* Lord Voldemort *
New member
Generally whenever a famous live action show or movie is given a cartoon follow up or adaptation, networks will usually go for voice actors who imitate the original actors. Original actors may decline because the price isn't right or they don't want to be associated with a cartoon.
All fine and dandy, but lets look for scenario where the original actor(s) return to voice the animated version of their character:
A. Star Trek The Animated Series: To my knowledge this is the earliest instance where a cartoon does use the original actors to do voice work (if I'm wrong, I'd be curious to know what cartoon was the first). Basically the idea was to make this as close to the three seasons of the original series (at the time the only prior series) as possible.
As a result you have pretty much all of the cast (except Walter Koenig as Chekov, but he did contribute by writing The Infinite Vulcan or The Infinite Wulcan as his character would say) back:
William Shatner as James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock, DeForest Kelly as Leonard Bones McCoy, James Doohan as Montgomery Scott, Majel Barrett as Christine Chapel, George Takei as Hikaru Sulu and Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura.
Though from several online sources and books, it was mentioned that James Doohan and Majel Barrett were to originally voice Sulu and Uhura to save costs. Upon hearing about it, Nimoy threatened to walk out unless George and Nichelle were brought in to provide the voices of their characters.
Also, three of the guest actors from The Original Series returned for an episode to voice the characters they originally played. You had Mark Lenard as Sarek (Yesteryear), Stanley Adams as Cyrano Jones (More Tribbles, More Troubles) and Roger C. Carmel as Harry Mudd (Mudd's Passion).
B. The New Adventures of Batman: Okay, it's merely another Batman series rather than a tie in to the original live action show, but it does have Adam West and Burt Ward reprising the roles they previously played as Batman and Robin. Adam West would of course voice Batman again in Superfriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show and The Super Powers Team Galactic Guardians.
C. Back To The Future: Rather than Michael J. Fox voicing the character, the role went to David Kaufman (who coincidently voiced Fox's other character Stuart in Stuart Little The Animated Series). For some reason, even though Christopher Lloyd was available to play Dr. Brown again, his animated counterpart was voiced by Dan "Homer J Simpson" Castenella.
However, Tom Wilson reprised his role as Biff Tannen (and continuing to play other Tannens as well), and Mary Steenburgen reprised her role as Clara Clayton Brown.
D. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures: Alex Winters and Keanu Reeves returned to play Bill & Ted respectively, but were replaced in Season 2. George Carlin returned to play Rufus (the guy who gave them the phone booth, not the Naked Mole Rat from Kim Possible
) and Bernie Casey voiced Mr. Ryan.
Any other situations?
All fine and dandy, but lets look for scenario where the original actor(s) return to voice the animated version of their character:
A. Star Trek The Animated Series: To my knowledge this is the earliest instance where a cartoon does use the original actors to do voice work (if I'm wrong, I'd be curious to know what cartoon was the first). Basically the idea was to make this as close to the three seasons of the original series (at the time the only prior series) as possible.
As a result you have pretty much all of the cast (except Walter Koenig as Chekov, but he did contribute by writing The Infinite Vulcan or The Infinite Wulcan as his character would say) back:
William Shatner as James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock, DeForest Kelly as Leonard Bones McCoy, James Doohan as Montgomery Scott, Majel Barrett as Christine Chapel, George Takei as Hikaru Sulu and Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura.
Though from several online sources and books, it was mentioned that James Doohan and Majel Barrett were to originally voice Sulu and Uhura to save costs. Upon hearing about it, Nimoy threatened to walk out unless George and Nichelle were brought in to provide the voices of their characters.
Also, three of the guest actors from The Original Series returned for an episode to voice the characters they originally played. You had Mark Lenard as Sarek (Yesteryear), Stanley Adams as Cyrano Jones (More Tribbles, More Troubles) and Roger C. Carmel as Harry Mudd (Mudd's Passion).
B. The New Adventures of Batman: Okay, it's merely another Batman series rather than a tie in to the original live action show, but it does have Adam West and Burt Ward reprising the roles they previously played as Batman and Robin. Adam West would of course voice Batman again in Superfriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show and The Super Powers Team Galactic Guardians.
C. Back To The Future: Rather than Michael J. Fox voicing the character, the role went to David Kaufman (who coincidently voiced Fox's other character Stuart in Stuart Little The Animated Series). For some reason, even though Christopher Lloyd was available to play Dr. Brown again, his animated counterpart was voiced by Dan "Homer J Simpson" Castenella.
However, Tom Wilson reprised his role as Biff Tannen (and continuing to play other Tannens as well), and Mary Steenburgen reprised her role as Clara Clayton Brown.
D. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures: Alex Winters and Keanu Reeves returned to play Bill & Ted respectively, but were replaced in Season 2. George Carlin returned to play Rufus (the guy who gave them the phone booth, not the Naked Mole Rat from Kim Possible
) and Bernie Casey voiced Mr. Ryan.Any other situations?