Fun Voice Actors Talk Ice Age: Collision Course

By: Lynn Barker

Ice Age: Collision Course is the 5^th movie in the series since 2002. You might have grown up with these characters. Well, as you grow, the characters and their relationships grow. This time around poor Scrat, in pursuit of his beloved acorn, ends up in space messing things up so much that he causes a giant meteor to come hauling toward Earth.

With the end of all things coming, Manny is more concerned about daughter Peaches getting married to Julian (voiced by funny Adam DeVine) and Sid finally has a girlfriend Francine (“Big Bang Theory’s” Melissa Rauch) but they aren't getting along.  It’s up to the gang plus Buck (Simon Pegg), the eye-patch weasel from the 3^rdIce Age movie, to find a way to keep the giant asteroid from destroying our planet.

Check out what Manny (Ray Romano), Ellie (Queen Latifah) and Sid (John Leguizamo) had to say about returning to their beloved characters and new developments in the film.

Q: I was wondering if you guys got to bounce off ideas with one another in the same recording room?

• John: I tried in Ice Age 2 but it didn't work because we all started talking over each other and they couldn't separate the tapes so they had to throw it away.
• Queen: Last time I remember seeing (any of the voice actors) at the studio was the first movie I did which was Ice Age 2, and I haven't seen another person in the studio since.

Q: John, how do you feel that Sid finally got a girlfriend?

• John: Finally! I got to link up and schmooze. And she's hot, too. Because that Francine was high maintenance. She was a pain in my a** uh,...my sloth butt.
• Ray: She's hot in real life. In real life, Melissa, she's hot.
• John: I know. Easy cowboy.

Q: How do you feel that doing these voice roles has helped you as an actor?

• Ray: It's another skill you've gotta develop. I'll tell you that. From the beginning it took me a while to get used to moving, to emote without being able to emote with your body. I don't know where that helps you in acting but it is another skill.
• John: But do you think being a stand-up (comedian) too helped you do the voices because you're used to being in front of a mic by yourself.
• Ray:  Yeah, but you're still feeding off the audience then.
• John:  You've got the crew. You can make them laugh.
• Ray: Yeah. The crew is there.
• John: They'll laugh. It's complicated at first because there's no (finished animated film to watch). And then they draw according to your emotional cues, but you have to feel free. It takes a while to feel free. Then it's great. You're by yourself and no one is nagging you.
• Ray: And you don't gotta get dressed.
• John: There's no ego involved.

Q: Do kids come up to you once they hear your voices?

• Ray:  I think the parents usually tell the kids first. It could go either way then.
• John:  It always goes bad for me. Because Sid is a cute character and then kids see me and they're horrified. I try to warn dads that it's not going to go well -- that this has happened before. I do the voice and the kids get freaked out.
• Ray:  They're not putting it together. But then there are kids that are fascinated by it. It goes either way, but it's fun.

Q: Since you guys have done lot of these movies do you pop in a previous movie to remind yourself where you're at when you are about to start the next one?

• Ray: Well, I've always had this one line from Ice Age that gets me back in character. And that's when Sid is telling me they're migrating to the south and I'm going north and I just say, "I'm not going, Sid." And I just say that over and over.
• Queen: I just say, Manny. Manny. Manny!  MANNY! with a real kind of nasally voice, repeating "Manny" over and over because I'm always saying it. And that kind of lets me back in the family again.

Q: But you never tire of playing Ellie?

• Queen: It’s almost like a magical thing that comes from the pipeline, "They're talking about another Ice Age” and then seemingly magically it comes together. Everything works out and it's time for you to start making it happen. It's exciting because I'm gonna be a hero to my nieces and nephews again who call me "Auntie Elle" for months at a time. And it's something that lives with them. I mean we're all really talented actors and we can make the most R rated, raw -- we can go there, but to have something we can give to the kids (is great). They'll grow up remembering the Ice Age movie they saw and where they were and what the popcorn was like and who they went with and that's really cool.
• John: I've met 20-year-olds who grew up with Ice Age now. They were five when the first one came out and now they're grown people. I was a lot older than 15 when this started.
• Ray: Yeah the real Ice Age didn’t last this long!

Q: When you go into the recording booth you have to drop your vanity. Was there a specific line or reaction that was just a challenge to you in any of the films?

• Ray: There’s always a line that feels weird coming out of your mouth. You got a little leeway. You can change it up a little. My character isn’t very open for improv but John’s character Sid is extemporaneously shouting stuff. Do you wing some go that in the studio?
• John: Yeah. We do a little improvisation. I mean the lines are pretty funny the way they’re written, but there’s still room to goof off and ad lib because you’re right my character yammers so I can yammer away any garbage. Then they’ll clean it up later.

Q: Manny is pretty freaked that daughter Peaches is getting married. Ray, your kids are the age where they are starting to bring people around that may or may not be auditioning to be a part of your family. How are you handling that?

• Ray: Well, my daughter is out of the house for two years now already but, when she was in my wife was in charge of hating the boy she brought home because my wife had an issue with every guy. I’m kind of over-protective too but I also cut them a little slack because I was a guy like that. I was a slacker. I was a guy without a job. But I knew if he’s a good guy or not. But when they leave (home), like what Manny is going through, I relate to it. It’s rough but I’ve got three boys who are not going anywhere for a long time.
• John: Well, Ice Age is all about family. The beautiful thing is that it’s different species can make a family. It doesn’t matter where you come from which is the more beautiful message of it all. It’s loyalty. Not blood.

Q: Cool! Have you guys ever used your character voices outside of the films?

• Ray: I had to leave a voice message once as Manny.
• John: I’ve done a few birthdays (in his silly Sid voice) “Hi, kid. Happy birthday. It’s Sid. Stay in school.”

See Ice Age: Collision Course in theaters starting July 22^nd!

 

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