Talking With Jim Dale
One of the most impressive aspects of Jim Dales narration of RETURN TO THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD, a new story in A.A. Milnes Winnie-the-Pooh series written by David Benedictus, is that he creates voices for a whole cast of characters, and none of them evoke any of the voices that he created for the Harry Potter series of audiobooks. Thats the mark of a true master of narration, that even such a well-known and well-loved voice can create something new. In addition to creating character voices for Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore, Christopher Robin, and more, Jim Dale sings all of Poohs hums, rhyming songs he makes up. Dale also shared a tidbit with AUDIOFILE about choosing voices and last-minute recording decisions: Within thirty seconds of starting, I decided to swap the voice of Piglet for that of Pooh and vice versa. Thank goodness I did, or I know I would have spent the rest of my life kicking myself! What I have heard of the audiobook, I know I was right! The result is an audiobook thats charming and accessible to Pooh fans from any generation. Fans of Jim Dale can also find him reading Nancy Tillmans THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS and the latest in Dave Barry and Ridley Pearsons Peter Pan series, PETER AND THE SWORD OF MERCY.
Jim Dale Photo by Kevin Brusie
They Help You Remember Details From Each Book
The thing about reading is that its a passive experience. Youre not actively thinking about what youre taking in, just reading and allowing your mind to wander. And because of that, there will be details from books that slip away as you move on to something else. Harry Potter audiobooks give you a chance to go back and review those details by listening more closely.
The Sound Effects Make It Fun
Have you ever heard someone read out loud from a Harry Potter book? Its almost like watching Harry and his friends do magic in real life. And thats in part thanks to Jim Dale, who has narrated all of the audiobooks for J.K. Rowlings wildly popular series . If you really want to immerse yourself in a world of wizards and wands, it doesnt get much better than listening to Harry Potter in your car or while exercising on your bike or treadmill at home.
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How Much Did Jim Dale Get Paid To Read Harry Potter
There is no set answer to this question as it likely varies depending on the book, the length of the audiobook, and other factors. However, Jim Dale is a well-established and well-respected audiobook narrator, so it is safe to say that he was paid a significant amount of money to read the Harry Potter audiobooks.
Best Harry Potter Audiobook Narrator: Jim Dale Vs Stephen Fry
Usually, there are plenty of things regarding a certain franchise that the fans dont agree upon. The Harry Potter franchise is no different, of course. From the justification for the change of Hermiones dress for the Yule Ball to the exclusion of certain elements of the book series, there are a plethora of subjects the fans are divided on. Perhaps the biggest one of those subjects is the battle between legendary narrators, Jim dale and Stephen Fry. So which one of these two is the better narrator?
There is actually no right answer to this question. Both narrators do an amazing job as far as narration goes which is why this ultimately comes down to the listeners preferences. If you want a more dramatic narration youll prefer Jim Dales audiobooks ad if you want more raw emotion youll prefer Stephen Frys version.
If you want a more in-depth comparison of the two narrators and their styles of narrating make sure to keep reading since the article is full of useful information if you yourself are trying to find an answer to this question.
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Who Narrated Harry Potter Books In The Uk
Stephen Fry
There are many other audiobook narrators who narrate the Harry Potter series, but these two are the most popular by far. This is also showcased in how their audiobooks are distributed.
Jim Dales audiobooks are more popular in America and the rest of the world, while the distribution of Stephen Frys audiobooks is focused on the territory of the UK.
Despite this strategy set for marketing the audiobooks both narrators also have fans in different parts of the world based on which style of narration the fans prefer.
This at first glance seems like an ordinary enough statement, but it actually describes a division and constant debate between fans focused on finding the answer to one of the most controversial questions regarding the Harry Potter fandom who out of two narrators is the better one.
Theyre Easy To Follow While You Cook Clean Or Work Out
If youre an adult who grew up with Harry Potter, it was easy to find time to read each book. But when youre working full-time and have family commitments, making time for a new book can be tough. Thats why audiobooks have been so popular with books like Harry Potter, it can be just as enjoyable to listen rather than read. Whether you take your time getting through each book or binge on them at onceor bothits clear that Jim Dale is an excellent narrator. He manages to capture every character and detail of each story while still maintaining his distinctive tone and cadence.
