LayarHijau – After the Mandarin voice cast for Zootopia 2 was announced, Chinese audiences quickly split between praise and criticism.
The return of professional voice actors Ji Guanlin (Judy) and Zhang Zhen (Nick) was widely welcomed. Their voices are considered perfectly suited to the characters, evoking memories of the first film, with fans even calling them the “national CP of the voice acting world.”
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However, the addition of celebrities voicing new characters drew criticism. Jin Chen, who voices Li Bao, was said to sound too harsh and heavy, which doesn’t match the character’s lively and clever personality. Wang Anyu voices Shan Mao (the wildcat), but her voice was criticized for sounding like a sleepy college student, making the character feel less vivid. Fei Xiang, voicing Mayor Ma, was also noted for a “businesslike speech” style that could disrupt viewers’ immersion.
Casting celebrities in animated films is not a new trend. Kung Fu Panda 4 included Huang Bo, Yang Mi, and Jiang Xin; the Mandarin version of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse featured Yu Shuxin, Peng Yuchang, and Wu Lei; and Big Fish & Begonia as well as The Secret Life of Pets also included well-known names. Audience reactions have always been mixed, but the trend continues.
The reasons for casting popular celebrities are clear: their fame draws attention, reduces promotion costs, and encourages audiences to visit theaters. Additionally, a celebrity’s first time doing voice acting usually becomes a widely discussed topic, quickly going viral and reaching viewers across different fan communities.
Still, this strategy must be balanced with quality. Voices need to match the characters to ensure a satisfying viewing experience. Zootopia is a high-profile franchise with a strong reputation, so miscasting voices can potentially harm the film’s image.
There are also successful examples of celebrity voice actors, such as Jackie Chan in Wish Dragon and Wan Qian in Blades of the Guardians, who received praise for matching their characters. Ideally, professional voice actors handle the main roles to guarantee quality, while celebrities suited to the characters take supporting roles to help reach a wider audience.
