Johnny Simmons

Further proof that I’m especially unreliable; I posted the last entry of Encore’s Greatest Voices in August. It’s now December and I’ve yet to give you the top 10 – until now. Excuse my general capriciousness, but here are the top 10 – finally.

There was something a little off about Susan Sarandon in Enchanted, and I still can’t put my house on it. She has a silky voice that has the potential to be unsettling, so perhaps it was the obvious villainy of her character that didn’t quite work. However, in James & the Giant Peach she uses her voice to create a character that may be evil, and then again might not be. There something especially exotic about her Miss Spider and she emerges from a varied cast of hilarious misfits as the most interesting.

                                            

If Addison DeWitt is proof of anything it’s that George Sanders can be unctuous and still appealing, and that’s essentially what Shere Khan is. There’s something chilling and yet alluring about his baritone voice, and his penchant for elongating vowels is just hilarious (but still disturbing). Shere Khan is not exactly the most rounded character, and he’s probably not the most interesting character in The Jungle Book, but Sanders voicework is still amazing.

                             

Ah, Streep. Yeah, I don’t go crazy over her every move like this guy (or this one) – or anyone really, but when she lands it – she’s phenomenal. Really, if I used to count animated performances eligible she’d have made my top 3 last year for Best Actress. There’s just something especially charming, witty and downright irresistible.

                          

In the face of Disney’s numerous villains I’m always surprised that Audley’s Maleficent is not remembered more often. Visually, she’s the most memorable to me and I have a slight hunch that every female animated villain uses her voice-work as a paradigm for their performances.

                               

Ursula is especially quotable, and especially frightening too; but she’s still also much fun. She’s still sort of pathetic in her own way, and Carroll milks it for all the delicious campiness it’s worth. A few call it their favourite, and I can’t fault them – she’s phenomenal.

                                 

Williams’ over-the-top, bipolar craziness works perfectly for the role. His name is not the in the film’s title, but the Genie’s hilarious nature is one of the most significant things about Aladdin. It takes the role of the chatty sidekick to another level and gives Williams a chance to use his voice-impersonations without being gratuitous.

                           

I always wish that Ellen would do more movies. Her off-kilter humorousness is a specific charm of hers, and like most comedians it’s found in her voice. Is Finding Nemo Pixar’s masterpiece? Maybe, though I don’t especially go crazy over it. But DeGeneres’ charm is irresistible, and she easily emerges as not only the greatest Pixar creation, character wise, but the greatest Pixar actor, voice wise.

                                

I really can’t account for how often Hercules is forgotten when one remembers Disney’s animation from the nineties and beyond. Perhaps, it’s the fact that the story has been told so often – but really, that logic seems a bit flawed – so I can’t be certain. Still, Egan’s Megan – a damsel in distress, who’s not quite a damsel but certainly is in distress, is a joy to watch/listen to. Her voice is just an octave lower than the typical Disney heroine, and with her questionable past she’s not a typical one really. It’s a shame she only gets one number, but she sells the dialogue just as wonderfully to.

I shall forever champion the brilliance that is Corpse Bride, it’s remembered for its visual brilliance, sometimes for its music but rarely for its acting which is top notch. It also happens to be my favourite HBC performance in a Burton film, which is not quite the backhanded compliment it sounds like considering some of the good things they’ve done together.

Predictable? Perhaps, but can you really blame me? Scar is the ultimate bad-guy, and perhaps it’s because I’m a stealth baddie myself (possible), but I find him too be – arguably – the most sympathetic character of the film. There’s just something poignant (even if in a clichéd way) about being the forgotten child, the eternal bridesmaid, and what not. And I’m damned if he doesn’t make even the most rote of lines resonate. (“I killed Mufasa, anyone?) So, Irons takes the crown for Encore’s Greatest Voice.

                              

So, now that I've finally revealed the list, which voices would rank at the top of your imaginary list of Greatest Voices?

