A Voice For Jonathan Brisby

Something I've been thinking about lately: In the quite unlikely event that MGM (or someone else) makes a Secret of HIMH sequel or prequel that involves Jonathan Brisby, who would you think a good choice for a voice?

My initlal reaction was Keifer Sutherland, but he just doesn't seem to have the range of voice needed for a character. He's too serious. There were a few others, but one i stumbled upon seemed to work in my mind:

Nathan Fillon (better known as Captain Malcom Reynolds of the firefly class freighter 'Serenity') Rid him of the bad 'southern' accent and he's got the charisma, wit, and can be funny, serious, dumb, and heroic. What do you all think?

I don't know; I don't think I've ever seen a film with Nathan Fillon. I was thinking maybe Mark Hamill could do Jonathan's voice. He has a great range of voice.

I don't know either man. But I do know a southern accent wouln't fit Jonathan too well. Not that I have anything against the accent. I live in the south and like the accent, but it just doesn't say Jonathan Brisby. To tell you the truth, I don't know who could play him. We need someone who can play very brave, strong, and yet still be kind and a family man.

say I don't know about that, Jonathan does seem to be like a Stonewall type so having a southen accent wouldn't sound so bad.

Now that I think of it, he could probably get away with a light accent. But heavy southern would destroy the mystery that is NIMH.

Personally, I think that guy who did the head of the Magai in The Mummy would make a good voice for Jonathan. Don't remember the actor's name though. He has an unusual accent, which I think would go well, dunno why.

Anyways, that's my two cents..

--Tzolkin

I've some what seen either Bruce Willis or Kurt Russel as the voice of Jonathan Brisby.

Looking at Jonathan, I could picture David Humphrey of Sonic the Hedgehog fame if his voice was a bit more warmer and a little lighter.

If I may put in my two cents worth, I'd nominate Micheal J. Fox or Will Smith for the voice of Jonathan Brisby. Both of these actors have already proven thamselves as excellent voice-over performers (Fox in the "Stuart Little" segments and Smith in "Sharktales.")

Peace 8)
NIMHmaniac

Bruce Willis? Kurt Russel? Well, I guess the latter might make a good Jonathan, but the former is doubtful. Fox has the right character feel for him, but tends to sound a little young for his age. I don't think Jonathan would sound like he's still in his teens in any movie. But I agree that he is a great voiceover actor.
As for Will Smith. He seems a bit too rapper-like for Jonathan. I don't know if Smith really is a rapper, but I don't see him making a good Jonathan. I will also agree with you that he did do a pretty good job in Shark Tale. But I seem to best remember him from Wild Wild West, though that's beside the point here. :wink:

To Cedric,

Have you seen Will Smith's latest performance in the move "Pursuit of Happiness?" If you haven't, by all means go and see it. I'm pretty sure that you will then come away with the feeling that although he may have started out as a rap artist, he has matured to become an accomplished thespian capable of playing varied roles. In this particular film, he plays the part of a beleaguered father who struggles with life's setbacks and disappointments to persevere to triumph in the end. Through it all, he showed nothing less than true love and devotion to his son which is why I feel that he would be an excellent candidate for the voice-over role of Jonathan Brisby.

Peace 8)
NIMHmaniac

I've heard of the movie. But have never seen it. I'm just stating from my experiences.

i think of Sean Connery as a good voice i just like the actor i guess that and i think he would fit the role well

I'd have to disagree on good old Sean. He'd be a good actor for the NIMH films but I see him more as the Great Owl or Nicodemus. I stand by my comments and as far as Will Smith goes, I juts don't see his voice coming out of Jonathon.

Yay boredom! I think I've found the perfect voice for Jonathan Brisby: Guy Cihi. Never heard of him? That's because the only credit he has is doing voice work for the magnificent video game "Silent Hill 2."

He plays the game's protagonist James Sunderland. Here's a clip from the beginning of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60p0NMCBLw4

I would imagine Jonathan as kind of a stubborn person and a silent and meek hero of sorts. He lacks the courage to tell his wife about NIMH, but is willing to do dangerous things for the Rats of NIMH and I think Cihi's voice captures this sort of personality beautifully.

As for Bruce Willis, Will Smith, and Sean Connery....no just no.

Michael J. Fox...maybe.

My vote would go to Ian McGregor. Thats actually who I imagined when I read Paul Gibbs' The Rats of Thorn Valley.

How about Gary Oldman?

Kiefer Sutherland, or Rob Lowe or his brother Chad, or others with voices of a similar pitch and timbre.

I said Guy Cihi, but I think James Franco would actually be better.

