**this is NOT a sponsored post. No one from this film knows me or cares. I just think it is seriously awesome and interesting and thought you might too.**
Hey all! It’s been a while since we had a laid-back Movie Monday—or in this case, TV Monday. Sort of. (Look, it’s a gray area, but roll with me.)
Lately, I’ve been completely obsessed with the Netflix documentary I Know That Voice. I first stumbled across it thanks to my favorite time-wasting app, Imgur, and I immediately knew it was something my husband would love too. If you’re a fan of animation, video games, or basically anything that requires a voice to bring it to life, you need to watch this.
Wait… Who’s That Voice?
The documentary was created by John DiMaggio, who—if you don’t recognize by name—you absolutely recognize by sound. Trust me. I thought I didn’t know him, but yeah, I did.
John DiMaggio = Bender from Futurama (Among Others)
Yep, John is the voice of Bender from Futurama—which, honestly, should be enough for me to respect the guy forever. But as I watched, I realized that voice actors are some of the most underrated, ridiculously talented people in entertainment.
I always think of voice acting with a gleam in my eye…something I would have loved to aspire to. As some of you know, I have a theatrical background, a few indie films under my belt, and an extensive history of talking way too much – but I never pursued any voice over work. But after watching this documentary, I was humbled. These people make it look easy, but the reality is…
Thou shalt not attempt that which THOU IS NOT ACTUALLY GOOD AT.
These guys get so much guff for what they do, from shmoes like me who think. “Well, I can talk and make voices. I could TOTALLY do that.” And this documentary makes it painfully clear: You think you can do cartoon voices? That’s cute.
You absolutely cannot.
Voice Acting: Harder Than It Looks (Or Sounds)
One of the biggest takeaways from I Know That Voice is just how much skill, endurance, and technical precision goes into voice acting.
These actors don’t just show up, read some lines in a funny voice, and call it a day. They have to:
✔ Match character emotions perfectly—angry, sad, amused, terrified—without any visual cues
✔ Deliver hours of dialogue without wrecking their vocal cords
✔ Maintain perfect consistency across episodes, seasons, and sometimes even decades
✔ Create new, distinct voices without overlapping with previous roles
Some Mind-Blowing Voice Actor Facts
Even if you don’t think you know much about voice actors, I promise you do. Here are a few of my favorite “Wait, WHAT?!” moments from the documentary:
Fred Flintstone? Yeah, That’s Him.
Who loves The Flintstones?? C’mon, I know at least SOME of the people who read my blog have heard of the Flintstones. Did you know that THIS guy is the (current) Fred?
Meet James Arnold Taylor, the current voice of Fred Flintstone. Does he look like Fred? Nope. But can he channel that “Yabba Dabba Doo” energy? Absolutely.
Bart Simpson? She’s Been Voiced by a Woman Since Day One.
Nancy Cartwright has been the voice of Bart Simpson since The Simpsons began. She’s also voiced Chuckie from Rugrats, Mindy from Animaniacs, and Rufus the Naked Mole Rat from Kim Possible.
C’mon, you all knew that, that’s not new. But did you know that Luke Skywalker is also the Joker from my favorite animated Batman series?
Luke Skywalker = The Joker
Mark Hamill—yes, that Mark Hamill—is arguably one of the best Jokers of all time. If you grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series, you were listening to Luke Skywalker himself cackling as Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime.
Okay, I could go on and on and on about who plays who, but there is more than that to this documentary.
Porky Pig’s Voice is a Science Experiment
One of the great points these talented professionals make over the course of the incredibly interesting video is how HARD it is to do what they do.
Bob Bergen, the current voice of Porky Pig, doesn’t just do the voice—he breaks it down into syllables with a precision that will leave you speechless.
Another voice actor gives three performances as the same character, all completely different.
Still another spells out a key principle of voice acting: you can do Bugs Bunny?
Awesome. BUT – can you do him when he’s angry? When he’s sad? Scared? Amused? Can you do him for five hours straight, saying everything BUT “What’s up doc?” No??
Then keep moving. You’re not a voice actor.
The Legend of Mel Blanc
No voice actor discussion is complete without paying tribute to the GOAT of voice acting: Mel Blanc.
Mel was the man behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Yosemite Sam, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, Foghorn Leghorn, and basically every other iconic Looney Tunes character. He’s the reason we even have modern voice acting as a profession.
I Know That Voice dedicates a section to Mel Blanc, and honestly, if you don’t already know how legendary he was, it’s worth watching for that alone.
Why You Should Watch This Documentary
If you:
✔ Grew up watching cartoons
✔ Have ever quoted an animated character without thinking
✔ Love behind-the-scenes entertainment facts
✔ Want to see insanely talented people in action
Then I Know That Voice is absolutely worth your time. It’s hilarious, insightful, and makes you appreciate just how much work goes into the voices behind your favorite characters.
Do you know the voice behind your favorite cartoon?
Voice actors don’t always get the recognition they deserve, but they are a huge part of what makes animation so magical. If you’ve ever wondered “Who voices that character?”, this documentary will blow your mind.
So, tell me—did any of these voice actor facts surprise you? Let me know in the comments!
