The Voice Cast of the 2012 Animated Film The Lorax

Bringing The Lorax Book Characters to Life

The beloved Dr. Seuss book The Lorax has delighted young readers since its publication in 1971 with its rhyming prose and messages about environmentalism. In 2012, the book was adapted into an animated musical comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment and brought to life by a talented group of voice actors.

Casting the Leading Roles

Landing the starring role of the orange, mustached Lorax was comedian Danny DeVito. DeVito brought plenty of personality and humor to the grumpy yet caring creature who “speaks for the trees.” Audiences fell in love all over again with Betty White's voice performance as Grammy Norma, the wise elder who remembers the lush, beautiful forest from her youth. Her soothing yet resigned reminiscences are a highlight of the film. The villain of the story, the greedy Once-ler who chops down the trees, was voiced by actor Ed Helms. Helms was perfect for showing the Once-ler's transformation from innocent entrepreneur to destructive tycoon.

The Young Lovers

At the heart of the story is the young 12-year-old boy named Ted, voiced by Zac Efron, who journeys to find the Once-ler in hopes of finding a tree to impress his love interest Audrey. Taylor Swift voices Audrey, bringing her signature sweet singing voice to the role. Ted’s desire to fulfill Audrey’s wish of seeing a real live tree is the catalyst for the film’s adventure and messages about ecology and activism.

The Greedy Mayor

In opposition to Ted’s mission is the greedy mayor of Thneedville named Aloysius O’Hare, hell-bent on maintaining his profiteering monopoly on selling bottled oxygen to the citizens. Rob Riggle captured the conniving politician’s ruthless yet buffoonish essence with aplomb.

Supporting Cast

No animation film is complete without a crew of quirky supporting characters, and The Lorax has them in spades. Jenny Slate voices Ted’s mother Mrs. Wiggins, while Nasim Pedrad plays the clingy family friend Mrs. Grizelda. The singing trio of humming fish are brought to life by Elmarie Wendel, Danny Cooksey, and Justin Timberlake. Ted’s laidback grandmother Norma is played by Stephen Tobolowsky. The streetwise bear Thneedville store owner named O’Hare Delivery Guy is hilariously voiced by rapper Common. And Laraine Newman voices Ted’s aunt. The cast has terrific chemistry together and helps create a magical world that has enthralled audiences.

Bringing The Animated World to Life

In addition to the voice cast, the animation team used state of the art CGI technology to visualize the whimsical world and characters of Dr. Seuss’ tale. The Lorax himself appears like a fuzzy stuffed toy come to life. His expressive moustache and eyebrows allow for subtle emotional communication. The world of young Ted’s Thneedville, with inflatable plastic trees and artificial everything, is eerily fake yet cheerful. The buildings and vehicles have a curved, bubble-like style. When Ted ventures outside Thneedville’s walls, the abandoned wasteland is painted in gloom. In flashbacks to the lush forest realm, the glowing Truffula trees seem to dance with joy. Their tufted foliage appears fluffy enough to touch. The playful Bar-ba-loots look like live-action teddy bears. And the humming fish add brief moments of visual spectacle with their neon glittering colors. The overall animation style is simple, avoiding overly complex detail that might distract young viewers. The characters are lovably cartoonish. And Dr. Seuss fans will appreciate the many direct visual echoes of Geisel's original book illustrations.

Matching the Music

The musical score by John Powell matches the story's alternating moods between whimsy, darkness, and optimism. The Once-ler’s gloomy theme swells movingly in scenes of environmental devastation, while hopeful soaring melodies accompany Ted’s mission. O’Hare’s theme music punctuates his cartoonish evil with ironic sweetness. And uptempo drum beats propel the energetic musical numbers.

Like the book, rhyming songs carry much of the film’s storytelling duties. The lyrics stress wordplay humor as well as reinforce messages about responsibility to nature. They also showcase the vocal talents of the cast, especially Efron, Swift, and Helms.

Lasting Appeal for Young and Old

More than fifty years after The Lorax’s publication and a decade after the film’s release, its environmental warning resonates stronger than ever. The soundtrack received a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Several cast members have also won awards for other projects since this important early role.

Danny DeVito continues his successful comedy career. And Taylor Swift has ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year awards among her many music honors. Zac Efron’s career has included both blockbuster musicals and acclaimed indies. Ed Helms has starred in hit comedies. And Betty White’s late career resurgence earned her the 2010 Comedy Central Roast of Betty White.

Most enduring has been the simple story’s ability to introduce younger viewers to messages about caring for the Earth. Thanks to the committed voice performances of its cast animating beloved characters, The Lorax film continues to delight old fans and gain new ones.

FAQs

Who wrote the original book that the Lorax movie is based on?

The Lorax movie is based on the beloved children's book of the same name written by acclaimed author Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel.

What is the main message of The Lorax story?

The main message of The Lorax is about the importance of being a good steward of nature. It sends warnings about the dangers of greed, excessive industry, and disregard for the environment.

What kind of animation is used in The Lorax film?

The movie utilizes computer-generated imagery (CGI) animation to bring the world and characters of Dr. Seuss' book to life on the big screen.