Getting animated! Did you know that some of the most beloved Disney and Pixar characters just so happen to be voiced by the biggest names in Hollywood?
Though we tend to think of our favorite actors in terms of their screen presence — a.k.a. the aesthetics, mannerisms and personality they bring to each and every character — many have also provided their voices to some of the film company’s most beloved classics.
You might recognize Fuller House’s Scott Weinger, for instance, as the voice of Aladdin in the 1992 animated version of the film, while the late, great Robin Williams lent his vocal talents to Aladdin’s big blue sidekick, Genie.
A young Joey Lawrence helped bring 1988’s Oliver & Company to life as the pipes behind lead Oliver Twist, while Christian Bale made a cameo as Thomas alongside Mel Gibson’s John Smith in 1995’s Pocahontas.
Then, there’s Kristen Bell, who will forever be known as her daughter’s second-favorite princess in Frozen, Anna of Arendelle.
Remember Kuzco from The Emperor’s New Groove? All David Spade. Moana’s Maui? Look no further than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
With the release of Disney’s live-action flicks in more recent years, the House of Mouse’s talent pool got a whole lot larger: So far, everyone from Beyoncé to Scarlett Johansson to Seth Rogen has jumped aboard the voiceover train, putting pizazz in their roles of Nala (The Lion King), Ka (The Jungle Book) and Pumba (The Lion King), respectively.
Pixar debuted the first trailer for the Lightyear film in October 2021, which tells the origin story of Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear and stars Chris Evans as the intergalactic hero.
“Animated movies were an enormous part of my childhood. They were my escape. My adventures. My dreams,” the Captain America: The Winter Soldier star tweeted at the time. “They were my first window into the magic of storytelling and performing. To @pixar and @AngusMacLane: ‘Thank you’ doesn’t even come close.”
Evans also shared a screenshot of a statement he wrote regarding the casting, which said, “The phrase ‘a dream come true’ gets thrown around a lot, but I’ve never meant it more in my life. Anyone who knows me knows that my love for animated films runs deep. I can’t believe that I get to be a part of the Pixar family and work with these truly brilliant artists who tell stories unlike anyone else. Watching them work is nothing short of magic. I pinch myself every day.”
Scroll through to find out who has lent their vocal talents to movies such as Toy Story, Wreck-It Ralph and more!
Mirabel in Encanto (2021) Disney/YouTube; Inset: John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Giacomo in Luca (2021) Disney/Pixar; Inset: Vincenzo Landi/IPA/Shutterstock
Raya in Raya and The Last Dragon (2021) Disney; Inset: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Luca Paguro in Luca (2021) Disney/Pixar; Inset: John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Buzz Lightyear in Lightyear (2022) Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios/YouTube
Elsa of Arendelle in Frozen (2013) Shutterstock (2)
Flynn Rider in Tangled (2010) Disney; Inset: Shutterstock
Judy Hopps in Zootopia (2016) Disney; Inset: Shutterstock
Nick Wilde in Zootopia (2016) Disney; Inset: Shutterstock
Chief Bogo in Zootopia (2016) Disney; Inset: Shutterstock
Nala in The Lion King (2019) YouTube; Inset: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Ka in The Jungle Book (2016) YouTube; Inset: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Thomas in Pocahontas (1995) YouTube; Inset: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Vanellope von Schweetz in Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) YouTube; Inset: Andrew Toth/WireImage
Princess Anna of Arendelle in Frozen (2013) YouTube; Inset: Michael Kovac/Getty Images
The Genie in Aladdin (1992) YouTube; Inset: Lester Cohen/WireImage
Maui in Moana (2016) YouTube; Inset: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Shere Khan in The Jungle Book (2016) YouTube; Inset: Mike Marsland/WireImage
Raksha in The Jungle Book (2016) YouTube; Inset: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images
Pumba in The Lion King (2019) YouTube; Inset: John Parra/Getty Images
Mushu in Mulan (1998) YouTube; Inset: Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images
Shank in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) YouTube; Inset: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Oliver Twist in Oliver & Company (1988) YouTube; Inset: Barry King/Getty Images
Yessss in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) Disney; Inset: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Shenzi in The Lion King (1994) Disney; Inset: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Kuzco in The Emperor's New Groove (2000) Walt Disney; Inset: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
Terk in Tarzan (1999) Disney; Inset: Jim Spellman/WireImage
Phil in Hercules (1997) YouTube; Inset: Robin Marchant/Getty Images
Baloo in The Jungle Book (2016) YouTube; Inset: Rich Fury/Getty Images
King Louie in The Jungle Book (2016) YouTube; Inset: Miquel Benitez/WireImage
Simba in The Lion King (2019) Walt Disney Pictures; Inset: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
Dory in Finding Nemo (2003) Disney/Pixar; Inset: Getty Images
Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast (1991) Disney; Inset: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
Mufasa in The Lion King (1994 and 2019) Walt Disney Pictures; Inset: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Timon in The Lion King (1994) Disney; Inset: Walter McBride/WireImage
Nala in The Lion King (1994) YouTube; Inset: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Zazu in The Lion King (1994) Disney; Inset: Tristar Media/Getty Images
Olaf in Frozen (2013) Disney; Inset: David Livingston/Getty Images
Kala in Tarzan (1999) Disney; Inset: Getty Images
Jane Porter in Tarzan (1999) Disney; Inset: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images
Wilbur in Rescuers Down Under (1990) YouTube; Inset: George Rose/Getty Images
Hugo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) YouTube; Inset: Andrew Toth/FilmMagic
Ralph in Wreck-It Ralph (2012) YouTube; Inset: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Sergeant Calhoun in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) YouTube; Inset: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Artful Dodger in Oliver & Company (1988) Disney; Inset: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Georgette in Oliver & Company (1988) YouTube; Inset:Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Dot in A Bug's Life (1998) Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar/Photofest; Inset: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Bolt in Bolt (2008) YouTube; Inset: Francois Durand/Getty Images
Rapunzel in Tangled (2010) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; Inset: Getty Images
Lightning McQueen in Cars (2006) Disney/Pixar; Inset: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Carl in Up (2009) Walt Disney Co./courtesy Everett Collection; Inset: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Hercules in Hercules (1997) Buena Vista Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection; Inset: C Flanigan/FilmMagic
Aladdin in Aladdin (1992) Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy of Photofest; Inset: Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Adult Simba in The Lion King (1994) Disney; Inset: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Walt Disney; Inset: George Pimentel/Getty Images
John Smith in Pocahontas (1995) Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; Inset: Ari Perilstein/Getty Images
Tarzan in Tarzan (1999) Walt Disney; Inset: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Simba in The Lion King (1994) YouTube; Inset: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc. (2001) Disney/Pixar; Inset: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images
James P. "Sulley" Sullivan in Monsters, Inc. (2001) Disney/Pixar; Inset: Venturelli/WireImage
Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995) Walt Disney Studios; Inset: FOX via Getty Images
Sheriff Woody in Toy Story (1995) Walt Disney Studios; Inset: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
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