MovieChat Forums > The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008) Discussion > Jim Cummings as King Triton

Jim Cummings as King Triton

posted 16 years ago by Vellapo
41 replies | jump to latest

Is anyone else sick of this guy? I used to enjoy his voice, up until recently, when I can somehow detect his voice out of any cartoon that graces the family's TV. I guess my annoyance started with CatDog, since I hated that show. But I'm a pretty avid follower of the voice-acting community, and I was thrilled to see that Jodi Benson and Samuel E. Wright were returning.

I want Kenneth Mars, dang it. His voice was perfect for King Triton. I understand I can't always have it my way, but in this instance, it would be nice, considering this is sequel that actually looks promising.

You tell me a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I have to listen.
- Master Shake, ATHF

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] BenJJedi 16 years ago

Personally, I prefer Kenneth Mars as Triton more, to be totally honest.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] ExplorerDS6789 16 years ago

Isn't this supposed to be a YOUNGER King Triton??

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] CuriousUserX90 9 years ago

Sadly, Kenneth Mars was diagnosed with cancer at the time, which stopped him from recording.

[–] XxLittlegemxX 16 years ago

~* *lol.. imagine James Earl Jones as King Triton just for fun^^ *~

[–] Moonlight-Masque 16 years ago

I wouldn't mind Norm Lewis... =P
But yeah, I agree there. Being one of the few (I won't say only) sequel that looks like it's going somewhere it'd be fair to have the original voice actors for the characters.

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I like it. Period.

[–] chronarita 16 years ago

Nobody was ever sick of Mel Blanc or Grey DeLisle. D:

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Nathaniel: Sire, do you...like yourself?
Edward: What's not to like?

[–] victoryisminehaha 16 years ago

Well said! Kenny Mars was the best, wonder why they didn't ask or if he turned them down. I personally HATE crappy spin offs of classics. Most of the time they are STD. When I saw the preview, I recognized the voices right away, however to not have Kenneth Mars as Triton is an atrocity that they cannot redeem themselves for.

[–] zartok-35 16 years ago

With being in so many terrible sequels, I'm not surprised. The only thing he did that I really like is Pete, and maybe some of his King of the hill chrecters. Unlike most of his other rolls, I don't think his voice is suited to Triton.

[–] cutiepie5256 16 years ago

i totally agree, i dont think jum cummings is suited as triton it just doesnt sound right. i liked kenneth mars voice, he was just great when he yelled at ariel or anything he just had a voice that carried. jim cummings just doesnt have that.

[–] bright_chaos_guy 16 years ago

In short, I agree. LoL

[–] Skeleton_Grin 16 years ago

Yeah. I'm really disappointed Kenneth Mars isn't returning :(
His voice has the perfect qualities for King Triton; powerful yet warm.

Depressing :(

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Saylorme 16 years ago

I agree.. Kenneth Mars is the ONLY suitable Triton. This makes me really sad, since King Triton is one of my favorite characters. Who is Jim Cummings by the way? I'm sure when I hear his voice I will recognize him. Anyways, I am so sad.

[–] dreams_break_like_glass 16 years ago

Mr Cummings is an excellent VA...but not for Triton. I cringed while listening to the preview.

[–] atomicseasoning 16 years ago

I agree with you all! Why didn't Ken Mars agree to return? I loved his voice as King Triton, he was perfect for it!

Actually he was bound to play King Triton even before Little Mermaid, or at least I know what might've prompted Disney to cast him in the role as Triton originally. Just look at these pics/animated gif of Ken chastising Molly Ringwald in a 1987 film called 'For Keeps'

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c252/avatar1975/forkeeps/maddad.gif

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c252/avatar1975/tlm/tlm_maddad.gif
A bit like the grotto scene from TLM, even before that film was totally animated.

[–] epesi 16 years ago

It's very strange that Kenneth Mars isn't returning, considering he was in the TV series, the sequel and both Kingdom Hearts games. Is anyone else worried that it might be his health?

On the other hand, I wonder if it's possible that Jim Cummings is just a stand-in here; for example, a trailer for Brother Bear 2 had Jason Marsden as Kenai, but in the actual movie he wound up being Patrick Dempsey. I'm not sure why they did it that way.

