Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, and Jenny Slate talk Forgotten Island
Voice actors working on animated films often experience their craft in isolation from the final product, with production timelines sometimes stretching years beyond their recording sessions. In discussing their work on the animated fantasy adventure Forgotten Island, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, and Jenny Slate share insights into the unique challenges and rewards of voice acting for animated features.
Franco highlights how the production timeline for animated films creates an unusual dynamic. The directing team on Forgotten Island has been developing the project for over five years, while voice work typically occurs much earlier in the production pipeline. This temporal separation means that when actors enter the recording booth, character designs may still be in flux, and they have no concrete sense of what their final performances will look like on screen.
This disconnect creates a distinct viewing experience for voice actors. Unlike live-action performers who see themselves in dailies and can observe their work throughout shooting, voice actors essentially become audience members when they finally see the completed film. They experience the movie with the same fresh perspective and sense of discovery as any other viewer, unburdened by knowledge of production decisions or final creative choices.
Franco emphasizes the wonder of this process, describing animation as “such a long process” that transforms the experience for those involved. The extended timeline, while challenging for maintaining character consistency and emotional continuity, ultimately allows voice actors to appreciate the artistry and vision of the directors and animators without preconception.