By now, you have learned that there are many more Black voice actors in animation projects than you probably realized before you began reading these lessons. The list is more extensive than I could have imagined and these lessons only highlight some of them. In addition to a number of animated shows that have aired on television, this lesson will also include information about Black voice actors in feature films such as Mulan (1998), Shrek (2001), The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), The Proud Family Movie (2005), Lilo & Stitch (2002), and Shark Tale (2004). It also includes information about the animated direct-to-video film titled Our Friend, Martin (1998) about the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
People who grew up as children in the 1980s can remember watching cartoons on television on Saturday mornings. We watched The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo Where Are You!, Galaxy High School, The Smurfs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Woody Woodpecker Show, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. Many of these shows aired on cable television networks such as Nickelodeon. This was the first cable channel that primarily included programs for children and adolescents. Although there are now many, many more cable TV stations such as Cartoon Network and also streaming networks like Disney+ that primarily air animated shows, Nickelodeon still airs well-known and popular cartoons.
Jamil Walker Smith as Gerald Johannsen
Hey Arnold! is one such cartoon show. Created by Craig Bartlett, it centers on fourth grader Arnold Shortman, who lives with his grandparents in an inner-city tenement in the fictional city of Hillwood, Washington. Arnold’s best friend is Gerald Johannsen and the character is played by Black voice actor Jamil Walker Smith.
Eddie Murphy as Muushu and Donkey
Mulan (1998) is an American animated musical coming-of-age action-adventure film based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan and produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Comedian Eddie Murphy is the Black voice actor who plays the character Mushu, a small Chinese dragon who had been a spiritual guardian of Mulan's family at one time. It was released on June 19, 1998, and grossed over $304 million worldwide against a production budget of $90 million. The film was followed by a direct-to-video sequel, Mulan II in 2004, and a live-action remake that was released on September 4, 2020.
Murphy has also voiced the role of Donkey in the animated fantasy comedy film Shrek (22001). Released on May 18, 2001, the film is loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book Shrek! by William Steig. The film is made using CGI-animation although it was originally planned to be a traditionally animated adaptation. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, it grossed over $492 million worldwide against a budget of $50 million. The success of the film resulted in a media franchise that includes three sequels — Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010)—along with two spin-off films—Puss in Boots (2011) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)—with other productions, notably Shrek 5, in development.
The Cast of Our Friend, Martin (1999)
Our Friend, Martin is an American direct-to-video animated children's educational film about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Produced by DIC Entertainment, L.P. and Intellectual Properties Worldwide and distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment under the CBS/Fox Video label, it was released three days before Martin Luther King Jr.'s 70th birthday and was the final release under the CBS/Fox Video name before it was retired. The film follows two middle schoolers who travel through time, meeting Dr. King at several points throughout his life. Black voice actors in the film include Robert Ri'chard as the main character Miles Woodman, John Wesley, along with two of Dr. King’s children Yolanda and Dexter, and well-known and popular actors LeVar Burton, Jaleel White, Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson, James Earl Jones, and Oprah Winfrey as Dr. King’s wife Coretta. Motown Records released a soundtrack album, which features a cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Debelah Morgan.
Dexter Scott King as Martin Luther King, Jr. at age 34 in 11963
Oprah Winfrey as Coretta Scott King
Eartha Kitt as Yzma in The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
The Emperor's New Groove is an American animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Features Animation. It was inspired by ancient Peruvian culture and set in an Incan empire, It follows Emperor Kuzco, who is accidentally transformed into a llama by his treacherous ex-advisor, Yzma, and her dimwitted henchman Kronk. For the emperor to change back into a human, he entrusts a village leader, Pacha, to escort him back to the palace before Yzma can track them down and finish him off. A documentary, The Sweatbox (2002), details the production troubles that The Emperor's New Groove endured during its six years of development.
Eartha Kitt voices the character of Yzma, Kuzco's evil, elderly advisor who seeks to usurp him. The film was released on December 15, 2000. It grossed $169.5 million at the box office on a $100-million budget. A direct-to-video spin-off sequel, Kronk's New Groove, was released on December 13, 2005, and an animated television series, The Emperor's New School, aired on the Disney Channel from 2006 to 2008.
The Cast of The Proud Family
The Proud Family is an American animated sitcom created by Bruce W. Smith that aired on Disney Channel from September 15, 2001, to August 19, 2005. The series centers on the life of a Black family from the perspective of the show’s main character Penny Proud. A feature film, The Proud Family Movie, premiered as the series finale on August 19, 2005. A revival, known as The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, premiered on February 23, 2022, on Disney+.
Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud
Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Penny’s father
Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, Penny’s mother
Karen Malina White as Dijonay Jones, Penny’s best friend
Jo Marie Payton as Charlette "Suga Mama" Proud, Penny’s grandmother
Cedric the Entertainer as Bobby Proud, Penny’s uncle
Comedian Arsenio Hall plays Bobby Proud in The Proud Family Move (2005).
The Proud Family Movie is a 2005 American animated comedy television film based on the Disney Channel animated series, The Proud Family. It premiered on August 19, 2005, and serves as the finale to the show’s original run. The main characters in the television series are also featured in the film. Other Black voice actors in the film include Orlando Brown as Sticky Webb, Omarion, LisaRaye McCoy, Phil LaMarr, Keith David, and Kevin Michael Richardson.
A revival of The Proud Family television series, known as The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, premiered on February 23, 2022, on Disney+. The main characters in the television series are also featured in the revival series. New Black voice actors include Keke Palmer as Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, as well as Aiden Dodson and Bresha Webb who voice the characters BeBe and CeCe, Penny’s younger twin siblings.
Lauren “Keke” Palmer as Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins
Phil LaMarr as John Stewart/Green Lantern
Phil LaMarr is a veteran voice actor and has voiced many roles. One of which is as John Stewart/Green Lantern in the animated series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. He also voiced Virgil Hawkins/Static in the same series. Justice League is an animated superhero television series, which aired on Cartoon Network from November 17, 2001, to May 29, 2004. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the show is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics. The series aired for two seasons and was followed by Justice League Unlimited, which aired for three seasons.
Ving Rhames as Cobra Bubbles in Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Lilo & Stitch is an American animated science fiction comedy-drama film written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, based on an original story created by Sanders. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. The film tells the story of an orphaned Hawaiian girl who is raised by her older sister after their parents' deaths, and the genetically engineered extraterrestrial creature whom she adopts as her "dog". Designed to cause chaos and destruction, the creature initially uses the girl to avoid being captured but develops a close bond through the Hawaiian concept of ‘ohana’ and reconsiders his intended destructive purpose. Released on June 21, 2002, the film grossed over $273 million worldwide against a budget of $80 million. The film’s success spawned a franchise that includes three direct-to-video film sequels, three television series, and a live-action adaptation that was released in 2025.
Ving Rhames is a Black voice actor in the film and plays the character Cobra Bubbles, a social worker in charge of Lilo's welfare and Nani's duties as her guardian. Rhames has also done voice acting in The Garfield Movie (2024) and the animated Gothic comedy horror film Wendell & Wild (2022). The character was voiced by Black voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson in the animated television series Lilo & Stitch: The Series.
Will Smith as Oscar in Shark Tale (2004)
Shark Tale is an American animated adventure film directed by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron, and Rob Letterman (in his feature length directorial debut), and written by Letterman and Michael J. Wilson. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation. It follows an underachieving fish named Oscar who falsely claims to have killed the son of a shark mob boss in an attempt to advance his community standing. The film was released on October 1, 2004. It made $374.6 million worldwide against its $75 million budget.
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