My job is that of a voice actor. Or a voiceover artist. Or a voice over artist. No matter what you call it, basically I spend most of my work time in a box. Sometimes I’m even able to go outside.
I do a lot of voice over animation. I’ve done a lot of shows over the past 25 years.. There’s never been a time when I did a cartoon but didn’t have fun.
The worst thing you can do in the world of animation is to grow up.
Once at my first session for a new cartoon series, the director worried that I was too serious. The atmosphere was very cartoony.
We’ve since become good friends and he says, “Man, I’m really wasn’t sure about you. You came in looking so serious, while everybody else was laughing. But then I started to relax as soon as you opened your mouth.”
In cartoons it’s very important to be relaxed.
Let’s say you’ve won an animation show audition. You’re given the breakdown. Some of the characters might be perfect for you. And they may have you read for two or three different characters. They want you to provide them at least two, maybe three characters.
Here’s something that will make voice over agents love you:
If you can do more than one voice they’re more apt to hire you, because it’s going to save them more money on the show. If you can do lots of characters, you can save money for the producers.
It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of versatility.You have to sound nasally or young or just plain cartoony.
Or you have to sound old, or very old. Or extremely old.
Is he old and rich, or is he old and poor?
You need to be able to create a specific picture in your mind of what this character really is like.
For years I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with the Transformers franchise. I get the opportunity perform both as the good guy and the bad guy.
The villains in cartoons are always the most fun.
The good guys are the most difficult to do because they’re always saying things like! We must rush to the rescue!Often the other actors roll their eyes during the hero’s dialogue because…Well, sometimes it’s boring.
The bad guys are always thinking about different ways to create havoc. It’s very Shakespearean.
You want to play with the script so you can spot places to do things differently. This is different from other voiceover forms where you have 30 or 60 seconds.
But you’ve got more time if you have a paragraph. Not hours and hours, but you have more time to explore your character.
It’s important have acting ability. But even without an acting background, learn to develop your characters. If you get the chance to read for animation, have fun AND relax.
And, of course, you shouldn’t sound as though you’re reading it. That’s a no-no.
When casting cartoons or animation, look for people who have broad ranges. They’ll save you money. And you’ll probably end up working with fun people.
And your colleagues are fun and creative and wacky. The wacky people are the most fun to work with.
Doing voice overs for animation is a ton of fun, thanks to the nutty people you share the microphone with.
Develop your acting skills. You’ve got to get it off the page.
It’s got to be fun for you.
Stretch your acting range, so you can do more characters believably. Explore your voice’s capabilities. Discover how far your range extends.
You’ve got to be able to shift on a dime.
So, to summarize: For animation work, you need to be able to change gears, do lots of characters, have fun, and never — EVER — grow up.
If voicing acting for animation is your dream, work hard and don’t give up.
Tags: animation voice actors, movie trailers, narration, promos, radio television commercials, video games voice acting, voiceover artists