Amazon's 'Invincible' Reminds Us All Why Representation in Casting Voice Actors for Animation is Just as Important Representation When Casting for Live Action
In a Tweet that has since gone viral, Amazon celebrated having two Asian American actors in prominent roles for their animated show Invincible.
Posted in early May, the Tweet quotes Invincible show creator Robert Kirkman's commitment to positive Asian representation in media, potentially in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
In Amazon's Tweet, Kirkman is quoted saying, "I think that it's an example of why all representation matters...it's good to have people out in the public representing Asians in a positive light."
Having two Asian American actors in prominent voice roles was important for Invincible show creator, Robert Kirkman. “I think that it’s an example of why all representation matters…it’s good to have people out in the public representing Asians in a positive light.” pic.twitter.com/2dWBBZ0a9o
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) May 3, 2022
According to the show's page on Amazon Prime, Invincible is "an adult animated superhero series that revolves around 17-year-old Mark Grayson, who's just like every other guy his age - except his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man. But as Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers his father's legacy may not be as heroic as it seems."
The two Invincible actors Kirkman was referring to are Steven Yeun, who voice acts main character Mark Grayson, and Sandra Oh, who voice acts another key role, Mark's mother Debbie Grayson.
Representation among voice actors has long been a subject of debate, with some claiming that since the voice actors who play the roles aren't seen on screen, representation doesn't matter. However, in recent years, this line of thought has received criticism from many corners of the world, such as through the backlash from the Southeast Asian community for the primarily East Asian cast of Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon, and Alison Brie publicly admitting that she now regrets voice acting Diane Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American character in BoJack Horseman.
Even if voice actors aren't seen, the issue with inauthentic representation is the potential to erase a community's ability to star in and tell their own stories. At the very least, casting voice actors from the communities characters are from allows for some creative involvement from members of those communities, which will always help support and reinforce authenticity in the production's storytelling, sometimes in intangible ways.
Hopefully, as Hollywood warms to the idea of mindful casting, both in animation and live action, we will see more examples like Yeun and Oh cast in starring roles of diverse stories.
Invincible has been renewed by Amazon for a second and third season.
For more entertainment news and commentary, check out Enstarz! We bring you the latest on your favorite celebrities, TV shows, and films.
