Frank Welkerโs career is almost impossible to summarize with one character, because for more than half a century, he has been hiding in plain sight inside animation itself. ๐๏ธ
He can be a talking hero, a calculating villain, a terrified animal, or a creature that never speaks a single recognizable word. That ability to make even non-human characters feel alive is a huge part of why Welker has remained so respected across generations.
And then there is his legendary connection with Peter Cullen. Beginning with The Transformers in 1984, Cullenโs Optimus Prime and Welkerโs Megatron became one of animationโs defining rivalries. Decades later, the two voices are still inseparable from the Autobots and Decepticons for millions of fans.
Some of Welkerโs most popular roles include:
Megatron (Transformers)
Fred Jones (Scooby-Doo)
Scooby-Doo (Scooby-Doo)
Garfield (The Garfield Show)
Abu (Aladdin)
Nibbler (Futurama)
Ray Stantz / Slimer (The Real Ghostbusters)
Brain / MAD Cat (Inspector Gadget)
Ralph T. Guard (Animaniacs)
Goddard (Jimmy Neutron)
Bullseye (Toy Story)
Barney Rubble (The Flintstones)
Welkerโs legacy isnโt simply the enormous number of credits.
Itโs realizing that some of the voices, creatures, and sounds weโve known our entire lives were coming from the same extraordinary performer. And beside Peter Cullen, he helped create a rivalry that became part of animation history ๐ฏ
@ArtWong128 It was if you were an adult keeping track of the news. But for kids, nothing will ever be like it. Peak movies, toys, cartoons, music videos, etc..
@ArtWong128 I remember going to the theater to watch a documentary about this art piece. The logistical nightmare of this was akin to moving the space shuttle through the streets of Los Angeles.