6 Disney Characters Who Had Different Voice Actors For Speaking And Singing

Music has always been an important part of many Disney animated films. Songs such as 'A Whole New World' from Aladdin, or 'Let It Go' from Frozen, are equally as loved as the movies themselves. Currently, in films like the recently released Encanto, it is common for songs to be performed by the existing voice cast of the films, and in some cases, such as Auli'i Cravalho's casting as the titular character in Moana, or singer/actress Mandy Moore's casting as Rapunzel in Tangled, voice actors have been chosen, at least in part, based on singing ability.

However, this has not always been the case. There was a period of time, particularly during the middle-latter part of the era known to animation historians as the Disney renaissance, it was relatively common for major characters in Disney films to have two voice performers: one for speaking, and one for singing.

Here's a list of beloved Disney characters who utilised different actors for speaking and singing.

1. Princess Jasmine

When Princess Jasmine made her debut in Aladdin in 1992, she broke new ground as a Disney Princess in multiple ways. One was that she was the first Princess not to be of Caucasian decent, instead, she is Arabic. Another is that she is the first Princess to have two different voice actors. Actress Linda Larkin served as Jasmine's speaking voice, while Musical-Theatre actress Lea Salonga performed the character's singing for the iconic song 'A Whole New World'.

Fans view Larkin and Salonga as equally important to Jasmine as a character, and when most of the Disney Princess voice actors were named Disney Legends in 2011, both actresses received an award. Larkin has reprised her role as Jasmine's speaking voice in the Aladdin TV series, the film's two sequels, and Ralph Breaks The Internet, along with a few smaller projects inbetween. Salonga regularly performs 'A Whole New World' during concerts, sometimes inviting a fan onstage to sing the male half of the duet.

2. Aladdin

With the casting of Robin Williams as the Genie, Aladdin began a new trend for Disney of casting celebrities to voice roles in their animated films. So, Scott Weinger, then known for the recurring role of Steve Hale in the sitcom Full House, was cast as the film's hero, Aladdin. Weinger admitted early to being not much of a singer, so Brad Kane, a Theatre actor at the time, performed Aladdin's singing voice.

Both Weinger and Kane reprised the role in later entries in the franchise.

3. Simba

Simba, the main character of the 1994 animated classic The Lion King, has not just one, but five different voice actors for the films. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, known for the role of Randy Taylor in Home Improvement, provided the speaking voice for Simba as a cub, while Jason Weaver gave young Simba his singing voice. In a 2019 interview coinciding with the film's 25th anniversary, Weaver revealed that he still receives royalties for his work on The Lion King.

Adult Simba was voiced by Matthew Broderick, while his singing voice in the first film was provided by Toto frontman Joseph Williams. Broderick reprised the role in The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, while Cam Clarke takes over as Simba's singing voice. Nala, Simba's love interest, had four voice actors in the original film. Sally Dworsky, Adult Nala's singing voice, later provided the singing voice for Princess Fiona in Shrek.

4. Pocahontas

In Pocahontas, a very loose adaptation of the real-life Pocahontas's experiences with the settler John Smith, two women had the honour of giving the character her voice. Native-American actress Irene Bedard provided Pocahontas's speaking voice, while her singing, including the Oscar-nominated 'Colours of the Wind, was performed by American Theatre actress Judy Kuhn. Both returned for the sequel, while Kuhn was one of many Disney Princess voice actors to make a cameo in Enchanted.

The first film contains a second example. While Russel Means performs the speaking voice of Pocahontas's Father, Chief Powhatan, his singing voice is provided by professional voice actor Jim Cummings. Cummings also sang the final verse of Be Prepared in The Lion King, after Scar's primary voice actor, Jeremy Irons, strained his voice on a high note.

5. Esmeralda

During the production of their animated adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which would become one of the studio's darkest, most dramatic films, Disney wanted to take a different path with the film's female lead, the Gypsy Esmeralda, than they had with past heroines. Esmeralda is street-wise, and much less naive than some of the Princesses who who came before her.

After a few meetings with the film's producers, who enjoyed her husky tone, actress Demi Moore was cast as the voice of Esmeralda. Moore provided a few singing demos to songwriter Alan Menken, but, knowing that she couldn't provide the quality Disney preferred, suggested herself that a second actress be found for Esmeralda's singing voice. Heidi Mollenhauer, a Cabaret singer from New York, was chosen to sing Esmeralda's solo number, 'God Help The Outcasts'.

6. Mulan

For the 1998 film Mulan, loosely based on a beloved Chinese folk-tale, Lea Salonga, who provided the singing voice for Jasmine in Aladdin, was initially cast as both the speaking and singing voice of the film's title character. Unfortunately, Salonga struggled to lower her voice during the section of the film in which Mulan poses as a male soldier. After a short search, actress Ming-Na Wen was cast as Mulan's speaking voice, while Salonga remained onboard for the character's singing.

Both Wen and Salonga reprised their role in the direct-to-video sequel, Mulan II. Ming-Na Wen also has a brief but significant cameo in the 2020 live-action remake, introducing Mulan to the Emperor at the end of the film.

Whether speaking or singing, all the above actors did a wonderful job in giving these iconic characters a voice, and all deserve to be equally celebrated.