Some of Hollywood’s most exceptional and talented performers have also provided memorable voice work tobeloved cartoons and animated shows, while there’s also whole separate field of excellent voice actors who mainly work in that medium and don’t get the recognition they deserve. Either way, it takes a great actor to knock it out of the park when it comes to portraying characters on such programs, as they are forced to rely solely on their vocal gifts and capabilities and not only the physical aspect of the craft. Such challenges and roles truly demonstrate the strength of voice performers, as evident in the successful and renowned shows they are a pivotal component of.
Comedy genius Seth MacFarlane is famous for not only creating and writing the mega-hit adultanimated seriesFamily Guy,but he also brilliantly portrays three of the long-running sitcom’s main characters, showcasing his exceptionally fun vocal gifts. Mike Judge is no stranger to creating and acting in his popular projects as well, having voiced the lead characters inBeavis & Butt-Headand as Hank Hill in the feel-good showKing of the Hill.Many enduring and celebrated programs feature impressive voice casts and great voice acting, and these animated shows have some of the best (in no particular order).
Touting a dynamite voice cast including John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, and Billy West, the fan favorite animated sci-fi sitcomFuturamafollows the many misadventures of certified slacker and pizza delivery boy Philip J. Fry, who becomes cryogenically preserved in 1999 only to be thawed out in the year 2999. West knocks it out of the park on the hilarious show, voicing not only main character Fry but also Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, Dr. John A Zoidberg, and Zapp Brannigan (among others).
The renowned voice actor and impressionist is brilliant in his delivery of each character’s lines and persona, and West deliberatelymodeled Fry’s voice after his ownin order to make it difficult for someone else to replicate. The other talented actors really make their counterparts their own (especially Sagal, transforming her iconicMarried With Childrentone into something even more interesting as Leela) and serve up a delightful dose of humor and charm.
7King of the Hill
From the minds of thecreative Mike Judge and Greg Danielscomes the critically-acclaimed animated sitcomKing of the Hill,an endearing comedy that centers on blue-collar Texas family the Hills as they experience the mundane aspects of life with patriarch Hank trying to keep the kooky clan in line. Not only did Judge co-create the show, but he also provided his vocal talents to portray Hank, joining stars like Kathy Najimy, Brittany Murphy and Pamela Segall Adlon on the long-running program.
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Judge is famous for taking on roles in his popular creations, also having done so in the MTV cult classicBeavis and Butt-Head.All the fun and dynamic performers onKing of the Hillhelp give the sitcom a relatable, wholesome feel, with the actors adopting a laid-back southern drawl in their deliveries of their amusing characters (or, in the case of Boomhauer, borderline unintelligble gibberish that’s also hilarious). Adlon specifically is perfect as son Bobby Hill, winning an Emmy for her work.
6Central Park
The Apple TV+ musical adult animated sitcomCentral Parkfocuses on the Tillermans, an unconventional family who both live and work in the titular New York City hot spot and must battle against a greedy hotel heiress who wants to eliminate the park and put in condos. The show is stacked with vibrant and charismatic voice actors, withA-list stars like Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, Josh Gad, and Leslie Odom Jr. bringing colorful flair to their characters. It’s no surprise thatH. Jon Benjamin’s characterWhitney Whitebottom is hilarious, as Benjamin is arguably the most recognizable voice in voice acting right now, playing the titular patriarch inBob’s Burgers, the title character ofArcher, and doing great voice work in the gone-but-not-forgotten classicHome Movies.
Not only do the performers bring a unique zest to their counterparts, but they also knock it out of the park when they sing the fun musical numbers on the sitcom.Central Parkhas earned widespread critical praise since its 2020 debut, with praise going towards its exceptional ensemble cast, memorable songs and its uplifting message. Kristen Bell made the wise decision to step down from the show, choosing to no longer play a bi-racial character, and has been replaced withThe Umbrella Academyactor Emmy Raver-Lampman, though they’re both excellent.
5Family Guy
Comedy superstar Seth MacFarlane created the long-running, fan favorite adult animated sitcomFamily Guy,which follows the zany antics of Peter and Lois Griffin and their two teenage kids, with their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian and evil genius infant Stewie causing even more hilarious chaos. MacFarlane voices three of the program’s main characters (Peter, Brian, and Stewie), doing so because he believed it would be easier to simply do it himself than to have another actor attempt it.
