MomSkoop
You might recognize your favorite celebrities from movies, TV shows, or music, but did you know many of them have also lent their voices to beloved animated characters? Some of these casting choices are so surprising that they might just blow your mind.
From action heroes to pop stars, Hollywood’s biggest names have stepped into the recording booth to bring cartoons and animated films to life. Get ready to look at some of your favorite animated characters in a whole new way.
1. Mike Myers — Shrek in Shrek
Mike Myers almost didn’t use a Scottish accent for Shrek — he originally recorded the entire film using his natural Canadian voice.
After watching the early footage, he felt something was off and asked DreamWorks to let him re-record every single line with a Scottish accent instead.
That decision reportedly cost the studio an extra $4 million but was absolutely worth it.
The Scottish brogue gave Shrek a gruff yet lovable personality that felt completely unique.
Myers drew inspiration from his Scottish mother, who used to tell stories in that accent when he was a child.
That personal connection made the performance feel warm, authentic, and unforgettable for audiences worldwide.
2. Robin Williams — Genie in Aladdin
Before Robin Williams voiced the Genie in Disney’s 1992 classic Aladdin, animated characters rarely had the kind of wild, rapid-fire comedy he brought to the role.
Williams improvised so much during recording sessions that the animators had hours of extra material to work with.
His electric energy completely changed what audiences expected from animated films.
The Genie became one of the most beloved characters in Disney history largely because of Williams’s unique comedic genius.
He could shift from hilarious to heartfelt in seconds, making the character feel genuinely alive.
Williams reportedly earned just $75,000 for the role — far less than his usual fee — because he simply loved the project.
3. Eddie Murphy — Donkey in Shrek
Nobody could have predicted that a fast-talking donkey would steal the show from the main character, but Eddie Murphy made it happen effortlessly.
Murphy’s natural comedic timing and improvisational skills made Donkey one of the funniest sidekicks in animated film history.
Directors actually encouraged him to go off-script, and many of the funniest Donkey moments came straight from Murphy’s imagination.
What makes this casting so surprising is that Murphy was primarily known as an edgy adult comedian at the time.
Yet he found the perfect balance of humor and heart that worked for all ages.
His chemistry with Mike Myers felt completely real, making their unlikely friendship one of cinema’s most entertaining animated duos.
4. Tom Hanks — Woody in Toy Story
Tom Hanks bringing Woody to life in Pixar’s groundbreaking 1995 film Toy Story feels obvious in hindsight, but at the time it was a bold choice.
Hanks was one of Hollywood’s biggest dramatic actors, fresh off back-to-back Oscar wins for PhiladelphiaForrest Gump and .
Casting him as a cowboy toy was a creative gamble that paid off spectacularly.
Hanks has said that voicing Woody taught him a lot about subtle performance, since there are no facial expressions or body language to rely on.
Every emotion had to live entirely in his voice.
His warmth and sincerity turned Woody into a character that generations of children and adults genuinely care about deeply.
5. Tim Allen — Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story
Tim Allen was best known for his grunting, tool-obsessed character on the sitcom Home ImprovementToy Story when Pixar came calling for .
Playing Buzz Lightyear required something completely different — a pompous, earnest space ranger who genuinely believes he’s a real hero.
Allen nailed the role by playing Buzz completely straight, never winking at the joke.
That commitment to sincerity is exactly what made Buzz so funny and so lovable at the same time.
Allen has reprised the role across sequels, short films, and video games for nearly three decades.
His partnership with Tom Hanks created one of animation’s most iconic friendships, built on perfect comedic contrast and genuine emotional depth.
6. Cameron Diaz — Princess Fiona in Shrek
Cameron Diaz was riding high as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses when she signed on to play Princess Fiona in Shrek.
What made her casting surprising was that Fiona isn’t your typical princess — she’s tough, funny, and eventually transforms into an ogre herself.
Diaz embraced every quirky layer of the character with obvious enthusiasm.
Her natural comedic instincts gave Fiona a refreshing energy that felt nothing like the passive Disney princesses audiences were used to.
Diaz brought genuine sass and self-confidence to the role, making Fiona a role model in her own unconventional way.
She reprised the character across multiple sequels, proving the franchise’s enduring appeal for fans of all ages.
7. Scarlett Johansson — Kaa in The Jungle Book
In Disney’s stunning 2016 remake of The Jungle Book, director Jon Favreau made the bold choice to cast Scarlett Johansson as Kaa, the hypnotic python.
