Finding the Fun! in Animation

Workshop Description:

In this performance-based workshop, students will learn the fundamental building blocks of voice over for animation, helping to further develop their skills for success in a competitive industry. Students will be provided with an overview of what attributes make for a good voice over performance and explore current trends in animation (eg: natural vs. cartoon-y), as well as gaining some insight into what creatives listen for, and what skills are required to get cast in animation. Through a series of fun warm up exercises, actors will be encouraged to show their versatility, a key component for a successful animation artist. Participants will receive and prepare sides in advance to perform, receive feedback on, then incorporate the feedback in real time during the workshop.

This class would be best suited for actors who are newer to animation, but who have had some animation auditions under their belts.

Instructor Bio:

Daytime Emmy Award nominee, Sherry Dayton created Dayton/Walters Casting with her business partner, Michael Walters, after having enjoyed a successful career together as part of the in-house casting team at the theatrical production company juggernaut that was ‘Livent’. Their strong background in theatrical casting led Dayton/Walters in 2005 to Nelvana, one of the world's leading international producers and distributors of children's animation. Since then, they have been bringing fresh voice talent to an extensive and exciting slate of projects for clients that include Nelvana, SpinMaster, WildBrain, eOne Family, Fresh TV and Brown Bag Films.

Selected animated television and film credits include: Paw Patrol, Rubble & Crew, My Little Pony, Sago Mini Friends, Unicorn Academy, PJ Masks, Open Season, Pinecone & Pony, The Snoopy Show, Go, Dog. Go!, Esme & Roy (2019 Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Casting), Total Drama Island, Cup & Dino, Alien TV, Remy & Boo, Corn & Peg, Hotel Transylvania, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Abby Hatcher, Donald Sutherland’s Pirate’s Passage, Subconscious Password for the NFB, Franklin & Babar.

Theatrical highlights include: Come from Away (Gander), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Matilda the Musical, Once, Hairspray, The Producers (all for Mirvish Productions), The Book of Mormon (Canadian Casting Consultant), Jersey Boys (Original Toronto production) and The Louder We Get (Theatre Calgary). While at Livent, Sherry was privileged to work on Ragtime (Broadway, Toronto, Los Angeles), Seussical the Musical (Original Broadway company), The Phantom of the Opera (Toronto), ShowBoat (Toronto) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond.

Sherry (and Michael) are both members of Casting Society of America (CSA) and Casting Directors of Canada (CDC) and are committed to upholding and honouring the highest standards of professionalism in the casting field.