The 10 best voice performances in Animated TV Shows. We are back with our Top 10 voice acting lists. The worlds of animation and voice go hand in hand most of the time, because good characters frequently need a powerful sound presence, as well as a visual one. A great voice is the perfect complement for a great character: thus, a good number of them have made us laugh and cry thanks to their faces, gestures… and voices.
The 10 Best Voice Performances in Animated TV Shows.
Let’s check from last to first our list of the actors and actresses who have voiced some of the most emblematic animated movie characters.
10. Cree Summer as Susie Carmichael in Rugrats.
Big bang to start! We have included Cree Summers for her long-standing role as Susie Carmichael in Rugrats, but we could just as easily highlight any of her other dozens of roles, thanks to her incredible ability to channel any child character during her almost 40 years of voice acting career. Some of us grew up listening to her voice as Penny, Inspector Gadget’s clever niece.
9. Tom Kenny as SpongeBob in Sponge Bob SquarePants.
With his ample experience as a comedian and voice actor, Tom Kenny has won the Daytime Emmy award twice (2018 and 2020) for best performance in an animated show. Being the voice of Sponge Bob SquarePants has also granted him a permanent spot in the popularity podium among kids.
The idea for Sponge Bob SquarePants came from an educational comic strip called Spongeboy. The name of the main character was changed due to copyright issues, and thus, the legend was born.
8. Katey Sagal as Leela in Futurama.
An extremely talented and versatile actress, Sagal came to our homes and touched our hearts in the late 80s with the popular show Married with Children, but she earned her place on this list for her unforgettable performance as Turanga Leela in Futurama.
7. Amy Sedaris as Princess Carolyn in Bojack Horseman.
Amy Sedaris masterfully portrays pink cat Princess Carolyn in the Netflix animated show Bojack Horseman. Originally presented as Bojack’s girlfriend and agent, her character development drives the show from start to finish. Sedaris’ voice is among the most distinctive and unique in the dubbing industry.
6. Seth MacFarlane as Stewie Griffin, Peter Griffin, Brian Griffin and Glenn Quagmire in Family Guy.
Not only is he an actor, screenwriter, producer, director and comedian; Seth MacFarlane is also an impressive dubbing artist. Family Guy is a great example: he plays many of the main characters himself. Did you know that the show was cancelled after its third season? Luckily, it was brought back to life by some miracle, and today it is one of the highest-grossing animated shows out there.
5. Shared fifth place: Billy West as Philip J. Fry, Prof. Hubert J. Farnsworth and Dr. Zoidberg, and John DiMaggio as Bender in Futurama.
What a pair. Two of the best American voice over actors performing as two of the best characters in the history of animation, Philip J. Fry and Bender Rodriguez. Futurama is the second huge hit from Matt Groening after The Simpsons, and it will have a new season in 2023 after a 10-year hiatus. We can’t wait!
4. Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz y Ralph Wiggum in The Simpsons.
Voiceover actor Charles Dawson (the voice of Yogi Bear) was mentor to one of the best voice actresses in the world. Nancy Cartwright initially went for the voice of Lisa Simpson, but moments before her audition, she decided the character of Bart was more appealing to her. We can thank Matt Groening for granting her the role of El Barto.
3. Hank Azaria as Moe Szyslak, chief Wiggum, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon and the comic book store guy in The Simpsons.
What started as a temporary job in the now iconic show The Simpsons ended up as the definitive attestation of Azaria’s voice acting chops. He is the voice behind many of the series’ most beloved characters, like bartender Moe Szyslak, chief of police Clancy Wiggum, Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon and the comic bookstore guy, and he has also voiced more than a dozen other minor characters throughout the show.
2. Will Arnett as BoJack Horseman in BoJack Horseman.
Nominated many times for an Emmy, he is known not only for voicing the main character in the animated show BoJack Horseman, but also for his performance as Gob in Arrested Development and for voicing Batman in the LEGO movies.
1. Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Abe «Grampa» Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Willie and mayor Joe Quimby in The Simpsons.
With three Emmy Awards for best Dubbing Artist in 1992, 1993 and 2004, Dan Castellaneta is our number one. I mean, who else? His career with The Simpsons, all throughout its 33 seasons, has established him as one of the best voice actors in history. Curious factoid: not only does he voice a wide arrange of characters in The Simpsons, he is also the screenwriter for many episodes of the show, along with his wife.
And so, we reached the end of our list. We know, we’ve left out many great performances, right? So, now it’s your turn. Please, leave your comments below and let us know!