Jeff Bennett or Scott Mcneil might possibly be good choices.

All of those, my friends, can be done by James Arnold Taylor, and more!

Actually, if James deepened his voice a bit, I think his voice would be perfect for Jonathan. The man has the vocal range of string theory: it's incomprehensible and unlimited.

Too many white/American/English actors are being mentioned, so I have to break the ice and spice things up a bit........

Samuel L. Jackson
Tony Yayo
Curtis Jackson
Mr. T
Morgan Freeman
Tommy Wiseau
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Dave Chappelle
Tupac Shakur (opps, forgot he died, but I'll leave him here anyway)
Kanye West

Oh yes, Morgan Freeman would be a good choice I think. The rest, not so much. I always imagined Jonathan as being an every-day kind of guy when it came to his voice; nothing too harsh, nothing too soft, but still strong and determined (after all, when he wasn't with the rats he was working to keep his family alive). To that extent I agree with Morgan Freeman as a choice; a very good voice indeed.

Heh, in case you couldn't tell, I was kidding in all of my choices....but I did make a point that animated films don't tend to diversify their cast enough.

As for Morgan Freeman, I can't really say I agree. He has kind of a wise old man voice, which wouldn't fit in with Jonathan. He's more of a mentor-like actor (he's pretty much typecasted doing mentor roles).

As I mentioned on another post in this topic, Guy Cihi would be perfect. Just watch the videos I posted and listen to his voice. A meek everyday man that holds a dark secret......fits Jonathan perfectly and Guy Cihi was certainly great at portraying that in Silent Hill 2.

Just watch the videos I posted and listen to his voice. A meek everyday man that holds a dark secret......fits Jonathan perfectly and Guy Cihi was certainly great at portraying that in Silent Hill 2.

That could work, but....

Just watch the videos I posted and listen to his voice. A meek everyday man that holds a dark secret......fits Jonathan perfectly and Guy Cihi was certainly great at portraying that in Silent Hill 2.

That could work, but....

How couldn't it work? It fits in perfectly. A very calm everyday man, who has the courage to do very dangerous tasks, but is too stubborn to admit to himself that he has a secret that he must face.

Admittingly, the voice acting of Silent Hill 2 isn't Oscar worthy by any stretch of the imagination. The random pauses and the sort of overacting cheesiness that the actors portray would turn people off. Consider, however, that back when the game was made, voice acting wasn't a priority in making games. There was no gold standard at the time. You have to consider budget limitations (video games are expensive to make). This was Cihi's only role (he's not an actor) and it's much better than any of you could've done. The voice acting is much much better than what you would get in a Hollywood horror film nowadays and the actors do their roles well, despite their limitations.

How about actual experienced voice actors?

Maurice LaMarche
Rob Paulsen
David Hayter
Bob Bergen
Kevin Conroy
Mark Hamill

I still maintain that Gary Oldman would be a good choice (look at Chris Nolan's Batman films as evidence of how well he can do an American accent)


The thing about NIMH, possibly due to its low budget, didn't go for the ultra A-list actors. But don't get me wrong each of the actors in the film were accomplished. Derek Jacobi was making a name for himself in England and would eventually become knighted, Peter Strauss had won awards for his role in television (Rich Man, Poor Man / Masada), same with Paul Shenar, and veteran actors like John Carradine and Aldo Ray.

But the thing about their voice acting is that they sounded natural in their roles and not like a bunch of celebrities in a recording booth.
So the list has been very interesting so far and the actors mentioned are very talented but I feel they wouldn't work. Jonathan Brisby I feel should be without a specific accent, background, or whatever.

Tommy Wiseau

YOU'RE TEARING ME APART ELIZABETH!
ligoes to drug Dragon, sees Dragon about to pounceli
Oh hi kitty.
ligets eaten. Inside Dragon's stomachli
I'm fed up with this world

I've actually met Tommy Wiseau. He comes in to the D.C. area sometimes for midnight screenings of "The Room" and holds a Q/A sessions, which he does nasty things to people. My friends and I went, and it was expensive as hell. $40, but that also includes a live play reading of the room.

I bought a "You're tearing me apart Lisa!" T-shirt and vintage "The Room" poster.

It's fun to bring spoons and throw footballs during the movie as well. It gets you in the spirit.

He plans to screen The Room nationwide in 3D in 2012, with the hopes that we enjoy his hairy ass in 3D (I'm not lying, by the way, he really said this).

Very nice man, overall.

"Its not true. I did not her. It's blillshlit! I did not hit her! I DID NOT! .... Oh hi Justin." :D

"Timmy I am your father, if you need anything just talk to me."
"Thanks Dad."
"Let's get something eat huh."

