Meet Chris Woodworth: From Animator to the Voice Behind the Characters

Giving Animators Something Fun to Work With

Chris Woodworth knows what it is like on both sides of the character creation process. Based in Greater Manchester, England, he spent years as a full-time animator before transitioning into voice acting. That background gives him a unique edge in the recording booth.

"I already had an understanding and experience in creating character," Chris explains. "In order for me to animate characters, I studied life each day, from the people I met and the things I experienced. Eventually, all of that experience fed into my voice acting." Now when he voices animated characters, his mindset shifts to something specific: "Time to give the animators something really fun to work with!"

A Lockdown Launch

Chris's voice acting career began during the COVID lockdown, when he started networking with voice actors online. He took acting classes, enrolled in voice acting courses, and put together his own home studio. "Everything snowballed from there," he says.

His niche is characters for animation and video games, though he also does dubbing work, commercials, promos, and audiobook narration. He describes his voice as warm, versatile, and international, a combination that has opened doors across multiple genres and markets.

Finding the Clues

Chris's preparation process is precise. "Every script has clues," he says. "I look for those clues. I establish the overall motivation behind the script and pick certain parts where I can shift the feeling, in order to keep the listener's attention."

He carefully considers who he is talking to, the environment the character is in, and the emotional arc of the piece. "Ultimately, I ensure I make strong choices and aim to communicate the emotion and feeling very clearly."

The Villain, the Monster, and the Soldier

Chris's portfolio spans an impressive range. He voiced the Bounce Laundry Monster for the Bounce commercial with client Procter & Gamble. He narrated the audiobook "Wayward Soldier," working directly with author Robert Beatty, a US war veteran. And he dubbed the villain Karn in the animated series "Bestial."

His most challenging project was dubbing multiple male characters across many seasons of an animated series. "What made it rewarding was the overall experience I had, tapping into many intense emotions, experiencing characters in their most vulnerable moments. Even at the end of their life," he reflects. "It unlocked a different level of acting in me and it really emotionally moved the client."

Voicing the Unspoken

The strangest voice acting request Chris has received was voicing three characters for a video game where none of them spoke actual words. Pure vocal expression without language is a particular kind of challenge that tests an actor's instincts and physicality in entirely new ways.

On and Off the Clock

Outside the studio, Chris works part-time at a local family play center, watches movies and series, creates social media content, and takes day trips and road trips with his partner and their puppy. The blend of creative and grounded activities keeps him energized and connected.

The Case for Nuance

Chris's answer to what makes human voice irreplaceable is layered, just like his performances: "Nuance. Emotion. Understanding emotion, genuine communication, sensitivity and connection." These are the qualities that no technology can manufacture.

Let the Actor Breathe

His advice for clients reflects his own experience of what makes a session great. "The more information you can give, the better. If there's a character or actor you can reference for the sound and overall vibe that you'd like, then that can be very beneficial." But he adds something equally important: "Be prepared to be flexible too. If the voice actor is allowed a little freedom, magic can happen."

Hear Chris's demos and explore his full profile at RealVOTalent.com. Ready to bring his character expertise to your project? Hire Chris today.