Performers like Bono and John Legend are stellar on stage, but there's something extra special about seeing them make the jump from live-action performers to animated characters in recent movies like Sing 2 and The Mitchells vs. The Machines. Musicians have been making film appearances since before Elvis' time, but it's remarkable to see just how many have made it into the animated medium.
From just playing animated versions of themselves to embodying fully fleshed-out characters, there are plenty of rockers that have added an animation credit to their arsenal of credentials. Whether they perform or not, these stars of the music industry have lent their talents to several animated characters.
David Bowie As Maltazard (Arthur And The Invisibles)
David Bowie was, and always will be, a god amongst rock stars. However, perhaps his most underappreciated quality was Bowie's list of iconic movie roles. Not only did the musician play such incredible characters as the Goblin King in Labyrinth, but he also featured in a handful of animated projects as well.
Keeping that same Goblin-King-inspired energy for Arthur and the Invisibles, Bowie stepped into the role of the tyrannical Maltazard. Playing a nefarious emperor leading an army of insect-like minions is definitely strange, unusual, and totally in the performer's wheelhouse. The ruler's alien-like design and Bowie's spellbinding mannerisms also complement each other wonderfully.
John Legend As Jim Posey (The Mitchells Vs. The Machines)
The Mitchells vs. The Machines was a critically acclaimed animated original from Netflix, and it came equipped with heart, humor, and a star-studded cast to tell the story of this sci-fi action-comedy. With so much going on in a battle against an evil A.I. uprising, it's hard to believe there was room enough for a musician cameo.
John Legend plays Jim, one of the Mitchell's neighbors, and he is as ready to take on the robot menace as any of the other cast members. Although it's more of a cameo than a full-out starring role, it's still enjoyable seeing Legend take up the role as a father ready to take on a deadly android army.
Ozzy Osborne as Fawn (Gnomeo And Juliet)
The idea that the Prince of Darkness himself was the voice of an animated ceramic deer sounds almost too ridiculous to be true. Yet, Ozzy Osbourne was one of the many famous names in the star-studded cast of Gnomeo and Juliet and he was clearly enjoying himself in the role.
RELATED: 10 Best Grumpy (But Lovable) Animated Characters
In just about any other animated feature, a performer with Ozzy Osbourne's reputation with almost immediately be cast as the villain. Instead, he's cast as the comedic sidekick to one of the film's antagonists. The strange combination is just so jarring that it's impossible for it not to have comedic possibilities.
Steven Tyler As The Elf Lieutenant And Singer (The Polar Express)
Yet another unusual but not unsuccessful casting choice involved Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler being cast as both one of the many elves of the North Pole's security team and a motion-captured version of himself to perform "Rockin' On Top of the World." While not an outright use of an Aerosmith song, it was still a catchy performance.
That's not to say that Steven Tyler can't be an animated character, but to hear his voice come out of an uncanny motion-capture model is a little strange. That being said, he does give a great rock addition to the soundtrack.
Bono As Clay Calloway (Sing 2)
The original Sing had no shortage of musical talent voicing its cast of animated animals, but when the plot called for a major rock star, the directors made the excellent choice of casting the legendary Bono as the wounded leonine rocker, Clay Calloway.
Spending years in isolation mourning the loss of his beloved Ruby, Calloway is truly a tragic and sympathetic figure. Bono's voice and rocker status are what makes the character such a memorable figure in the film, but the biggest selling point is his performance of U2's own "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Truly an appropriate addition to the animated musical.
Danny Elfman As Jack Skellington And More (Various)
To put it bluntly, Danny Elfman is a man of many talents. From being the frontman of Oingo Boingo to a film composer to a voice actor, it's hard telling just what all the man can do. One thing that is for sure is that his film roles, especially animated ones, are just as weird and wild as he is.
Elfman has provided the singing voice for Jack Skellington, as well as several voices for the members of Halloween Town, and he even provided the supporting role of Mr. Bojneangles in Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. He's certainly come a long way since his rock star days.
Shakira As Gazelle (Zootopia)
It's been said before that rock stars playing themselves in movies is nothing new, however, Shakira's performance as the resident rock star of the city of Zootopia is worth a particular mention. Not only did she provide the voice of the character and musical performance of "Try Everything," but she served in her character's development as well (per MTV).
Gazelle is practically a Disneyfied version of the singer, and not by appearance alone. Her rendition of "Try Everything" is indeed everything a fan could expect from a Shakira concert, right down to the dazzling choreography.
Billy Joel As Dodger (Oliver And Company)
Shakira wasn't the only performer to be made into a Disney character, nor was she the first. While it's often regarded as one of Disney's most underrated films, one of the biggest selling points of Oliver and Company was its cast of '80s icons. It was a movie with an '80s aesthetic in mind, and one such star of the era was the immortal Billy Joel in the lead role of Dodger.
Not only does Billy Joel perform one of the most infectious songs in all of Disney, especially with the "woo-hoo" chorus, but he gives a charming rendition in this adaptation of the Artful Dodger. He's super likable and is as cool as any rock star of the era might be.
Phil Collins As Muk and Luk (Balto)
When it comes to animated films, Phil Collins will always be remembered for his artistic contributions to Disney's Tarzan. However, he's not immune from voicing an animated character or two. Case in point, Muk and Luk from Balto.
The two portly polar bears are the film's comic relief, and they absolutely love ruffling the feathers of their "Uncle Boris." What makes the pair worth mentioning is how far away from Collins' normal routine they are. When someone hears his voice, they typically think of his powerful vocals from his musical career, making his silly voices in the movie somewhat of a shock.
The Beatles As Themselves And Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Yellow Submarine)
Rock stars starring in their own movies is a common trope in the industry, but a special mention has to go to those four lads from Liverpool, John, Paul, George, and Ringo. While they only provided the singing voices for their animated counterparts, the band did compose and perform new material for one of the greatest Beatles movies.
While the film was going for a more Sgt. Pepper vibe, the band did compose and perform new songs and compositions exclusively for the film. Tracks like "Only a Northern Song" and "Hey Bulldog" made their debut in both the movie and its corresponding album. As a cherry on top, the band even appears at the end of the film to perform a reprise of "All Together Now."