Zac Efron Voices “TED” in Dr. Seuss’ THE LORAX

Zac Efron as Ted in Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

The role of the passionate and curious 12-year-old named Ted went to Zac Efron, known to audiences for the High School Musical series and the hit musical Hairspray.  Though the character is much younger than the actor, the filmmakers knew that Efron’s charm and youthful spirit would serve the character well

Efron vividly remembers his parents reading “The Lorax” to him as a child and credits the book as “planting the seed of an environmentalist” in him.  Reflecting upon his character, he states: “Ted is a regular kid growing up who is hungry for adventure.  He’s got a crush on this girl, and he has a crazy grandma and a mom who is too strict, so he wants his freedom.  He lives in a world in which there is virtually no nature—no trees and no plants.  Everything exists through technology, so it’s fun to see him navigating a similar family life that we have today.”

            Voicing an animated character was a new experience for Efron.  He notes that though the process of recording alone in a booth felt a bit awkward at times, he enjoyed the challenge.  “I thought back to my childhood and put myself in these awkward, hilarious situations that this kid finds himself in.  The variations between something being funny and something not quite fitting are so slight, but they can make all the difference.  It’s fun to really let go, though I’m sure it looked ridiculous when I was in the sound booth.” 

How was it to play Ted in THE LORAX?

It was awesome. Ted’s a little rock star. He’s an ambitious, driven AND crafty young guy. He would do anything for the girl he loves. He’s a cool, cool cat.

What did you bring to the character when you were doing the voice over?

I wanted Ted to be enthusiastic and energetic. In the beginning he was naïve but he really turned into quite an admirable young man. In the end, Ted saves the day!

What did you imagine when you were doing the voice over?

A lot of it was imagination but we also had incredible animators feeding us little details and kind of teasing us by showing us what the world might look like in the movie. We were able to use that to kind of create our own world in our minds. It was fun.

What is it like to voice an animated character? How does it differ from acting with a partner?

You just have to throw all of your inhibition out the window. I had to leave my ego at the door. My favorite animated performance probably ever was Robin Williams in ALADDIN, when he plays the Genie. When they showed the video from recording that movie, Robin is all over the place. He's practically doing back flips. He's doing crazy faces, voices and gestures. He actually looks absolutely ridiculous but the performance that he got out of that was extraordinary. I'll never forget it. So I just tried not to worry about what I looked like or how I felt or how embarrassing it was. I just tried to go nuts and have fun. As long as you're having fun you can't really go wrong.

Which scene did you most enjoy doing the voice over on?

I think I like the scenes between Audrey (Taylor Swift’s character) and my character the most. They came out really well. I had known Taylor before, but we didn’t rehearse this. We did the voice overs separately and it all fit together really well.

Are you a big fan of 3-D?

I’m a huge fan of 3-D. The way 3D can be executed is amazing. When you’re immersed in the beautiful world of THE LORAX, the 3D element really adds a special dimension. It’s really cool.

Do you think there is a message in THE LORAX for children?

I think it’s going to inspire courage in a lot of kids. In THE LORAX, you see that you can incite and inspire change. All it takes is one seed to change the world.

What made you want to become an actor?

This is a funny story. When I was twelve-years old my family stopped at a hotel in Las Vegas and while we were there we went to see a sketch comedy show. I got dragged on stage by one of the ladies and in that moment realized that I love being on stage. It was hilarious.

Even though this movie is animated, for the promos they built actual sets. What is it like to look behind you and see Truffula trees right here in the studio?

It's pretty crazy. I have the images in my head from when I was a child and read the book. It was a great experience to watch the Truffula trees come to life.  I loved being a part of it. It's a great feeling.

What was it like to immerse yourself in the world of THE LORAX?

It was fun and kooky and weird and everything you dreamed it would be. We had a great time.

Had you read the book The Lorax as a child? If so, can you remember what you got from the story?

