--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very hard to take a character out of…" description: "\"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 sonic world, and everyone's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/billy-west-16879_attention_it-s-very-hard-to-take-a-character-out-o_593110.jpg" --- # It's very hard to take a character out of nothing, and put… ![“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 sonic world, and everyone's attention is focused on that sound and that little cartoon image. You can change it.” quote by Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/billy-west-16879_attention_it-s-very-hard-to-take-a-character-out-o_593110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/billy-west-16879_attention_it-s-very-hard-to-take-a-character-out-o_593110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/billy-west-16879_attention_it-s-very-hard-to-take-a-character-out-o_593110.jpg) > “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 sonic world, and everyone's attention is focused on that sound and that little cartoon image. You can change it.” [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. Creating a compelling character without visual cues is difficult; sound alone must convey personality and hook the audience. **In simple terms:** Hard to build a character using only sound. Key Takeaway Focus on distinctive voice traits. Themes character design audio storytelling creativity Mood challenging innovative Type advice creative When to use this quote - animation voice acting - podcast hosting - audio branding - radio drama Key Concepts sonic identity audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can vocal nuances replace visual cues? - What audio techniques deepen listener connection? A Different Perspective Sound alone may not sustain long‑term interest without visual support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [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 never sleep before 4 A.M. and usually play 'Sonic the Hedgehog' computer games before bed. I like Sonic - he reminds me of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-millar/i-never-sleep-before-4-a-m-and-usually-play-sonic-the-hedgehog/) [Martin Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-millar/) > [When I was really little, we used to play Sega Genesis, and my older brother would play 'Sonic The Hedgehog 2,' and he'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/when-i-was-really-little-we-used-to-play-sega-genesis-and-my-older/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [By the time Sonic Youth formed in 1981, my musical tastes had left the Dead behind, but I was always very proud of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/by-the-time-sonic-youth-formed-in-1981-my-musical-tastes-had-left-the/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [First, I'm trying to edit down about 7 hours of material which I made prior to the Cop days and find some way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-coleman/first-i-m-trying-to-edit-down-about-7-hours-of-material-which-i-made/) [Jim Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-coleman/) > [A sonic logo on its own isn't going to do very much. We get frustrated with smaller brands who come to us and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/a-sonic-logo-on-its-own-isn-t-going-to-do-very-much-we-get-frustrated/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [I'm not technical. When I listen to music, I gravitate more toward the sonic aspect of it. The technical stuff of it, I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-santiago/i-m-not-technical-when-i-listen-to-music-i-gravitate-more-toward-the/) [Joey Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-santiago/) > [It's about the stories. If I write 14 stories that I love, then the next step is to get the environment of music around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/it-s-about-the-stories-if-i-write-14-stories-that-i-love-then-the/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [Sonic Youth, for better or worse, is/was a machine that carried me along through pregnancy, motherhood, and creative opportunities I never would have achieved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/sonic-youth-for-better-or-worse-is-was-a-machine-that-carried-me/) [Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/) > [“Kalinske wanted Sonic to become an instantly recognizable cultural icon who could define the decade and eventually grow into a multibillion-dollar intellectual property that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-j-harris/kalinske-wanted-sonic-to-become-an-instantly-recognizable-cultural/) [Blake J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-j-harris/) > [When I was super young, I had an Atari and used to play 'Space Invaders.' Then I fell in love with 'Mario Bros.,' 'Sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rose/when-i-was-super-young-i-had-an-atari-and-used-to-play-space-invaders/) [Amber Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rose/) > [Im very excited to be a Sonic and Im looking forward to next season. Im very excited. Ive been working hard to put myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/im-very-excited-to-be-a-sonic-and-im-looking-forward-to-next-season/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [You or I never buy an Intel product explicitly, and yet their sonic logo is far better known and more powerful than its visual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/you-or-i-never-buy-an-intel-product-explicitly-and-yet-their-sonic/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [We never sit down before we start making a record and talk about this new sonic palette that we are going to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/we-never-sit-down-before-we-start-making-a-record-and-talk-about-this/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [My first album, 'Get Lifted,' was a hip-hop soul album that had some of its roots in the church, as far as the sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/my-first-album-get-lifted-was-a-hip-hop-soul-album-that-had-some-of/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) ## 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've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by doing Mel Blanc's voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-new-mel-blanc-by-doing-mel/) [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/) > [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 Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's very hard to take a character out of nothing, and put a hook on it, especially because it's only sonic. 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