Voice acting is a fascinating corner of the entertainment world that often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. I mean, sure, we all love watching our favorite animated shows and movies, but do we stop to think about the talented folks behind the mic who bring these beloved characters to life? Well, it’s high time we give them their due.

Let’s start with the late, great Kevin Conroy. This guy was the definitive voice of Batman for over three decades, starting with the groundbreaking Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. Conroy’s deep, brooding tones perfectly captured the Dark Knight’s intensity, while his alter-ego Bruce Wayne had a lighter, more aristocratic air. Conroy understood the duality of the character in a way no one else quite has, before or since.

Of course, you can’t talk about Batman without mentioning his arch-nemesis, the Joker. And when it comes to the Clown Prince of Crime, there’s no one better than Mark Hamill. Yeah, that’s right – Luke Skywalker himself. Hamill’s Joker laugh is the stuff of legend, a maniacal cackle that’s both hilarious and bone-chilling. But the way Hamill inhabits the character really sets him apart, bringing a manic unpredictability to the role. Hamill has reprised his Joker in several projects outside of the original animated series, including video games and movies. And let’s not fail to mention his recent turn as another infamous villain, Skeletor, in Kevin Smith’s Masters of the Universe revival series on Netflix.

Someone else who’s no slouch in the DC universe is the ultra-talented Tara Strong. From voicing Batgirl in The New Batman Adventures to Harley Quinn in the Arkham video game series, Strong has a chameleon-like ability to disappear into her characters. She has also voiced the Teen Titan known as Raven, Timmy Turner from The Fairly OddParents, and Twilight Sparkle in My Little Pony. Let’s not forget her iconic turn as Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls. That’s range, folks.

Over on the sillier side of things, we’ve got Rob Paulsen, the man of a thousand voices. Paulsen’s most famous role is probably Yakko from Animaniacs, but he’s also brought to life Pinky from Pinky and the Brain, Raphael from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, and a ton of other fan favorites. Paulsen’s sense of comedic timing is impeccable, and he never fails to put a smile on the faces of his fans.

Finally, we come to Jim Cummings, the voice behind two of the most endearing characters in animation history: Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. Cummings’ warm, gentle timbre as Pooh is like a fuzzy blanket on a cold day, while his rambunctious, energetic Tigger never fails to deliver the laughs. Cummings has been voicing these beloved characters for over 30 years now. Talk about staying power!

So there you have it, folks – just a few of the insanely gifted voice actors out there who have made our favorite animated characters feel like family. But hey, this is just one blogger’s take. I want to hear from you! Who are some of your all-time favorite voice actors, and why? Which performances have stuck with you long after the credits rolled? Let it fly in the comments below – I’ll be reading and chuckling along, and may just chime in with a zinger or two of my own. Until next time, stay animated!