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Veteran voice actor Matthew Lillard has expressed frustration with Hollywood's trend of hiring celebrities for animated movies, arguing that voice acting requires specialized skills that many famous actors lack.

Lillard, known for playing Shaggy in Scooby-Doo, has voiced characters in numerous animated projects since the early 2000s, including Teen Titans Go!, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Supernatural.

According to Lillard,Hollywood's tendency to prioritize celebrity names over trained voice actors is detrimental to the quality of animated films and to the industry as a whole.

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The trend of casting big-name stars in animtaed features is indeed pervasive, with upcoming films like Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters, and The Cat in the Hat boasting casts filled with recognizable faces from live-action cinema.

Lillard did not name specific actors but noted that many lack the vocal agility and stamina required to sustain a lead role in animation.

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Lillard's critique comes from a place of experience, having started as a live-action actor in films like Scream and the Scooby-Doo live-action movies before transitioning into voice work.

He emphasized that voice actors rely entirely on their vocal cords, breath control, and nuanced timing to create believable characters, without the aid of facial expressions or body language.

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Lillard lamented that studios often hire untrained celebrities merely to boost marketing appeal ,a strategy he believes is sacrificing artistic integrity for commercial gain.

He suggested that several recent animated films have suffered because leads could not effectviely convey the story through voice alone.

Lillard called for a shift in casting practices, where voice roles are filled by actors trained in the medium, regardless of their fame.

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Lillard's comments have resonated with many in the animation community who feel that the art form deserves the same respect as live-action performance.

As he prepares for upcoming projects like the DC film Man of Tomorrow and the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie,Lillard continues to advocate for the recognition of voice acting as a distinct and demanding discipline .