--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always said that you can't be the…" description: "\"I've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by doing Mel Blanc's voice.\" — Billy West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/billy-west-16879_actor_i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-n_68128.jpg" --- # I've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by… ![“I've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by doing Mel Blanc's voice.” quote by Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/billy-west-16879_actor_i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-n_68128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/billy-west-16879_actor_i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-n_68128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/billy-west-16879_actor_i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-n_68128.jpg) > “I've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by doing Mel Blanc's voice.” [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Originality requires developing your own style rather than copying a legend's performance. **In simple terms:** Be authentic, not an imitation. Key Takeaway Your voice must be uniquely yours. Themes authenticity creativity identity originality artistic integrity Mood inspired determined reflective Type advice observation motivation When to use this quote - auditioning for a new character - building a comedy routine - training voice talent Key Concepts voice acting personal branding creative expression Practical Applications - coaching emerging voice actors - guiding creative workshops Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate your work from predecessors? - What steps help you discover your own voice? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Mel blanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mel-blanc/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, here comes Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and Jimmy Smits!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/oh-here-comes-mel-blanc-the-voice-of-bugs-bunny-and-jimmy-smits/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I remember as a kid watching TV and seeing Mel Blanc doing his voices and Paul Winchell doing his ventriloquism and thinking, 'Those guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-remember-as-a-kid-watching-tv-and-seeing-mel-blanc-doing-his-voices/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Obviously as a kid, for probably anybody who chose animation voiceover as a career in their adult life, Mel Blanc was the touchstone for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/obviously-as-a-kid-for-probably-anybody-who-chose-animation-voiceover/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [As a kid, I just loved cartoons. And as the credits went by, I'd study those names and then try to figure how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/as-a-kid-i-just-loved-cartoons-and-as-the-credits-went-by-i-d-study/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [When I was a kid, I wanted to emulate Mel Blanc, who is arguably one of the most legendary voiceover recording artists of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-mccartney/when-i-was-a-kid-i-wanted-to-emulate-mel-blanc-who-is-arguably-one-of/) [Jesse McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-mccartney/) > [I always used to sit next to Mel Blanc when we'd do the shows. When you have Jack Benny on one side and Mel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/i-always-used-to-sit-next-to-mel-blanc-when-we-d-do-the-shows-when/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [Mel Blanc is a hero because of what he could do with his voice for all the Looney Tunes, the Warner Brothers cartoons, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/mel-blanc-is-a-hero-because-of-what-he-could-do-with-his-voice-for-2/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [There's only five real people in Hollywood. Everyone else is Mel Blanc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-benny/there-s-only-five-real-people-in-hollywood-everyone-else-is-mel-blanc/) [Jack Benny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-benny/) > [I wanted to do what Mel Blanc did, and that was cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russi-taylor/i-wanted-to-do-what-mel-blanc-did-and-that-was-cartoons/) [Russi Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russi-taylor/) > [ Mel Blanc passed away in '89, and they held auditions, and I did my first job \[as Porky Pig\] in 1990. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-bergen/mel-blanc-passed-away-in-89-and-they-held-auditions-and-i-did-my/) [Bob Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-bergen/) > [Mel Blanc is a hero because of what he could do with his voice for all the Looney Tunes, the Warner Brothers cartoons, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/mel-blanc-is-a-hero-because-of-what-he-could-do-with-his-voice-for/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I worked with some of the best actors I've ever worked with: Mel Blanc and Don Messick. They could play a scene against themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/i-worked-with-some-of-the-best-actors-i-ve-ever-worked-with-mel-blanc/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [Mel Blanc has been gone for 30 years, even though he's still around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/mel-blanc-has-been-gone-for-30-years-even-though-he-s-still-around/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [We long for our father. We wear his clothes, and actually try to fill his shoes. . . . We hang on to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/we-long-for-our-father-we-wear-his-clothes-and-actually-try-to-fill/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [People would ask me why I was doing what I was doing - but I always told them that I just loved to skate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-kerrigan/people-would-ask-me-why-i-was-doing-what-i-was-doing-but-i-always/) [Nancy Kerrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-kerrigan/) ## More by Billy West > [Somebody's real voice is probably the hardest one that somebody could attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/somebody-s-real-voice-is-probably-the-hardest-one-that-somebody-could/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [I didn't create Bugs Bunny. You know what I mean? I can't get mad because I'm the third-best Bugs Bunny in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-didn-t-create-bugs-bunny-you-know-what-i-mean-i-can-t-get-mad/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [I don't have that much of an ego where it's like "How dare you, you can't do something without me."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-don-t-have-that-much-of-an-ego-where-it-s-like-how-dare-you-you-can/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [If everyone else is doing something, I have little or no interest in it. If you're known as this guy who can do any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/if-everyone-else-is-doing-something-i-have-little-or-no-interest-in/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [I was basically a sound engineer, I produced radio shows and stuff and had to splice tape in the old days. And you knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-was-basically-a-sound-engineer-i-produced-radio-shows-and-stuff-and/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [You have to have some kind of power of observation, almost like a trained observer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/you-have-to-have-some-kind-of-power-of-observation-almost-like-a/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [It's very hard to take a character out of nothing, and put a hook on it, especially because it's only sonic. Futurama is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/it-s-very-hard-to-take-a-character-out-of-nothing-and-put-a-hook-on/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [Life is for the living. I was a little scared before surgery 'cause of the release you sign that says there's always a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/life-is-for-the-living-i-was-a-little-scared-before-surgery-cause-of/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [It had more layers than an onion. These writers meant business. There was a level for everybody. Your major could be celestial mechanics, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/it-had-more-layers-than-an-onion-these-writers-meant-business-there/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [To me, it all comes down to things being character-driven. It's hard for me to look beyond that. CG and all this cool stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/to-me-it-all-comes-down-to-things-being-character-driven-it-s-hard/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [I consider myself to be flawed, but I made it work. I'm not perfect. Anybody who thinks they are is whacked-out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-consider-myself-to-be-flawed-but-i-made-it-work-i-m-not-perfect/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [I'm not like a high intellectual. That's the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-m-not-like-a-high-intellectual-that-s-the-thing/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [You watch people and study them the way an alien would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/you-watch-people-and-study-them-the-way-an-alien-would/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [Robin Williams understands sonic performances. He understands what it's like to change your voice up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/robin-williams-understands-sonic-performances-he-understands-what-it/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [I got a liberal education. A white guy, rapping as Bugs Bunny, on a quintuple-platinum album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-got-a-liberal-education-a-white-guy-rapping-as-bugs-bunny-on-a/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) [Explore all 38 Billy West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by doing Mel Blanc's voice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billy West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-new-mel-blanc-by-doing-mel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-new-mel-blanc-by-doing-mel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/billy-west-16879_actor_i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-n_68128.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/billy-west-16879_actor_i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-n_68128.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/billy-west-16879_actor_i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-n_68128.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by doing Mel Blanc's voice.” — Billy West", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Billy West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always said that you can't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-new-mel-blanc-by-doing-mel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-new-mel-blanc-by-doing-mel/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```