Voice-Over for Animation [Paperback]

Jean Ann Wright (Author), M.J. Lallo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2009

Voice Over for Animation takes animation and voice-over students and professionals alike through the animated voice-over world. The book provides information, exercises, and advice from professional voice-over artists. Now you can develop your own unique characters, and learn techniques to exercise your own voice gain the versatility you need to compete. You can also learn how to make a professional sounding demo CD, and find work in the field.

The accompanying CD is professionally recorded, and features: scripts, Animation Talent Agent interviews, Casting Director interviews and Interviews with Animation Voice-Over Artists like Nancy Cartwright (Bart, The Simpsons) and Cathy Cavadini (Blossom, Power Puff Girls) and Bill Farmer (Goofy). This is an invaluable resource for animators and voice-over artists.

--Author MJ Lallo is a VO artist, director, producer, and casting director.
--Examples of voice placement for characters, to allow for practice of standard voices commonly used in cartoons.
--Voice-over demo included on CD so that students can model their own voice-over demo around the example.
--Standard cartoon dialects like British, Mexican, French, and East Indian dissected.
--Exercises offered to strengthen voices and improve flexibility.
--Tips from professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

MJ Lallo quotes:
Nancy Cartwright: "MJ Productions is the coolest VO studio in LA.", Ned Loft (Disney): "MJ is a fun and talented artist and teacher.", Brian Nefsky (Disney Imagineering): "MJ runs great classes and is a great VO talent."

New quotes likely from:
June Foray (voice-over artist, Natasha, from Rocky and Bullwinkle. Still working regularly today.)
Lucille Bliss (Smurfette and many more)
Both of these voice-over artists have already agreed to be interviewed for the new book. There will be many more. Women In Animation has a number of animation voice-over artists and recording studio owners as members.

About the Author

Jean Ann Wright serves as an animation pre-production consultant, specializing in writing and development, design, storyboard, casting, and voice-overs. Jean worked at Hanna-Barbera for eight years as an assistant animator. Her animation training included classes in writing and development, voice-overs, storyboard, layout, character design, and animation. She took voice-over classes from Michael Bell, a well-known voice-over professional. Professionally, she's worked as an animation writer, assistant animator, dancer, model, and television production assistant. She's worked for television networks, animation companies, and assorted television production companies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240810155
• ISBN-13: 978-0240810157
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

At a time when my friends were still busy with playdates, I began a professional career in the entertainment industry as an actress and dancer. Later I received degrees in acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and art at Cal State Northridge. I'm married to a wonderful husband, and I have 2 grown daughters and 3 grandchildren. My animation career began as a trainee at Hanna-Barbera, where I worked for 8 years as an assistant animator on shows like The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons, and The Smurfs. I've sold my writing to DIC Entertainment, Hanna-Barbera, and Filmation. I've taught animation writing and development. Currently, I'm an animation consultant. When I can find the time, I enjoy judging animation for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, ASIFA-Hollywood, and the WGA west Animation Awards.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly user friendly and comprehensive instruction manual, February 11, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voice-Over for Animation (Paperback)

Nancy Cartwright, June Foray, and Lucille Bliss may not be well known to most people as other entertainment personalities of film and television, but their voices most certainly are. Each of these talented women are voices for animated characters. Nancy Cartwright is Bart from 'The Simpsons'; June Foray is Natasha from 'The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show'; and Lucille Bliss is Smurfette from 'The Smurfs'. These women, along with a number of other successful men and women who are 'voice-over' artists were sources for "Voice-Over Animation", a 288-page compendium of information co-authored by Jean Ann Wright and M. J. Lallo. Beginning with an introduction to the field of animation voice-over, "Voice-Over For Animation" covers the elements for doing voice-overs including preparational warm-ups and exercises, performance techniques, dialects, and character development. Of special note are the chapters on making an animation demo, finding an agent, marketing your services, and recording for cartoons. Covering everything from doing voice-over work for games, toys, and theme parks, to studio work including dubbing, "Voice-Over For Animation" is a thoroughly user friendly and comprehensive instruction manual. Enhanced with a glossary, an index, and an accompany CD, "Voice-Over For Animation" is strongly recommended reading for anyone contemplating a career doing voice-over work for animated films and television cartoon series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent survey of the art and business of voice over, July 14, 2010

By 

S. Cook "always listening" (Northeast USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voice-Over for Animation (Paperback)

I found the book to be very comprehensive, covering both basic and advanced techniques and, even more interestingly, outlining the production aspects of the business--how films are produced, made and voiced; who does the casting; what do the various industry job titles mean. It encourages the beginner as well as the advanced artist to cultivate his/her craft and his/her self marketing. Very informative and highly recommended.

2.0 out of 5 stars So far everything I've read is free online, somewhere..., July 8, 2011

By 

NickT79 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voice-Over for Animation (Kindle Edition)

Like my title says, I've read most of this on various sites on the internet. One of the things I was looking forward to was the accompanying CD, which has some interesting material on it. However, I have the Kindle version and there's no extras.

I'm all for continuing education but a simple Google search will reveal most of what's in this book.