Paul Boucher - Blog #AnimationPaul Boucher - Blog #Animationhttps://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/tag/AnimationWed, 25 Mar 2026 18:18:15 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Automobiles and AI]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/automobiles-and-ai

The auto dealership industry has adopted AI chatbots on many sites.

The way they’ve done it contributes to the perception of one of the principal perceived problems associated with dealing with car dealerships.


That it can suck.


Basically, the bot answers questions as a named assistant. I had Leah and Monica on subsequent days. I suspect my wife would have had Chad and Biff if she'd been the one exploring.


Anyway, the Bot isn't obviously AI until you ask a question that requires a specific answer.


In my case, when I offered three specific appointment times, it responded with the dealership's hours. That's when I knew I wasn't dealing with a person.


However, the next step is where the dealerships get it wrong in my estimation.

It’s because the Bot’s routine didn’t include a fundamental question: “Do you already have a salesperson you deal with at our dealership?”


Look, anyone who’s worked in sales of any kind knows that the end of the day, there’s a difference between a “customer” and a “client”.


A customer is a transactional type of buyer. Usually a one-off. No prior history, likely no future history.


A client is someone who DOES have a history with the dealership. They’ll approach their contact at the dealership first if they have questions.


However, the way dealerships have implemented AI, it doesn’t reward the dealership-client relationship. It prioritizes the transactional customer interaction.


What the AI does is hand off the question to an order-taking salesperson, usually new, who’s always on their phone and will react in a Pavlovian way to a notification on their phone.

“Someone wants to buy a car!”

“Someone wants to buy a car!”

“Someone wants to buy a car!”


Leading to a text – not even a phone call – from said salesperson about the car you inquired about.


Last week, when this happened to me, I was under the impression that my existing connection at the dealership wasn’t working on the Used Car side of the dealership.

When I got to the dealership, I was met by the salesperson who responded to the lead, AND my existing connection. My existing contact was super professional as always, and simply asked why we hadn’t called. He then explained why HE didn’t get our message, which is that the AI simply broadcasts a notification within the dealership system, and whichever over-eager phone-dweller responds first gets the lead.


Had I not been lazy or rushed in my search, I might have thought to reach out to him first to check if, in fact, he was working with both used and new cars.


There were a few consequences to my using the AI.


First, and most importantly, the dealership’s implementation of AI turned me into just another customer, rather than acknowledging my over 20-year association with this particular salesperson. That contributed to small, but mendable damage to my relationship with “our guy.”


If the Bot had asked the question above, I feel loyalty will increase. The recognition that the dealership values my business as a client by even asking the question changes the tone of the entire interaction.


The other consequence is that the speed of the notification and response from the other salesperson, although pretty quick, was such that we missed out on the car.

Those few minutes I could have reached out directly would have likely changed the outcome completely.


The new salesperson was professional, so this isn’t meant to disparage their skills.


My personal opinion is that by not prioritizing the CLIENT relationship, the industry reinforces the perceived Herb Tarlek "sale-no-matter-what,” and lacks the personal connection that can make car buying such an unpleasant experience.

If your business needs repeat business and wants to foster client relationships, rather than just customer relationships, then think about this when implementing automated sales solutions like chatbots. They can be genuinely terrific, but a small tweak can turn an experience from “endurable” to genuinely engaging and a win for both sides.


]]>Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:17:35 +0000<![CDATA[Taking Care of Your Voice]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/taking-care-of-your-voice

Did you know that different climates affect your voice, even if you aren't a voice actor?

Calgary, like Denver, has a high, dry, alpine climate. Average humidity indoors is often less than 50%. Outdoor is often 60% or lower – and that’s after a month of twice the average rainfall!

I noticed yesterday that my voice was cracking or a bit more “textured/gravelly” than usual as I was recording. First thing I thought of was “Right! I have to drink water – not JUST coffee.” 🙃

So keep a few things in mind every day in hot or cold dry environments.


Hydration Is Essential

  • Drink plenty of **room-temperature water** throughout the day. Avoid cold beverages and opt for warm drinks like non-caffeinated herbal teas with honey for extra soothing benefits.
  • Incorporate hydrating foods (like cucumbers or watermelon) into your diet. In extreme dry climates, hydration should be a full-day focus.
  • Use a humidifier.

Warm Up and Cool Down Your Voice

  • Perform **vocal warm-ups**—like gentle humming, lip trills, and “sirens”—before any recording.
  • In cold settings, increase the duration/intensity of warm-ups since muscles and vocal folds take longer to adjust.
  • After long sessions/presentations, give your voice a “vocal nap” for a while. Think 30 minutes to an hour.


