In its 97-year history, the Academy Awards have gradually expanded and diversified enough to include many facets of filmmaking, including visual effects, costume design, and hair and makeup.The youngest Oscar category, Best Animated Feature Film, is 25 years old now, but it continues to leave movie buffs wanting another category that’s frequently related to it.
Voice actors have been snubbed by the Oscarsfor years, despite the first voice-acting role, featured inSteamboat Willie, being performed at the same time as the first Academy Awards ceremony. Many voiceactors deserved to win Oscars for their performances, but this continues to be an unfulfilled dream even today, despite animated films winning Oscars for 25 years.
While manymovie performances that deserved Oscar nominationshave never been given their due by the Academy, voice acting remains criminally underappreciated. Voice acting performances deserve recognition alongside live-action performances, but the solution is to create a separate category that acknowledges voice actors, as non-animated performances will inevitably overshadow them due to the continued lack of appreciation for voice acting.
Return Of The Jedi (1983)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Return of the Jedi concludes George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy with Luke Skywalker and his allies seeking to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and facing a renewed threat as the Emperor attempts to obliterate the Rebellion through a second Death Star, broadening the epic battle between good and evil.
It seems unbelievable that the same man voiced two of the most iconic characters who defined the childhoods of generations, and only one of those roles is in an animated movie. James Earl Jones, whose warm but authoritative voice makes Mufasa a fan-favorite character, both in animation and in live-action, also voiced thebest sci-fi movie character of all time.
The immediately recognizable deep breathing, followed by the intimidating robot-like voice of Darth Vader, buoys the Dark Lord’s horrifying screen presence.Jones is the voice behind some of the best villain quotes in movie history, but his impassioned performance before Vader takes off his mask inReturn of the Jediputs it above every other time Jones has voiced him.
Tangled (2010)
Tangled
An adaptation of the fairytale of Rapunzel, Disney’s Tangled follows the long-haired princess as she journeys to discover her real identity. Kidnapped as a child by the evil Mother Gothel to exploit the healing properties of her magical hair, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has lived her whole life isolated in a tower. A chance encounter with a smooth-talking fugitive called Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) sees Rapunzel venture out into the dangerous world to find the kingdom of Corona and unlock the secrets of her past.
With an unconventional romantic arc at its center that challenges the typical damsel-in-distress rescued by a prince narrative that both Disney and Rapunzel are known for,Tangledrevolutionized Disney animated princesses. While there have been bold characters that predate her, most notably Mulan,Tangled’s Rapunzel arguably ushered in the modern era of Disney princesses by being resourceful without rejecting femininity.
Tangledwas the first Disney princess movie to get a PG rating, due to its more adult themes and violence in the film.
However, the highlight is Donna Murphy’s performance as Mother Gothel, the evil woman who keeps Rapunzel trapped. Her menacing screen presence is perfectly complemented by the enunciations both in dialogue and in song. Irrespective of whether you believeMother Gothel isSnow White’s Evil Queen, Murphy’s performance does invoke Lucille La Verne, who voiced the Evil Queen, Disney’s first villain.
How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 animated film set in the Viking world of Berk, where Hiccup, the son of Stoick the Vast, befriends a dragon and defies the village’s traditional dragon-slaying ways, leading to a reevaluation of the Viking-dragon conflict.
While he is great throughout the trilogy as the dragon-riding rebellious son of the Viking chieftain, Jay Baruchel’s performance as the scrawny Hiccup in the firstHow to Train Your Dragonstands out as one of the best teen character voice performances ever. Baruchel’shigh-pitched, smooth, and slightly nasal tone is ideal for Hiccup’s nervous and somewhat clumsy body language.
How to Train Your Dragonis a movie that will make youfall in love with the fantasy genre, and that effect is in no small part due to Baruchel’s iconic voice that elevates Hiccup’s desperately rebellious and heroic streak. He was so perfect as Hiccup that, despite being too old, I’d have loved seeing him in the live-action adaptation.
Encanto (2021)
Encanto
Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charming (and enchanted) place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might be her exceptional family’s last hope. Mirabel will seek out her missing cousin, Bruno, to discover the truth that Abuela has buried away for all of their lives.
Praised for its holistic portrayal of Hispanic culture and for itsending, which is revolutionary by Disney standards,Encantobecame one of the biggest hits of 2021. Its exploration of generational trauma and its rejection of the traditional Disney princess arc make Mirabel and the other members of the Madrigal family more relatable than most Disney characters, especially the princesses.
The spotlight rightfully belongs to Stephanie Beatriz’s voice acting as Mirabel.
While there are brilliant performances across the board, the spotlight rightfully belongs to Stephanie Beatriz’s voice acting as Mirabel. Not only does Diaz elevate the emotional impact of all the songs she performs, but her bubbly but self-doubting voice also perfectly complementsMirabel’s arc of discovering purpose and meaningin a place where she feels useless when the film begins.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Miles Morales returns in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. With his identity still safe but “grounded” by his parents, Miles Morales is visited by his friend from another dimension, Gwen Stacy. Inviting him on a new adventure, Miles jumps at the opportunity but is seemingly accosted by an unknown assailant on his journey. Miles and Gwen will unite with new and old Spider-Heroes to face a villain of immeasurable power.
