Elizabeth Hanna
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Hanna is a Canadian film and television actress, most notable for her voice acting
work in animated films. She later complemented her voice acting skills by becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist.
. She attended Carleton University
, where she graduated with a major in philosophy
. She was then accepted into the National Theatre School of Canada
, based in Montreal
, Quebec, from which she graduated in 1977.
, where she continues to be based. She initially commenced her professional acting career appearing in various Toronto stage productions. She also began to obtain commercial voice-over
work, contributing to national television and radio advertising campaigns. This led to the development of her career as a voice actor
in a number of animated films associated with such well-known characters as Little Bear
, the Care Bears
, Babar the Elephant
and Sailor Moon. Much of Hanna's voice acting work has been in productions of the Nelvana
group.
degree, majoring in Speech-Language Pathology, from the University of Toronto
. She commenced practising as a Speech-Language Pathologist in 1996, while continuing her voice and other contributions to film and television, as well as voice contributions to video games.
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
work in animated films. She later complemented her voice acting skills by becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Early history
Elizabeth Hanna spent her early years in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where she graduated from Glebe Collegiate InstituteGlebe Collegiate Institute
Glebe Collegiate Institute is a high school in the Glebe neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Administered by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Glebe Collegiate Institute has approximately 1,500 students; students and sports teams are referred to as "Gryphons".The school offers many...
. She attended Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, where she graduated with a major in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. She was then accepted into the National Theatre School of Canada
National Theatre School of Canada
The National Theatre School of Canada is a private college located in Montreal, Quebec.Established in Montreal in 1960, the National Theatre School of Canada offers professional training in English and French in a setting that unites all the theatre arts: acting, playwriting, directing, set and...
, based in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec, from which she graduated in 1977.
Acting career
Hanna then relocated to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, where she continues to be based. She initially commenced her professional acting career appearing in various Toronto stage productions. She also began to obtain commercial voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
work, contributing to national television and radio advertising campaigns. This led to the development of her career as a voice actor
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
in a number of animated films associated with such well-known characters as Little Bear
The Little Bear Movie
The Little Bear Movie is a film based on the television series Little Bear, which in turn is based on the book series of the same name which was written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, and produced by Nelvana Limited for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies...
, the Care Bears
Care Bears
The Care Bears are characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush teddy bears...
, Babar the Elephant
Babar the Elephant
Babar the Elephant is a French children's fictional character who first appeared in Histoire de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff in 1931 and enjoyed immediate success. An English language version, entitled The Story of Babar, appeared in 1933 in Britain and also in the United States. The book is based on...
and Sailor Moon. Much of Hanna's voice acting work has been in productions of the Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
group.
As A Speech-Language Pathologist
Hanna later complemented her voice acting and voiceover skills by obtaining a Master of Health ScienceMaster of Health Science
The Master of Health Science degree is a specialized master’s degree. Depending on the department and specific area of study, the MHS degree provides opportunities for advanced study and research or prepares individuals to begin or advance their careers as public health professionals...
degree, majoring in Speech-Language Pathology, from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. She commenced practising as a Speech-Language Pathologist in 1996, while continuing her voice and other contributions to film and television, as well as voice contributions to video games.
Filmography
- "The Dating Guy" (2009) (TV Series)
- "The Future Is Wild" (2007) (TV Series, Discovery KidsDiscovery KidsDiscovery Kids is an American website owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. created for children. Until October 10, 2010, it was an American digital cable specialty channel, owned by Discovery Communications with television programming for education of children. It was launched in October 1996...
) - Care Bears: Big Wish Movie (2005)
- Rolie Polie OlieRolie Polie OlieRolie Polie Olie is a children's television series produced by Nelvana and created by William Joyce. The show centers on a little boy who is composed of several spheres and other three-dimensional geometric shapes...
: The Baby Bot Chase (2003) - Franklin and the Green Knight: The MovieFranklin and the Green KnightFranklin and the Green Knight was the first ever Franklin movie, released direct to video and DVD in 2000. It has since aired on Noggin and Nick Jr. in the United States, and Canada's Family Channel.-Plot:Franklin is at first excited when he learns that his parents are going to have a baby...
(2000) - Rockman DASH 2 (2000) (Video Game)
- "Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend" (2000) (TV Series)
- "Toron ni kobun" (1999) (Video Game)
- Babar: King of the ElephantsBabar: King of the ElephantsBabar: King of the Elephants is a 1998 animated film made by Nelvana Limited and released in theaters in Canada by Alliance Communications and in the U.S. straight to video by New Line Home Video. Based on Jean de Brunhoff's book series, it is the second Babar movie, following 1989's Babar: The...
(1999) - "Silver Surfer" (1998) (TV Series)
- Rockman DASH (1997) (Video Game)
- "Sailor Moon" (1995) (TV Series)
- "The Magic School BusThe Magic School Bus (TV series)The Magic School Bus is an American Saturday morning animated television series based on the book series of the same name by Joanna Cole. It is notable for its use of celebrity talent and combining entertainment with an educational show, according to an article in Animation World Magazine by...
" (1995) (TV Series) - "Little BearLittle Bear (TV series)Maurice Sendak's Little Bear is a Canadian children's television series starring a Little Bear voiced by Kristin Fairlie. Originally produced by Nelvana for Nickelodeon, it currently airs on Treehouse TV in Canada and Nick Jr. in the United States. A direct-to-video full-length feature film was...
" (1995) (TV Series) - "Wild C.A.T.s" (1994–1995) (TV Series)
- "Tales from the CryptkeeperTales from the CryptkeeperTales from the Cryptkeeper is an animated series aimed at children made byNelvana Limited, PeaceArch Entertainment, kaBOOM! Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Animation. It was shown on TVO and ABC,and is still shown near Halloween on Teletoon. It was based on the live-action television...
