Invincible's Voice Actor Problem

Summary

The video critiques the voice casting choices in the animated series 'Invincible,' highlighting the excessive use of celebrity voice actors for minor roles and the potential waste of resources. The narrator expresses concerns over how this impacts the show's budget, especially considering its relatively modest $22 million per episode budget compared to shows like 'The Boys.' The video also discusses how the rushed production schedule, leading to less polished animation in Season 3, is unfairly criticized, despite the animators' best efforts. The overall message emphasizes that the show's success can't be sustained with overextended budgets and tight timelines.

Takeaways

• 😀 Celebrity voice actors are being used for minor roles in *Invincible*, which feels like a waste of resources, especially with limited budget.
• 😀 The voice cast includes well-known actors like Gòn Hounsou, John Ham, and Ella Pernell, but many of these characters have little impact on the story.
• 😀 The speaker questions the necessity of hiring expensive celebrities for small roles, suggesting that experienced voice actors could do the same work more efficiently.
• 😀 *Invincible* has a significantly smaller budget than other big shows like *The Boys*, with only $22.4 million per season compared to *The Boys*' $1.2 million per episode.
• 😀 A quarter of the show's budget is possibly allocated to the high-profile voice actors, leaving a limited amount for animators, writers, and other essential roles.
• 😀 The animation quality in *Invincible* Season 3 is criticized for being less fluid, with static shots and limited movement due to rushed production timelines.
• 😀 Despite budget constraints, the animators did the best they could, creating impressive sequences like the Invincible War within a tight 9-month deadline.
• 😀 The speaker defends the animators, stating they received unfair criticism despite working under tough circumstances and a limited budget.
• 😀 The production process of *Invincible* has been challenging, with a rushed timeline and unrealistic expectations placed on the animation team.
• 😀 Prime Video's management is criticized for focusing on celebrity voice casting rather than ensuring enough resources for high-quality animation production.

Q & A

Why is the speaker concerned about the celebrity voice casting in *Invincible*?

The speaker is concerned because many of the side characters in *Invincible* are voiced by high-profile celebrities, even though their roles are minor and don't require such star power. They question whether it's necessary to spend so much money on these actors when cheaper, more experienced voice actors could do the job just as well.

How does the speaker feel about the animation quality in season 3 of *Invincible*?

The speaker acknowledges that while the animation in season 3 isn't as fluid or detailed as previous seasons, it is still impressive given the limited time and resources available to the animators. They argue that the animators did their best with what they had, despite criticism from fans.

What does the speaker think about the budget allocated to *Invincible*?

The speaker believes the budget for *Invincible* is relatively low, especially compared to other high-end animated series like *The Boys*. They suggest that a large portion of the budget may be spent on hiring expensive voice actors, leaving less for animators and other production aspects.

What is the speaker's opinion on the production timeline for season 3?

The speaker is critical of the rushed production timeline for season 3, where the animators were given only nine months to complete the season. They believe this led to less polished animation and static shots, which impacted the overall quality of the show.

How does the speaker compare the *Invincible* budget to that of other shows?

The speaker compares *Invincible*'s budget to *The Boys*, noting that *Invincible* has a budget of $2.8 million per episode, which is only a quarter of *The Boys*'s $1.2 million per episode. They argue that with such a small budget, *Invincible* can't afford to allocate too much to expensive voice talent.

What point does the speaker make about the use of celebrity voice actors in minor roles?

The speaker points out that using celebrities like Gón Hansu or John Ham for minor, one-off roles is a waste of money. They suggest that the budget could be better spent on other aspects of the show, like animators or more significant characters, instead of paying for big-name actors who only have a few lines of dialogue.

What does the speaker imply about Prime Video's handling of *Invincible*'s production?

The speaker implies that Prime Video is not managing the production well, especially regarding the budget and casting decisions. They criticize Prime for spending too much on voice actors and not allocating enough to the animation team, which ultimately led to issues with the show's visual quality.

What does the speaker suggest could have been done differently with the budget?

The speaker suggests that the budget could have been better spent by reducing the number of high-profile celebrity voice actors and using more experienced, less expensive voice actors instead. They also imply that more money could have been directed toward animators to improve the animation quality.

Why does the speaker believe that *Invincible*'s animation problems are not the fault of the animators?

The speaker believes the animators did their best with the limited time and resources they had, and that the issues with the animation quality are more a result of budget constraints and the rushed production schedule rather than the animators' lack of skill.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'Prime, you're not DreamWorks'?

When the speaker says 'Prime, you're not DreamWorks', they are criticizing Prime Video for not having the same resources as a major animation studio like DreamWorks, yet still trying to create a high-quality show with a much smaller budget. They argue that Prime can't afford to waste money on celebrity casting and should instead focus on more practical budget management.