Despicable Me 2’s Voice Cast: The Artists Behind Phil’s Animated Might

The unforgettable acoustics of Despicable Me 2—vibrant, youthful, and full of comic edge—owe much to a voice cast that breathed life into its unforgettable characters. While iconic actors like Jon Favreau and Sandra Bullock anchored the live-action success, it is the *Despicable Me* animated voices—especially those of the youngest, most dynamic performers—that infused the sequel with the chaotic energy defining Gru’s small, chaotic family. Ranging from tight-tongued toddlers to sassy, Youthploitation-style adults, these voice actors turned scripted lines into memorable performances that defined a generation’s animated childhood.

At the heart of the film’s youthful rhythm is Maddie Blaustein, the real-life voice of Agnes, Gru’s bright but perpetually overwhelmed daughter. At just 10 years old during production, Blaustein delivered a performance layered with childlike wonder and emotional depth, grounding Agnes in authenticity. “She’s fun, yes,” Blaustein later reflected, “but also responsible—sometimes too responsible.

That’s how you capture a kid dealing with both school and supervillaining.” Her delivery balanced hyperactive energy with vulnerable moments, especially in scenes where Agnes tries to protect Gru while secretly longing a normal life. The authenticity Boo Bloop-style heartbeats she brought to the character made Agnes more than a sidekick—she became a voice of youthful intensity with emotional heft.

The pitch-penned voice of Gru’s evil alter ego, Philipp, is delivered by Dan千叶, a talented child voice actor whose rapid-fire delivery captured the duality of scientific genius and childlike bravado.

Unlike Gru’s domestic warmth, Philipp screams villainy from the shadow of youth—sharp, confident, yet unusually sincere. “Dan brought Philipp’s absurdity and raw ambition to life,” said director Pierre Coffin. “He channels that boyish mischief but fuels it with menace—exactly what a supervillain kid needs.” His vocal range—capable of choking laughter and chilling threats in seconds—exemplifies how the voice cast elevated Gru’s transformation from family man to unprepared father through tonal nuance rather than mere volume.

Equally memorable is Sophia Bush’s portrayal of Carol，对待 Gru’s new love interest and unlikely mother figure—Margot, the quirky scientist number two. Though her screen time is limited, Bush’s delivery balances dry humor with a grounded specificity that anchors her character’s complexity. She once noted, “Margot isn’t just Florentine flair—she has purpose, quirks, and emotional stakes beneath the sass.” This subtle depth shines in viral moments, such as when Carol half-jokes through life-altering decisions: “I’m not chaos, I’m *system*.

But upgraded.” These lines, shaped by Bush’s articulate yet playful voice, reveal layers McCooey’s script might otherwise gloss over, proving that even brief appearances benefit from craft-rich vocal performance.

Adding texture to the ensemble is Williams, who voices Bruce, Gru’s reclusive and introspective pet. Though not human, the puppet’s presence is defined by the moral backbone whispered through voice—calm, wise, and quietly powerful.

“Williams wasn’t just an ululating puppet,” explained production sound designer Lee Randall, “he was the film’s conscience, voiced with a tone that felt simultaneously gentle and formidable.” His restrained but rich vocal qualities grounded Bruce’s loneliness, emphasizing that even a rubber monster could carry emotional weight. The blending of physical puppetry with nuanced vocal performance made Bruce a surprisingly human figure—his quiet strength felt tangible through voice alone.

Beyond the central trio, recurring voice talent like Miranda Cosgrove (Mary) and Jason Schwartzman (Dr.

Nefario) infuse secondary characters with distinct personalities. Cosgrove, known for her clean, expressive delivery, brought Mary’s earnestness and rapid emotional shifts to life—on-screen she oscillates between sibling protectiveness and tearful panic, especially during cliffhanger near-misses with Gru’s schemes. Schwartzman, voice-over specialist and actor, leaned into deadpan irony and neurotic menace as Nefario, delivering lines like “You think *you* can stop The Minions?

Please.” His vocal precision added theatrical flair that elevated incluso comedic relief into standout performance moments.

What defines the voice cast’s shared contribution is their chameleon-like ability to shift tone, tempo, and timbre—transforming from a 7-foot minion muilder one minute to a 10-year-old’s terrified whimper the next. The cast’s collective work exemplifies how animated voice performance transcends mimicry, becoming character architecture.

Each actor’s unique vocal fingerprint—Blaustein’s spirited acidity, Dan千叶’s energetic oscillation, Bush’s sardonic clarity, Randall’s calm gravitas—constructs a sonic universe where absurdity coexists with emotional truth.

While modern animation often relies on automated voice software, Despicable Me 2 stands as a benchmark for artisanal voice casting. These performers didn’t just read lines—they inhabited roles, redefining children’s voices not as caricatures, but as emotional conduits.

From Agnes’s stammering hope to Philipp’s dangerous charm, their performances turned scripted absurdity into rapid-fire drama that resonates across ages. For every laugh or gasp, there’s a crafted vocal choice—prepared, deliberate, and profoundly human despite exceeding physical boundaries. This is the legacy of the Despicable Me 2 voice cast: performers who proved voice acting remains the invisible backbone of blockbuster storytelling.