Escape Studios Animation Blog: Peter Sellers on Acting

May 29, 2025

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Recently I stumbled across a quote from the late great actor Peter Sellers, on how he approached creating a character.

Sellers said this: “I start with the voice. I find out how the character sounds…after the voice comes the looks of the man…after that I discover how the character walks…and then something strange happens…the man you play begins to exist.”

It’s just the same with animation.

Animators are Actors

Just like actors, animators start with the voice (the voice talent always comes first). Then, we draw, discover the character. What do they look like? Who are they? What motivates them? Then we ask, how do they move? How do they walk?

Peter Sellers on Acting

It has become a cliche to say that animators are actors with a pencil, or a mouse. But it is true, and if we are to create memorable animation, we have to treat the process with the same respect that actors treat their characters. To see the Peter Sellers’ quote in full, read the text below:

Great Acting

Thumbnail sketches help plan animation

Peter Sellers was one of the great actors of his generation. He. created countless memorable characters, such as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series of films. In Dr Strangelove he played no less than three characters – but all quite different on screen.

It’s all in the Planning

Animators create great animation with careful planning, and considerable thought about who the character is, and what motivates them.

Resources on Planning Animation
For more resources on how to plan animation (including how to use thumbnail sketches and also live action reference), follow the links below:
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