Animated musicals are a genre where the magic of voice acting truly shines. It’s one thing to master the delivery of dialogue, but in musicals, voice actors also need to hit the right notes—literally. These talented performers not only give life to characters through speech but must also seamlessly transition into song, blending acting and vocal performance to drive the story forward. The result? Characters that feel even more alive, with songs that stick in our minds long after the credits roll.

Let’s take a closer look at the voice actors who excel in both spoken and singing roles in animated musicals, and how they make that transition feel effortless.

The Double Talent: Speaking and Singing

In many animated musicals, voice actors need to pull double duty—delivering dialogue with personality while also performing songs that enhance the emotional arc of the story. This requires a rare combination of acting talent and musical ability. One of the most iconic examples is Jodi Benson as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Benson not only nailed Ariel’s curious and innocent personality in her spoken lines but also delivered the emotional depth of “Part of Your World,” a song that perfectly captures Ariel’s longing for a different life.

What makes voice actors like Benson stand out is their ability to keep the character consistent across both speech and song. Transitioning from dialogue to a musical number needs to feel natural, and the audience should never feel jarred when the character begins to sing. This requires precise control over tone and emotion, something that Benson demonstrated beautifully in both her speaking and singing performances.

Maintaining Character Through Song

Voice actors in musicals face a unique challenge: they have to maintain the character’s personality and emotional journey, not just through dialogue but also while singing. In other words, they can’t simply perform a song—they need to stay true to the character they’ve been voicing throughout the film.

Take Idina Menzel as Elsa in Frozen. Her spoken lines as Elsa are measured and reserved, reflecting the character’s inner struggle. But when she sings the iconic “Let It Go,” Menzel still conveys Elsa’s shift from fear to empowerment, all while staying in character vocally. Menzel, already a powerhouse singer, uses her voice to express Elsa’s emotions in both dialogue and song, making the transition between the two feel like a natural progression of the character’s journey.

Voice Matching: When Two Performers Share a Character

Not all voice actors are both singers and actors. In some cases, animated musicals rely on voice matching, where one actor handles the dialogue while a different performer handles the singing. The goal is for the transition between spoken and sung lines to be so seamless that the audience doesn’t even notice.

A great example of this is Mulan. In the film, Ming-Na Wen voices the dialogue for Mulan, bringing the character’s bravery and vulnerability to life. But when Mulan sings “Reflection,” it’s Lea Salonga’s stunning vocals that carry the song. Both Wen and Salonga bring such skill to their roles that the transition between speaking and singing is virtually unnoticeable, making it easy for viewers to believe it’s the same person doing both.

This approach requires careful collaboration between the actor and singer. The singer needs to match the acting performance vocally, ensuring that the emotions conveyed in the song align with those from the dialogue. When done right, as in Mulan, it creates a cohesive character who feels complete, even if two different voices are contributing.

The Art of Expressive Singing

In animated musicals, the songs aren’t just interludes—they’re often key moments of storytelling. Voice actors must be able to not only sing well but to use their singing voice to express a wide range of emotions. Whether it’s joy, fear, love, or anger, the singing performance has to capture what the character is feeling in the moment.

Consider Auli’i Cravalho as Moana in Disney’s Moana. Her speaking voice is full of youthful determination, and that same energy carries through to her performance of “How Far I’ll Go.” Cravalho’s voice conveys Moana’s sense of wonder and adventure, perfectly matching the tone of the spoken scenes. The song is an extension of Moana’s dialogue, and Cravalho makes the transition feel smooth and natural, adding depth to the character’s journey.

Songs as Emotional Pivots

In many animated musicals, songs are used as emotional pivots that push the plot forward or mark key moments of character growth. Voice actors in these roles must be able to handle these transitions gracefully. The challenge is that these pivotal songs often require heightened emotional delivery—an actor can’t just “sing” the song; they must perform it.

For instance, in Beauty and the Beast, Paige O’Hara brings Belle to life through both dialogue and song. Her rendition of “Belle (Reprise)” is a perfect example of how songs serve as emotional turning points. As Belle reflects on her dissatisfaction with provincial life, O’Hara’s voice captures her growing resolve and longing for something more. This song, in particular, helps convey Belle’s character arc, and the seamless integration of speech and song is what makes the performance so compelling.