V/O - Characters & Technique

Billy, Jim, Maurice & Danny discuss the processes behind creating some of their most famous characters and the skills required in doing so. Highlights include:

- Maurice LaMarche and Billy West on the origins of Zapp Brannigan and Kif Kroker's voice from "Futurama"

- Maurice's impressions of Tony Curtis & Burt Lancaster (and the subtleties between them)

- Why The Brain from "Pinky & The Brain" was never really evil

- The difficulties facing aspiring voice-over actors in an increasingly celebrity-focused environment

- Why a legacy of voices is a rewarding, indelible profession and a true vocal art

- Which savory sauce Maurice makes the best

• Category

  Film & Animation

[samuraikarasu]

Billy brings up this excellent point very often, that celebrities are brought in not to do voices so much as they do their voice so people go to see a movie. They don't add character, they don't add their own spin on the voice, they just play themselves playing a cartoon. It's lousy.

[ACcountryFan]

the lack of what I call classic voice acting is missing in a lot of the animated movies. when you listen to a lot of cartoon characters, particularly ones that appear in movies, their voices don't sound "cartoony". The cartoony sounding voices is where legitimate voice acting comes into play.

[LanopojjJanopo]

Terror Mask at 3:08

[thelovebat]

Plus its so hard to find anywhere to start with voice acting that doesn't involve Newgrounds or Youtube. You could look at the careers tab for say, a videogame company and you won't be able to find anywhere to send a demo tape to try out for something, or somewhere to try and contribute even in a minor role. Those kinds of jobs are just scratched out for young people, its just completely unfair for those that want to get into it and love it too.

[updownsyndrome]

I second that notion !! More Jim Cummings plz !!

[thelovebat]

Minsc and Boo agree with you.

[kirara2514]

great vid but, not enough from Jim Cummings.

[ACcountryFan]

i'm not a voice actor by any stretch of the imagination but I always like to watch and or listen to voice actors when they're on camera. I understand what Billy West is saying...most animated cartoons, or, the animated movies, the studio's want to bring in face actors and actresses to voice characters in hopes the fame of the movie star or TV star will lure in customers/viewers to the cartoon. What happens is legitimate voice actors are pushed aside or given small parts.