Hot Take: Voice Acting Shouldn’t Be Reserved for Voice Actors
As I’m working to advance as a writer and aspiring film critic, I shouldn’t make mountains out of molehills. With that being said, there is a notion that I’ve seen circulating in the blogosphere after mixed reactions to the upcoming Super Mario Bros. adaptation that should be addressed: Should voice roles in animation be reserved for voice actors? For the sake of acting in live-action and animation, they shouldn’t be, and here’s why.
Representation matters, and voice actors need to be applauded for their contributions to animation as an industry. This is not to justify stunt casting celebrities for profit; Dreamworks Animation has a rap sheet that dates back to 1998’s Antz, with one of their most offensive lineups being 2004’s Shark Tale. However, acting in both live-action and animation are broad fields that should be fair game for professionals.
Casting for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie has proved to be mixed since Charlie Day, Anya-Taylor Joy, and Seth Rogen are effective selections for Luigi, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong, respectively. At the same time, Chris Pratt will likely make for a safe and lackluster Mario. (With his bruising voice, Jack Black, a left-field choice for Bowser, floored expectations in the debut teaser trailer.) But if the reactions to the upcoming film are to be taken at face value, should all animated films be cast with unknown voice actors and actresses?
For their flawed business practices, Disney and Pixar have consistently cast unknowns for iconic and obscure characters in many of their films where drawing audiences are almost guaranteed. More abstract or original animated films, whether by an established studio or not, can struggle to draw in audiences without esteemed actors. Additionally, could you imagine Toy Story without the supreme voice performances of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen? What about Shrek with an unknown actor in place of Mike Myers as everyone’s favorite ogre?
Whether or not voice acting should be reserved for professionals only is likely a debate that will continue — more or less in social media circles) — but as long as an established actor delivers in the recording booth, their live-action background should be water under the bridge. I apply the same principle to casting adult voice actors as children in animation. Should creators cast children as young characters? If possible, yes. But when considering factors like industry regulations and children aging, it can be reasonable to cast an actor with a voice that matches the persona and age. (I’ve never second-guessed Amy Poehler as Bessie Higgenbottom in The Mighty B! or Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson.)
Quite simply, criticize stunt casting for animated films when their personas distractingly seep into the characters onscreen or are just simply bad, but when an eclectic actor wants to test-field in the scene of animation, wait and see what they can bring to life. That’s what the illusionary nature of animation, acting, and cinema is all about.
