There really was no one like Robin Williams! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re exploring how, in the early 1990s, the amazing Robin Williams changed the voice acting industry.
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00:00I'm telling you, nice to be back, ladies and gentlemen.
00:02Hi, where are you from? What's your name?
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:05And today we're exploring how, in the early 1990s,
00:08the amazing Robin Williams changed the voice acting industry.
00:13But never!
00:14Duplicate! Duplicate! Duplicate! Duplicate! Duplicate!
00:17Genie of the Lamp!
00:23Robin Williams was one of the most dynamic, versatile,
00:26and beloved talents in the entertainment industry.
00:28Before his monumental role in Aladdin,
00:31his career trajectory took him from stand-up comedy stages
00:34to becoming a household name through his role as Mork
00:36in the television series Mork & Mindy.
00:38This role showcased his exceptional improvisational skills
00:42and his ability to bring laughter and depth to a character,
00:45traits that would define his career.
00:47Little hatchling brothers, you must revolt against your oppressors.
00:49You have nothing to lose but your shells.
00:52As much as I like Mindy, it's against intergalactic law
00:55to eat fellow space travelers.
00:56Fly! Be free!
01:00His casting as the Genie in Disney's Aladdin
01:03represented a pivotal moment in the history of voice acting,
01:06fundamentally transforming the industry
01:08and setting new benchmarks for what could be achieved through animation.
01:12Prior to Williams' involvement,
01:14voice acting was often seen as a specialized,
01:16somewhat secondary aspect of animated film production,
01:19with characters typically developed through scripted performances
01:22that adhered closely to the written word.
01:24However, Williams' role as the Genie shattered these conventions.
01:33Before his groundbreaking role in Aladdin,
01:36the landscape of voice acting was markedly different.
01:39Traditionally, voice actors were specialists
01:41who dedicated their careers to animation,
01:44possessing unique skills that allowed them to bring
01:46a wide range of personas to life through their vocal performances alone.
01:55These individuals were not typically household names.
02:05Rather, they were revered within the animation community
02:08for their versatility,
02:09ability to create distinctive voices for multiple characters,
02:13and their contribution to bringing worlds to vivid reality.
02:16Icons like Mel Blanc, known as the Man of a Thousand Voices,
02:20and June Foray, the voice behind countless classics,
02:23exemplified the era where talent and adaptability were paramount,
02:27and celebrity status was not a prerequisite for casting.
02:43This period focused on the craft of voice acting,
02:45with performances honed to fit the characters created by studios.
02:49The industry operated under the belief
02:51that the magic of animation lay in the ability of these artists
02:54to disappear into their roles,
02:56allowing the characters themselves to take center stage.
03:07The approach to casting relied heavily on acting prowess
03:10rather than the actor's visibility or star power.
03:13This ethos meant that films rarely featured the voices of A-list celebrities,
03:17with studios instead valuing the specialized skills
03:20that seasoned voice actors brought to the table.
03:34Then, the late 20th century witnessed significant advancements
03:37in animation and voice acting,
03:39laying the groundwork for transformative changes in the industry.
03:43Technological innovations, particularly in computer-generated imagery,
03:47began to revolutionize the way films were produced,
03:50allowing for more complex and visually stunning storytelling.
03:58This period saw the emergence of studios like Pixar,
04:01whose debut feature film Toy Story showcased the potential of CGI
04:05to create fully realized, three-dimensional worlds.
04:08Such advancements in technology not only expanded
04:11the creative possibilities for filmmakers,
04:13but also began to alter the landscape of voice acting.
04:18As animation evolved, so too did the approach within the industry.
04:30The increasing sophistication of characters
04:32demanded a greater depth of emotion and personality,
04:35which in turn required a new caliber of vocal performance.
04:39This era marked a shift towards casting actors
04:41who could bring a more nuanced, dynamic range to their roles,
04:44bridging the gap between traditional voice acting and live-action performance.
04:58The stage was set for a new kind of talent,
05:01one that could leverage celebrity appeal
05:03and exceptional acting skills to breathe life into animated figures.
05:07This evolution created an environment ripe for innovation,
05:10where an actor like Williams could step in and redefine what was possible,
05:14merging star power with vocal artistry.
05:21Known for his rapid fire wit and ability to effortlessly tone shift,
05:26Williams brought these improvisational talents into the recording booth,
05:29transforming the process into a dynamic creative endeavor.
