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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2009 > September > 10 > Entry
Do you see an animated movie because of the voices?
I notice that a number of animated movies, including 9, which opened on Wednesday, promote their voice casts. But I have to wonder …
Do you really go to see an animated movie because of who does the voices? I usually don’t.
In the more distant past, animated movies rarely promoted who did the voices. Typically, the story and/or a name brand (e.g. Disney) gave people all the reason they needed to go.
Non Disney-Pixar movies especially seem to rely on the name-dropping, I notice. But did you really go to see Monsters vs. Aliens because Reese Witherspoon was the lead? Or will you go see 9 because Elijah Wood voices the title character? Maybe it’s just me, but I tend to doubt it. I would guess these movies sell themselves more on their stories/visuals.
Disney-Pixar usually avoids this tact, because they can usually rely on their strong name brands to sell a movie. And Pixar, certainly, usually doesn’t cast for star power, but for the right voice. After all, Ed Asner (Up) and Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille) are not exactly A-list draws, but both of those movies made more than $200 million.
Ironically, one of the few instances I can think of where a voice DID sell a movie is Disney’s Aladdin - and Robin Williams had specifically requested that his name NOT be used in publicity, and he later butted heads with Disney when they did.
So have you ever gone to an animated film because of the voices? If so, which ones?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Ask the Audience
Comments
By Kerri
September 14, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this
I’d have to say that I choose animation more when there ISN’T a big name actor in the part, unless the animation and/or story is good enough to “distract” me from constantly picturing the actor behind the voice. I also tend to have more respect for actors who can bring voices to animation and not let their egos get in the way. A perfect example (as mentioned previously) is Miyazaki’s “Howl’s Moving Castle” — with Billy Crystal voicing Calcifer, the fire demon… his portrayal, and the story, are enough that you forget it’s Billy Crystal. Additionally, Christian Bale lends his voice to the lead character, Howl; yet his voice, while familiar, doesn’t drop into the Batman-esque growl that would immediately make the viewer yell “It’s Batman!” Instead, he moderates his tone and fits it beautifully to the character, so that you don’t realize it’s Bale until the credits roll.By SRCputt
September 11, 2009 7:22 PM | Link to this
Jeremy’s got it right. The name isn’t important, it is that it fits. Genie fit Robin Williams. Dory fit Ellen DeGeneres. But some of the stunt casting — DreamWorks, I’m looking at you — actually distracts me from the movie.By Kim
September 10, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this
No - it doesn’t have an ounce of effect on my decision whether to see it. I often find it an interesting piece of information, but it has no bearing on whether I will see it. My daughter went to see 9 and felt pretty much the same way as you do - that it was a huge letdown that could have been something so much better. Even her boyfriend - who is a huge Tim Burton fan and couldn’t wait to see it - declared it to be sub-par. Bummer. Makes me wonder how much it cost to put those big name voices in it!By Jeremy
September 10, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this
I don’t go see an animated movie because of a celebrity or cast of celebrities giving the voice. If the voice sounds good, i’ll go see it. On the other hand, if the voice acting is horrible for the part or whole movie, then I won’t even bother even if it is a big name celebrity. It still has to fit. I’m going to see 9 because it looks like a good movie and was well done [voice acting included], not because of the actors apart of it.By Kim S.
September 10, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this
Actually, I don’t see that many animated films in a theater (including Pixar). The exceptions are the imported animated films - Miyazaki, et al. I’ll also usually see an anime if it’s made into an animated film - i.e. the “Final Fantasy” film from several years ago and “Ghost in the Shell: Innocence”, both of which blew me away. But voices don’t really steer me towards an animated film - visuals do.By Brandon
September 10, 2009 1:24 PM | Link to this
I can’t say that I have been to an animated film because of the voice characters. However, I refuse to see G-Force or whatever that movie is called because I can’t stand Tracy Morgan’s voice.