Chris Pratt is a man of many talents. He is capable of adapting to any role or character in front of him and has proven many times throughout the years, and in the projects he’s worked on, that he’ll put everything he has into whatever his latest role may be. Whether it be his work behind the camera as an executive producer or a physical performance front and center, his love of the work is always evident. But his voice acting credits can sometimes be overshadowed by bigger-name performances.
In recent years, Chris Pratt has become the voice of a lasagna-loving ginger cat, an iconic Italian plumber, albeit without the iconic accent, and a humble and lovable Lego minifigure named Emmet Brickowski. But while those might be three of his most notable animated characters, they aren’t the only ones he’s lent his voice to since his career began at the start of the new century. From his questionable casting choice turned surprising success story in The Super Mario Bros. Movie to his enjoyable antics in The Lego Movie, Chris Pratt has become the voice of many characters audiences can’t help but love.
7
Jake
‘The Batman’ (2004–2008)
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Not to be confused with the critically acclaimed 2022 Robert Pattinson feature, The Batman is a favored animated TV series that aired 65 episodes between September 2004 and March 2008 through Warner Bros Family Entertainment. The series aired for five seasons during its run and became a popular addition to the DC media library for kids and fans who came to love it later down the line.
Chris Pratt vocally appeared in one episode of The Batman titled “Attack of the Terrible Trio,” the ninth episode of the final season. He portrayed a character named Jake, a college jock who gets more than he bargained for after the student he shares a dorm with begins using stolen mutagens from Dr. Kirk Langstrom (Peter MacNicol) to take his payback after frequent bullying. The Terrible Trio aren’t necessarily some of the most universally favored additions to Batman and Catwoman’s villain list, but they made for an entertaining episode of the 2000s animated Batman series.
- Release Date
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2004 – 2007
- Network
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The WB, The CW
- Directors
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Brandon Vietti, Seung Eun Kim, Anthony Chun, Sam Liu, Christopher Berkeley
- Writers
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Steven Melching, Greg Weisman, Joseph Kuhr, Adam Beechen, Alexx Van Dyne, Michael Jelenic, Stan Berkowitz, Christopher L. Yost, Greg Klein, Paul Dini, Jane Espenson, Tom Pugsley, Paul Giacoppo, Alan Burnett, Steve Cuden, David Slack, Bob Goodman
6
Cooper
‘Ben 10: Ultimate Alien’ (2010–2012)
Before Chris Pratt garnered wider recognition in the world of feature film voice acting, he appeared in one or two-episode runs of late 2000s/early 2010s animated cartoons like The Batman and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien. Cooper had previously appeared in numerous episodes of earlier Ben 10 adventures, but was only voiced by Pratt in this specific series.
By the time fans see Cooper in the 2010-2011 animation, he’d had a significant change in appearance, with his height and deep voice immediately noticeable. Cooper made a one-episode assist in 2010 and 2011, and his character will always be a favorite for many viewers. Pratt’s portrayal of him is likely unknown to many fans of both him and the series, but it’s an early look into where he started with voice acting and where he ultimately ended up.
5
Rex Dangervest
‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ (2019)
Rex first emerged as Emmet’s savior in The Lego Movie 2, appearing out of the blue to help him as his ship blasts through dangerous territory. He’s presented as a cool, experienced man out to protect Emmet and assist him, but no one saw his true intentions coming.
Chris Pratt voiced Rex in a deeper tone to make him appear older and more seasoned in the ways of the harsh life he’s lived. He’s a galaxy defender, archeologist, cowboy, and raptor trainer, all of which pay subtle references and homage to Pratt’s work on films like Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy, and his backstory is one of pure pain and resentment, which becomes a big reason why he ultimately betrays past Emmet. Say what you will about the Lego movies, but Chris Pratt did a fantastic job in parts one and two as both the protagonist and antagonist.
4
Garfield
‘The Garfield Movie’ (2024)
Everyone can relate to this iconic ginger cat in one way or another, from a love of lasagna to any introvert on the planet. He and Odie the Dog have been entertaining audiences, young and old, for decades, with the idea of a cat star from the mind of Jim Davis created in the 1970s. Since then, Garfield has become one of the iconic ginger cats across all forms of media.
Chris Pratt went through a period of voicing multiple characters in a short span, but not all were met with an initial positive reception. However, if there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s proving he’s right for the job. Pratt did a fantastic job of voicing Garfield in a way that was both reminiscent of the older cartoons while adding his own little spin to the voice already known at the same time. For critics, 2024’s The Garfield Movie didn’t tick all the boxes it should have. Some felt like it didn’t replicate Garfield’s personality as well as the originals. However, it remains an enjoyable feature with a fitting voice cast and a new story that’s genuinely fun to watch for kids and the adults who grew up with the character.
- Release Date
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May 24, 2024
- Runtime
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101 minutes
- Director
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Mark Dindal
- Writers
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David Reynolds
3
Emmet Brickowski
‘The Lego Movie’ (2014), ‘Emmet’s Holiday Party’ (2018), and ‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ (2019)
Fun for the whole family, The Lego Movie is an enjoyable animated feature that’s part of Lego’s media franchise, and is arguably the one with the best story. It may be based on the life of a minifigure, but it’s got so much more of a meaningful depth to it than just simply a Lego figure named Emmet.
Emmet’s story and his lovable personality may be the focal point of this 2014 feature from directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. However, the life of a construction worker is far from the film’s only focus. In fact, its underlying message is one of its strongest aspects. The Lego Movie may be marketed as a film targeted towards kids. But the adults who find the time to sit down and watch it may be pleasantly surprised by its occasional maturity alongside its comedy and sporadic cheesiness. The film is also one of the earliest looks into Chris Pratt’s work in voice acting, serving as his first in film following his 2000s work in The Batman.
2
Mario
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ (2023)
For a movie that had people as skeptical as it did to become the highest-grossing video game adaptation ever made is an impressive achievement. But to go one step further and break numerous records to become the only one to garner $1 billion at the box office is almost unbelievable, and yet, The Super Mario Bros. Movie did it with ease. Fans of the iconic Mario games were apprehensive, to say the least, when Chris Pratt was announced as the voice of the Italian plumber, but it’s safe to say he did a brilliant job, nonetheless.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was made with sheer fan service in mind. There isn’t much of a plot to it, but with a game franchise like this, there’s only so much you can do when making a movie adaptation. The creators took moments from almost every Mario game and found a way to include them in the story. These elements came together perfectly, from classic suits and power-ups to soundtracks and characters. Critics may not have liked it, but it was a lovely surprise for those who grew up with or came to love the source material on which it is based.
‘Onward’ (2020)
Pixar’s Onward may initially seem like an unusual concept, but that didn’t stop it from becoming one of their best animated features in recent years. Chris Pratt lends his voice to the character of Barley Lightfoot, alongside Tom Holland as his younger brother Ian, two elves who discover a spell that will bring their deceased father back to life for a day. However, things don’t quite go as planned.
The unique concept stemmed from the minds of Dan Scanlon, Keith Bunin, and Jason Headley, and their originality paid off in more ways than one. The COVID pandemic negatively affected many productions released in 2020, including Onward, but that didn’t stop it from becoming an overall success, especially when it hit streaming services. It deserved all the praise it received, but it remains somewhat underrated compared to older Pixar features. It is also well worth the watch. Onward is a different project than Chris Pratt is typically known for, but it only heightens his impressive range.
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