If your animated voice over characters are falling flat, it may not be your voice that’s the issue – it could be your delivery dynamics!
When I first started coaching animation reads as an online voice over coach, I saw it again and again: talented actors with strong voices… but underwhelming character auditions. The common thread? Lack of contrast. And in animation, contrast is everything.
Your audience doesn’t just want to hear words. They want to feel the quirks, shifts, and energy changes that make a character leap off the page and into their imagination.
So let’s talk about what it takes to truly perform your animated voice over characters and not just read the lines.
Why Delivery Dynamics Matter in Animation
Great animation reads aren’t just “voiced,” they’re acted. Your character should feel alive! That means adjusting more than just your tone. It means being intentional with how you deliver every line.
Here are the 4 most effective ways to build unforgettable animated voice over characters:
1. Change Up Your Pitch for Emotional Beats
Pitch changes don’t need to be huge, but even slight shifts can express joy, fear, sarcasm, or curiosity. Your character’s voice should evolve with their emotions and those emotions often shift within a single line!
Try This: Read a single sentence expressing three different emotions. Let your pitch rise or fall to match how the character feels in each version.
2. Adjust Your Pace for Timing and Suspense
Is your character rushing in a panic? Or slowly building tension? The speed of your delivery can add drama, humor, or surprise.
Try This: Record a comedic line at three different speeds. Listen for how pacing impacts the punchline and overall energy.
3. Play With Volume to Build Energy
Volume dynamics make your reads feel more alive. Whispering a secret or bursting into excitement both grab attention in different ways.
Tip: Avoid staying at one volume throughout the read. Even subtle increases and decreases can make a huge difference! Also, be sure to use good mic technique when adjusting volume.
4. Use Rhythm and Pauses for Clarity and Emphasis
Rhythm gives structure to your read, and pauses give the listener space to react. Think of your delivery like music – it should have highs, lows, and beats of silence.
Try This: Mark your script with slashes where a pause might help. Then read it out loud and notice how it improves your storytelling.
What You Can Do Today
Pick one animated line of dialogue and perform it three completely different ways. Experiment with pitch, pace, volume, and rhythm. You’ll be amazed how quickly your animated voice over characters become more dynamic and even more bookable!
Work With an Online Voice Over Coach
If you’re looking to improve your delivery dynamics or book more animated gigs, you don’t have to do it alone. As an online voice over coach, I help voice actors develop stronger characters, land more auditions, and feel confident in their delivery. Send me a message here and I would love to chat about how I can help you improve your animated voice over characters!
Free Resource: Get My VALUE Method Audition Guide
Want help bringing your animation auditions to life?
Grab my VALUE Method Audition Guide – a free download that walks you through how to break down scripts, add variety, and make stronger choices.
👉 Download the VALUE Method Guide here
Your voice is powerful, but how you use it is what makes characters unforgettable.
So keep playing, keep practicing, and remember: your performance is what brings the animation to life.