I think that it was read to me. The message that I got, loud and clear, was don't cut down trees. But the story has evolved a little bit since then. I think this film does a great job on the message of the story. And we’ve done it in a very big, fun, and adventure filled-way. It's really something special. I'm very excited about it.

Can you talk a little bit about the courage that your character Ted displays?

Everyone's in this sort of world where they have everything they need and ignorance is bliss. Ted is a young, curious and passionate guy. He's driven by love to think outside the box, to push himself.

Ted goes to some extraordinary lengths to get the girl. Can you think of something, crazy, that you would do for a girl?

There can’t be anything more extraordinary than finding something that’s thought to be extinct.  That’s what Ted did.  It was the most amazing gesture.

Since the animators used you as part of their character design, were you happy with the end result?

Yes, Ted looks cool. The first time I saw him he looked like a regular twelve-year old kid. But what's important is what's going on up here in his head.  That was up to me.

What messages do you think kids and adults will take from this movie?

I think the biggest message is that the smallest gesture can change the world. 

If there was a real, live Lorax in the world today how do you think he would behave?

I think that he probably wouldn't drive a car at all. He would probably be an organic farmer that skateboards and uses solar electricity.

Have you ever planted a tree?

My dad and I planted orange trees in the backyard a couple of years ago. It's amazing to watch them grow. You feel a personal connection to them. It’s also pretty cool when you're actually eating the fruit from a tree that you planted.

When you are doing voiced over work you are essentially in a booth by yourself. Do you miss the interaction with other actors?

I really enjoy working with other actors. Probably the biggest bummer for me on this project was not being able to meet, Danny or Taylor. But here we are at this press event together and we get to hang out now.

How did you get this role?

I met with Chris Meledandri (Producer) and he said that he had an idea for a movie that he wanted to talk about.  He told me about THE LORAX. I was immediately interested. It seemed like a really fun project.

Would you want to work again on another animated feature?

I would love to. I'd like to do an animated musical. I think that that would be so fun. 

“Dr.Seuss’s The Lorax” released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp. Starts showing on March 14, 2012. Nationwide!

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

Story: The animated adventure of a boy searching for that one thing that will help him win the love of the girl of his dreams by finding out what happened to the Truffula trees. A 3D-CGI adaptation of a Dr. Seuss' classic tale.

Review: This is the 4th movie adaptation of a Dr. Seuss story. I am a huge fan of the books. I even have one book in my possession, The Cat In The Hat. The previous movie adaptations of other Dr. Seuss stories were, The Cat In The Hat, Horton Hears a Who, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas aka The Grinch. The first one was the Grinch. Unlike the first two, The Grinch and The Cat In The Hat, Horton Hears A Who and The Lorax are CGI-animated. The Lorax looks exactly the same just like in the book.

The Lorax book

The animators of The Lorax is Illumination Entertainment, the same people who brought you Despicable Me. You can see that their making the minions of Despicable Me their mascots whenever they flash their name in the trailers. Making Lorax a CGI animated flick is a good idea because it is very rare that live action can do most of the effects and it will be most appealing to the children. The trademark of a Seuss character is visible in the movie like the shape of the nose and eyes of the people and what the animals look like.The fishes also looks like the Fish in The Cat In The Hat.

As for the story, it is so simple yet it can be enjoyable for the whole family. Parents need not worry about the movie because it's really child-friendly viewing. But there are only few narrations in the story. Since this is a book adaptation, there should be narrations throughout the movie just like in previous adaptations. What I like about Seuss narrations are the rhyming of words. They also made some songs but were not taken from the books unlike the songs in The Grinch that used were lines from the book. The romance of Ted and Audrey didn't exist in the book. It was probably added so there would be a better purpose and to make the story longer.

