There are way too many examples of voice over animation mastery to mention here, but if I was forced to pick just one, I think I will go with something a little less obvious, a little more rebellious. I am referring to the person know less as an actor and more as a singer/musician – Will.I.Am. Will’s performance in the 2011 animated feature “Rio” was outstanding, if not a bit unconventional for someone not known for their acting chops. Not only are we the beneficiaries of his wonderful singing and writing talents, but his character is a bright beacon of clarity in the voice over department. We don’t hear Will.I.Am, we hear his overweight bird “Pedro”, full of sass and vigor and heart. He commits.
The reason we hear Pedro the whole time and not Will is that he has a clear sense of the character. This bird is opinionated, confident, fun, and spirited. He isn’t perfect or fearless, but he has many moments of believing in his own sheer will. No pun intended. Will takes these traits and spins them into his own masterpiece and brings this big-bellied bird to life. Not once does he depart from his mission of conveying these traits to you from moment to moment. Each line is an opportunity to convince us further of his “Pedro-ness”. If for one moment he stepped out of character, even one syllable, all is lost. This applies to all acting, all voice over acting, all of it. COMMIT to “who” you are in this performance, keep your eye on that ball and never look away for a second. If you believe you are this character, then we do too.