--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to understand that when you're a…" description: "\"You have to understand that when you're a voice actor on an animated film, you're really just a tiny little piece of this huge process. And when you fi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/phyllis-smith-11568_actor_you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re_2909832.jpg" --- # You have to understand that when you're a voice actor on… ![“You have to understand that when you're a voice actor on an animated film, you're really just a tiny little piece of this huge process. And when you finally get to see the finished product and see all of the wonderful work that the animators & the designers & the writers did to make your character…” quote by Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/phyllis-smith-11568_actor_you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re_2909832.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/phyllis-smith-11568_actor_you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re_2909832.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/phyllis-smith-11568_actor_you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re_2909832.jpg) > “You have to understand that when you're a voice actor on an animated film, you're really just a tiny little piece of this huge process. And when you finally get to see the finished product and see all of the wonderful work that the animators & the designers & the writers did to make your character stand out, it's just so touching, so humbling.” [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Voice actors are small parts of a massive collaborative effort, and seeing the final product is humbling. **In simple terms:** Voice work is a tiny piece of big teamwork. Key Takeaway Appreciate the collaborative nature of creative projects. Themes creativity humility collaboration film animation Mood reflective inspired Type creative motivational When to use this quote - animation studios - film festivals - voice acting workshops Key Concepts voice acting team dynamics artistic process Questions to Reflect On - What does humility mean in a collaborative art? - How can voice actors claim ownership of their work? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook the individual artistic contribution beyond the team. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Animated Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animated-film/) [Animators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animators/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I'm always impressed with the work of animators. You have to be able to draw the scenes in between movements. I'm impressed with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/i-m-always-impressed-with-the-work-of-animators-you-have-to-be-able/) [Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/) > [To direct a genuinely animated film, you're really having meetings and discussing what you want with animators who then go off and produce one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/to-direct-a-genuinely-animated-film-you-re-really-having-meetings-and/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [The quality and success of Disney was actually bad for us animators because everyone on the planet thought that animation was only for kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-ocelot/the-quality-and-success-of-disney-was-actually-bad-for-us-animators/) [Michel Ocelot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-ocelot/) > [Joanna Priestley’s amazing body of animated films have deservedly earned their place in the pantheon of contemporary international animators. Inventively visioned, superbly crafted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/joanna-priestley-s-amazing-body-of-animated-films-have-deservedly/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [I've done animated TV stuff, but I'd never done animated film work, which is much more involved and much more labor intensive. The animators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/i-ve-done-animated-tv-stuff-but-i-d-never-done-animated-film-work/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [With my own cartoon, it was just me being goofy by myself, but when it comes to an animated film, you're working with 45…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-larson/with-my-own-cartoon-it-was-just-me-being-goofy-by-myself-but-when-it/) [Gary Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-larson/) > [When you do a voice in an animated film, you don't see the finished product at all. You're not animating. You're not doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/when-you-do-a-voice-in-an-animated-film-you-don-t-see-the-finished/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [One day, I was taken into a room with 25 animators, all working on Sadness. They asked me a lot of questions, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/one-day-i-was-taken-into-a-room-with-25-animators-all-working-on/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [You can actually improvise a lot as a voice actor. It's not that entirely different than shooting a live action movie; the characters mouths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/you-can-actually-improvise-a-lot-as-a-voice-actor-it-s-not-that/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [I've been called 'the voice actor.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/i-ve-been-called-the-voice-actor/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [Voice actors I used to know who were starting out in comedy were guys who did a lot of voices. They were usually comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jon-benjamin/voice-actors-i-used-to-know-who-were-starting-out-in-comedy-were-guys/) [H. Jon Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jon-benjamin/) > [ That's the first time I've been involved in such a big way as a voice actor and this script \[Voltron\] is very matter of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/that-s-the-first-time-i-ve-been-involved-in-such-a-big-way-as-a-voice/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [I feel like that would be pretty strange to meet a voice actor as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lapkus/i-feel-like-that-would-be-pretty-strange-to-meet-a-voice-actor-as-a/) [Lauren Lapkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lapkus/) > [It's an absolute blast to be a voice actor, but also kinda scary that the vocal baby you just birthed out at a mic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/it-s-an-absolute-blast-to-be-a-voice-actor-but-also-kinda-scary-that/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I have had a singing teacher in L.A. for many, many years just to work on my voice as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-have-had-a-singing-teacher-in-l-a-for-many-many-years-just-to-work/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) ## More by Phyllis Smith > [I'm generally pretty happy about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-m-generally-pretty-happy-about-life/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I don't really think about being pigeonholed so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-don-t-really-think-about-being-pigeonholed-so-much/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [Everybody involved in Pixar, I've not met one person who's not incredibly creative and nice and lovely and know what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/everybody-involved-in-pixar-i-ve-not-met-one-person-who-s-not/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [It was only after I'd had some injuries that I basically retired from the performing side of show business and then began working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/it-was-only-after-i-d-had-some-injuries-that-i-basically-retired-from/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [IMDB's not the most accurate. Even my birth place and my age are wrong there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/imdb-s-not-the-most-accurate-even-my-birth-place-and-my-age-are-wrong/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [Just go for it. Don't be afraid of trying new things. You have absolutely no idea what's going to present itself to you. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/just-go-for-it-don-t-be-afraid-of-trying-new-things-you-have/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I once prayed when struggling financially and worried how I was going to be able to assist my parents in their latter years living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-once-prayed-when-struggling-financially-and-worried-how-i-was-going/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I didn't want Sadness to be just one note.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-didn-t-want-sadness-to-be-just-one-note/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I know how difficult it is to get one job, much less an entirely new career. I'm very blessed and grateful. It's like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-know-how-difficult-it-is-to-get-one-job-much-less-an-entirely-new/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I just wanted Sadness to be true, to come from a real place. I tried to work from the inside out, going from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-just-wanted-sadness-to-be-true-to-come-from-a-real-place-i-tried-to/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [To be in a Pixar movie is just great to begin with, and it has afforded me the opportunity to do a different medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/to-be-in-a-pixar-movie-is-just-great-to-begin-with-and-it-has/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I'm just a normal person, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-m-just-a-normal-person-believe-me/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [Even before 'The OA,' I was a very spiritual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/even-before-the-oa-i-was-a-very-spiritual-person/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but I've had extraordinary opportunities in my later life, and I never saw any of it coming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-feel-like-i-m-an-ordinary-person-but-i-ve-had-extraordinary/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [When I hurt my knee, I knew it was time to retire from dancing, and I needed a job just to pay the bills,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/when-i-hurt-my-knee-i-knew-it-was-time-to-retire-from-dancing-and-i/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) [Explore all 59 Phyllis Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) ## 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": "You have to understand that when you're a voice actor on an animated film, you're really just a tiny little piece of this huge process. And when you finally get to see the finished product and see all of the wonderful work that the animators & the designers & the writers did to make your character stand out, it's just so touching, so humbling.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phyllis Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re-a-voice-actor-on-an-animated/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re-a-voice-actor-on-an-animated/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/phyllis-smith-11568_actor_you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re_2909832.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/phyllis-smith-11568_actor_you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re_2909832.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/phyllis-smith-11568_actor_you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re_2909832.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have to understand that when you're a voice actor on an animated film, you're really just a tiny little…” — Phyllis Smith", "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": "Phyllis Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have to understand that when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re-a-voice-actor-on-an-animated/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/you-have-to-understand-that-when-you-re-a-voice-actor-on-an-animated/#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 } } ] } ```