Voice Acting: My Love Affair with Cartoon Voices from the 1960s to Today

Growing Up During the Best Era for Kid’s TV (1960s—In My Opinion!)

I consider myself among the earliest fans of those amazing cartoon voices that made my childhood so memorable. The 1960s gave us voice acting legends whose abilities continue to blow me away to this day!

The Voice Acting Masters Who Shaped My Appreciation

Don Messick was pure magic with characters like:

• Boo Boo Bear (that sweet, cautious sidekick!)
• Muttley (with that distinctive snicker)
• Scooby-Doo (who doesn’t love that lovable coward?)

Daws Butler created voices that still make me smile:

• Huckleberry Hound’s southern drawl
• Yogi Bear’s smooth-talking charm
• Quick Draw McGraw’s cowboy bravado

And Mel Blanc? The man voiced just about EVERY character in every Warner Bros. cartoon. Pure genius!

What I Learned from the Best: Training with Ginny Tyler

Taking voice classes with Ginny Tyler opened my eyes to what real voice acting requires. This woman worked on everything—Davey and Goliath, The Flintstones, and tons of Disney projects. She taught me something I’ll never forget: animation demands that each actor juggle several roles, so flexibility and range aren’t just nice to have—they’re absolutely essential!

The Skills That Actually Matter

Here’s what Ginny taught me about voice acting:

• You’ve got to be ready to switch between completely different characters
• Each voice needs its own personality and quirks
• Range means you can work on more projects (and make more money!)
• Flexibility keeps you from getting typecast

My Own Brush with Voice Acting Fame

I had a small part in a YouTube Roblox-inspired movie last year. Nothing huge, but here’s the kicker—it had been up for maybe three days when a couple of kids approached me at school.

“Mr. Moody, did you do a voice for a Roblox movie?”

“Why, yes, I did.”

“I told you that was him!” (complete with the shoulder slap)

You want a little extra celebrity in your life? Who doesn’t? Even tiny roles can make you feel like a star!

Today’s Voice Acting Scene

The voice acting world has exploded beyond traditional cartoons:

• YouTube animated series (where I got my start!)
• Roblox movies and gaming content
• Podcast storytelling
• Educational videos
• Social media animations

My Advice for Getting Started

Want to try voice acting? Here’s what worked for me:

• Study those classic 1960s performances—they’re masterclasses in character creation
• Find a good teacher (like my experience with Ginny Tyler)
• Practice switching between different character voices
• Record yourself and listen back (it’s painful but necessary!)
• Start small—YouTube projects, local productions, anything to build experience

Why I Still Love This Stuff

Voice acting gives you something special:

• You get to become completely different people
• Kids recognize your work and think you’re cool
• You’re part of creating memories that last lifetimes
• The work is flexible and fun
• You contribute to the magic that shapes how kids see the world

The Real Magic Never Gets Old

Those voice acting legends from my childhood—Don Messick, Daws Butler, Mel Blanc—they proved that great voice work lives forever. Their characters are still making kids laugh today, decades later. That’s the kind of impact every voice actor dreams of having.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a fellow fan of the golden era of cartoons, remember this: every great voice actor started somewhere. Even my tiny Roblox movie role reminded me why I fell in love with these amazing cartoon voices in the first place!