Dr. Seuss holding The Cat In The Hat

For the casting, Zac Efron and Taylor Swift were one of the main characters. I perceived that they were cast because of the musicale part of the movie. Veteran comedienne Betty White plays Ted's grandmother. Even though she is a supporting character, she also a key character to the story. But the best part was from Danny DeVito, who played the title role. DeVito's voice was so distinct that you won't missed it and he is really ideal for the role of the Lorax. He is comical not just because he is doing a successful TV sitcom, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I've first heard DeVito doing a voice role in Disney's Hercules when he played Philoctetes the trainor of heroes and he done it wonderfully. It is so fitting that the two voice characters were also as short as DeVito.

Dr. Seuss stories are modern day fables. They always have a lesson to teach their readers and in this case, the movie patrons. The Lorax message is clear and simple. The movie was released March 2, 2012 which happened to be the 108th birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss(1904-1991). Dr. Seuss' The Lorax opens in cinemas March 14, 2012 and is released and distributed locally by Universal Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp. Advance screening was held in IMAX Cinema in SM City North EDSA last March 11, 2012.

Danny DeVito Voices “THE LORAX” in DR SEUSS’ THE LORAX

Lending the vocal talent as the iconic title character of the Lorax is no other than Danny  DeVito is one of the entertainment industry’s most versatile players, excelling as an actor, producer and director.

When casting the actors who would voice the characters in Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, the filmmakers looked to a variety of performers to find not just the ideal actors for the film, but also the perfect people to embody Dr. Seuss’ iconic characters.

Cast as the gruff yet comical Lorax was legendary comic actor Danny DeVito, who currently entertains TV audiences weekly with his portrayal of Frank Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. 

It is always a challenge to cast title characters across the globe in a way that preserves the integrity of both the animated character and the actor’s original performance.  The incredible personality that DeVito brought to the Lorax in the English version was so compelling that the team wondered if he could capture that same brilliance in other languages as well. 

DeVito was approached with the seemingly impossible task of voicing his character in four different languages.  Despite the fact that he wasn’t fluent in any language beyond English, DeVito is always game for a challenge.  He agreed to voice the character in Spanish, Italian, Russian and German.  Against all odds, he nailed not only the local dialects but also the comedic timing in those languages. 

DeVito, a father of three, is a lifelong fan of Dr. Seuss’ books and is an environmental advocate.  Seeing the artists’ sketch of the Lorax made him even more eager to work on the project.

How did you feel when you were first offered the part in the THE LORAX?

I was very excited. I always had an affinity for the Lorax because we kind of resemble each other. Playing this role was a real gift because the Lorax is so dear to my heart.

How do you see your character, the Lorax?

The Lorax is way cool. He’s a guy who fights for what he believes in. Once the destruction of the Trufulla valley is beyond his control, he had to sit back and wait for the one person who might be able to make a change. And that mustache, that baby’s big!

How was it to play the Lorax?

I loved playing the Lorax. Chris Meledandri (Producer) brought me the rendering of the Lorax, which was so beautiful, and said that they wanted me to be the voice of the character.  It was such an honor. It was a lot of fun and I had a great time. I’m very happy to be part of it.

Were you also attracted to the fact that this story has universal appeal?

This is a movie that you can take your kids to and you won't be bored at all. It’s very entertaining and fun. Although my character, the Lorax, is a little gruff and grumpy it's okay because his heart is in the right place. Part of the charm of it for me is to know that while I'm voicing the Lorax, Danny is back there somewhere working with him.

Is the movie very much like the book that it is adapted from?

The story is very much like the book but with the added attraction of romance. In THE LORAX, Zac Efron’s character, Ted, falls in love with the girl down the block, Audrey (voiced by Taylor Swift). More than anything, Audrey wants to see a real tree. It becomes Ted’s mission to find a tree for Audrey.

You must have a vivid imagination, to be inside a booth and see yourself in a world like that. What were you thinking?

I’m in the booth, I got the script, I know the story and I understand what the Lorax wants. He wants to prevent the environment where the animals live from changing.  That was inspiring and helped me to bring the passion into the character.