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I Feel Like Im In Hogwarts When I Listen
Listening to Harry Potter is a unique experienceyou get immersed in a story you already know by heart. But, just like reading from a book, listening to an audiobook can feel like youre experiencing Harrys adventures for the first time all over again. Thats why we think its safe to say that narrator Jim Dale is one of our favorites.
Jim Dale: The Voice Of Harry Potte
James Dale is a well-known British actor best known for his narration of all seven Harry Potter books. Between 1999 and 2007, he recorded more than 117 hours of audio content. When did Charles Dickens write the books? We had the opportunity to speak with him about the situation. This author holds the Guinness World Record for having created more than 130 different character voices for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the series. Who else plays Harry Potter characters other than Jim Riddle? What are some of the best voices in the Harry Potter world?
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These Audiobooks Will Always Be Classics
Harry Potter is a classic story about a young boy who discovers hes a wizard and must attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The books were originally narrated by J.K. Rowling herself, but after her latest book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, they were produced as audiobooks by Jim Dale with help from a cast of actors including Stephen Fry, Jim Broadbent, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Bonnie Wright, and Alan Rickman!
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire Audiobook Jim Dale Reviews
This has always been my favorite Harry Potter movie. Capturing the excitement of the Three Wizards Tournament will be exciting from start to finish. New characters are also introduced. It also marks the turn of the series from light to more serious. My favorite scenes include the Christmas Ball, the task of getting the golden eggs of the dragon, and the scene where Voldemort officially returns. Overall for me, 10/10, I will always watch this movie again
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Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire Audiobook Jim Dale Description
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the novel series Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling, published in the year 2000. A film version of this book was released in November 2005. Many fans consider this book to be the beginning of another era. Darkness and a wizarding world, as evidenced by the return of Voldemort.
This is the fourth book of Harry Potter at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Hogwarts! Harry, Ron, and Hermione look forward to the international Quidditch finals. Harry dreams of spending time with the charming ChoChang. He wanted to become a normal 14-year-old wizard. . . But Harry is no ordinary, at least in terms of magic. The problem is that for the first time in centuries, competitions will take place between three occult schools, and competitors will be selected for unique events. Now that Harrys fire wound is burning to indicate the evil presence of Lord Voldemort, the Goblet of Fire will make his last choice for the league Harry Potter.
‘carry On’ And Absorbing Voices
Some of the “Harry Potter” characters have just a few lines, but Dale adheres to the no-small-parts-only-small-actors credo, breathing life into each, no matter their contribution to the advancement of the plot.
He credits much of his audio-book success to two jobs at the start of his career: as a stand-up comic touring the fading music halls of the United Kingdom, and his work on 13 of the wildly popular British sketch movies called Carry On.
When J.K. Rowling asked me to do the Harry Potter audiobooks, she knew my work from the Carry On films,” he said. “I didn’t know I had the ability to do different voices.
The voices, he says, he absorbed on the road.
Because I had toured England for two whole years in a different town every week and lived for that one week with people speaking in that dialect, I think that stayed with me, unbeknown to me,” he said. “Consequently, I was able to delve deep into those memories of what it was like living in Yorkshire, living in Scotland, living in Ireland, living in Wales, and reproduced some of those accents when called upon to do so by J.K. Rowling.
His Schoolhouse show, at which he’ll be accompanied by Mark York, will capture the spirit of Dale’s beloved music halls, with stories and sing-alongs.
While millions have heard his voices in those celebrated readings, from the raspy giant Hagrid to the meek house elf, Dale has not.
The voices in his head are enough.
But his grandson, Alfie, had heard the audiobooks.
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Harry Potter Introduces Jimmy Smith To The Queen
There are benefits, the actor says, to flying solo in the recording studio.
It’s even better than a director showing you what he thinks your character should be doing, either in film or television or stage, telling you to move over there and then do a big gesture,” he said. “When you just use your voice, everybody is now creating your character in their mind with that voice, but they’re the ones who are giving it the movement or the expression.
When it works, and it has worked spectacularly well so far, it leads to the kind of reaction for which Dale lives.
