A common misconception in regard to animation is that it can only be enjoyed by children. Nothing is further from the truth! Just like film, animation can tell all types of stories for people of all ages.

I enjoy a few animated series and movies myself. One that I really like is SPYxFAMILY, a Japanese production based on the manga (comic) of the same name, created by Tatsuya Endo. It follows the story of a super spy, a skilled assassin, a child who can read minds and a dog who can see the future, who end up all living together as part of a plot to prevent a war. It’s chaos, it’s comedy, and it’s a feel-good exploration of what love and family can be and look like.

Knowing how much I like the character of Anya, the adorable little girl with telepathic powers, my own children approached her English voice actress, Megan Shipman, during a convention a couple of years ago. They asked her to record a birthday greeting for me as Anya, and this is what she did:

I found and still find it lovely. Voice acting is a demanding profession with unique challenges, and I have a lot of appreciation for the people who do it. Along the other roles in film and animation related to sound, they are a good part of the reason why audiovisual media feels so real.

Unfortunately, voice acting and music are two of the many creative professions currently under siege due to the generative AI boom. You can learn more about this issue by reading the MU Briefing: Artificial Intelligence, AI Training and AI Generated Music.