Films with Multiple Mentions:

Aladdin (4): Linda Larkin (#32), Jonathan Freeman (#21), Scott Weinger (#20), Robin Williams (#5)

Beauty & the Beast (4): Angela Lansbury (#33), Robby Benson (#25), Richard White (#18), Paige O'Hara (#16)

The Lion King (3): James Earle Jones (#31), Robert Guillame (#23), Jeremy Irons (#1)

The Little Mermaid (3): Jodi Benson (#37), Samuel E. Wright (#13), Pat Carroll (#6) 

Hercules (3): Lilias White &co. (#22), James Woods (#15), Susan Egan (#3)

James & the Giant Peach (3): Richard Dreyfuss (#24), Simon Callow (#14), Susan Sarandon (#10)

Corpse Bride (2): Johnny Depp (#27), Helena Bonham Carter (#2)

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2): Jason Schwartzman (#11), Meryl Streep (#8)

The Jungle Book (2): Phil Harris (#39), George Sanders (#9)

Sleeping Beauty (2): Barbara Luddy (#40), Eleanor Audley (#7)

Wallace & Grommit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (2): Ralph Fiennes (#46), Helena Bonham Carter (#35)

                         

Eleanor Audley: Cinderella (#42), Sleeping Beauty (#7)

Helena Bonham Carter: Wallace & Grommit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (#35), Corpse Bride (#2)

Glenn Close: Tarzan (#47), Hoodwinked (#34)

Robin Williams: Happy Feet (#44), Aladdin (#5)

So many of you made guesses as to who you expect to see in the countdown to my favourite voice performances when I listed the first batch of ten. I will say, a number of you were on point, but I'm not giving away any. Here are the next ten voice performers that stick in my memory. Even though I love making lists I do find it difficult ranking them though, really sometimes I think voice acting is more difficult. You really have to sell it, or else you're forgettable.

            

“I'd like to turn her into a fat ol' hop toad.”

She will always be the best of the godmothers, and though they do come in three she stands out from the rest. Her voice is the only one I remember without rewatching, and she’s just so fun and funny with those line readings. It's nice performances like these that make me a little sad, voice actors don't have faces so unless they're NAMES we forget them.

               

 

“You better believe it.”

The Jungle Book doesn’t exactly thrill me (I have a soft spot for the live action version, oddly) but who can resist the jovial singing bear? Mowgli is an unassuming (dare I say, boring) hero but his sidekicks are amusing.

          

 

“Happiness isn't always the best way to be happy.”

She singlehandedly makes the movie hers and she becomes the wild thing that’s not only wildest but most interesting. I did not love the film, but it was beautifully rendered and the wild things were a deligh - Catherine more than any.

          

“I love you, Daddy.”

She’s easy to forget…the supporting players are quite fun, but Benson is doing a good job here. The naïveté, the subtle bits of innocence and bravery; she’s doing her very best to make this animated caricature into a full blooded character and she succeeds…on so many counts.

                      

“Oh, c'est très jolie, monsieur. Very poetic. But it is not quite Shakespeare.”

This is a forgotten Disney gem which I grew up with, so I have soft spot for it. Harris puts up a good showing as the tomcat in the show, but it’s Gabor’s sultry Queenie who leaves the mark. It’s a slight film, and the anamorphic characters don’t have anything new to tell us but Gabor is like Grace Kelly, as a cat.

         

“Please, Wallace, call me 'Totty'.”

The more I think of it, the more I wonder why I don’t like this film. Perhaps, claymation just doesn’t do it for me. Still, the voicework is on par and among her many assets I’ve always love HBC’s voice the most, so expressive.

             

“Bring it honey!”

You probably didn’t see this one coming. I can’t blame you. I liked Hoodwinked; a well intentioned and oddly smart animated flick that was poorly received. Glenn doesn’t get enough credit for her voice, but when you can’t see her you realise just how much she uses. This take on the “new” grandmother is inspired and hilarious and extraordinarily nuanced.

         

 

“Well, that didn't go very well at all, did it?”

Few voices are as diffidently calming and yet surprisingly funny as Lansbury here. :umiere and Cogsworth are the utensils most remembered (no, they are not on the list) but it’s Angela’s voice that shines through – heartfelt, sincere and yet irresolute when necessary.

        

“I am not a prize to be won!”

My, oh my. Can anyone resist Jasmine? I have a thing for Disney’s sultry voiced characters (you shall see later) and Jasmine is an excellent characterisation by [ ]. Sure, the film is not centred on her – but she’ll make you forget with every voice inflection and every subtle line reading (remember Evil Jasmine?)

“Simba, I'm very disappointed in you!”

Oh man, this man has a VOICE!!! Who doesn’t shudder when they hear him? Jones is an icon – plain and simple, and his work as Mufasa is just superb. With just a voice he embodies all we could hope for in the steadfast and devoted father.

         

Aha, and there goes round two. How are you liking the choices so far?