It is safe to say that without the talent of actors across the globe, the world of entertainment would be a drab and dull place. Different faces, bodies, personalities, and voices breathe life into our film and television history; they are just as important and vital in maintaining high levels of entertainment and fun as they are culturally or socially influential.
However, it is the aspect of voice that really can draw the attention of any viewer of television or films. After all, so much of acting is reliant on one's manipulation of voice. Voice, in the end, is the vehicle for emotional displays and the foundation for both dialogue and scene tone. Without the use of one's voice, unless written intentionally, an actor's full potential is hindered.
With all the importance placed upon an actor's voice, why do voice actors not receive as much credit as they should?
Personally, voice acting is something I have always taken an interest in though I have never done it myself. I always love to see how voice actors are able to manipulate their voices to sound like so many different characters. It always makes me happy to learn new facts about favorite voice actors like Tom Kenny or Tara Strong.
To be honest, the concept of voice acting should be, at the very least, vaguely interesting to others interested in the world of acting or entertainment production given that most people grew up on animated cartoons or movies.
Then why is it that voice actors are not as well known? I think that the easiest reason for this popularity deficiency is that voice actors do not show their faces. Hidden behind the silver screen, a voice actor will not pop up in a film or show on a normal day. This is juxtaposed with traditional actors that show their faces and are able to convey a sense of body language that voice actors simple are unable to accomplish.
Given this, some believe that it is a much more daunting task to be an actor in the traditional sense of the word. After all, for some, voice actors just throw and manipulate their voices while the traditional type of actors have to manipulate their bodies, expressions, and subtle motions when going completely into character.
However, I believe that voice actors deserve way more credit than we have been giving them in the past. True, voice actors do not manipulate their bodies or motions to the extent that the traditional actors do on the big screen. However, there is a certain talent that some people take for granted when considering voice acting.
Often, cartoons and animated movies are limited in what they are able to create. Animation has come a long way, but sometimes, depending on style and budget, one is limited to the emotions conveyed through an animated character's expressions and body movements.
Thus, a voice actor becomes all the more impressive because they are able to convey this emotion without the aid of having their faces shown on camera. A voice actor, in other words, stretches one's realm of imagination by providing enough emotion and feeling into just their voice in order to carry that sense of emotional importance throughout the film.
Acting is a vital aspect of the entertainment industry and without it, our senes of television and film would be incomplete. However, when considering the types of actors, voice actors and the traditional actors have an equal sense of importance. Are they inherently different in what they are able to do or accomplish? Yes.
However, voice actors and traditional actors both held build our world of imagination and allow us to fully embrace the wonderful world of the entertainment industry.