Stars Assemble To Voice How To Train Your Dragon
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!
6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Jay E
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.
Mar 18th, 2008
alex
meh..
Mar 18th, 2008
DON
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.
Mar 18th, 2008
alex
ya dreamworks is trash with cgi!
Mar 18th, 2008
Omar
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.
Mar 19th, 2008
dublin_sullivan
now this is a voice actor, mel blanc , fantastic
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/393131/mel_blanc_voice_of_bugs_bunny/
Mar 19th, 2008
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