Optimize Your Environment

  • Clean radiators, air filters, and studio equipment regularly to avoid dust.
  • Add water bowls or humidifiers to workspaces to supplement air moisture. This actually works!


Lifestyle and Recovery

  • Get plenty of sleep—fatigue leads to poor breath support and vocal strain.
  • Avoid smoking, duh.
  • Don’t whisper or shout: Both can cause significant strain or damage to your vocal folds. Though sometimes, when you’re THAT person in a video game or animated production…you’ve gotta do it. That’s when the idea of a vocal nap becomes super important for recovery.

That’s a capsule version of great advice received over the years that you can apply. Happy gabbing!

]]>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:49:19 +0000<![CDATA[Why Professional Voice Actors Charge For Studio Services]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/why-professional-voice-actors-charge-for-studio-services

There are all sorts of things professional voice actors do to provide value to their clients.

In the age of AI, everything in a voice actor’s business is up for reappraisal.

One of the key differentiators in my business is my Right Voice Vault studio service.

I’ve archived every client recording session since 2000 in secure, offline drives, and redundantly since 2010.

The reason is simple: I was taught to do it by the pros at Sync Spot Audio Post (merged with Twisted Pair in Calgary to create Propeller Studios). 

I sublet space there for several years, and I witnessed how their archival practices provided added value for their clients. 

One immediately obvious benefit was preventing data loss. Hard drives fail, people break and lose things, etc. When a client lost portions of any recorded audio session, it was immediately restored and resent.

Another, perhaps less obvious benefit is that when any production needed updating or alterations, the original session could be restored, and new voice recordings could be matched with the original for seamless integration for the intended audience.

That makes more of a difference than you might think. 

We listen to audio on headphones the majority of the time, so we hear sound in a lot of detail. When sound changes in tone or quality, we notice it. When studio pros and professional voice actors work their magic, the change will zip by you like it never happened, like it was the original.

Value and cost can be tricky conversations, but if services add value to your core service (voiceover/narration), pricing the value appropriately and clearly explaining the value it provides can ease the acceptance of any fee.

In the age of AI audio technology, though, do those studio best practices STILL have value?

AI technology *can* give a client the ability to “clone” a voice actor’s performance and make the voice actor say things he never said in a new recording. It’s not always perfect, but addressing the question of how many clients say it’s “good enough” is another blog for another day. 

The human heading back into the studio with attention to detail will do a better job than the AI 100% of the time. Still.

Also, there are a few issues with AI alterations to an original performance. Let’s start with the theft of the voice artist's intellectual property—their voice—and the violation of the original contract or agreement.

File this under “Just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.” Especially if you have an ounce of integrity and respect for your supplier.

A service/performance was supplied for a specific instance covered by a verbal or written agreement. Altering that performance in any way without the consent of the voice actor is unethical, and thankfully, in many jurisdictions, illegal. There’s also the issue of compensation. The actor should be paid if the original performance is altered, and their voice is used to update or change a narration or voiceover.

So, is there still added value in specific studio practices, including archival? 100% there is. Ask yourself how you’d feel about dealing with a human supplier that simply stopped providing the added value service that’s saved you on more than one occasion, and made you look especially good on others. It’s one thing to read another sad clause in the terms of use from a tech company that “this agreement may change without notice.” It’s another thing entirely to have it yanked without notice by a human supplier.

Not to mention that the investment made by the voice artists to guarantee broadcast-quality sound, which can be repeated for each engagement, is worth an hourly studio fee.

I hope this gives you a bit of insight into just a couple of the added value benefits of dealing with a human voice actor rather than text-to-speech or AI voices. 

This human voice actor is happy to provide the right voice for many projects. Samples and a way to reach out live at www.paulboucher.com, and https://www.youtube.com/@PaulBoucher. 

]]>Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:27:16 +0000<![CDATA[The Power of Familiarity: Building Trust and Connection Through Recognizable Voices]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/the-power-of-familiarity-building-trust-and-connection-through-recognizable-voices

In a world filled with constant stimuli and ever-changing faces, there's something comforting in the sound of a familiar voice.

As a voice actor who’s been around for a couple of decades, my voice (and the voices of many of my pro peers) can be one of the familiar (and familiar-sounding) voices you leverage for your projects.

 

One of the most significant benefits of familiarity is the sense of trust it creates. Research has shown that when we hear a familiar voice, our brains light up in areas associated with trust and social bonding.

 

This applies to voice acting—in whatever domain our voices happen to be in. Brands/companies that leverage familiar voices in their campaigns can tap into this reservoir of trust, positioning themselves as reliable and authentic sources in the minds of consumers.

