Top 10 Best Voice Acting Performances in Disney Channel Shows
#10: Alan Tudyk as Ludo
“Star vs. the Forces of Evil” (2015-19)
Alan Tudyk is pretty well-known in the voice acting community. He has quite possibly the perfect weaselly villain voice and, yes that’s a reference to his characters in “Frozen” and “Zootopia”. His work as Ludo takes all the weaselishness several steps further as the villain continuously pursues his selfish means. Of course, this very behavior is the very thing that, more often than not, lands him in undesirable situations. He’s just the right amount of over-the-top and Tudyk’s delivery is persistently hysterical. Speaking of great delivery, we can’t address “Star vs. the Forces of Evil” without acknowledging Eden Sher as the wonderfully energetic Star Butterfly and Adam McArthur’s fantastic turn as Marco Diaz.
#9: David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck
“DuckTales” (2017-21)
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It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite voice in this stellar reboot. Anyone who can do a Donald Duck impression deserves praise in our books, and Tony Anselmo absolutely delivers. Beck Bennett as Launchpad is also amazing and, though every triplet is incredible in their role, Bobby Moynihan’s Louie Duck is all kinds of hilarious. With that said, a better Scrooge McDuck could not have been cast. David Tennant sweats talent and, while the natural Scottish accent is certainly beneficial, nothing but raw ability could influence his reading of the lines. Tennant’s warmth and impeccable timing make a character that was once not so revered, now impossible not to love.
#8: Eden Espinosa as Cassandra
“Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure” (2017-20)
While Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi reprise their roles from the film, it's Eden Espinosa who stands out as the shiny new character. If Rapunzel was missing anyone in her life, it was definitely a platonic confidant, and Cassandra fits the role beautifully. Espinosa’s voice is perfect for Cassandra’s fighting spirit and it’s safe to say she shines most in dramatic scenes. Although her personality is strong from the beginning, as the series progresses, Cassandra is probably the character who gets the most development. Whether she’s arguing with Eugene, protecting her Rapunzel, or being led astray by dark forces, Espinosa manages to convey it all with natural realism. Anyone else lowkey getting Spinelli vibes, from “Recess”?
#7: Justin Felbinger as Sprig Plantar
“Amphibia” (2019-22)
Our favorite thing about this performance is how energetic it consistently is. Justin Felbinger definitely made Sprig what he is. In fact, the pitch pilot of the show originally had a different voice for the character – and a much different design too – and the changes are palpable, in large part owing to Felbinger’s talents. He brought out Sprig’s perpetual youthful excitement and spunk, and also matched the humor and tone of the show flawlessly. Even in moments when he’s a product of his young age, Felbinger makes it so that you can’t help but fall in love with the character. He’s also just as great in quiet, sadder moments too!
#6: Wendie Malick as Edalyn Clawthorne
“The Owl House” (2020-23)
Every voice in “The Owl House” is well-fitting, but Wendie Malick as Eda feels especially so. Malick’s cadence and vocal inflections are absolutely perfect for the kind of character Eda is when we meet her. A con-artist who’s seen too much, not to mention wonderfully rebellious, there is something about her that immediately likens her to our favorite wine aunt. Malick puts her everything into the character and it really pays off. Every single line Eda delivers is one to write home about. Her comedic abilities are far-reaching, but she also knows exactly how to convey strong emotions. Hunter’s voice actor, Zeno Robinson, is also worthy of a mention here. He might just cover every single emotion on the spectrum with his voice alone.
#5: J.P. Manoux as Kuzco
“The Emperor's New School” (2006-08)
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The downright comedy of J.P. Manoux is really not talked about enough. This kind of over-the-top flair was rarely seen in animation at the time – and we still have yet to reach quite the same level of Manoux’s performance even today. It probably has something to do with his breaking the fourth wall, but we just lived for Kuzco, no matter how vain, selfish, or dense he could be. Speaking of dense, there are few himbos we cherish as much as Kronk, a role Patrick Warburton knocked out of the park – or, uh, out of the empire. We also would be crazy to leave out a mention of Eartha Kitt’s Yzma. She was so irreplaceable, the show was actually canceled after her death in 2008.
#4: Jo Marie Payton as Suga Mama
“The Proud Family” (2001-05)
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Suga Mama was hands down the best character on “The Proud Family”. She had the best lines, the best delivery, and was always ready for a fight. Some of the funniest moments on the show arise from her tireless back-and-forth with Oscar, played flawlessly by Tommy Davidson. It’s safe to say they both understood the assignment. Still, whenever Suga Mama was seen on screen, we knew we were in for a good time. Absolutely no one was safe from her roasting, and definitely not outsiders. One reaches a point in life where they no longer care about how they’re perceived by others, and Penny’s grandmother made it easier for us to adopt some of that attitude too!
#3: John DiMaggio as Dr. Drakken
“Kim Possible” (2002-07)
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Choosing a favorite Disney channel villain is certainly a tough feat. Dan Povenmire as Dr. Doofenshmirtz was definitely a contender for this entry but, in the end, we went with John DiMaggio as Dr. Drakken. DiMaggio is another one of those voice actors who is in so many acclaimed cartoons, and he always nails his roles. For instance, he also plays Drakken’s cousin, Eddie or Motor Ed. You wouldn’t know it just by listening, since the voices are so wildly different, but it’s a true testament to DiMaggio’s range. He somehow always knows exactly what a character should sound like and is absolutely masterful with his delivery.
#2: Jason Ritter as Dipper Pines
“Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
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Kristen Schaal is frequently applauded for her unique voice in the cartoon scene – as she should be. She brings so much to Mabel and the character would probably not be as beloved without her phenomenal interpretation. Creator Alex Hirsch also has this impressive, uncanny skill of completely transforming his voice. We couldn’t imagine anyone else taking on Grunkle Stan, Soos, and Bill Cipher with as much energy and dedication. With that said, Dipper can sometimes fall to the wayside, despite also having the perfect voice for his character. Jason Ritter brings dry wit, and true wholesomeness to Dipper; he takes him seriously and also manages to make the character’s awkwardness endearing. He was truly the perfect choice, and clearly embraced every part of the role.
#1: Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn-Fletcher
“Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15; 2024-)
There is no shortage of voices to love in this show. Every character really deserves a special mention but Vincent Martella as Phineas is definitely the standout, especially when you hear his voice IRL. We’re not sure what we expected a triangle-headed boy to sound like, but Martella somehow picked exactly the right mix of geniality, cheer, and brilliance. Incidentally, we’d be remiss to skip over Ashley Tisdale’s performance as the iconic Candace. All that yelling certainly deserves a shout-out – just a little “Phineas and Ferb” humor for ya there. You can just tell these actors enjoy playing their characters; that kind of love always translates into a final product.