05:33Unlike the conventional method where voice actors adhered strictly to the script,
05:37Williams was encouraged to let his imagination run wild,
05:41injecting his unique brand of humor and a plethora of improvised lines into the role.
05:58This freedom allowed him to create a genie
06:00that was a reflection of Williams' own comedic genius.
06:03This performance was not merely about lending a voice to an on-screen figure,
06:07it was about creating a character that could exist in multiple dimensions,
06:11equally capable of eliciting laughter, empathy and awe.
06:14The traditional approach relied heavily on adhering to the script
06:18and outlines provided by animators and directors.
06:21However, Williams' genie transcended these boundaries,
06:24as his ad-libbed lines and spontaneous creations were so compelling
06:28that the animation was often adjusted to fit his improvisations.
06:38To accommodate this improvisational style in Aladdin,
06:42Disney employed innovative technological and creative methods,
06:45making a significant departure from traditional techniques.
06:49Animators faced the unique challenge of syncing their drawings
06:52with Williams' spontaneous and dynamic vocal performances,
06:55which included a myriad of impersonations and off-the-cuff jokes.
06:58You need more power, Jim!
07:00Don't be afraid. You had it all along.
07:04I never did it. I am not at fault.
07:06This required a highly flexible and adaptive approach,
07:09where the typical sequence of scripting, storyboarding and animating
07:13was often reversed or modified.
07:15The team would listen to Williams' recordings, identifying the best takes
07:19and then painstakingly animating the genie to match his vocal inflections and energy.
07:24What they do is I kind of give an inspiration and then they go with it.
07:26There's stuff in the cartoon where they just play with images
07:29and they go as fast as I do,
07:31which is nice when you can travel at the speed of life.
07:33This process involved a greater level of collaboration than ever before,
07:37with animators essentially performing alongside Williams
07:40to capture the essence of his performance visually.
07:43Additionally, Disney used cutting-edge software
07:45to enhance the fluidity and expressiveness of the genie,
07:48allowing for a level of facial and bodily expressiveness
07:51that was unprecedented at the time.
07:54To be my own master, such a thing would be greater
07:57than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world.
08:02These efforts not only succeeded in bringing Williams' genie to life,
08:05but also pushed the boundaries of what was possible in filmmaking.
08:09This all paved the way for a new era in films,
08:12where actors' improvisational skills became a pivotal part
08:15of development and storytelling.
08:17In Shrek, Eddie Murphy's portrayal of Donkey is a prime example.
08:21Murphy's energetic and fast-paced comedic style breathed life into Donkey,
08:34making him not just a sidekick,
08:36but a standout creation beloved by audiences.
08:39Murphy reportedly improvised many of his lines,
08:42and his ability to infuse the character with humor,
08:45warmth, and vulnerability was reminiscent of Williams' approach with the genie.
08:51Similarly, in Finding Nemo, Ellen DeGeneres' portrayal of Dory
08:59introduced a character whose charm and comedic timing
09:02were enhanced by DeGeneres' improvisational skills.
09:05Dory's forgetfulness, paired with DeGeneres' witty and spontaneous humor,
09:10created memorable moments that added depth to the film's narrative.
09:13Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,
09:15just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.
09:18What do we do?
09:19We swim.
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09:36These examples are just a few of the most notable of many post-Aladdin roles
09:40that illustrate the transformative effect of Williams' performance on the industry.
09:44By highlighting the importance of the voice actor's creativity and improvisational ability,
09:49Williams' legacy encouraged filmmakers to collaborate more closely with their talent,
09:53leading to richer, more nuanced characters and stories.
09:56You got some power in your corner now.
09:59There's heavy ammunition in your can.
10:01You got some punch.
10:02His hands!
10:03Good job, you rat house.
10:04All you gotta do is rub that lamp.
10:06He showed that voice acting is an art form
10:08capable of bringing unparalleled depth and vibrancy to the animated realm,
10:13a lesson that continues to resonate in the industry.
10:16His work as the genie remains a benchmark for excellence,
10:19reminding us of the power of creativity
10:22and the enduring impact of a truly groundbreaking performance.
10:26I'm history!
10:27No, I'm mythology!
10:29I don't care what I am, I'm free!
10:32Do you think Robin Williams changed the animation game?
10:35Let us know in the comments.
10:39You ain't never had a friend like me.
10:46Do you agree with our picks?
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