Are there strong messages that children can take away from this movie?

Oh, yes. We should all have the tenacity to stand up for something that we believe in and know is right. When you see this movie you can identify with the message of taking care of the environment. Each person can do their part. The more people do it and the more they spread that message, the more the whole entire world will begin to know the importance of doing it, too. It sounds like an insurmountable task but it’s possible. You have to have faith and it’s there in THE LORAX.

Besides being a story about a young boy's courage there's also a love story involved.

There's a beautiful love story in THE LORAX. This kid, Ted is really determined to find a real tree for the girl of his dreams, Audrey.  Ted has never seen a tree and has no idea where to find one.  Yet still, he is determined to give Audrey the desire of her heart.  Ted is a man on a mission. Which is a really cool thing to be.

How was it working with Chris Renaud (Director) and Illumination Entertainment?

They were all very, very good. They knew exactly what they wanted. Chris Meledandri (Producer) was very supportive of everything. Sometimes Chris Renaud would be in Paris so we would Skype. All in all, the experience was good.

What Was The Lorax?

“What was the Lorax? And why was it there? And why was it lifted

and taken somewhere from the far end of town where the Grickle-grass grows?

The old Once-ler still lives there. Ask him. He knows.”

—Dr. Seuss, “The Lorax”

From the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the much anticipated feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, a 3D-CG adaptation of the classic tale of a forest guardian who shares the enduring power of hope.  The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for a real Truffula Tree, the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams.  To get it he must find the story of the Lorax, the acerbic yet charming character who fights to protect his world. 

Lending their vocal talents to the project are DANNY DEVITO as the iconic title character of the Lorax and ED HELMS as the enigmatic Once-ler.  Also bringing their voices to the adventure are global superstars ZAC EFRON as Ted, the idealistic youth who searches for the Lorax, and Grammy Award winner TAYLOR SWIFT as Audrey, the girl of Ted’s dreams.  Rounding out the cast are ROB RIGGLE (The Hangover, Big Miracle) as the villain O’Hare, JENNY SLATE as Ted’s protective mother, and beloved actress BETTY WHITE  as Ted’s wise Grammy Norma.  

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is both a funny and emotional adventure highlighting the importance of balance between nature and progress.  The film revolves around the Lorax, the hilarious and lovable character who goes to great lengths to protect the trees and the animals that inhabit them.  After the Once-ler chops down a tree, the Lorax emerges angrily from a stump with a dire warning for the young entrepreneur.

The pastoral landscape of Truffula Valley is filled with a variety of animals—from soaring Swomee-Swans to harmonic Humming-Fish.  Cutest of all are bearlike creatures known as Bar-ba-loots, who tumble among the Truffula Trees.

The Lorax’s job as guardian of the forest is put to the test when the ambitious young Once-ler chops down a Truffula Tree and threatens to chop down more to further his lofty business plan.  Incensed by this uncaring act against nature, the Lorax angrily criticizes the Once-ler’s actions.  From their first interaction, the Lorax and the Once-ler are at odds.  Each is determined to get rid of the other, but over time they develop a mutual fondness for each other.  Ultimately, the Lorax is no match for the greed and ambition that begins to consume the Once-ler, who stops at nothing to build his enterprise—even if it means chopping down every last tree and destroying the valley.

Years later, in a world devoid of trees, Ted ventures beyond the borders of his perfectly industrialized town of Thneedville on a journey to find the Once-ler and learn how he can bring home a tree for the girl of his dreams, Audrey.

Although hesitant at first, the Once-ler sees something in Ted that inspires him to tell the story of his encounter with the Lorax, which in turn inspires Ted’s mission to restore balance to Thneedville by bringing back Truffula Trees for the whole town.

“Dr. Seuss: The Lorax” is distributed and released by

Universal Pictures

through Solar Entertainment Corporation.