Animation
Think of animation, and what comes to mind? Cartoons, of course! Especially if you grew up on Saturday morning cartoons like Bob Shaw did. Looney Toons, Hanna-Barbera, and Disney were part of his television diet. A portable cassette recorder was his constant companion as he taped himself impersonating Mickey, Bugs, Goofy, and a host of other cartoon characters. Sometimes to mixed reviews. But practice makes perfect, and Bob has never stopped practicing. Ask his wife and kids, and they’ll tell you that Bob has given a voice to pretty much everything in the house: The dog, the cat, the fish, the printer, a piece of paper, the stapler, and probably a thousand other things in the house. He can’t help it. Character voices are his passion!
Animation
Character Demo
Victorious Max
Manscaped SkinSafe Lawn Mower 2.0 Trimmer
Kidoz Santa Commercial
Character Voice Over for Your Business
But let’s think beyond the scope of cartoons. Character voices lend themselves to many other genres:
- TV and radio commercials,
- Whiteboard Animation,
- Explainer Videos,
- Corporate Videos,
- Video Games,
- Smartphone Apps
- Business Phone Greeting and IVR
- eLearning
- Audiobooks
- Escape Room Character
Really, anything where you think a character voice would give your script that extra “oomph” it needs.
Types of Character Voices
When considering using a character voice for your project, there are several ways you can go: the “cartoon” voice, the “real life” character, impersonations, or a conglomeration of all of these. Really, the sky’s the limit.
Cartoon Voice: The most obvious. Usually over-the-top and a gross exaggeration of how a real person talks. When working with BobShaw to create the animated voice you want, the more information, the better. Providing samples (from YouTube, Vimeo, or an audio recording) of the type of character you want will be very helpful. He’ll work with you to get the exact character voice you need.
Real-Life Character: In this case, the voice over actor is playing a role. Someone in a real-life situation with a story to tell. Bob will take that role and make it his own, providing an authentic delivery with the appropriate emotional influence necessary to influence your target customer.
Impersonations: Basically, pretending to be another person. Usually a celebrity or character. Bob is a mimic. If there is someone you need him to imitate (celebrity, cartoon character, etc.) he will study the voice and give you samples before committing to the entire script to make sure you’re completely satisfied with the impersonation.
Mix and Match: Maybe you need a pirate who sounds a little bit like Dean Martin. Or a lisping walrus who has a hint of the Godfather. How about a parrot who lost his father in a shipwreck and you need to tug at the heart-strings? Bob can take a little from one category, a little from another, and create the right voice for the job.
Bob Shaw has been doing character voices since he could talk, but professionally for over 20 years. He’s been a leprechaun, Santa Claus, a vampire, a Roman emperor, a raven with a deep Cockney accent, a square-dancing cowboy, and just about everything in between. Ready for Bob to bring your character to life? He’d love to chat with you about your project!
CONTACT BOB TODAY
“The first step in exceeding your customer’s expectations is to know those expectations.”
– Roy H. Williams
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