I like Jim Cummings as a voice actor, but I agree that his voice isn't right for Triton. It's extremely jarring.

[–] atomicseasoning 16 years ago

It's very strange that Kenneth Mars isn't returning, considering he was in the TV series, the sequel and both Kingdom Hearts games. Is anyone else worried that it might be his health?

On the other hand, I wonder if it's possible that Jim Cummings is just a stand-in here; for example, a trailer for Brother Bear 2 had Jason Marsden as Kenai, but in the actual movie he wound up being Patrick Dempsey. I'm not sure why they did it that way.

I like Jim Cummings as a voice actor, but I agree that his voice isn't right for Triton. It's extremely jarring.

Oh I know what you mean. I hope it's not Mr. Mars' health, but perhaps we'll never know. (I didn't learn until recently that the original voice actor who played Grimsby passed away the same way and at the same time as my Grandfather, in early July of 1989, but it was also a few months before TLM was released.) I'll keep him in prayer because he's a great voice actor and actor in general.

I agree with you on Jim Cummings as Triton. Good effort, but it just isn't ol' Triton, imho.

Anyway I've seen both Brother Bear movies and was surprised they replaced the voice of the bear, but I guess that sometimes happens.

[–] renacatt 16 years ago

It's so strange cause for a long time, he was set to be Triton and suddenly one day I hear "Kenneth Mars isn't Triton" and of course I know it can't be true so when I see for myself I can't believe it.

Seriously, why couldn't they keep him? He has the best Grandfather voice, even outside Little Mermaid.

[–] Aldrius 16 years ago

Completely unnecessary recast. I love Jim Cummings, but why get rid of Kenneth Mars?

I'm sure there's a legitimate reason, though. He's done all the other DTV stuff.

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"You're not smiling, Joker. I thought you found death amusing."

[–] fratl 16 years ago

Cumming's voice is so out of place as Triton! He's great, don't get me wrong, but Mars' IS Triton! Why wouldn't he do it? He's done literally like EVERYTHING else, right? Like even the stuff that like 2 people ever see! What's up with this?

"I'm curious, after killing me what is it you planned on doing next?"

[–] ExplorerDS6789 16 years ago

"On the other hand, I wonder if it's possible that Jim Cummings is just a stand-in here"

That's right, like he was a fill-in for Jeremy Irons during the song "Be Prepared" from The Lion King. Irons threw out his voice towards the end of the song so Jim stepped in for him, hence the reason Scar sounds different during the final verses.

[–] KelTron42 16 years ago

Don't forget, he also did Rasputin's singing part in "Anastasia"... I guess because Christopher Lloyd can't sing or something... I dunno

I am frickin' crazy because the little man inside my head breathes Corporate Thunder

[–] MollyWobbles6093 16 years ago

Re: Jim Cummings as King Triton
by chronarita (Sat Mar 22 2008 00:11:16)

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Nobody was ever sick of Mel Blanc or Grey DeLisle. D:

That's because Mel Blanc had different voices. Jim Cummings is the same voice in everything he does. Don't get me wrong, I watched Darkwing Duck, Bonkers, and other '90's cartoons he was in religiously when I was a kid, but to go back and watch some of the shows he was in and be able to pick him out immediately is starting to get annoying. Someone above mentioned CatDog already, so I won't go into that.

He also provided the singing voice for Powhatan in Pocahontas even though it was only 4 lines, which is kind of ridiculous in my opinion since it wasn't even half-singing. And to whomever mentioned Scar in The Lion King, I never noticed that he sounded different at the end of "Be Prepared", I might just have to find it on YouTube (which, incidentally, is where I saw clips from this film and heard Jim Cummings AGAIN) and listen more carefully.

In conclusion, I was disappointed to hear different voices for not only Flounder but also Triton, but what can you expect? It's a Disney prequel - they almost never get the same people to do sequels or prequels, that's why I tend to boycott them (although, as someone above also stated, this one seems to have a bit of promise, especially since Sally Field's in it).

-MattsGirl6093, Girlfriend to NinjaMatt3628 since 12 June 2002

[–] Aldrius 15 years ago

...they can't exactly get a 30 year old to play Flounder again... that wouldn't really sound right.

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"You're not smiling, Joker. I thought you found death amusing."

[–] 16 years ago

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