 

Also, familiarity breeds connection. When we hear a voice we know and love, we feel an instant connection to the message being conveyed.

 

The benefits of familiarity extend beyond trust and connection; they also include efficiency and effectiveness. Studies have shown that familiar voices are more likely to capture and hold our attention, leading to higher levels of engagement and recall. Hello eLearning creators!

 

In a crowded marketplace where consumers are bombarded with messages from all sides, the ability to cut through the noise and make a lasting impression is invaluable. By leveraging familiar voices, brands can increase the likelihood that their message will be heard and remembered.

 

In addition, familiar voices can evoke a sense of authenticity and credibility. When we hear a voice we know and trust, we’re more inclined to believe the message being conveyed. In today's hyper-aware consumer landscape, authenticity reigns supreme.

 

A lot of professional voice actors have familiar-sounding voices. Think of it as the vocal equivalent of “that kind of face”; the kind that people seem to recognize despite never having seen that specific person. When you’re thinking of a voice for your next project, remember to consider familiarity. From fostering trust and connection to increasing engagement and authenticity, familiar voices have the power to elevate messaging and leave a lasting impression. 

Contact Paul
]]>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:12:19 +0000<![CDATA[If Bugs Sounded Like Dora]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/if-bugs-sounded-like-dora

    What if BB sounded like D the E, if the Thunderbirds spoke like Sponge Bob and Patrick, or if Homer had Foghorn Leghorn's voice? Wait a minute… THAT one might work.

     

    Damn, but we have fun as voice actors!!

     

    Have you ever seen an animated movie and been surprised that a character's voice in the film was one of your favourite actors? 

    • Charlize Theron as the monkey in Kubo & The Two Strings
    • Mark Hammill as Batman
    • Mila Kunis as Meg in Family Guy (since the second season), and
    • Samuel L. Jackson as Lucious Best in The Incredibles. 

     

    That doesn't count the thousands of standout performances from non-celebrity voice actors.

     

    I'm a huge fan of animation's unbridled possibilities for voice actors. I've actually had those days where I'm playing so much in an animation studio that the day honestly lives up to the old cliché "living the dream!". 😁

     

    Telling stories... no... inhabiting stories... and then telling them from inside the looking glass, that's part of the magic of voice acting in animation.

     

    Animation, like improv, can take you out of your comfort zone. And that's GOOD!

     

    If your daily default is corporate narration and eLearning, and for many voice actors outside the major markets, it is, then an animation session is a GIFT.

     

    Walking out to the edges of your capabilities and inventing a characterization from whole cloth or synthesizing something fresh from old influences feels like walking on a high wire with no net. The adrenaline that flows, the FLOW that results when you find the zone (often guided by very skilled and VERY patient directors), will spill into everything else you do for weeks.

     

    I was in a networking seminar this week, and we briefly touched on how, as adults, we've largely lost our ability to PLAY. I'm here to tell you that as voice actors, we have more chances than the average bear to play in our work, and we are allowed to break more than a few plates in our carefully constructed China-shop lives by being animated characters. OPA! 

     

    A good guy. OK, thanks. A villain. YEAH! Playing a kid when you're past middle age? Again, yeah! Playing a person older than your parents (and getting to make fun of your parents as you do it), BONUS!

     

    If the topic of this post didn't make me vibrate with so much joy, it would be about gratitude.

     

    I'm grateful for the high school counselor who told me I was best suited to becoming a priest (um, no, on several counts) because I imitated his voice playing a well-intentioned pompous buffoon many years later.

     

    I'm grateful for every instructor/director/mentor who WASN'T satisfied and pushed harder, made me go deeper, made me get out of my head, made me stop thinking, and just made me feel, from second to second, what it was I was trying to do, not what I was trying to say.

     

    The rewards of animation voice acting are remarkable. It's the joy of seeing a character you've brought to life on screen, hearing the audience's laughter or gasps of surprise, and knowing that your voice has played an integral role in their experience. It's the opportunity to work with incredibly talented animators, directors, and fellow voice actors who share the same passion for storytelling. From a freedom-in-your-art perspective, it's the equivalent of jumping off a cliff in a wingsuit at work and pushing the boundaries of what your voice can achieve. I'm a baritone? I ain't no stinking baritone TODAY!

     

    Voice acting in animation is a journey filled with endless possibilities, where the only limits are the extent of what you're willing to risk and explore. 

     

    So, risk, explore, and play.