"Its not true. I did not her. It's blillshlit! I did not hit her! I DID NOT! .... Oh hi Justin." :D

"Timmy I am your father, if you need anything just talk to me."
"Thanks Dad."
"Let's get something eat huh."

liAuntie Shrew to Mrs. Brisbyli
"The results are in.......I definitely have breast cancer."

Jonathan: (to Justin) You're just a big chicken. Chep, chep, chep.
liJustin and Jonathan fightli
Jonathan: I fed up with dis worulld.

liTeresa goes up to her motherli
Teresa: Mom, why do we have framed pictures of spoons?

Hmmm...to the list most recently posted:

Maurice LaMarche - perhaps, but I think his voice is a little too strung out and nasally. And his legendary burping wouldn't save him (yeah, it was him doing all the burping as Wakko in the Animaniacs)

Rob Paulsen - Unless he did a less-husky version of his Throttle from Biker Mice From Mars (which makes many ladies swoon), I'm not sure. He's more suited to the comical roles, and I don't think his normal voice really suits Jonathan.

David Hayter - Eh, I'm not sure. Perhaps, but I don't have as much experience with him as the others.

Bob Bergen - Ditto; I know the others better.

Kevin Conroy - The Batmouse? Nah, just kidding, but I do think his voice is a bit too deep for what we see of Jonathan.

Mark Hamill - Oh my gawd, Jonathan was the Joker all along?! Wow! Mind-ra...er, I mean, wow! But seriously, Mark Hamill wouldn't be a bad choice. His normal voice would have been okay, actually, and would fit Jonathan rather well. As long as he didn't try to sound like a businessman...

Gary Oldman - Yeah, he wouldn't be bad, but I don't think his voice fits the bill. Sure the accent is down, but even back when SoN was made he sounded old. Then there's his Reuber...oh god, that crazy Reuber. Evil Brit much?

Yeah, "The Room" references are starting to become abstract, even to those who get the references and parallels to NIMH, so just keep your stupid comments in your pockets, okay?.....No, but seriously.

I was thinking about Liam Neeson, he has kind of a calm, fatherly type voice. He's not the kind of guy I would associate with stubbornness, though, and Jonathan is certainly a stubborn character.

James Franco would be a good choice, and he does play stubborn and kind character roles very well. "147 Hours" is a very good example of this.

Then there's always Guy Cihi, yes I'm going to keep mentioning this until someone agrees with me.

so just keep your stupid comments in your pockets, okay?

Well fine! I won't throw the football around with you anymore! :D

Liam Neeson is a good pick.

Guy Cihi: its been a loooong time since I've played SH2 but I thought that the voice acting in Silent Hill 2 was pretty good considering there are many games out there that have horrible voice acting. So I can't agree or disagree with you. I would have to hear more of his stuff

Actually since you mentioned Twin Peaks on the other thread, how about Kyle MacLachlan?

Sorry, as much as I love Silent Hill 2 the voice acting was horrible. Better than the first, but that isn't saying a lot.

Sorry, as much as I love Silent Hill 2 the voice acting was horrible. Better than the first, but that isn't saying a lot.

Hey has any of you guys seen a little girl about this tall, short black hair, just turned seven years old last month?


I think the trophy of horrible VG voice acting goes to House of the Dead 2

huh? radio, what's going on with that radio? Lolz

Wow, I'm surprised that I'm not the only one here who has played Silent Hill 2. I guess it shouldn't be that shocking, it's developed a very strong cult following and with very good reason.

As I mentioned in a previous post, it sure aint Oscar quality, but like I said, there are many factors that go into this. Voice acting was still a new concept for games at the time and there weren't many people willing to volunteer their voice talents. That's why you have people like Guy Cihi, who isn't an actor, volunteering instead.

I wouldn't call it terrible, the first Silent Hill's voice acting was, I'll give you that. That suicide ending I posted on another topic is an example of great acting on both Mary and Jame's part.

Just listen to his voice and tell me that can't come out of Jonathan's mouth perfectly.

Just my 2-cents in the matter... Reading Mr. and Mrs. Brisby,[=http://www.thornvalley.com/commons/forum/viewtopic.php?t=413]Mr. and Mrs. Brisby, I was imagining Mark Hamil's voice as Jonathan's. Could you imagine Jonathan sounding like Luke Skywalker?

"'No and nor is the rest of my group,' Jonathan answered."

