The Oscar-winning actor believes exceptional voice performances should compete alongside traditional acting roles rather than receive a separate Academy Award.
Hollywood icon Tom Hanks has weighed in on the ongoing debate about recognizing voice acting at the Academy Awards, saying he does not believe a separate Oscar category is necessary.
Speaking with Gold Derby, the two-time Oscar winner said the current acting categories are broad enough to honor any performance that genuinely resonates with audiences.
“I think they have enough categories,” Hanks said. According to the actor, the true measure of a performance is whether it emotionally moves viewers, regardless of whether the actor appears on screen.
Addressing the topic of performance recognition beyond traditional on-screen roles, Hanks pointed to acclaimed actor Andy Serkis, whose motion-capture work has sparked awards discussions for years.
The actor suggested that Academy voters should focus on the impact of a performance rather than the format in which it is delivered.
View this post on Instagram
“If they are moved, that means that they are moved by a human being’s performance,” Hanks explained. “That’s all the requirement.”
The comments carry particular weight given Hanks’ long history in voice acting. Since 1995, he has voiced Woody, the beloved cowboy toy at the center of Pixar’s Toy Story franchise.
Over the years, Hanks has helped transform Woody into one of animation’s most recognizable characters, alongside fellow cast members Tim Allen and Joan Cusack.
Earlier this year, Hanks reflected on returning to the recording booth for the upcoming Toy Story 5. He said the process still brings the same level of pressure and commitment as it did when the original film was released.
The debate over voice acting recognition continues in Hollywood, but Hanks remains firm in his view that great performances should be judged by their emotional impact, not by whether the actor is physically visible on screen.
Toy Story 5 is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 19, bringing Woody and the beloved toy gang back to audiences once again.