]]>Mon, 22 Jan 2024 02:28:23 +0000<![CDATA[The Right Voice & E-Learning]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/the-right-voice-e-learning

As I enter my 26th year narrating eLearning full time

...with plenty of commercials, documentaries, promos, and other types of voiceover thrown in, I still occasionally ponder what compels clients to select my voice. Some voice actors tell me that the amount of work I do in a week (5 full days of narration recorded, edited, and sent out into the world) must be an exaggeration. It's not. I'm a multi-lingually curious generalist and consider myself an excellent example of hard work and good fortune.

One thing I've always done is find a way to connect with the material honestly. Being present personalizes the learning experience: A genuinely engaged, well-suited voice can personalize the digital learning experience by fostering a connection between the learner and the material. The learners feel directly addressed, increasing their motivation and investment in learning.

I feel this connection plays a significant role in engaging learners and ensuring information retention. When learners are engaged and attentive, they are more likely to understand and retain the information presented. Here's an explanation of some of the traits brought to the table by the right voice:

1. Clarity: A clear voice is essential in e-learning to ensure learners can understand the content without confusion. Pronunciation should be precise, and words should be articulated clearly to avoid misunderstandings.

2. Proper pacing: A good e-learning voice knows how to maintain an appropriate pace throughout the content. Speaking too quickly can overwhelm while speaking too slowly can lead to boredom. The right pacing allows learners to absorb information at a comfortable rate.

3. Enunciation: Pronouncing words accurately and distinctly is crucial. Proper enunciation helps learners grasp the meaning of words and phrases, preventing any misinterpretations or confusion. Clarity becomes especially important in a multi-lingual workplace where English or French may not be the first language spoken but the chosen language of instruction.

4. Conveying complex concepts: If your narrator gets it, your learner has a higher chance of getting it. Seems simple enough.

5. Vocal inflections, tone, and emphasis: By varying pitch, tone, and emphasis on specific words or phrases, the voice actor can add meaning, convey emotions, and maintain learner attention throughout the content.

Tips for aspiring e-learning voice actors:

1. Develop vocal versatility: E-learning projects can cover various subjects and target audiences. As a voice actor, it's essential to develop the ability to adapt your voice to suit different styles, tones, and subjects. Be a curious and voracious reader.

2. Understand the subject matter: Before recording, take the time to understand the content you'll be voicing. YouTube doesn't exist only for DIY projects. Ha! Familiarize yourself with the material's terminology, concepts, and overall purpose. This understanding will help you deliver the content in a way that resonates with learners.

3. Practice proper pacing: Experiment with different pacing techniques to find the right balance. Record yourself and listen back to identify areas where you need to adjust your speed. Aim for a pace that allows learners to follow along comfortably without feeling rushed or bored.

4. Focus on clarity and enunciation: Practice articulating words clearly and precisely. Pay attention to common pronunciation challenges and work on improving your diction. Reading aloud, tongue twisters, and vocal warm-up exercises can help refine clarity and enunciation skills.

5. Use vocal variety: Experiment with vocal inflections, tone, and emphasis to bring life to the content. Practice conveying emotions, creating different character voices, and using appropriate intonation. This variety helps maintain learner interest and engagement.

6. NEVER STOP LEARNING: Find qualified coaches, not the voice-actor-wannabes-who exemplify "if you can't work, teach." Look for experienced coaches with a track record of success in the discipline you seek to improve. It's a pretty tight community of pros. Take at least one workshop every year. 

7. Get to know your community: Make it local to suit your budget; workout groups can be great. Make it regional or national by attending a conference in your area that is voice actor specific. Voiceover Atlanta and the One Voice conference are both excellent examples.

By focusing on clarity, proper pacing, diction, conveying complex concepts, utilizing vocal inflections, personalizing the learning experience, and being continuous learners, aspiring e-learning voice actors can enhance their skills and contribute to successful e-learning experiences for learners.
]]>Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:47:36 +0000<![CDATA[Art of Storytelling: Characters]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/art-of-storytelling-characters

Storytelling is crucial in voice acting across various mediums, including audiobooks, animation, and video games.

It brings characters and narratives to life, captivates audiences, and creates immersive experiences. Unfortunately, it's not quite as easy as picking up the script and going for it. What you're hearing turned around in a short delivery window comes from years of experience.

Character Development: Strong storytelling skills create a thread for listeners to follow. We leverage those skills to convey the characters' emotional journey and growth, making them more relatable and memorable.

Narrative Engagement: Voice actors are responsible for engaging the audience and holding their attention throughout the performance. You can call them "tricks" or "techniques," but experienced voice actors are "apprentices" constantly training to be "masters" of pacing, tone, and inflection to create suspense, build tension, and elicit emotional responses. Look for and to create inspiration, do we. 

