The countdown continues as we near the top, I feel slightly bad that so many films have repeat entries. Then again, I can't blame myself because they're that good.
#30: Chris Sarandon in The Nightmare Before Christmas
as Jack Skellington
“Forgive me, Mr. Claus. I'm afraid I've made a terrible mess of your holiday. ”
Though I wouldn’t swear that The Nightmare Before Christmas is unparalleled excellence, it is a thoroughly enjoyable film and Sarandon’s protagonist is a significant portion of that. He is funny and endearing, yet maintaining his oddball status.
#29: Teri Hatcher in Coraline
as The Other Mother (and the Real Mother)
“Don't leave me! Don't leave me! I'll die without you! ”
Teri Hatch…loved her in Lois & Clark, liked her on Desperate Housewives until she turned into the hot mess that is now Susan. She’s not given credit (we don’t really get to see her stretch her legs), but her incarnation of Coraline’s mother and the Other Mother (a.k.a The Beldam) was a brilliant take on a potentially stereotypical villain. Coraline was my favourite animated film last year, and though Fanning’s work as the eponymous heroine was on point it was Hatcher’s layered and terrifying work that stuck with me for weeks after.
#28: Miriam Margolyes in Babe
as Fly
“But you're treating them like equals. They're sheep, they're inferior. ”
I’m sorry I couldn’t get a spot for Babe, but consider this a tribute to all the actors there. Babe is just too sweet for words, and Margolyes no-nonsense Fly is an excellent surrogate mother to the orphan pig. She’s stern, but not unloving and she does so well weighing her dedication to her husband against her that of her husband.
#27: Johnny Depp in Corpse Bride
as Victor Van Dort
“Please, there's been a mistake. I'm not dead. ”
At the moment people seem less than enthused about Depp and Burton, no point in dredging up that argument – but I do love Depp’s work as the reticent would-be groom of the eponymous corpse. It’s voicework that’s sometimes forgotten (very subtle) but I think it’s excellent, nonetheless.
#26: Joan Cusack in Toy Story II
as Jessie
“Well aren't you just the sweetest space toy I ever did meet! ”
Cusack always was the best thing about the Toy Story franchise, for me. Always a brilliant character actress, her take on the spirited cowgirl in the series was a thing of delight. She knew just how to get on our nerves without being overbearing.
#25: Robby Benson in Beauty & the Beast
as The Beast
“I thought I told you to come down to dinner!”
This is one that’s often forgotten. Beneath the animalistic growl Benson is doing excellent work portraying emotions in the Beast that are bubbling below the surface. His petulance, his nervousness, his ferocity – it’s all done as much through the animation as through the voicework making him just as interesting and as rounded a character as Belle.
#24: Richard Dreyfuss in James & the Giant Peach
as The Centipede
James & the Giant Peach features one of the strongest animated ensembles, and Dreyfuss' corny centipede is a big part of that.
#23: Robert Guillaume as The Lion King
as Rafiki
“Correction: I *know* your father..”
The Lion King is such an excellent film, when it’s time for laughs talk often turns to Timon and Pumba (admittedly good), but for me it’s always Guillaume’s hilarious Rafiki that does all the heavy lifting. He pops in and out (and in again) for a few short moments, but his voicework takes the film to another level. He is simultaneously annoying, perverse, wise and exasperating. Yes, we know these are animals, but we fee like we know this strange monkey.
#22: Lillias White, La Chanze, Vaneese Y. Thomas, Cheryl Freeman and Roz Ryan in Hercules
As The Muses (Calliope, Terpsichore, Clio, Melpomene and Thalia
“…And that’s the Gospel Truth.”
I debated whether or not to single them out, but it didn’t make sense. The Muses are all part of the same entity. Voice by a quintet of Broadway voices they’re responsible for the narration of this underrated piece. From Ryan’s spunky soul sister to White's sophisticated headliner they all work in tandem to create some of the most entertaining Disney characters.
#21: Jonathan Freeman in Aladdin
as Jafar
“You're speechless, I see. A fine quality in a wife.”
It’s probably difficult to craft a villain unlike anything we’ve seen, and all Disney villains do have that sombre voice in common. But Freeman does his own things with Jafar. He's slimy and he's almost offensive, but he sure is fun to watch.
Only two more rounds left? Do you have particular fondness for any of these?
PREVIOUSLY: #50 - #41
#40 - #31
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