The late Jessica Walter may look exactly like the “Archer” character, Malory Archer, but believe it or not, she was not actually the inspiration for the character’s design.
Producers admitted that Walter is “something akin to acting royalty” and didn’t want to waste her time with the necessary photoshoots and screenings needed to create the character. As an alternative, they hired a Jessica Walter lookalike to sit for the design reference images.
Philoctetes
Danny DeVito is one of Hollywood's most beloved character actors, known for igniting energy, passion, and his own liveliness into every role he portrays. When Disney asked DeVito to play Philoctetes, there was no way he could turn down the role. He gave it his all, and then some!
The resemblance between the eccentric old Satyr (half-human, half-goat) and the wise-cracking fun-loving actor who plays him is irrefutable!
Yzma
In addition to basing their character's design on the actor voicing the role, animators will often have other references they use to create the perfect character. "The Emperor's New Groove's" chief animator, Harald Siepermann, said that Yzma was based in part on the actress that voiced her, Eartha Kitt.
He added that the tram of animators also based the evil sorceress on Peruvian singer Yma Sumac.
Sergeant Calhoun
From her bright blue eyes to her signature cropped blonde hair, these two may as well be twins. Jane Lynch, the voice of Sergeant Calhoun, says that all the "Wreck-It Ralph" characters started looking more and more like their actors because they were videotaped while recording their lines.
The animators used every detail, no matter its size, to make Calhoun resemble Lynch. Calhoun even moves her mouth in a certain way, which is exactly how Lynch talks!
Princess Tiana
Talk about paying attention to detail! In "The Princess and the Frog," animators wanted actress Anika Noni Rose and Princess Tiana to look as identical as possible. Rose was worried that they would make Tiana into a cookie-cutter princess, but when she saw her for the first time, she realized how much the two looked alike.
The actress served as a form of visual reference for the supervising animator, Mark Henn. Henn videotaped her as she recorder her lines, including some of her distinct characteristics, like her left-handedness and dimples, into Tiana's character.