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

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Jon Hamm, known for his role in Mad Men, has a lot of experience with voice acting. He’s lent his voice to popular animated films like Minions and Shrek Forever After, as well as TV shows like Invincible and SpongeBob SquarePants. Now, he’s voicing Mayor Jerry Generazzo in Pixar’s new movie, Hoppers, where the politician finds himself the target of some surprisingly smart forest creatures.

The acting bug

I started acting when I was just five years old and I’ve been passionate about it ever since. I especially love building characters and telling stories. I studied acting at the University of Missouri on a scholarship, and I’ve been a working professional actor since my mid-20s. It’s something I’m naturally good at, and people always encourage me to keep pursuing it, so I do.

Leading by icon

I’ve really enjoyed working with the team at Pixar. The character Mayor Jerry is fun – he often finds himself in tough spots, but he always learns from his mistakes, which is something I’d like to see more of in our real-world leaders.

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Globetrotter

I’ve recorded voiceovers with Hoppers in several cities – Calgary, Canada, New York, and Los Angeles. They’re great because they locate a recording studio wherever you happen to be and set up a session. It’s a really relaxed and comfortable process – you can even record in your pajamas! They create a professional, controlled environment, and the directors usually join either in person or remotely. Sessions are flexible, lasting anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours.

In the booth

Before you start, it’s important to warm up your voice and make sure you’re well-rested and relaxed. Protecting your voice is key, so be careful during demanding scenes – especially if you’re yelling or straining – to avoid losing your voice.

Camera ready

A camera constantly records our performances in the booth, capturing not just the dialogue but also our facial expressions and body language. This footage is then used as a reference for the animators, helping them create a performance that feels true to the actor. I really enjoyed being able to infuse my own personality into the character.

Set free

Creating an animated film is a years-long process, demanding constant effort from artists. Unlike live-action acting, where you have a costume and a physical set, voice acting relies entirely on your imagination. The only limit is how wild and creative the story is – if you can imagine it, the animators can bring it to life. I think that’s truly amazing.

Authors

Adam Tanswell

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2026-03-02 20:48