Originally portrayed as a bumbling male villain in the 1967 classic, this version of Kaa became a silky, seductive, genuinely unsettling presence.
Johansson’s low, velvety voice made the character far more chilling than the original.
Johansson appeared in only one scene, but her performance left a lasting impression on audiences.
Her ability to convey menace and mystery through voice alone proved what a skilled and versatile performer she truly is.
Many fans consider her Kaa one of the most memorable parts of an already visually spectacular film.
8. Angelina Jolie — Master Tigress in Kung Fu Panda
Master Tigress is one of the most disciplined, intense characters in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and Angelina Jolie was essentially born to voice her.
Known for playing fierce, physically capable characters in her live-action career, Jolie brought a controlled intensity to Tigress that felt completely authentic.
There’s a quiet power in every line she delivers.
What’s fascinating is how little screen time Tigress gets compared to Po, yet she remains one of the franchise’s most popular characters.
Jolie’s restrained performance gives Tigress an air of mystery and depth that keeps fans wanting more.
She has returned to the role across sequels and spin-offs, cementing Tigress as one of animation’s coolest warrior figures.
9. Jack Black — Po in Kung Fu Panda
Jack Black is famous for his over-the-top energy, and somehow DreamWorks managed to channel all of that chaotic enthusiasm into a giant panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu master.
Po is goofy, passionate, food-obsessed, and surprisingly deep — basically everything Jack Black does best, wrapped in a fluffy black-and-white package.
What makes this casting so perfect is that Black’s genuine love of music, action, and absurd humor bleeds naturally into every scene.
He doesn’t feel like a celebrity doing a voice job; he feels like he IS Po.
The franchise has grown into one of DreamWorks’ biggest, and Black’s irresistible performance is a huge reason why audiences keep coming back.
10. Mila Kunis — Meg Griffin in Family Guy
Here’s a fun piece of trivia: Mila Kunis was only 14 years old when she auditioned for the role of Meg Griffin on Family Guy.
She reportedly told producers she was 18 — which she definitely was not — and somehow landed the part.
Kunis has voiced the perpetually picked-on Griffin daughter since the show’s debut in 1999.
Meg is one of TV’s most relentlessly unlucky characters, and Kunis gives her a world-weary sincerity that makes her oddly sympathetic.
It’s wild to think that while Kunis was simultaneously acting on That ’70s ShowFamily Guy, she was also recording .
She has stuck with the role for over two decades, showing real loyalty to the character.
11. Kristen Bell — Princess Anna in Frozen
Kristen Bell was not the obvious choice to lead a Disney princess film, but her casting as Anna in Frozen turned out to be absolutely inspired.
Bell brought an awkward, clumsy, wonderfully relatable energy to Anna that felt refreshingly different from traditional Disney royalty.
Anna trips over things, says the wrong stuff, and is genuinely lovable because of her imperfections.
Bell has spoken openly about how much Anna means to her personally, especially the character’s message about love and resilience.
She pushed for Anna to be funny and real rather than polished and perfect.
The result was a character who connected with audiences on a deeply personal level — and a film that became one of Disney’s highest-grossing animated movies ever.
12. Idris Elba — Chief Bogo in Zootopia
Idris Elba is one of those actors who could read a grocery list and make it sound commanding, so casting him as the gruff, no-nonsense Chief Bogo in Disney’s Zootopia was a stroke of genius.
Chief Bogo runs the Zootopia Police Department with an iron hoof, and Elba’s deep, authoritative voice makes every scene he’s in feel weighted with importance.
What makes the casting surprising is how perfectly Elba’s gravitas contrasts with the film’s colorful, playful world.
He brings a real-world seriousness to an animated setting, which actually makes the film’s themes about bias and justice land harder.
Even with limited screen time, Chief Bogo feels like a fully formed, memorable character thanks to Elba’s presence.
13. Rihanna — Tip in Home
Most people forget that global pop superstar Rihanna made her animated film debut voicing Tip in DreamWorks’ 2015 movie Home.
Tip is a resourceful, determined teenager searching for her mother after an alien invasion scrambles life on Earth.
Rihanna gave the character a spirited warmth and emotional authenticity that anchored the film’s heart.
Beyond voicing Tip, Rihanna also contributed several songs to the soundtrack, including the hit “Towards the Sun,” making her creative involvement in the project genuinely substantial.
The combination of her vocal performance and musical contributions gave Home a cohesive emotional tone.
It remains one of the more underrated animated films of the 2010s, largely elevated by Rihanna’s multifaceted contribution.