Best Animation Movie Voices

by Helen Earnshaw | 10 February 2011

Aladdin

Gone are the days when little known actors would voice animation movies as all of Hollywood's biggest stars are lining up to lend their vocals to the latest cartoon project.

And this week is no difference as Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake team up for Yogi Bear and a whole host of stars lend their voice to Gnomeo and Juliet - including James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine and Ozzy Osbourne.

So to celebbrate the release of these two movies we take a look at some of the best celebrity voice performances.

- Robin Williams - Aladdin

To say that Robin Williams have a rather hyperactive personality would be a bit of an understatement - but Aladding and the role of the Genie is the only character that has ever truly captured that enthusiam.

Released back in 1992, yes it really is nearly twenty years ago, Williams kicked off this trend of big named stars voicing animation characters.

And what a performance it was as ths frantic and excitement filled performance from Williams brought the Genie to life - stealing ever scene that he was in.

- Jeremy Irons - The Lion King

Just two years later in 1994 and it was Jeremy Irons' turn to steal the show as he voiced baddie Scar in The Lion King.

Irons may be the master of the villain but no evil character ever left it's mark like Scar. His vocals made Scar's evil streak even more powerful.

Scar remains one of Disney's most evil characters.

- Eddie Murphy - Shrek

Who would have guessed in 2001 that Shrek would go on to be the mammoth hit that it is today. Grossing just $484 million, which is massive by any stretch of the imagination, did not hit that it would go on to be one of the most successful franchises.

But that is exactly what happened and the excellent vocal performance from Eddie Murphy contributed more than just a little to that success.

The hyper-active, talkative Donkey is a dream role for any comedian as Murphy amde Donkey the most famous sidekick in movie history.

- Tom Hanks - Toy Story

With the character of Woddy Tom Hanks kicked off CGI animaton back in 1995 - which saw the birth of Pixar.

Hanks' performance, especially in the third movie, is just as powerful as any live action movie that he has ever done.

Toy Story 3 went on to become the first animation movie to break $1 billion at the box office last year and has been nominated for a Best Animated Picture Oscar.

- Pat Carroll - The Little Mermaid

Ursula is by far the best female villain in the world of animation and it was Pat Carrol that brought her to live back in 1989.

Her deep raspy vocals sent a chill down the spine as she manipulated everyone around her to get what she wanted.

Her musical numbers are fantastic and she turned The Little Mermaid into the Disney classic that it is.

- Ellen Degeneres - Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo may have a special place in the heart of many an animation movie fan but this movie would be nothing wtithout the superb performance from Degeneres as Dory.

The fish with short term memory loss took Degeneres' career to the next level as cinema go-ers fell in love with her character

The movie went on to gross in excess of $867 million at the global box office and was, at the time, Pixar's most successful movie.