Voice-over Legend June Foray Brings Squirrel, Granny To Life
Saturday, September 30 2000
Published on AllBusiness.com
After 50 years in show business and her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, June Foray is inarguably the first lady of animation. She's worked with Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng on over 40 Warner shorts and with Jay Ward as the voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel, which she reprised for the feature film "The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle," due in stores Jan. 9 from Universal Studios Home Video.
Foray also voices the character of Granny in "Tweety's High-Flying Adventure" from Warner Home Video, in stores now. Her other projects include a Looney Tunes "Cwazy Christmas" album from Rhino Records and the audiobook "Tall And Small Tales" from Helion.
The busy Foray—and a few of her characters who dropped in—spoke with us from her Woodland Hills, Calif., home.
How did you first get the role of Granny, Tweety Bird's owner?
In 1954, I had been doing Witch Hazel for Chuck Jones when Friz Freleng asked me to do Granny. I had nothing to go by, but I had created this granny voice when I was 12. I have always been an omnivorous reader and liked to act out the parts. So I relied on what I had invented as a kid.
How did you like working with Chuck Jones?
Those were joyous, joyous times. Here was this tall, handsome, talented guy, and he was so easy to work with. He would give me the lines to read, and I'd read it once and record it. Then I'd say, "Would you like another one for protection?" And he'd say, "No, no, no—that was just fine."
And now . . . how did you get involved in "Tweety's High-Flying Adventure"?
I just loved the script. It's charming. I like the idea of a canary flying around the world in 80 days. And the writing is great.
You also voiced "The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle." Was it different because of the live-action element?
No, because we always record the animation first. Voice-over people have to take cold, hard words off the paper and make it sound natural. It's like radio—you never see anything except the microphone.
What was Jay Ward like to work with?
Jay was an amiable man, but very perspicacious. He knew precisely what would go and what wouldn't go. And he had real insight into the characters. The acting involved [for animated characters] is under-appreciated. Voice-over people don't have the camera to recognize the eyes or body language or facial expression. They have to express everything with the voice.
So do you act as you voice a character?
Yes, you can't help it! Every time I do a witch, I bend over and crook my neck. You just assume that character.
What keeps you going after all these years?
In the first place, the creativity of it, and in the second place, it's good money.
Foray also voices the character of Granny in "Tweety's High-Flying Adventure" from Warner Home Video, in stores now. Her other projects include a Looney Tunes "Cwazy Christmas" album from Rhino Records and the audiobook "Tall And Small Tales" from Helion.
The busy Foray—and a few of her characters who dropped in—spoke with us from her Woodland Hills, Calif., home.
How did you first get the role of Granny, Tweety Bird's owner?
In 1954, I had been doing Witch Hazel for Chuck Jones when Friz Freleng asked me to do Granny. I had nothing to go by, but I had created this granny voice when I was 12. I have always been an omnivorous reader and liked to act out the parts. So I relied on what I had invented as a kid.
How did you like working with Chuck Jones?
Those were joyous, joyous times. Here was this tall, handsome, talented guy, and he was so easy to work with. He would give me the lines to read, and I'd read it once and record it. Then I'd say, "Would you like another one for protection?" And he'd say, "No, no, no—that was just fine."
And now . . . how did you get involved in "Tweety's High-Flying Adventure"?
I just loved the script. It's charming. I like the idea of a canary flying around the world in 80 days. And the writing is great.
You also voiced "The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle." Was it different because of the live-action element?
No, because we always record the animation first. Voice-over people have to take cold, hard words off the paper and make it sound natural. It's like radio—you never see anything except the microphone.
What was Jay Ward like to work with?
Jay was an amiable man, but very perspicacious. He knew precisely what would go and what wouldn't go. And he had real insight into the characters. The acting involved [for animated characters] is under-appreciated. Voice-over people don't have the camera to recognize the eyes or body language or facial expression. They have to express everything with the voice.
So do you act as you voice a character?
Yes, you can't help it! Every time I do a witch, I bend over and crook my neck. You just assume that character.
What keeps you going after all these years?
In the first place, the creativity of it, and in the second place, it's good money.
