and he didn't even try to sound like Phil Harris. Now that's an example of Disney using big names to attract an audience.

But when Lady and the Tramp 2 was announced, Jodi Benson wanted the part of Lady. She knew that Disney refused to hire someone because of their name, so she submitted an anonymous audition. And she sounded almost exactly like Barbara Luddy!

[Chernabog]

Ah, that fact about Ellen!
What has that to do with changing opinion about the Dory carachter?
Is people so old fashioned this days? I didn´t think so?
I hail to Ellen because she dare to live the life she wants to live!
Go girl go...

[Prince Phillip]

I really don't care who does the voice, as long as their voice is suited for the character. I know that John Goodman didn't do any preparation for his work as Baloo in JB2, and he didn't even try to sound like Phil Harris. Now that's an example of Disney using big names to attract an audience.

But when Lady and the Tramp 2 was announced, Jodi Benson wanted the part of Lady. She knew that Disney refused to hire someone because of their name, so she submitted an anonymous audition. And she sounded almost exactly like Barbara Luddy!

I disagree with you on the Jungle Book 2 point Prince Adam, John Goodman was good as Baloo, because his voice and everything matched Baloo's laid back personality. Kudos to Goodman for wanting to make the role his own, and not trying to be Phil Harris, besides I thought his Baloo, was better than most of the voices in Cinderella II, namely the Fairy Godmother, and title character herself: Cinderella.

Kudos to Benson as well, she did what it took to get the role and it is nice she went for authenticity, but on the same acount, you contridict yourself...

You say Jodi Benson knew that disney did not hire actors based on their name, that is why she submitted an annonymous audtion but in your previous point you say that is exactly what they did with Goodman.

[Prince Adam]

Sorry for the confusion-I meant that Disney did not want to hire someone because of their name for THAT PARTICULAR FILM. I should have added that. Sorry!