ABSTRACT
Dialog can be used in many ways for character development. In Stuart Little, cat hisses are added to Nathan Lane’s dialog to enhance the character of Snowbell, the family cat. In the Disney feature The Lion King, James Earl Jones’ voice (Mufasa) morphs seamlessly to a lion roar at the end of the line “Are you threatening me?” In The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, the frog’s croaks are blended with the word “Ichabod” and the raven caws morph into the warning “Beware!” In Finding Nemo, the phrase “mine, mine” is seamlessly blended into the calls of the greedy sea gulls. Later in the same film, Dory attempts to communicate with a whale by vocalizing her dialog with whale nuances. In Aladdin, Robin Williams’ voice morphs from a genie into a sheep while vocalizing “you baaaaaaaad boy.” Animation is filled with examples of animal speak. Perhaps the most widely recognized examples of animal speak are the dog-like vocalizations of Scooby Doo created by Don Messek. Ethnicity is another aspect of a character that can be reinforced through regional and national accents. In Lady and the Tramp, the Scottish terrier, the English bulldog, and the Siamese cats are all voiced with their national accents. The Disney animation Music Land creates a world inhabited by lifelike musical instruments. Rather than mime the story, director Wilfred Jackson chose to represent dialog with musical phrases performed in a speech-like manner. Music Land is an entertaining attempt at making us believe that music is truly a universal language.