One little kid came up to me and said, Mr. Dale, you sound just like those characters, ” he said. “And I thought, Thank you! Yes! Thats the best compliment you could ever pay a narrator.
That a-ha moment is now part of his legacy.
Not bad for a boy who grew up as Jimmy Smith during World War II. His father was an iron-foundry worker his mother worked in a shoe factory, like all the other mums in a working-class English town called Rothwell.
No rich people lived in Rothwell, he said, but they were all working class, not poor.
It’s nice to look back on those days. I never used to do that, but I keep thinking, This is a long way from a little town called Rothwell,’ which was the dead center of England in every way.
His brother, a welder, had a one-man show?
I said, Well what’s your show about? He said, My brother.
Who Narrates Harry Potter Audiobooks
Jim Dale
Harry Potter series is narrated by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry. Both of them are beloved British actors best known for their narrator talents. Both Jim Dale and Stephen Fry narrated the Harry Potter series in its entirety and their audiobooks are available on both Amazon and Audible.
Jim Dale is an English actor, singer, and songwriter but he is best known for narrating the Harry Potter series. He started his work on the series and is praised for his work in the field.
He received two Grammies for his work as a narrator as well as seven nominations. For his work on the Harry Potter series, he received the Audio Book of the Year for his narration in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and a Benjamin Franklin Award for his work on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Stephen Fry is one of the most popular British actors today. Besides his extensive work in the film industry, he is also famous for his work in the theatre industry, radio, and perhaps most notably audiobooks.
He was chosen to narrate the Harry Potter series targeted for the UK. He continued his work with many other popular titles such as The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and even different titles from J. K. Rowling since he narrates her childrens books The Ickabog.
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A Voice Actor Can Make Or Break The Listening Experience Over Several Related Novels They Can Become Friend Or Foe
With audiobooks, voice narrators are everything. They can make a great story greater and a bad story better. This is especially true with book series. As one book leads to another, a narrators voice becomes ever more integral to the listening experience. Imagine, for instance The Game of Thrones without the 224 character voices of the late Roy Dotrice or the Harry Potter saga without Jim Dale. Here are three other audiobooks in which the voice narrator harmonizes beautifully with a lengthy, multifaceted tale and one in which theres dissonance.
Doyles wry demeanor is also, to me, inseparable from Adrian McKintys splendid cycle of novels set in Northern Ireland of the bleak 1980s. At their center is Detective Inspector Sean Duffy, a Catholic in the chiefly Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary despised by most of his fellow officers and hated by the Provisional IRA as a collaborator. The anomaly of his situation gives rise to persecution, and, I am happy to say, dry humor which Doyle delivers with droll understatement. Duffy spends six novels from The Cold, Cold Ground to Police at the Station and They Dont Look Friendly checking his cars undercarriage for bombs and investigating every sort of real-life badness from drug dealing at Belfasts DeLorean Motor Companys plant to an assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher.
A Great Way To Prepare For A New Movie Coming Out
If youre really into Harry Potter and youre planning on seeing Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1, it can be fun to go back and listen to Jim Dales audiobook of The Deathly Hallows as he narrates what is sure to be a cinematic film. You may even notice parts of his narration that make it into your favorite scenes in theatres after all, a lot of movie-making is art imitating life!
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Every Single Potter Word
There isn’t a single “Potter” word that Dale didn’t speak.
From Chapter 1 The Boy Who Lived in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone:” Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of No. 4 Privet Drive were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”
To the final words of the epilogue to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”: “The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.”
All is decidedly well for Dale, now 83, who struck gold with the first audio book he ever recorded, 1999s Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.
He has earned 10 Audie Awards , a couple of Grammys and two spots in the Guinness Book of World Records: for occupying six of the Top 10 audiobook titles in one year, and for voicing a record number of characters on one audiobook . The audiobooks have sold millions of copies, on CD, cassette and streaming services.
For this contribution to childrens literature, Queen Elizabeth II named him a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, making him, officially, Jim Dale, MBE.
Not bad for a guy who admits, with a bit of wonder in his voice, that he had no idea what he was doing in the summer of 1999 when he first stood at the microphone in a recording studio with the script from the first chapter before him.
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