Top 10 Cartoon Creators Who Voiced Characters in Their Own Shows
#10: Pendleton Ward “Adventure Time” (2010-18)
The creator of this offbeat adventure show is just as quirky as the series he put on screen. How else to explain his choice of role on the show? Although he plays a variety of smaller parts, Pendleton Ward’s most recurring role on “Adventure Time” is that of Lumpy Space Princess. A character who is, fittingly, a purple, lumpy princess…from space, LSP speaks like a typical valley girl, albeit with her own vernacular. Ward’s memorable, sassy voice helped make this recurring character a hit with audiences and showed us that “Adventure Time”’s maker was really lumping cool, you guys!
#9: J. G. Quintel “Regular Show” (2010-17)
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Quite possibly one of the strangest workplace comedies ever made, “Regular Show” features a bunch of off-the-wall characters working in a park. Several of them are played by series creator J.G. Quintel. Although Hi-Five Ghost is more of a supporting player, Mordecai the blue jay is one of the two main protagonists. Although generally more responsible than his BFF Rigby, Mordecai is a slacker through and through, and Quintel’s performance lends him a relatable, everyman feeling that makes him easy to root for. The character’s smug moments and frustrating romantic entanglements don’t always make it easy though!
#8: Seth Green “Robot Chicken” (2005-)
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Although Seth Green hasn’t been appearing on screen as much for the last few decades, he’s been doing plenty of voiceover work, and some of his most significant roles have been on a show he co-created. “Robot Chicken” is an adult, stop-motion animated series that features a variety of short clips and sketches delivered rapidly over typically short episodes. Green voices different characters in every episode, although he has had a few notable recurring parts, such as former president George W. Bush, the unnamed Nerd character, and even playing a fictional version of himself! He certainly has more range than you might expect.
#7: Jackson Publick & Doc Hammer “The Venture Bros.” (2004-18)
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Although co-creator Christopher McCulloch, a.k.a. Jackson Publick, most obviously voices one of the titular Venture brothers, Hank Venture, he and fellow co-creator Doc Hammer also play many other characters in this long running adult animated series. A ton of the side characters featured in “The Venture Bros.” fall into comedic duos who bounce off each other hilariously, and nearly all of them are played by Hammer and Publick. From Billy Quizboy and Pete White, to The Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend, the pair’s natural chemistry shines through no matter which ones they’re voicing - although it doesn’t hurt that they also write and direct most of the show too!
#6: Dan Povenmire “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)
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What an unexpected choice for our list! And by unexpected, we mean completely expected! One of this Disney series’ co-creators, Dan Povenmire has played a few characters during “Phineas and Ferb”;s run, but easily his most notable is that of goofy “evil” scientist, Dr. Heinz Doofensmirtz. Although something of a megalomaniac, Doofensmirtz manages to be a funny and relatable antagonist, as well as a surprisingly good dad. It gets to the point where we sometimes root for him over the titular characters’ secret agent pet platypus, and it’s all down to Povenmire’s pitch-perfect delivery.
#5: Alex Hirsch “Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
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Not only did Alex Hirsch create “Gravity Falls” and write most of its episodes, but he also brings a lot of its most memorable characters to life! Hirsch’s best-known parts include main characters like Stan Pines, the hilariously unscrupulous guardian of the twin protagonists, as well as his fix-it man Soos. The clever creator also voices side characters, like the local coot Old Man McGucket, and even the series’ main villain, the triangular Bill Cipher. Hirsch’s spectacular writing certainly goes a long way towards making them all distinct and memorable, but he also displays some great vocal range as a performer too.
#4: Mike Judge “King of the Hill” (1997-2010)
Mike Judge may also have voiced the title characters of “Beavis and Butt-Head,” which he also created, but we had to go with an animated role of his with a bit more…depth. Also, intelligence. Judge co-created “King of the Hill” and also voiced its protagonist, Hank Hill. Although Hank may have a hard time connecting with people and ideas he isn’t familiar with, he’s still a quintessential everyman, devoted to his family, friends, and his job selling propane… and propane accessories. And, Hank manages to be so down to earth thanks to Judge’s matter-of-fact cadence and other memorable vocal quirks.
#3: Justin Roiland “Rick and Morty” (2013-)
While co-creator Dan Harmon also does some voices for “Rick and Morty,” such as the deadpan Birdperson, Justin Roiland definitely takes the spotlight here. The show’s other co-creator voices some recurring characters, such as the famous Meeseeks, but Roiland’s biggest claim to fame is the fact that he voices both title characters! The contrast between the brilliant, profane, and self-destructive Rick and his nervous grandson Morty is so profound that it’s still impressive that Roiland plays them both - even after you find out this trivia tidbit. Plus, with all the different versions of Rick and Morty the show features, Roiland can sometimes spend entire episodes talking mostly to himself!
#2: Seth MacFarlane “Family Guy” (1999-)
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Seth MacFarlane has created and done voices for several animated shows in the last few decades, and with all due respect to his roles on “American Dad!,” “Family Guy” is what he’s known for. MacFarlane voices what feels like half the main cast; playing Peter, Stewie, and Brian Griffin, as well as their neighbor Quagmire, plus several other townsfolk. While Brian is essentially his normal speaking voice, the others are all memorably separate from each other with their own unique tone and characters. Still, after 2 decades, we can hear Macfarlane in all of them at this point. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Nick Kroll, “Big Mouth” (2017-) This Comedian Co-Creator Voices Nick, A Few Hormone Monsters, & Several Others Eddie Murphy, “The PJs” (1999-2001) Murphy Played The Super, Thurgood Stubbs Bill Burr, “F Is for Family” (2015-) Burr Plays This Family’s Patriarch, Frank & Father Pat Craig Bartlett, “Hey Arnold!” (1996-2004) This Creator Played Helga’s Stalker, Brainy, But Also Arnold’s Dad (& a Few Others) Thurop Van Orman, “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” (2008-10) This Show’s Title Character Was Voiced by Its Creator
#1: Trey Parker & Matt Stone “South Park” (1997-)
You know, it would probably be easier to list the characters on “South Park” that aren’t voiced by its two co-creators! Trey Parker and Matt Stone voice nearly every male character in this adult cartoon, from its young protagonists, to their parents, to the townspeople of South Park, and even celebrities! Not only do the duo have volume on their side over our other entries, but they’ve also been doing their voices for longer than nearly all the others. Although their range isn’t quite as wide as some of the other actors, quantity and persistence definitely pay off, and we’d be lying if we said many of them weren’t incredibly memorable. Who’s going to forget what Cartman or Butters sound like?
