Disney’s animated characters are known for their big personalities, intricate designs, and unique voices. Whether it’s pitch, tone, pronunciation or enunciation, sometimes you can immediately recognize the actor behind the character.
And sometimes you can recognize them twice. Be it beloved characters in Disney movies, Pixar movies, or even some Disney park attractions, the Magical Society is known for keeping it in the family and leaving its characters with all-too-familiar voices.
Jodi Benson
Jodi Benson is considered a Disney legend for voicing a princess from a movie that has stood the test of time: The little Mermaid. Ariel’s portrayer provided both dialogue and songs for the original film and its direct-to-video sequel, as well as the CBS television series and Ariel’s cameo in Ralph breaks the internet.
Ariel isn’t the only strong female character Benson has voiced. Beginning in 1999, Benson made her Pixar debut just as Barbie made her Pixar debut, voicing the doll in toy story 2 and 3, then in the Toy Story Cartoons short “Hawaiian vacation”.
Idris Elba |
When Idris Elba | doesn’t play Heimdall in the MCU, he can be heard voicing several animated characters. Elba’s first role came as a CGI tiger named Shere Khan in the 2016 live-action remake of The jungle Book. That same year, the actor voiced Chief Bogo in Zootopia.
The most recent character Elba lent his voice to was Fluke, one of the cooking sea lions in Pixar’s Dory-centric sequel to The world of Nemo, appropriate title Find Doris.
Russi Taylor
Russi Taylor was a legendary Disney voice actor not only for being the official voice of Minnie Mouse in multiple shows and movies from 1986 to 2019, but also for being married to the third official voice actor to portray her character’s love interest, Mickey mouse.
In addition to giving voice to one of Disney’s most iconic characters, the actress also provided the voices of several smaller characters, including Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby Vanderquack in duck tales, Drizella and the fairy godmother in the Cinderella sequel films, and Widow Tweed in Fox and the house 2.
John Goodman
John Goodman is best known for voicing beloved Pixar character Sulley from Monsters Inc. and Monsters University, as well as the Disney+ 2021 series monsters at work and Disney’s California Adventure “Monsters Inc: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue” ride.
Besides Pixar, Goodman has voiced a host of other Disney film characters, including Pasha from New Emperor Groove, New Kronk Groove, and the TV series New Emperor’s School. The actor also gave a voice to Baloo in The Jungle Book 2 and Eli LaBouff in The princess and the Frog.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling made her Disney film debut in 2012 Ralph’s Wrecks when she voiced strawberry hard candy-themed character Taffyta Muttonfudge, a Sugar Rush racer who is also a rival to Vanellope.
Kaling then made his Pixar debut as the sickening emotion Disgust in Upside down and his short film “Riley’s First Date?” The actress then joined another Pixar project, this time as Val Little on the Disney+ show. Monsters at work.
John Ratzenberger
John Ratzenberger made his Pixar debut as Hamm in the animation studio’s feature debut Toy story. Ratzenberger then took over the role of Andy’s sarcastic piggy bank in toy story 2, 3 and 4, as well as several short films.
One of Pixar’s biggest easter eggs is how they’ve included Ratzenberger in every movie, with his voice work ending with Ahead and his presence ending with Soul. While the the actor was not heard in turn red or Lucas, he resumed his Monsters Inc. role in 2021 for the Disney+ series Monsters at work.
Jason Marsden
While Jason Marsden is best known for voicing everyone’s favorite spooky cat, Thackery Binx, in Hocus Pocus (and its potential return in the long-awaited Disney+ sequel Hocus Pocus 2), he also gave voice to dozens of notable Disney characters.
Marsden became the official voice of Max Goof in 1995, appearing in such memorable films as A good film and Mickey was twice at Christmas. The actor also voiced Mungo in Tarzan, Adult Kovu in The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, Kenai in Brother Bear 2, Flash Fleming in the toy story tv spinoffs Star Command’s Buzz Lightyear, and Felix in Kim possible, to name a few.
Eleanor Audley
While Eleanor Audley’s name might not ring a bell, her voice certainly will. Audley gave a voice to two Notable Disney villains: Lady Tremaine in Cinderella and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty, both closely animated to portray the actress.
Audley’s voice can also be heard at a fan-favorite Disney park attraction. The next time you walk through the Darkroom in the middle of a Haunted Mansion session at Disneyland or Disney World, you might hear Audley voice Madame Leota’s famous floating head.
Jeff Garlin
While Jeff Garlin is best known for his comedic work, the actor has become a leading voice in many Pixar films, beginning with Captain B. McCrea in Wall-E, its accompanying short film Burn-E, and Otis in Cars 2.
Garlin’s most memorable Pixar character is Bonnie’s adorable Buttercup plush unicorn, which appears in Toy Story 3 and 4, as good as Toy Story Cartoons short “Hawaiian vacation and an episode of Disney+ Forky asks a question.
Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga is a notable name in Disney films for her portrayal of not just one, but two Disney Princesses from the Disney Renaissance. Salonga first provided the singing voice for Jasmine in Aladdin, then lent her pipes to Mulan in Mulane and Mulan II.
The actress reprized both royal roles in two separate episodes of the Disney Junior show Sofia the first, and later voiced the princesses again in the show’s hour-long series finale Sofia the First: Forever Royal.
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