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THN’s Favourite Funny People Get Animated!

When DESPICABLE ME hit cinemas in 2010 comedian Steve Carell gave us a brilliantly voiced Russian super-villain whose dream in life was to be accepted.  He delivered a pitch perfect performance as the bumbling evil mastermind who tries to steal the moon but ends with a lot more than he bargained for! To celebrate the upcoming release of DESPICABLE ME 2 THN takes a look back at some of our favourite movies in which comic actors have lent their tremendous tones to some of the most entertaining animated characters around.

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Kung Fu Panda – Jack Black

In 2008’s KUNG FU PANDA Jack Black provides the voice for hapless kung fu-loving Po, who accidently manages to be picked as the Kingdom’s new Dragon Warrior. Obvious problems? Po is a rather large furry panda whose only martial arts practice has been in his dreams. The scenes where Po must train with the best fighters in the land show off Black’s comic timing to perfection as he manages to combine Po’s childlike enthusiasm and awkward clumsiness to great effect making them fun to watch for any age. The ensemble cast also features comedic support from Seth Rogen. The film spawned a sequel which was equally as enjoyable and a third is in the pipeline for 2015. Not bad for an obese noodle obsessed panda!

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Shrek – Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy’s hilarious and memorable portrayal of obnoxious ‘Donkey’ in the tale of an irritable ogre (Mike Meyers) trying to rescue a Princess to save his swamp is in the running for our favourite sidekick character on this list.  Donkey’s witty turn of phrase and complete oblivion to what is going on around him is superbly voiced by Murphy and you will come away from the movie quoting his lines (“I like that boulder. That is a NICE boulder”).  The comic cast was bolstered in the sequels with the addition of stars such as John Cleese and Eric Idle but Eddie Murphy is the stand-out voice in this collection of movies and a ‘Donkey’ spin off would have probably fared better than 2011’s slightly above-average PUSS IN BOOTS.  Honourable mention in the list must also go to Murphy for smart-mouthed dragon Mushu in Disney’s MULAN.

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Aladdin – Robin Williams

Easily a stand-out feature of  1992’s Aladdin was Robin Williams’ voice over work as the genie. Aladdin, trapped in a seemingly exitless cave, decides to rub an intriguing looking lamp (as you do) and out pops Robin Williams’ giant blue genie who proceeds to grant the wannabe Prince three wishes.  The hilarious, nonstop stream of jokes and jibes from Williams were mostly improvised as his stand up comedy background came into play during recording. Also featuring two unforgettable musical performances (‘Friend Like Me’ and ‘Prince Ali’) Robin proved his ability for truly magnificent voice over in spades.  Fun fact: Aladdin was the first animated feature that was advertised on the basis of a major movie star providing one of the voices and so Williams actually paved the way for many of his fellow comedic actors to make the move into voice over work.

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Finding Nemo – Ellen DeGeneres

Whilst the story line of FINDING NEMO revolved around a father trying to find his way back to his lost son what catapulted the movie into a different league and secured it’s win of the Oscar for Best Animated Feature was undoubtedly Ellen DeGeneres’ movie-stealing turn as short term amnesiac Dory.  In what could have become a very irritating plot device, a character who can’t even remember names, DeGeneres manages to keep Dory’s charm and innocence intact throughout the film and, in a true test of character development, her showmanship is visible in Dory’s actions and expressions (the role written specifically for comic).  In fact, the all round brilliance had many desperate for Dory to get her own movie.  Well, it took the producers ten years, but last month they gave the fans what they wanted and announced they were making a sequel, FINDING DORY, due for release in 2015.

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The Lion King – Rowan Atkinson (Zazu)

There’s so much right with Disney’s 1994 masterpiece THE LION KING, from the brilliant animation and camera movement to Hans Zimmer’s searching score. However the movie wouldn’t be the same without Rowan Atkinson’s voice over magic of the uptight Zazu – Simba’s would-be guardian, charged by King Mufasa to keep his offspring safe.  Atkinson manages to make Zazu both pretentious but also likeable and somewhat sympathetic – no mean feat when you’ve only got your voice to worth with. The do-gooder bird brings some light relief to what is pretty emotional stuff, what with Simba watching his dad die and all. Oh, and don’t pretend you haven’t sung out Zazu’s comedy interjections in a musical rendition of ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’ – we’ve all been there!

