Animation is a playground for creativity

Sam Rockwell, Danielle Brooks, and Natasha Lyonne discuss the challenge of voicing animated characters in the comedy sequel The Bad Guys 2.

- By LYNN RUSK

WHEN the animated film The Bad Guys debuted in 2022, it set out to subvert the heist genre with a crew of animal criminals, voiced by an all-star cast.

Three years later, its sequel, The Bad Guys 2, arrives with a thrilling new chapter, this time introducing an additional gang of criminals.

Directed by French animator Pierre Perifel, the sequel follows the now-reformed Bad Guys as they try their best to be good. But their plans are derailed when they're pulled into a high-stakes, globetrotting heist, masterminded by a mysterious new crew: the Bad Girls.

The Bad Guys 2 features returning cast members Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkwafina, reprising their roles as Mr Wolf, Mr Snake, Mr Shark, Mr Piranha, and Ms Tarantula.

They're joined by a new trio of comedic powerhouses: Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, and Maria Bakalova, who lend their voices to the formidable Bad Girls.

Sam, who recently received an Emmy nomination for his guest-starring role in The White Lotus season three, says voicing an animated character presents unique challenges.

"Sometimes I forget how physical voice work is," he explains. "You're not just reading lines, you're up on your feet, reacting, moving - especially in a film like this, where the action never stops. The stakes get bigger, so the performance does, too. It keeps you sharp and in the moment."

In the film, Mr Wolf meets Kitty Kat, played by Orange Is The New Black star Danielle, the leader of the Bad Girls, whose presence threatens to unravel his progress.

"Kitty challenges Wolf in a way he hasn't experienced before," Sam says.