Characters Voice By Actors Gen Z Would Never Expect!

Gen Z might not have been alive when these movies were made, but they sure do love to watch them! Due to this, many members of that generation have no idea who is voicing their favorite characters. From ‘Bolt’ to ‘The Berenstain Bears’, audiences might be surprised to know who is behind the voices of these iconic roles.

Bolt

Released in 2008, Bolt was beloved by audiences of all ages. The film follows a famous dog, named Bolt, who stars in Sci-Fi and action films and believes the powers he has in his films are real. When he thinks that his co-star and owner is in danger, he sets out on a mission across the country to try and save her.

This film is absolutely adorable – who can resist a story about a dog and their best friend? But what might surprise viewers who would have been younger at the time is that John Travolta voiced the main character, Bolt. Known for his roles in films such as Saturday Night Fever and Grease, the younger generation might not expect him to have voiced such an iconic childhood role.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a Wes Anderson classic. Between the color palette and the framing, this stop-motion film fits perfectly within Anderson’s repertoire. Released in 2009, the movie follows the tale of a suburban fox who longs for more in his life and returns to his childish ways in order to help his community.

Most of Gen Z would have been pretty young when this film came out, so they might not have realized that Mr. Fox was actually voiced by George Clooney. Clooney had previously starred in roles such as Ryan Binghamton in Up In The Air and Danny Ocean in Ocean’s Eleven. This role was definitely atypical of the type of character he usually played, but that didn’t stop Clooney from absolutely killing it!

Tangled

Tangled was a staple in many Gen Z children’s lives. This Disney film follows Rapunzel who is trapped in a tower by her evil stepmother. When Flynn Rider happens to come upon her tower, he helps her escape and discover the beauty of the outside world while uncovering the truth about her past.

While the film was released in 2010, many people in Gen Z probably did not bother googling who voiced their favorite Disney princess and many would be shocked to find out that Mandy Moore played the role of Rapunzel. Famous for her roles in films such as A Walk To Remember and the hit television series This Is Us, Mandy Moore gave life to a role that entertained many young audience members.

Shrek

Few films are as memorable as Shrek. Released in 2001, the film incorporates many different iconic characters into the film such as The Gingerbread Man and Lord Farquad in order to create a bright and fantastical reality. Among these characters is an ogre named Shrek who chooses to live his life in solitude in the swamplands, but all that changes when fairytale creatures are banished to the swamps. In order for him to reclaim his land, he must go on a mission to save Princess Fiona.

Shrek has become revered online, living in internet history as a meme for over a decade. But, many younger fans might be stunned to find out that Princess Fiona is actually voiced by Cameron Diaz. A legend in her field, Cameron has starred in other films such as the 2000 remake of Charlie’s Angels and There’s Something Off About Mary. Diaz, known traditionally for more risque roles, definitely took a detour with signing onto Shrek and audiences are glad she did!

Pocahontas

Pocahontas is another classic Disney film. Released in 1995, it tells the story of Pocahontas, the daughter of an Algonquin chief, who falls in love with John Smith, an English soldier, as she tries to teach him about respecting the land and its beauty. While this film was a childhood staple in many children’s lives, its subject matter has not aged well and has become pretty problematic in recent days.

John Smith, the love interest of the film, had many little girls fawning over him, but they would be surprised to find out that the actor who voiced him was Mel Gibson. Known for his roles in films such as Braveheart and Conspiracy Theory. This role was quite the deviation from the roles he had normally played as Mel spent most of his time on the sets of action or historical films, but it definitely was a welcomed one!