You guys like my Wiseau avatar? I can't believe I still had this pic on my hard drive....it was from quite awhile ago. This was back when I was fat (I lost weight I swear) and thought that growing a beard would make me hip, instead it got me ridiculed as a terrorist.

You guys like my Wiseau avatar? I can't believe I still had this pic on my hard drive....it was from quite awhile ago. This was back when I was fat (I lost weight I swear) and thought that growing a beard would make me hip, instead it got me ridiculed as a terrorist.

At least you have an avatar. ;) You may want to use a more recent picture, though, if what you said about your weight is true.

Steven

It wouldn't have Tommy Wiseau in it though, that's why I chose it, but yeah me looking like a pedophile isn't how I want to sell myself. I look creepy even when next to Tommy Wiseau and that's saying something....

It wouldn't have Tommy Wiseau in it though, that's why I chose it, but yeah me looking like a pedophile isn't how I want to sell myself. I look creepy even when next to Tommy Wiseau and that's saying something....

There's always photo manipulation! ;) I'm pretty good at that myself.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k511/Pennsylvania_Jones/JustinBieberSparklyNecklace.jpg[" alt=""/img]

Firstly, let me clear one thing up: I am not a Justin Beiber fan. I made this picture for a scrapped idea for a video edit. The scene would've played out like this:

Jeremy: Let me have the sparkly! I gotta have the sparkly! Ms. B, I gotta have it; girls can't resist a sparkly! Oh, please, PLEEEEEASE?

Mrs. Brisby: I gave it to Justin.

Jeremy: Justin? Who the heck is Justin?

[Justin Beiber and Mrs. Brisby's picture shows up while a clip from "Baby" plays]

Jeremy: HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!?

Then Jeremy decides to be athletic, bumps into C-3PO, sees 3PO's golden plating, and the rest is history...

[img="]http://movies.rawr-caps.net/albums/uploads/Movies/Star%20Wars%20Episode%201/1/normal_StarWars-Episode1_0656.jpg[" alt=""/img]

C-3PO: How rude!




Anyway, if you want, I could do a Photo Manip for you. :D What do you say?

Steven

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I don't want you doing naughty things to my picture.

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Sorry, it was the only NIMH-related photo manip I made. :oops:

Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I don't want you doing naughty things to my picture.

Naughty? Whatever are you talking about? :twisted:

Steven

Justin Bieber would be a great choice for Jonathan, now that we're on the subject. He's the new Andy Warhol of the music scene these days.

You want to pinch his cheek and kick him in his "man-zone" (assuming that he has a 'man-zone') simultaneously, which is Jonathan in a nutshell.

Justin Bieber would be a great choice for Jonathan, now that we're on the subject. He's the new Andy Warhol of the music scene these days.

You want to pinch his cheek and kick him in his "man-zone" (assuming that he has a 'man-zone') simultaneously, which is Jonathan in a nutshell.

:shock: Okay...

To disregard what I said in an earlier post, while I can sort-of imagine Mark Hamil as Jonathan, I think Freddie Prinze, Jr. would be a better match to Jonathan. Or at least some voice that sounds like Fred from Scooby-Doo.

Steven

I wish Tupac was still alive. He practically is still alive because new albums keep coming out all the time and he's still being reported on by some media outlets.

He would be a fun choice for Jonathan, the whole "flilili with me and you die mutha flililier" attitude is what we really need in a children's fantasy story. Of course, it's what got him killed, but that's what got Jonathan killed as well.

How about Edward Norton?

How about Edward Norton?

Only if Jonathan has a split personality that resembles Brad Pitt.

Or how about just Brad Pitt?

I am Jonathan's complete lack of surprise.

There could be a scene where he makes soap out of liposuction fat. Fits right in really. The reason he couldn't tell his wife about NIMH is because he would be breaking rules one and two of fight club.

You are a scholar, as well as a gentlemen, sir.

Ozzy Osbourne would be cool. Just have Mrs. Brisby's first name be Sharon and you're good to go. :D

"SHARON! Timmy got flililiing bit by a spider."

I think Freddie Prinze, Jr. would be a better match to Jonathan. Or at least some voice that sounds like Fred from Scooby-Doo.

If you want Fred from Sooby-Doo, just get the god of voice actors: Frank Welker
Besides have you seen Wing Commander?

Nicolas Cage


......End of discussion......

Though Guy Cihi is still applicable..... http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/podcasts/horrorcast/33451-special-interview-with-guy-cihi-part-1

Ozzy Osbourne would be cool. Just have Mrs. Brisby's first name be Sharon and you're good to go. :D

"SHARON! Timmy got flililiing bit by a spider."

If Ozzy was a voice actor we'll need subtitles