How Robin Williams Changed the Voice Acting Industry

MsMojo

There really was no one like Robin Williams! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re exploring how, in the early 1990s, the amazing Robin Williams changed the voice acting industry.

Transcript

00:00I'm telling you, nice to be back, ladies and gentlemen.

00:02Hi, where are you from? What's your name?

00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo.

00:05And today we're exploring how, in the early 1990s,

00:08the amazing Robin Williams changed the voice acting industry.

00:13But never!

00:14Duplicate! Duplicate! Duplicate! Duplicate! Duplicate!

00:17Genie of the Lamp!

00:23Robin Williams was one of the most dynamic, versatile,

00:26and beloved talents in the entertainment industry.

00:28Before his monumental role in Aladdin,

00:31his career trajectory took him from stand-up comedy stages

00:34to becoming a household name through his role as Mork

00:36in the television series Mork & Mindy.

00:38This role showcased his exceptional improvisational skills

00:42and his ability to bring laughter and depth to a character,

00:45traits that would define his career.

00:47Little hatchling brothers, you must revolt against your oppressors.

00:49You have nothing to lose but your shells.

00:52As much as I like Mindy, it's against intergalactic law

00:55to eat fellow space travelers.

00:56Fly! Be free!

01:00His casting as the Genie in Disney's Aladdin

01:03represented a pivotal moment in the history of voice acting,

01:06fundamentally transforming the industry

01:08and setting new benchmarks for what could be achieved through animation.

01:12Prior to Williams' involvement,

01:14voice acting was often seen as a specialized,

01:16somewhat secondary aspect of animated film production,

01:19with characters typically developed through scripted performances

01:22that adhered closely to the written word.

01:24However, Williams' role as the Genie shattered these conventions.

01:33Before his groundbreaking role in Aladdin,

01:36the landscape of voice acting was markedly different.

01:39Traditionally, voice actors were specialists

01:41who dedicated their careers to animation,

01:44possessing unique skills that allowed them to bring

01:46a wide range of personas to life through their vocal performances alone.

01:55These individuals were not typically household names.

02:05Rather, they were revered within the animation community

02:08for their versatility,

02:09ability to create distinctive voices for multiple characters,

02:13and their contribution to bringing worlds to vivid reality.

02:16Icons like Mel Blanc, known as the Man of a Thousand Voices,

02:20and June Foray, the voice behind countless classics,

02:23exemplified the era where talent and adaptability were paramount,

02:27and celebrity status was not a prerequisite for casting.

02:43This period focused on the craft of voice acting,

02:45with performances honed to fit the characters created by studios.

02:49The industry operated under the belief

02:51that the magic of animation lay in the ability of these artists

02:54to disappear into their roles,

02:56allowing the characters themselves to take center stage.

03:07The approach to casting relied heavily on acting prowess

03:10rather than the actor's visibility or star power.

03:13This ethos meant that films rarely featured the voices of A-list celebrities,

03:17with studios instead valuing the specialized skills

03:20that seasoned voice actors brought to the table.

03:34Then, the late 20th century witnessed significant advancements

03:37in animation and voice acting,

03:39laying the groundwork for transformative changes in the industry.

03:43Technological innovations, particularly in computer-generated imagery,

03:47began to revolutionize the way films were produced,

03:50allowing for more complex and visually stunning storytelling.

03:58This period saw the emergence of studios like Pixar,

04:01whose debut feature film Toy Story showcased the potential of CGI

04:05to create fully realized, three-dimensional worlds.

04:08Such advancements in technology not only expanded

04:11the creative possibilities for filmmakers,

04:13but also began to alter the landscape of voice acting.

04:18As animation evolved, so too did the approach within the industry.

04:30The increasing sophistication of characters

04:32demanded a greater depth of emotion and personality,

04:35which in turn required a new caliber of vocal performance.

04:39This era marked a shift towards casting actors

04:41who could bring a more nuanced, dynamic range to their roles,

04:44bridging the gap between traditional voice acting and live-action performance.

04:58The stage was set for a new kind of talent,

05:01one that could leverage celebrity appeal

05:03and exceptional acting skills to breathe life into animated figures.

05:07This evolution created an environment ripe for innovation,

05:10where an actor like Williams could step in and redefine what was possible,

05:14merging star power with vocal artistry.

05:21Known for his rapid fire wit and ability to effortlessly tone shift,

05:26Williams brought these improvisational talents into the recording booth,

05:29transforming the process into a dynamic creative endeavor.

