To me, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love in all its beautiful forms. Everything from romantic love and familial love all the way down to the love we have for our hobbies, passions and careers! I know I’m one of the lucky ones in being able to do a job I truly love, in an industry I’m proud to be a part of (mushy moment over now, I promise). So, in honour of Valentine's Day this year, I thought I’d share 5 voiceover performances from animated movies that I absolutely adore. Narrowing this down to my top 5 was VERY difficult, so expect a part two (and three and four…)
Eddie Murphy – Donkey in Shrek – If you haven’t seen any of the Shrek movies stop whatever you are doing, click away from my site and put it on immediately. It’s a classic. The Shrek franchise would not be the same without Eddie Murphy’s brilliant, witty and energetic performance as Donkey.
Eleanor Audley – Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty – Maleficent scared the living daylights out of me as a small child and I’ve never forgotten how I felt when I first heard her menacing voice. Now, thankfully I’m able to watch the film without diving behind a pillow every time Maleficent comes on screen, and I love the ominous performance Eleanor Audley gave.
Eartha Kitt – Yzma in The Emperor’s New Groove – I was reminded of this movie quite recently and the fact that it absolutely does not receive the recognition it deserves. It’s a brilliant film with some killer voice acting but Eartha Kitt’s work in particular is a stand out. I have one word to describe Eartha Kitt as Yzma - Iconic
Robbin Williams – Genie in Aladdin – Robbin Williams’s loveable Genie is possibly my favourite animated character of all time. His character is funny, full of personality and had me giggling till my sides hurt when I first saw the film.
Jon Leguizamo – Sid in Ice Age – My childhood was punctuated by trips to the cinema to see the latest Ice Age film, so I’m a big fan of all the characters in the franchise. Jon Leguizamo brings the clumsy but caring character of Sid to life perfectly. I credit Jon’s portrayal of Sid with starting the world’s obsession with Sloths.
Honourable mentions go to James Earl Jones’s Mufasa and Josh Gad’s Olaf, who also have a special place in my heart.
