Robin Williams voices Genie in Aladdin
Robin Williams provided his voice for the Genie in Aladdin, a role that became one of the most memorable characters in Disney's history. The film, directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and released in 1992, became a classic of animation, partly due to the exuberant and charming portrayal of the Genie. In France, the character was voiced by Richard Darbois, while in the original version, Williams' performance marked a turning point in the history of animation.Williams had a bitter memory of the collaboration*
Despite the film's success, Williams reportedly had a bitter memory of his collaboration with Disney, citing that the studio did not respect a key condition he had set before accepting the role. According to Williams, he had agreed to a lower salary of $75,000 for the role in exchange for not allowing his voice and character to be used for merchandise and for the Genie not to be prominently featured on the film's poster. However, after the film's release, Williams claimed that Disney violated these terms.Williams publicly criticized Disney in 1993*
In November 1993, Williams publicly criticized Disney during an appearance on the Today Show, stating that the studio used his voice and the Genie character to sell merchandise, which he had explicitly refused to allow. Williams described this as "crossing the line" and expressed feeling betrayed by Disney, a company he believed he had reached a clear agreement with.Disney offered a Picasso to reconcile*
Disney responded with a different account, suggesting that the issue stemmed from Williams accepting a low fee and that the advertising materials had been approved by Williams and his then-wife, Marsha. To reconcile, Jeffrey Katzenberg, then a Disney executive, offered Williams a Picasso artwork valued at $1 million. However, Williams did not consider this a true apology, and the incident remained unresolved for some time.Disney officially apologized in 1994*
It was not until 1994, after Katzenberg's departure and Joe Roth's appointment, that Disney officially apologized to Williams. In 2009, Williams was honored with the prestigious title of Disney Legend, recognizing his significant contribution to the company's history.Williams' improvisation shaped the film*
Williams' portrayal of the Genie was notable for his improvisation skills, as he suggested new lines and transformed scenes during recording sessions. According to Ron Clements, the recording sessions were particularly lively, with Williams' contributions leading to scenes that extended from three minutes to 20 minutes. The team had to make difficult choices among the extensive material Williams provided.Williams' role changed animation's perception*
Clements emphasized that Williams' role changed the perception of animated films, adding an adult element and demonstrating that a famous actor could bring more than just fame to an animated film. Williams' performance remains iconic, and Aladdin is available for streaming on Disney+ in both the original and French versions.
