I Know That Voice
I Know That Voice
NR | 07 January 2014 (USA)
I Know That Voice Trailers

Filmmaker Lawrence Shapiro discusses voice-over acting with the talented people behind the characters.

Reviews
Kattiera Nana

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

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Numerootno

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

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Allison Davies

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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Mandeep Tyson

The acting in this movie is really good.

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joeker-betts

I have always been a lover of animation and voices. I remember being in the playground and practicing voices from shows. Then one day I realised that somebody actually has to do that as a job. They don't just generate voices from a computer or record random stuff. Someone has to perform a character to bring that character and show to life. That was when I began my fascination with voice actors. This documentary was so lovely to watch. It was wonderful to hear the people behind so many of my childhood heroes, (and villains), talk about their careers and experiences. The film covered some great topics from Daddy of all VO Mel Blanc to how video games are becoming the next big thing in Voice acting. It was so nice to hear how genuine and humble these incredibly talented people are. I suppose I would have liked to have seen more from certain actors, but you can only do so much in one documentary. It would be incredible if this was picked up and turned into a show, similar to Voice Actor Rob Paulson's podcast "Talkin' Toons" which is also excellent. A fantastic watch for anyone interested not only in Voice acting but also acting in general and filmmaking.

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mockfilmsblog

I hate to say it but I've never been one who watches documentaries. I mean, yes, I enjoy them, though I don't generally seek them out . In this politically heated world that we live in, to be honest, at then end of a long day I'm not in the mindset to watch one of the (what feels like a million) docs out there about how big business is slowly feeding me genetically modified corn syrup that will make me become a gluten mutant of some kind, or whatever the hot button topic of the week is. Don't get me wrong, there's a need for such films and they are important in educating the masses, but like I said, sometimes it's not what you need at the end of a rough day. Then, ever so often, you find a topic that screams 'watch me.' And I have found that documentary my friends.I Know That Voice (2013) takes a gander at a subject that many of us never give much credence to. No, it's not about how the auto industry is using the tears killer whales to power inefficient hybrids. This film takes a personal look at what it means to be an actor who is never actually seen on screen. I speak of the voice over artists who use their gift of gab to create and bring to life some of the most iconic characters in the world of entertainment. Produced by John DiMaggio (the alcohol fueled robot Bender from the popular series Futurama), this film feels like a labor of love and what unfolds is wonderful.The movie explains the history of voice artists from the beginning of talkies until present day, peppering in a slew of interviews from some of the most popular talent out there. Weaving a tale of both the struggles and the love of the business, I Know That Voice keeps you interested from start to finish as the actors known for being silly animated characters, show you a side of the process which makes the viewer appreciate what was once looked at as child's fair. Throughout, you meet everyone from Sponge Bob to Roger Rabbit. And these are truly actors, damn fine ones at that.

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MartinHafer

"I Know That Voice" is a documentary that just debuted on Netflix. While many of you may have little interest in documentaries, this one probably will interest you as it's all about the faces behind those familiar voices in cartoons, TV voiceovers and videogames. So, unless you hate these sorts of things (and who does?!), you'll likely be interested in meeting these people and seeing what they really look like. It's interesting that RARELY do any of them seem like their characters in the least. For example, many voices of male characters are voiced by women and my favorite recent cartoon characters look amazingly unlike the people who provide their voices (especially the guys who provide the voices for Wacko from "Animaniacs" as well as "Johnny Bravo") . Additionally, these people have some wonderful behind the scenes stories, personal experiences and discuss how they got into this craft--and all of it is very interesting. And, there are also some wonderful surprises (such as Tom Hanks' lookalike brother who occasionally ALSO provides the voice for "Woody" from the Toy Story franchise).Now the film is not perfect. There is one HUGE problem and that is that the film tries to do way too much. Squeezing so many different voice actors into one picture is tough, as many of them only get to say a tiny bit and many of these voice actors most famous characters aren't even mentioned. I would have either preferred they interview less voice actors and gave them more time to talk or, if possible, make a mini-series about them. I could easily see them make this much, much longer...and I would have really appreciated that. However, considering I thought it was too little...that is an indication that I really enjoyed what I saw.

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jimnshay

John DiMaggio and his friends tell the story of voice acting, and nobody tells a story better than people who do funny voices. It's raucous, wild, silly, and honest. About 45 minutes in you've heard about the beginning of voice acting in cartoons and all the principals have told you how they got into the business and what it means to them. It's a complete experience, a great ride, and you're well and truly satiated. And a little exhausted by all the high-energy emoting. But there' was still another 45 minutes to go. What, I asked, could the next 45 minutes possibly be about?Well, actually, it's about the business of cartoon voice-overs: how you get work, what it's like to need work and the insecurity of the business, what a recording session is like, what their agents do for them, how they work with directors, and the different kinds of work that they do. The part about doing voice-overs for video games was a scream. But it was all good.Taken all in a piece, it's too much. So here's my suggestion; especially doable if you see this on Netflix. At 45 minutes, stop the movie; you've seen Part 1. Go do something else. The next day, see the rest of the movie -- Part 2. You'll enjoy the two halves immensely -- much better than the whole. That's what I did, and I whole-heartedly recommend the movie, when watched this way.

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