All animation is essentially dubbed when you get right down to it, but there’s still something valuable about seeing animated pictures with their original voice track intact — the timing and tone of that original dialogue is important. But Studio Ghibli’s films have earned a spot as some of the few animated pictures where I’ve been surprised to enjoy the English-language cast, to the point where I actually anticipate news about the talent used to make the new dubs.
So here’s your first notice about the localized voice cast for Studio Ghibli’s new Arrietty the Borrower: the young Brigit Mendler is voicing Arrietty for the North American release.
Producer Frank Marshall said via tweet last night, “Full day of recording with the very talented Bridgit Mendler, doing the lead role in the US version of Studio Ghibli’s ARRIETTY THE BORROWER.” The actress has been in the series Wizards of Waverly Place and Good Luck Charlie.
No word on the rest of the new cast for the film. As has been the case with Disney’s releases of Ghibli films in the past, some audiences may be able to see a subtitled print of the film rather than the dub, but that isn’t confirmed at this point.
Disney stars Bridgit Mendler and Adam Hicks will participate in the second annual SchoolJam USA.
The NAMM event is here the nation’s top 10 teen bands will perform for the title of the nation’s best teen band on Saturday, January 15.
SchoolJam USA is a national program that rewards aspiring teen music makers, between the ages of 13 and 19, and their respective school music programs with music funding and prizes, as well as the opportunity to perform live before the public and a panel of music industry professionals.
This year’s event will take place at the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., during the weekend of the popular NAMM Show, the largest musical instruments and products trade show in the world.
Mendler (Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie”) and Hicks (Disney XD’s “Zeke and Luther”), co-stars of Disney Channel’s forthcoming original movie, “Lemonade Mouth,” will emcee the live battle of the teen bands. The highly-anticipated Disney film “Lemonade Mouth” is based on the book by Mark Peter Hughes and tells the story of five high school students who meet in detention and realize that they are destined to make music. They ultimately form a band that becomes a champion for students sidelined by the high school elite.
Bridgit Mendler joins Ernie D. in the studio to discuss Radio Disney’s “Give Back” sweepstakes, First Book and her favorite books!
In Radio Disney’s “Give Back” sweepstakes, one lucky winner will get to present a $10,000 check, along with Friends For Change, to Bridgit Mendler’s charity of choice First Book.
Plus, Disney Book Group will donate 5,000 books to First Book and the winner will get $500 for themselves!
Bridgit Mendler is really getting into the holiday spirit with Radio Disney’s Holiday Give Back contest.
The contest, which runs through December 26th, RD listeners have a chance to give back with the 17-year-old Good Luck Charlie star in support of her favorite charity, First Book. The organization books to children in need. The winner will get to meet Bridgit and present the check to her (and they get $500 for themselves as well…a nice holiday treat!).
In her upcoming take over, Bridgit chatted with host Ernie D about some of her holiday traditions: “Every holiday season on Christmas Eve, my dad would read ‘The Night Before Christmas’…we still do it every year.”
She added, “We like to celebrate at home a lot of the time where it’s just me and my family, but then there’s some years that we travel…This year actually, we’re going to Argentina, big trip!”
Be sure to listen in to Bridgit’s Take Over on Tuesday, November 30 @ 3PM PT/6PM ET on Radio Disney.
When Bridgit Mendler’s music video for “How to Believe” debuted, there were so many comparisons to Taylor Swift!
JustJaredJr.com caught up with the 17-year-old actress to chat about the video a bit and found out just how much fun she had filming it. “That was my first music video ever. It was great to work with all the kids and it was such a cool concept. I was there to encourage the kids to embrace their talents and then to perform on stage. Even performing with my own guitar was awesome, ” Bridgit shared.
Bridgit also shared exclusively with us about the Taylor comparisons, “It was so unintentional (laughs). It wasn’t like, ‘Taylor plays guitar, lets play my guitar; she has wavy hair, let’s make mine wavy too’ kind of thing. It’s such a compliment to even be compared to her because she’s been such a success and of course, she’s gorgeous. But she’s not who I’m trying to be musically. I’m still finding my own thing to do in music.”
Good Luck Charlie (2010)
Lemonade Mouth (2011)
Bridgit Mendler is really getting into the holiday spirit with Radio Disney’s Holiday Give Back contest.