Stars Assemble To Voice How To Train Your Dragon
Posted by Rodneyon 18. 03. 2008in News Chat
Jonah Hill and a a gaggle of other Hollywood hotshots have been recruited to do voice work in the upcoming feature How to Train Your Dragon. We get wind of this story from the mystical, arcane, and elder caves of Yahoo:
Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse have signed on to star in the CGI-animated fantasy feature “How to Train Your Dragon.” Based on Cressida Cowell’s first novel in the children’s book series, the story centers on the timid son of a Viking chief who must capture and train a dragon in order to be initiated into his tribe.
I am all for a movie based on Vikings and the training of Dragons! Where the hell was this film when I was 10 – I would have lost my shit! I am not familiar with the children’s books but if anyone has youngsters that have read them – please give us the heads up.
I have said before that I prefer voice actors over Hollywood actors when it comes to animated features. I think people who specialize in this realm of work should have dibs. They should be rewarded with work for their dedication to the craft, and this is an art form that I want to see live on. Regular TMB contributer “The Seeler” disagrees and has made good points about the benefits of well known quality, performance by Robin Williams and others.
Despite my preference for voice actors, I am still excited to see this film and will certainly try to find out further information about the books!
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Regarding actors doing voices, as long as the actor’s name is not the star of film (ie Brad Pitt in Sinbad, Will Smith in Shark’s Tale) or their voice isn’t easily recognizable and distracting (ie Seinfeld in Bee Movie), using actors should be fine. Pixar has used many actors in their movies but they never distracted from the role. Pixar characters usually stand as independent characters and it wasn’t until the credits are running that I realize “Coach/Ernest/Hank Scorpio was in that?!?!”. In this aspect, this cast looks great as none of them seem like they will overshadow the movie, but they are all good actors.
Glad to see Apatow-alum Jay B. getting some attention. After leading “Undeclared” and stealing the show from both Seth Rogen and Jason Segal (both turning into big stars), its nice to see him get placed in a non-side character role.
meh..
THis won’t be a R rated viking movie. This will be about potty humor and crap jokes animated movie from dreamworks. I hate dreamworks.
ya dreamworks is trash with cgi!
I have never understood the need for using known actors in animated movies. Are more people going to see something because Gerald Butler is voicing a bunny? Animated movies stand or fall on their stories more than live action movies do so I don’t see the point really. Just get the best actor to do the job, superstar or not.
The core audience certainly doesn’t give a rats ass, children that is.
now this is a voice actor, mel blanc , fantastic
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/393131/mel_blanc_voice_of_bugs_bunny/
The Dragon books by Cressida Cowell are hilarious. There are several; How To Train Your Dragon, How To Speak Dragonese, H T Twist A Dragon’s Tail, etc. Imagine a hero named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III whose father, Stoic The Vast, is chief of the Vikings? From what I see in the trailers they’ve changed the story a lot from the book. I have to say, we have really enjoyed their bits for the Olympics.
On your topic of voices, I agree that voice actors are great and, sometimes, less distracting than big names. Robin Williams is a huge exception because animation gives him the ability to exercise his range. His performance as the Genie in Aladdin was inspired.
I listen to a lot of audio books and voice actors make far better readers than authors, for the most part. It’s a special gift to be able to enhance the story using only your voice as the tool.