Who are the Voices in Disney’s Wish?

Disney’s new animated musical-comedy feature, ‘Wish’, comes from the directorial duo of Chris Buck (previously responsible for the hugely successful ‘Frozen’) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (story artist on ‘Frozen’), in her directorial debut. 

Not only does the film share a director with ‘Frozen’, but it also shares a writer; Jennifer Lee.

In this article

1. The Storyline: What We Know So Far
2. The Voice Talent Behind the Characters in Wish
3. The Creation of Wish’s Visuals
4. The Music of Wish
5. Themes
6. Wish Celebrates Disney’s 100th Anniversary

The film’s art style appears to combine old-school Disney traditional watercolor, with the latest in computer animation. The inspiration behind the film appears to be none other than the 100th anniversary of Disney itself—highlighting the transformative power of wishes turning into reality. 

With the huge creative names attached to the product, people are curious about the talented voices behind Disney’s new musical-comedy.

In this blog, we’ll look at who the voice actors are in Disney’s movie ‘Wish’.

The Storyline: What We Know So Far

A 17-year-old girl named Asha is at the center of this magical adventure. 

Voiced by Ariana DeBose, she embarks on an enchanting journey revolving around the myth of the wishing star. She senses a dark presence in her kingdom, leading her to make a plea to the stars for guidance. An actual star, aptly named Star, responds. 

Star and Asha must then work together to overcome the evil lurking in the kingdom of Rosas, which is located in Southwestern Europe. 

The plot introduces us to King Magnifico, whose voice you may recognize as Chris Pine. 

Star, as a character, will perhaps give insight into the origins of the “wishing star” across Disney’s entire filmography. 

As we eagerly await its release for November 2023, one thing is certain—’Wish’ promises to be a fantastical ride, a new Disney film in a lineage that pays respect to legendary Disney films like ‘Fantasia’, and modern examples, like ‘Frozen’. 

The Voice Talent Behind the Characters in Wish

The magic of Disney’s ‘Wish’ will surely come to life through the talented voices behind what we expect to be a vibrant cast of characters. 

The star-studded voice cast adds extra razzle-dazzle. We just don’t know exactly which character most of the other voice actors will be characterizing, but we can’t wait to find out. 

We should also mention the incredible Lea Salonga is rumored to be a part of the project, known for lending her voice to iconic Disney characters in ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Mulan’. 

The Creation of Wish’s Visuals

The spectacle of ‘Wish’ is the result of innovative animation. Every frame in this Walt Disney Animation Studios project appears to blend traditional watercolor elements (no doubt indebted to Disney’s older films) with cutting-edge computer-generated imagery (CGI).

The creators wanted something special for ‘Wish’, that would seamlessly blend the old and new visual styles to represent both ideals. Disney utilizes the advancement of computer animation for a new generation of kids, while still paying respect to their origins (and the inherent beauty of watercolor animation).

It’s this dedication to visual storytelling that looks to set ‘Wish’ apart from other contemporary animated films. A kaleidoscope of colors, tones, and textures is a perfect representation of all that Disney represents;a fitting amalgam for their 100th anniversary. 

The Music of Wish

The music in Disney’s ‘Wish’ is expected to become a central component. As a musical, the film is only as good as its soundtrack and the voices that help to create it. 

Considering this is another musical-comedy from the team that brought us ‘Frozen’ and ‘Frozen II’, we fully expect some ear-worms. Parents are probably bracing themselves to hear the soundtrack replayed in their homes for the next year. 

Ariana DeBose, who voices the main character Asha, brings her musical talent to the film. Previously working on ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Hamilton’, she has the talent not just for voice acting, but for the demands of songwriting. 

Julia Michaels has composed a collection of original songs that hope to capture the spirit of the story. As a songwriter, Julia Michaels has written songs for some of the biggest artists of the 2010s and 2020s, including the likes of Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, and Demi Lovato. She’s received 5 Grammy award nominations, two for “Song of the Year.” 

It’s clear the soundtrack has the potential to be a hit, if her involvement is any measure. The trailer for ‘Wish’ also features a song called “This Wish,” performed by Ariana DeBose. 

Themes

In ‘Wish’, we are introduced to Asha, a 17-year-old protagonist voiced by Ariana DeBose. 

She embodies the qualities of a Disney heroine, archetypically displaying courage and intelligence as she confronts the darkness in her kingdom. Against the better judgment of others, she must rise to the task of saving her community. Modern Disney films connect girls to strong, emboldened characters that represent women in dynamic roles. 

The movie’s themes appear to revolve around community, magic, intuition, friendship, and the power of one person to make a difference (or save others). As Asha and her peers face a formidable foe, they showcase valuable lessons about determination and hope. While wishing is at the center of the film, self-actualization seems to be the real message. 

Wish Celebrates Disney’s 100th Anniversary

The projected legacy of ‘Wish’ is already being built. 

As an ode to the history and magic-making of Disney, it will undoubtedly be a success. Even the font of ‘Wish’ recalls the 1940 film, ‘Fantasia’. We can only hope that ‘Wish’ is as experimental and magical as that film was, when it broke ground in 1940. 

As young kids around the world connect with the original Disney protagonist, Asha, they are inspired to embark on their own adventure through self-determination and face challenges head-on. 

While we can assume everything from the trailer, we can also predict the film has another message of trusting feminine intuition;the ability to know when something is wrong. To trust yourself and your feelings. This is an important message for young kids, and a wholly positive one.