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Madagascar – Chris Rock

Chris Rock is joined by an enviable cast of comedians including Ben Stiller and Sasha Baren Cohen in Dreamworks’ 2005 pic MADAGSCAR which sees four spoilt zoo animals escape to the wild where they find themselves in a little over their heads.  Chris Rock voices Marty the Zebra whose eagerness and enthusiasm for their adventure is evident from the get go.  Not so keen is Ben Stiller’s Alex the Lion; when you’re the main attraction back at the zoo why would you want to go anywhere else? The two comedians interact brilliantly to produce a buddy relationship you’ll want to come good and the fun they are clearly having in the voice over booth floods the screen. Mayhem ensues in the best way possible as the animals try to survive in the wilderness and the fun continued in two sequels, each making more at the box office than the last! No word yet if there’s a fourth in the pipeline but it will take a lot for Dreamwork’s to give up on a good thing!

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Happy Feet – Robin Williams

Williams’ second entry on this list comes for his multiple voice overs in Warner Brothers penguin adventure HAPPY FEET.  Williams takes on the role of narrator, mentor penguin Lovelace and two of the newer members of the penguin pack – Ramon and Cletus.  As the narrator he manages to keep the pace of the movie moving along and the audience engaged.   Just like in Aladdin he takes on singing for his role as Ramon in a jazzed up Spanish version of ‘My Way’ and delivers his trademark rapid-fire improvised comedy.  He even manages to add in ecological morals to a children’s movie in his role as penguin elder Lovelace. To voice one character in an animated film is challenge enough, to voice four shows just how brilliant, as if you didn’t know already, Robin Williams truly is.

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Megamind – Will Ferrell

How can a villain continue to be evil after he has defeated his arch nemesis in battle? That’s the big question facing Will Ferrell’s titular Megamind in Dreamworks’ relatively low grossing 2010 animated offering.  Not being a Will Ferrell fan his talent for voice over was somewhat of a pleasant surprise because, make no qualms about it, this movie is brilliant.  Ferrell plays the flawed but love-able villain to perfection and as an added bonus you get  Tina Fey as the roving reporter who seems an easy target for constant kidnapping plans.  Megamind is a flamboyant character and Ferrell works tirelessly to bring that across showing great comic timing and dramatic flair throughout his performance . When the movie calls for him to be genuine, and even heartfelt, Ferrell slides into that side of Megamind’ nature with ease rounding out this superb character nicely.

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Toy Story – Tim Allen

You’ve Got a Friend In Me’ promises  Randy Newman’s dulcet tones during the course of TOY STORY. That friendship for one toy and his owner is severely tested when a newbie toy, space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), shows up and threatens to ruin the hierarchy.  Buzz doesn’t accept that he is a toy; he truly believes he has been tasked with saving the Universe from the Evil Emperor Zerg and Allen delivers the pomp and pageantry that goes along with this in emphatic style.  The delusion he brings to Buzz lights up the screen and the sparring with Tom Hanks’ Woody is what lifts this film into a different class of animated movie. Even the eventual realisation that *spoiler alert* he is just a toy after all can’t ruin Allen’s fun.

To infinity, and beyond!

DESPICABLE ME 2 is out in cinemas 28th June in the UK and 3rd July in the US. You check out our Four-Star Review by clicking here

Originally from deep in the London suburbs Vicky is now enjoying the novelty of being able to catch a night bus home from anywhere in the city. Her favourite films are anything John Hughes is involved in, SAY ANYTHING and DEAD POETS SOCIETY. Don't mention the rumour she once served cold tea to Robert Webb and Olivia Coleman. Find her on twitter @chafferty

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