Impressive Voice Casts In Film

20 July 2014

The Lego Movie

We’re used to seeing their movie star smiles, their perfectly coiffed hair and their flawless dress sense, but when actors step away from the camera and into the recording booth as voice artists, they have a chance to showcase their skills in an exciting new way.

Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell and a whole host of other a-list names did just that when they lent their voices to the star-studded The LEGO Movie, which hit cinemas earlier this year.

To celebrate the release of The LEGO Movie on 3D, Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 21 July, we countdown some of the other most impressive voice casts in animated film.

- Shrek

When Mike Myres’ unlikely hero Shrek burst onto our screens in 2001, accompanied by his loyal companion Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and feisty Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), we knew Dreamworks were onto a good thing.

They must have known it too, going on the produce three feature-length sequels, a whole host of short films, TV specials and video games.

The franchise’s cast list reads like the Hollywood Walk of Fame with stars including Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Justin Timberlake, John Lithgow, Jennifer Saunders, Eric Idle, Rupert Everett, Jon Hamm and Jane Lynch all lending their voices to the alternative fairytale movies.

- Despicable Me

Steve Carell headed up this 2010 comedy as hilariously grumpy super-villain Gru, whose notorious status is threatened when he finds himself lumbered with three orphaned sisters.

Jason Segel also stars as Gru’s rival villain Vector, while Russell Brand lends his voice to elderly gadget whizz Dr Nefario.

Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett and Julie Andrews also starred, while Steve Coogan, Ken Jeong and Benjamin Bratt came on board for the 2013 sequel.

With a minions spinoff and a further sequel in the works, we’re sure there are plenty more famous voices to come!

- Shark Tale

While most films simply use the voices of their talent, underwater adventure Shark Tale went one step further and animated its characters to resemble their A-list counterparts.

Will Smith’s Oscar is an ambitious bluestreak cleaner wrasse who looks suspiciously like the Fresh Prince star, while Angelina Jolie’s glamourous lionfish Lola, boasts the actress’s famous full lips.

Also immortalised in fish form are Renée Zellweger as angelfish Angie, Robert DeNiro as gangster shark Don Lino, Jack Black as veggie shark Lenny and Martin Scorsese as pufferfish Sykes.

- Madagascar

The 2005 hit Madagascar tells the story of a group of sheltered zoo animals who unexpectedly find themselves shipwrecked on the island of, you guessed it, Madagascar.

You might find yourself recognising the familiar tones of our friends Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Gloria the hippopotamus and Melman the giraffe - who are voiced by Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith and David Schwimmer respectively. Also making us chuckle is Sacha Baron Cohen as eccentric lemur King Julien and Cedric The Entertainer as his advisor Maurice.

The animated hit spawned two sequels, with famous faces such as Alec Baldwin, Bernie Mac, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston and even will.i.am joining in the fun.

- Gnomeo and Juliet

The classic tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet has been retold numerous times over the years, but no adaptation has been quite so inventive (or as star-studded) as Gnomeo and Juliet - in which the famous duo are reimagined as garden gnomes.

James McAvoy and Emily Blunt lead the cast as our loved up pair, with Julie Walters and Richard Wilson starring as warring neighbours Miss Montague and Mr Capulet.

The cast is positively crammed full of stars including Michael Caine, Matt Lucas, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart and Ashley Jensen, with the perhaps surprising additions of Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan.

- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Bill Hader stars as enthusiastic inventor Flint Lockwood in this 2009 animated comedy from The LEGO Movie’s Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

After Flint invents a device that makes it rain food, he meets beautiful weather intern Sam Sparks, voiced by Anna Faris. Meanwhile his pet monkey is voiced by Neil Patrick Harris and James Caan stars as his technophobic father Tim.

The spectacular cast is completed by Andy Samberg, Benjamin Bratt, and even Mr T. The 2013 sequel pulled in further star power with Kristen Schaal and Terry Crews joining the team.

- The LEGO Movie

The LEGO Movie boasts one of the most impressive voice casts in animation. As well as the previously mentioned Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Will Ferrell, the family comedy’s remaining cast is full to the brim of Hollywood superstars.

Morgan Freeman stars as the wise Vitruvius, Will Arnett plays a brooding Batman and Liam Neeson appears as the erratic Good Cop/Bad Cop.

Littered with star-studded cameos, the movie also stars Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Cobie Smulders as Green Lantern, Superman and Wonder Woman. STILL not enough showbiz voices for you? Ok, we’ve also got Charlie Day, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Will Forte and Nick Offerman. Phew!