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Each of the characters havedistinct personalities and styles, with MacFarlane basing Stewie’s voice on English actor Rex Harrison, Peter’s from a security guard he once heard in Rhode Island and Brian’s on his own regular speaking voice.Family Guyalso features the talents of Mila Kunis, Seth Green, and Alex Borstein as the rest of the Griffin gang.
4Cowboy Bebop
Hailed as one of the greatest animated television shows of all time, the critically lauded Japanese neo-noir sci-fi animeCowboy Beboptakes place in 2071 and depicts the thrilling and dangerous exploits of a crew of bounty-hunters working from the spaceship Bebop.While the original Japanese voice acting is often great, the English dub is surprisingly impeccable, utilizing a cast of seasoned voice actors including Steve Blum, Beau Billingslea, and Melissa Fahn, with many regarding the performances asone of the best anime dubsto date.
The main characters on the series are all unique and distinct in their personalities and mannerisms, with Blum’s Spike Spiegel frequently demonstrating a cavalier attitude with a history of violence. Blum’s voice acting work is iconic in anime (playing Roger Smith inThe Big O, Mugen inSamurai Champloo, and countless others likeNarutoandUltraman), but also outside of it, like as Sub-Zero in theMortal Kobatvideo games and Garazeb Orrellos inStar Wars Rebels.The lead bounty hunters ofCowboy Bebopare all phenomenal though and wonderfully different, and the English voice actors really manage to capture the essence of the characters.Cowboy Bebophas been credited with helpingintroduce anime to the Western cultureand is viewed as a gateway series for Japanese animation.
3The Simpsons
Making its impressive debut in 1989, the animated sitcomThe Simpsonsis an amusing satirical depiction of American life that centers on the Simpson family, following the household and yellow residents of the oddball Springfield and showcasing their lively adventures. The fictional family consists of the immature and lazy Homer, grounded Marge and their misfit children Lisa, Bart, and Maggie, with renowned voice actors like Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Nancy Cartwright bringing their quirky counterparts to life on the hit show.
Castellaneta not only voices patriarch Homer but also entertaining characters like Krusty the Clown, Grampa Simpson, and Mayor Quimby, with the performer taking on multiple roles so thatnew actors would not be needed.The Simpsonshas been the recipient of 34 Primetime Emmy Awards and 34 Annie Awards, and is the longest-running American sitcom of all time.
2BoJack Horseman
With a delightful cast of voice performers like Will Arnett, Alison Brie, and Aaron Paul (not to mention character actress Margo Martindale), the Netflix adult-animated dramedyBoJack Horsemancenters on the eponymous anthropomorphic horse, a washed up ‘90s television star has-been who plots his epic return to fame via a juicy autobiography. The alcoholic and perpetually self-loathing BoJack is voiced by Arnett, who has received immense praise for his ability to portray the character with a perfect blend of comedy and emotion.
For his compelling performance on the series, Arnett has received numerous accolades including a Critics’ Choice Television Award and Annie Award. One ofthe best Netflix originals,BoJack Horsemanalso features an assortment of eccentric supporting characters like Mr. Peanutbutter, a cheerful labrador voiced by Paul F. Tompkins and the human slacker genius Todd Chavez, amusingly portrayed by Aaron Paul.
1The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
The successful Cartoon Network animated television seriesThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandychronicles the hilarious exploits the vastly different titular leads get into after the pair are given the grumpy Grim Reaper, who is forced to become a lifelong companion to the kids after losing a wager. Richard Steven Horvitz and Grey DeLisle voice the dim-witted Billy and cynical Mandy, with Greg Eagles portraying the short-tempered, Jamaican-accented Grim Reaper.
The characters are all commanding and memorable in their performances, with each actor adding their own fun flair that helped make the show a huge hit for the network. The conflicting personalities of Billy and Mandy and Grim’s love-hate relationship with the scheming duo is front-and-center in the actors’ exceptional delivery, and it’s no surprise that during its run the series was a fan favorite among viewers.
