--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obviously as a kid, for probably anybody…" description: "\"Obviously as a kid, for probably anybody who chose animation voiceover as a career in their adult life, Mel Blanc was the touchstone for everybody. He ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/tom-kenny-37089_actors_obviously-as-a-kid-for-probably-anybody_2994025.jpg" --- # Obviously as a kid, for probably anybody who chose… ![“Obviously as a kid, for probably anybody who chose animation voiceover as a career in their adult life, Mel Blanc was the touchstone for everybody. He kind of invented the job and was the first voice actor to get onscreen credit.” quote by Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/tom-kenny-37089_actors_obviously-as-a-kid-for-probably-anybody_2994025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/tom-kenny-37089_actors_obviously-as-a-kid-for-probably-anybody_2994025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/tom-kenny-37089_actors_obviously-as-a-kid-for-probably-anybody_2994025.jpg) > “Obviously as a kid, for probably anybody who chose animation voiceover as a career in their adult life, Mel Blanc was the touchstone for everybody. He kind of invented the job and was the first voice actor to get onscreen credit.” [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mel Blanc set the standard for voice acting, earning on‑screen credit and shaping the profession. **In simple terms:** Blanc pioneered voice acting and got recognition for it. Key Takeaway Study Blanc’s techniques to improve your own voice work. Themes voice acting pioneering career inspiration Mood inspirational historical Type career guidance industry history When to use this quote - audio drama - video game voice work - commercials - animation festivals Key Concepts industry standards character creation professional recognition Questions to Reflect On - What can current voice actors learn from Blanc’s approach? - How has the industry changed since Blanc’s era? A Different Perspective Modern platforms may offer different pathways to credit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Adult life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult-life/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mel blanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mel-blanc/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [After 'The Wonder Years,' I ended up having a voiceover career, which was something I never even knew was possible. But after the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-stern/after-the-wonder-years-i-ended-up-having-a-voiceover-career-which-was/) [Daniel Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-stern/) > [I've always kind of had a voice that people have commented on. And I've always really loved animation and voiceover. I was just always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-ve-always-kind-of-had-a-voice-that-people-have-commented-on-and-i/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I've always enjoyed animation and voiceover work. That's something that I've been proactive about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/i-ve-always-enjoyed-animation-and-voiceover-work-that-s-something/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [I have a studio at my house, and there is a sister studio for Disney which is about 45 minutes away, and we haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-benson/i-have-a-studio-at-my-house-and-there-is-a-sister-studio-for-disney/) [Jodi Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-benson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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'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/) ## More by Tom Kenny > [A lot of shows are more script-driven, like a prose script. As an actor, you never see a storyboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/a-lot-of-shows-are-more-script-driven-like-a-prose-script-as-an-actor/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [Some people like doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku. I love auditioning. On camera, I hated auditioning. But voiceovers I like trying to figure it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/some-people-like-doing-crossword-puzzles-or-sudoku-i-love-auditioning/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [SpongeBob is a good role model as far as imaginary creatures go. He works hard and his emotional highs are very high, he's either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/spongebob-is-a-good-role-model-as-far-as-imaginary-creatures-go-he/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [I don't have confidence in my instincts, and I feel like I have to go through a very right-brain and left-brain process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/i-don-t-have-confidence-in-my-instincts-and-i-feel-like-i-have-to-go/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [He's not a child but he's childlike, he's not a grown up, he's not a kid, maybe he sounds like an elf on helium,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/he-s-not-a-child-but-he-s-childlike-he-s-not-a-grown-up-he-s-not-a/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [I never thought of myself as an impressionist, so when I do audition for voice-matching things, I have to work really hard and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-an-impressionist-so-when-i-do-audition/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [You have to remember we're just performers, that we seldom have any kind of grasp on real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/you-have-to-remember-we-re-just-performers-that-we-seldom-have-any/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [I seem to voice a lot of sweet, kind of dumb yellow characters for some reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/i-seem-to-voice-a-lot-of-sweet-kind-of-dumb-yellow-characters-for/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [People are always saying that I must have been the class clown, with all these voices. No, I was way too shy to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/people-are-always-saying-that-i-must-have-been-the-class-clown-with/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [I just felt like there was a world of cartoon voices that had to be discovered by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/i-just-felt-like-there-was-a-world-of-cartoon-voices-that-had-to-be/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) > [There's a lot of kids' shows that are really popular ratings-wise, but they don't sell a lot of stuff. A character on a backpack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kenny/there-s-a-lot-of-kids-shows-that-are-really-popular-ratings-wise-but/) [Tom Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) [Explore all 12 Tom Kenny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kenny/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Obviously as a kid, for probably anybody who chose animation voiceover as a career in their adult life, Mel Blanc was the touchstone for everybody. 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