" (1993–1994) (TV Series) - "Woman on the Run: The Lawrencia BembenekLawrencia BembenekLawrencia "Bambi" Bembenek , known as Laurie Bembenek, was convicted of murdering her husband's ex-wife, Christine Schultz, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 28, 1981...
Story" (1993) (Television Movie) - "Dog CityDog CityDog City is a television series that was produced by Nelvana Limited and Jim Henson Productions and aired on FOX from September 26, 1992 to January 28, 1995, and in Canada on Global in 1993, then on Teletoon until 2000. The show contained both animation by Nelvana, and puppetry by Jim Henson...
" (1992–1995) (TV Series) - "BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice (TV series)Beetlejuice is an American-Canadian animated television series which ran from September 9, 1989 to May 7, 1992 on ABC and, later on, on Fox. Loosely based on the 1988 homonymous film of the same name, it was developed and executive-produced by the film's director, Tim Burton...
" (1989–1991) (TV Series) - "The Legend of ZeldaThe Legend of Zelda (TV series)The Legend of Zelda is an American animated series based on the The Legend of Zelda video game series for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The plot follows the adventures of Link and Princess Zelda as they defend the kingdom of Hyrule from an evil wizard named Ganon...
" (1989) (TV Series) - The Nutcracker PrinceThe Nutcracker PrinceThe Nutcracker Prince is a 1990 animated romantic fantasy film made by Lacewood Productions and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film was directed by Paul Schibli and based on the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A...
(1990) - "The RaccoonsThe RaccoonsThe Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series which was originally broadcast from 1985 to 1991 with four preceding television specials beginning in 1980. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced at Atkinson Film-Arts first-hand from 1984 to 1985, then at Hinton Animation Studios...
" (1990) (TV Series) - "Piggsburg Pigs!Piggsburg Pigs!Piggsburg Pigs! was a Fox Kids animated comedy series from Ruby-Spears Productions, which aired in 1990.On July 23rd, 2001, Piggsburg Pigs! and other properties of Saban Entertainment were sold to The Walt Disney Company.-Plot:...
" (1990) (TV Series) - "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is an American television series based upon Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2 video games. It was originally broadcast via first-run syndication to mostly independent or Fox television stations from September 4, 1989, to December 1, 1989, with...
" (1989) (TV Series) - Babar: The MovieBabar: The MovieBabar: The Movie is a 1989 drawn-animated film made by Canada's Nelvana Limited and France's Ellipse Programme, and distributed by New Line Cinema. It is based on the characters of Jean de Brunhoff's eponymous children's books, and was a follow-up to the first season of the HBO TV series...
(1989) - "Street LegalStreet Legal (TV series)Street Legal is a Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1994.-Synopsis:A spinoff from the 1985 television movie Shellgame, Street Legal focused on the professional and private lives of the partners in a small Toronto, Ontario law firm, Barr, Robinovitch and Tchobanian...
" (1989) (TV Series) - "Alfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
" (1989) (TV Series) - "BabarBabar (TV series)Babar is an animated television series produced in Canada by Nelvana Limited and The Clifford Ross Company. It premiered in 1989 on CBC and HBO, subsequently was rerun on HBO Family and Qubo. The series is based on Jean de Brunhoff's original Babar books, and was Nelvana's first international...
" (1989) (TV Series) - "C.O.P.S.C.O.P.S.C.O.P.S. is an American animated television series released by DIC Entertainment and Celebrity Home Entertainment...
" (1988–1989) (TV Series) - Double Standard (1988) (Television Movie)
- The Care Bears Nutcracker Suite (1988)
- "Police AcademyPolice Academy (TV series)Police Academy, also known as Police Academy: The Animated Series, is a 1988 American animated television series based on the Police Academy series of films. The show was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions for Warner Bros. Television. It aired on Saturday mornings and lasted two seasons for a...
" (1988) (TV Series) - "Hello Kitty's Furry Tale TheaterHello Kitty's Furry Tale TheaterHello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater is an Japanese-American co-produced animated series based on the popular Japanese character, Hello Kitty. The series involved her and her friends doing their own version of popular fairy tales and stories...
" (1987) (TV Series) - The Care Bears Adventure in WonderlandThe Care Bears Adventure in WonderlandThe Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland is the third theatrically released film in the Care Bears animated franchise. It was released in the United States and Canada on August 7, 1987 by Cineplex Odeon Films, and is based on Lewis Carroll's Alice stories...
(1987) - The BelieversThe BelieversThe Believers is a horror/neo-noir film directed by John Schlesinger, released in 1987 and starring Martin Sheen, Robert Loggia and Helen Shaver...
(1987) - Killer PartyKiller PartyKiller Party is a horror film released in 1986. The movie was directed by William Fruet.-Plot:Three friends are trying to get into a sorority. One of them, Vivia , plays a prank on the girls in the sorority on the night of the initiation...
(1986) - "Check It Out!" (1985) (TV Series)
- The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (1982 film)is a 1982 Japanese anime feature film directed by Fumihiko Takayama, from a screenplay by Yoshimitsu Banno and Akira Miyazaki, which is based on the 1900 children's novel by L...
(1982) - "Dogtanian and the Three MuskehoundsDogtanian and the Three MuskehoundsDogtanian and the Three Muskehounds is an animated cartoon adaptation of the classic Alexandre Dumas story of d'Artagnan and The Three Musketeers. Most of the characters are anthropomorphizations of dogs, hence the title of the cartoon...
" (1981) (TV Series) - Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave (1981)