Mad Men icon Jon Hamm reveals Pixar experience: "You have to protect your voice"

This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine.

Mad Men star Jon Hamm, 54, is no stranger to voice work, from animated movies such as Minions and Shrek Forever After to cartoon series Invincible and SpongeBob SquarePants. Now he voices mayor Jerry Generazzo, a politician targeted by intelligent forest animals in Pixar’s new animated adventure, Hoppers.

The acting bug

I’ve been acting since I was five. I love it. I’ve always enjoyed the process of creating a character and bringing storytelling to life. I got a scholarship to study acting at the University of Missouri and I’ve been working as a professional since my mid-20s. It’s the one thing that people keep telling me I’m good at, so I continue to do it.

Leading by icon

It’s been cool being a part of the Pixar family. Mayor Jerry is a good guy who gets into tricky situations, but he learns from the consequences of his actions – a quality I wish some of our leaders would exhibit a little more.

Globetrotter

I recorded Hoppers in Calgary, Canada, New York and LA. They find a recording studio wherever you are and do a session there. You can go in your sweatpants and bare feet if you want. It’s a very controlled environment. The directors are usually there in person or online. The session can be 20 minutes or two hours.

In the booth

You want to warm up your voice and make sure you’re not tired or stressed. You have to protect your voice. If you’re screaming for a scene or doing anything super strenuous, you have to be very mindful that you don’t become hoarse.

Camera ready

There’s always a camera running in the recording booth. They film you saying the lines and capture your physicality, particularly how your face is moving. They animate to the person performing the role, so you start to see the actor in the animation. I love that I was able to bring my personality to it.

Set free

It takes years to make an animated movie, with artists working around the clock. Voice work is different to being on set where you’re wearing a costume. This is more in the world of your imagination, and you’re only limited by the crazy story you want to tell. If you can think it up, they’ll draw it. I find it fascinating.

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Hoppers is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6 March 2026.

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