As ananimated movie way better than expectedthat revolutionized animation with its unique art style that brings storylines and themes to life in the form of visuals and scenery,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verserightfully won an Oscar for Best Animated Picture.Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseis also highly impressive for maintaining the high standard set by its predecessor.
While there is a host of compelling characters in the movie, all made more compelling by excellent voice acting, none of the characters stole the show like Hobie Brown aka Spider-Punk. His anti-establishment ideology, the comic-book-cutout visual style employed for his design, andKaluuya’s unforgettably entertaining dialogue deliverymade him an instant favorite despite his significantly limited screen time.
The Wild Robot (2024)
The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
The conversation about an acting nomination for voice work or a separate Academy Award category for voice acting performances recently reached a peak whenThe Wild Robotstarted gaining awards season traction in 2025. Lupita Nyong’o’s impassioned performance as the robot who develops an unlikely bond with the animal inhabitants of an island is proof that voice actors deserve Oscars.
Known for her incredible emotional performances,Lupita Nyong’o proves she is an equally capable voice actorwith her performance as Roz, the titular robot. It’s her second time doing voice acting after her role as Raksha in the live-actionJungle Bookmovie, and the balance she strikes between robotic and human as Roz cements her status as a voice actor.
Mulan (1998)
Mulan
To save her father from death in the army, a young single woman secretly goes to replace him, wearing a disguise, and becomes one of China’s greatest heroes in the process.
Of his two most popular voice acting roles, Donkey fromShrekis arguablyEddie Murphy’s best movie characterin his entire career. However, the energy he brings toMulan, especially because of his character’s status, makes it the more nuanced and memorable performance of the two. Mushu presents himself as an all-mighty dragon, but he’s the size of a lizard.
Eddie Murphy’s legacy as a voice actor looks even more impressive when one takes into account the fact that he voices the supporting character inShrek, the first movie to win the Best Animated Feature Film Academy Award.
The paradoxical nature of the measly character, supposedly a legendary mythological being with an inflated ego who nearly gets Mulan killed, could only have been captured by Murphy’s eccentric voice work. There’s simplyno other actor I can imagine bringing the chaotic, hilarious, and rarely self-aware lizard to life. His screen presence is further buoyed by providing unintentional comic relief.
The Breadwinner (2017)
The Breadwinner
The Breadwinner is an animated film directed by Nora Twomey. Set in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, the story follows Parvana, an 11-year-old girl who disguises herself as a boy to support her family after her father is unjustly imprisoned. The film is adapted from the best-selling novel by Deborah Ellis and explores themes of resilience and courage in a tumultuous socio-political landscape.
Aunique and aesthetically pleasing animated movie, Nora Twomey’sThe Breadwinneris one of the most explicitly political animated movies of all time. Set in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, it follows Parvana, a 12-year-old girl who is forced to pretend to be a boy so she can buy food and look for her father, who has been taken away by the Taliban.
Beautifully blending a fantasy story, Parvana tells her infant brother andjuxtaposing its horror with the real-life horrors she experiences,The Breadwinnerleaves an impression that is only buoyed by Saara Chaudry’s unbelievably emotionally layered voice acting. Parvana’s optimism in the face of growing insurmountable odds is a powerful form of rebellion, rendered real and impactful by Saara Chaudry’s performance.
Aladdin (1992)
Aladdin
Aladdin, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, is an animated film featuring a street urchin who discovers a magical lamp. The story follows Aladdin’s adventures, including his encounters with Princess Jasmine and the villainous Jafar, who seeks to wield the lamp’s extraordinary powers to seize control.
WhileAladdinis one of the better live-action remakes in Disney’s fortunately closed list of unnecessary live-action renditions of its animated classics, one point of contention shall be eternal. Despite Will Smith making the character his own and delivering a memorable performance,Robin Williams' Genie from the ‘92 film is rightfully immortalized, and we can’t fathom anyone else portraying him.
Robin Williams’ version of the Genie has given us some of the funniest animated Disney movie scenes to ever be made.
Robin Williams' version of the Genie has given us some of thefunniest animated Disney movie scenesto ever be made, and it proves that the late comedian’s talents could translate to any medium. The lofty, clumsy, hilarious, emotional, and powerful sides of the Genie wouldn’t have been so well-balanced if not for Williams' incredible comic timing and acting skills.
Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the first movie in Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski, and Paul Dini’s DC Animated Universe, serving as a prequel to Batman: The Animated Series. It pits the Dark Knight against a mysterious vigilante known as the Phantasm, who forces Bruce Wayne to confront his crime-fighting crusade and his traumatic past. Iconic DC voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill return as Batman and Joker, respectively.
There is arguably no better case to be made for major awards recognizing voice acting as a legitimate performance than Mark Hamill’s turn as the animated Joker. Despite voicing the character for years in shows, games, and even a feature film, he’s never won a Golden Globe, Emmy, or Oscar for it. Yet, he’s possibly the best Joker actor ever.
The debate regarding who between Mark Hamill and Heath Ledger played the Joker better is unending. However, many of us will always hear the character in Hamill’s voice. Thechaotic, nearly absent balance between terrifying and whimsicalthat characterizes Hamill’s performance earns him legendary status. His Joker has terrified and defined the lives of an entire generation of Batman fans.