05:33Unlike the conventional method where voice actors adhered strictly to the script,

05:37Williams was encouraged to let his imagination run wild,

05:41injecting his unique brand of humor and a plethora of improvised lines into the role.

05:58This freedom allowed him to create a genie

06:00that was a reflection of Williams' own comedic genius.

06:03This performance was not merely about lending a voice to an on-screen figure,

06:07it was about creating a character that could exist in multiple dimensions,

06:11equally capable of eliciting laughter, empathy and awe.

06:14The traditional approach relied heavily on adhering to the script

06:18and outlines provided by animators and directors.

06:21However, Williams' genie transcended these boundaries,

06:24as his ad-libbed lines and spontaneous creations were so compelling

06:28that the animation was often adjusted to fit his improvisations.

06:38To accommodate this improvisational style in Aladdin,

06:42Disney employed innovative technological and creative methods,

06:45making a significant departure from traditional techniques.

06:49Animators faced the unique challenge of syncing their drawings

06:52with Williams' spontaneous and dynamic vocal performances,

06:55which included a myriad of impersonations and off-the-cuff jokes.

06:58You need more power, Jim!

07:00Don't be afraid. You had it all along.

07:04I never did it. I am not at fault.

07:06This required a highly flexible and adaptive approach,

07:09where the typical sequence of scripting, storyboarding and animating

07:13was often reversed or modified.

07:15The team would listen to Williams' recordings, identifying the best takes

07:19and then painstakingly animating the genie to match his vocal inflections and energy.

07:24What they do is I kind of give an inspiration and then they go with it.

07:26There's stuff in the cartoon where they just play with images

07:29and they go as fast as I do,

07:31which is nice when you can travel at the speed of life.

07:33This process involved a greater level of collaboration than ever before,

07:37with animators essentially performing alongside Williams

07:40to capture the essence of his performance visually.

07:43Additionally, Disney used cutting-edge software

07:45to enhance the fluidity and expressiveness of the genie,

07:48allowing for a level of facial and bodily expressiveness

07:51that was unprecedented at the time.

07:54To be my own master, such a thing would be greater

07:57than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world.

08:02These efforts not only succeeded in bringing Williams' genie to life,

08:05but also pushed the boundaries of what was possible in filmmaking.

08:09This all paved the way for a new era in films,

08:12where actors' improvisational skills became a pivotal part

08:15of development and storytelling.

08:17In Shrek, Eddie Murphy's portrayal of Donkey is a prime example.

08:21Murphy's energetic and fast-paced comedic style breathed life into Donkey,

08:34making him not just a sidekick,

08:36but a standout creation beloved by audiences.

08:39Murphy reportedly improvised many of his lines,

08:42and his ability to infuse the character with humor,

08:45warmth, and vulnerability was reminiscent of Williams' approach with the genie.

08:51Similarly, in Finding Nemo, Ellen DeGeneres' portrayal of Dory

08:59introduced a character whose charm and comedic timing

09:02were enhanced by DeGeneres' improvisational skills.

09:05Dory's forgetfulness, paired with DeGeneres' witty and spontaneous humor,

09:10created memorable moments that added depth to the film's narrative.

09:13Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,

09:15just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.

09:18What do we do?

09:19We swim.

09:20Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel

09:23and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.

09:26You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.

09:30If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.

09:36These examples are just a few of the most notable of many post-Aladdin roles

09:40that illustrate the transformative effect of Williams' performance on the industry.

09:44By highlighting the importance of the voice actor's creativity and improvisational ability,

09:49Williams' legacy encouraged filmmakers to collaborate more closely with their talent,

09:53leading to richer, more nuanced characters and stories.

09:56You got some power in your corner now.

09:59There's heavy ammunition in your can.

10:01You got some punch.

10:02His hands!

10:03Good job, you rat house.

10:04All you gotta do is rub that lamp.

10:06He showed that voice acting is an art form

10:08capable of bringing unparalleled depth and vibrancy to the animated realm,

10:13a lesson that continues to resonate in the industry.

10:16His work as the genie remains a benchmark for excellence,

10:19reminding us of the power of creativity

10:22and the enduring impact of a truly groundbreaking performance.

10:26I'm history!

10:27No, I'm mythology!

10:29I don't care what I am, I'm free!

10:32Do you think Robin Williams changed the animation game?

10:35Let us know in the comments.

10:39You ain't never had a friend like me.

10:46Do you agree with our picks?

10:47Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,

10:49and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.

Category

Transcript

Recommended