World-Building: In animation and video games, voice acting helps construct immersive worlds. In documentaries, the narration can re-create worlds gone by. In eLearning, we help learners visualize the concepts on the page. By using unique and distinct voices for different characters, voice actors contribute to the richness and believability of the fictional or non-fictional universe. 

Here are a few things that a professional voice actor explores to create unique and memorable character voices. Keep in mind that an experienced pro voice actor can compress this process to a "quick & dirty" few minutes to create character "sketches" to anchor their performance, but depending on the project, it can take much longer.

Research and Observe: Study the character's background, personality, and traits. Consider their age, gender, culture, and specific vocal attributes mentioned in the script. Observe real-life or media people with similar qualities and use their voices as inspiration. Gotta love YouTube and other resources for this.

Experiment with Vocal Range: We explore and push the range of our voices and experiment with different pitches, tones, and accents. We play with variations to find a voice that suits the character while also being distinctive and memorable.

Physicality and Body Language: Connecting a character's voice with our physicality and body language is another important attribute. We consider and incorporate how their posture, gestures, and facial expressions would affect their voice. Combining these elements can add authenticity and help shape the character's voice.

Practice and Refine: We'll practice the character voice extensively to become comfortable and consistent. We'll record passes and listen back to adjust and refine the voice as needed. Experimentation is a relative of the mother of invention. It can yield different deliveries and nuances to make the character's voice unique.

When you're looking for a voice actor, remember they have to know that practice, experimentation, the ability to adapt to different characters and storytelling styles, and specific direction styles is when X marks the casting sheet. A pro continuously refines their skills to enhance their storytelling abilities.
]]>Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:09:35 +0000<![CDATA[Choosing the Right Voice Actor]]>https://www.paulboucher.com/blogs/post/choosing-the-right-voice-actor

The impact of a voice actor on the overall quality and success of a project cannot be overstated.

Whether an e-learning course, commercial, audiobook, or animated production, the right voice actor can bring your content to life, create a strong connection with the audience, and elevate the overall experience.

One of the primary roles of a voice actor is to give a voice to the words and characters in a project. They can infuse emotion, personality, and authenticity in the narration, making it more engaging and relatable. That can be from connecting to something in their own life experience or a powerful example from a friend or family member's life. With those experiences helping them "fill the words" with intent, a skilled voice actor can captivate the audience, hold their attention, and effectively convey the intended message or story.

Choosing the right voice actor is crucial because they need to understand the nuances of your project. In simpler terms, they need to "get it." Different projects require different tones, styles, and approaches. Whether it's a serious e-learning course, a funny commercial, a captivating audiobook, or a vibrant animated production, the voice actor should be able to adapt their performance to suit the project's specific requirements.

Furthermore, a voice actor who understands the preferences and expectations of the target audience can establish a stronger connection. This connection helps to create a more immersive experience, enhancing the audience's understanding and engagement with the content.

When selecting a voice actor, a thorough audition process is important. Consider auditioning multiple voice actors to compare their interpretations and find the one that best aligns with your vision. Provide clear direction during the auditions, specifying the desired tone, emotions, and any specific requirements. Think of it as your "right voice filter."

Factors to consider include the voice actor's vocal range, delivery style, and experience in similar projects. Vocal range is crucial to ensure the voice actor can handle the different characters or requirements of the project. The delivery style should match the tone and mood you want to convey. Finally, experience in similar projects can be valuable as it indicates the voice actor's familiarity with the genre and the ability to deliver consistently.

To illustrate the impact of a thoughtful and strategic selection process, let's consider a few examples of successful projects. In the world of audiobooks, Jim Dale's narration of the Harry Potter series brought the beloved characters to life, creating a magical experience for millions of listeners worldwide. 

In animated productions, the voice acting performances of actors like Tom Hanks in "Toy Story" and Ellen DeGeneres in "Finding Nemo" added depth, humor, and emotional resonance to the characters. 

For e-learning courses, a well-chosen voice actor with expertise in educational content can enhance the learning experience. For example, clear, engaging narration delivered by someone who understands the subject matter can help learners grasp complex concepts more easily and retain information effectively.

In summary, the impact of a voice actor on a project's quality and success is significant. The right voice actor can bring your content to life, establish a connection with the audience, and elevate the overall experience. By choosing a voice actor who understands your project's nuances and your target audience's preferences, you can ensure a more engaging and impactful outcome. 
]]>Sun, 21 Jan 2024 23:58:04 +0000