Top 10 Best Tom Kenny Voice Performances

"Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!" (2004-06)

In this forgotten Disney classic, Tom lends a sophisticated British accent to the Monkey Team’s chief scientist, Mr. Hal Gibson… though he prefers just “Gibson.” The only thing sharper than Gibson’s intellect is his drills, which come equipped with many handy features to cut Skeleton King’s forces to the quick. Being the team’s self-proclaimed genius, Gibson often finds himself at odds with the hot-headed Sparx or the laidback Otto. He can’t tell if the latter is an idiot or not. Regardless, there’s no better team he’d rather be a part of than the Hyperforce and no one could capture his posh, precise personality other than Tom Kenny.

“Rocko’s Modern Life” (1993-96)

“Rocko’s Modern Life” was Tom Kenny’s first major step as a voice actor, and he was given a chance to show off his talent by playing multiple roles. Among them was the title character’s best friend, Heffer Wolfe. Heffer may not be the smartest steer, but he’s definitely the hungriest - hence why he’s constantly mistaken for a cow. Usually, Heffer’s appetite and obliviousness make him a nuisance to everyone around him, namely Rocko. Despite this, he usually means well and stands by his friends whenever they need him… especially if they have food with them. Plus, how can we not be thankful to Heffer for helping to jumpstart Kenny’s voice-acting legacy?

“Wander Over Yonder” (2013-16)

Lord Hater’s goal in life is to become the greatest villain in the galaxy. But let’s be real, he’d be lost without Commander Peepers. While C-Peeps’ loyalty to Hater is unquestioned, he’s clearly the brains of the outfit. He’s practically Hater’s babysitter most of the time, trying - and failing - to get his leader to focus on the task at hand and ignore Wander’s shenanigans. And yet, Peepers is just as short-tempered as his boss, and can’t help but blow his top when things spiral out of control. Of course, Kenny excellently captures Peepers’ calm nature most of the time, and absolutely explodes when Peepers is pushed to his limit. We’re left in stitches every time.

“Transformers: Animated” (2007-09)

Chris Latta’s shrill voice for Starscream is one of the most iconic voices of the original “Transformers” cartoon, and it takes a talented voice to fill his shoes. Thankfully, in 2005’s “Transformers: Animated”, Tom Kenny fit the bill perfectly for the traitorous Decepticon. His high-pitched, slimy delivery blends well with Starscream’s arrogant, scheming personality, while also adding a much-needed dramatic flair. Things get crazier when the Starscream clones come into play, each one giving Kenny a chance to shine voicing an exaggerated part of the original’s personality… except for the one female clone voiced by Tara Strong. Don’t ask where she came from.

“Samurai Jack” (2001-04; 2017)

The 2017 revival of “Samurai Jack” brings us 50 years since the original show’s conclusion. Along with the Cult of Aku, Jack finds himself face-to-face with a new recurring foe – Aku’s best assassin, Scaramouche the Merciless. For an assassin who fights with his musical voice, no one was better fit for the part than Tom Kenny. He brought the role to life with a swinging Sammy Davis Jr. impression, including scatting in most of his sentences. Even when he’s reduced to a severed head, Scaramouche is determined to prove why he’s Aku’s favorite. Sadly, he’s not immune to his master’s wrath when he makes a mistake.

“The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)

It was hard to decide which of Kenny’s biggest roles in “The PowerPuff Girls” would make the list. We absolutely love his comic book-like enthusiasm as the Narrator. But ultimately, we have to tip our hats to the Mayor of Townsville. He’s a jolly fellow, but more than a little scatterbrained with an obsession for pickles. He’s always ready to call on the PowerPuff Girls when the city is in danger… or if he needs help opening a pickle jar. He may be a little nuts, but it’s hard to not love this silly little man. The goofy voice Tom gives him is just icing on the cake.

“Spyro the Dragon” franchise (1998-)

The titular cocky, purple dragon has had multiple voices over the years - including Elijah Wood, Carlos Alazraqui, and Jess Harnell to name a few. Of course, one of his most recurring voice actors was none other than Tom Kenny, who took over the role from “Ripto’s Rage!” to “Enter the Dragonfly.” Many years later, he returned to the role in the “Reignited Trilogy” and continued voicing him since. It’s only fitting that Tom Kenny would get so many chances to voice Spyro, as he captures the Dragon’s youthful energy and cartoon spunkiness while keeping him grounded enough to be relatable to younger and older players.

“Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends” (2004-09)

Eduardo may look like a tough, scary monster, but really, he’s one of the sweetest, most timid imaginary friends you could ever meet. While he’s generally a scaredy-cat, he’s super protective of his friends and loved ones and isn’t afraid to lay down the law when he needs to. This was a unique role for Tom Kenny, as he portrayed the big guy with a deeper voice and a Spanish accent. He even threw in some Spanish phrases now and again. While it was a distinct kind of voice, it still carried Kenny’s bubbly personality that made him recognizable, and hearing him pull off a second language makes it all the more impressive.

“Adventure Time” (2010-18) & “Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake” (2023-)

Arguably one of Tom Kenny’s most complex roles was Simon Petrikov from “Adventure Time,” and his crazed alter ego, the Ice King. The Ice King is everything you’d expect from a Tom Kenny performance – zany, insane, and downright hilarious - if not somewhat creepy. As Simon, we hear a calmer, more serious tone in Kenny’s voice, and our hearts ache as we watch him slowly turn into the mad king. Even when he’s free from the Crown’s influence, his past continues to haunt him as he becomes a broken, depressed man. The fact that Tom can perfectly capture both halves of the series’ most tragic villain is only further proof of his range as an actor.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

An Insane Dental-Themed Villain with an Insidious Lisp

Tom Pays Tribute to Danny DeVito’s Penguin in This Underrated Gem

His Energetic Voice & Wheezy Laugh Had Us All Shouting “Hi-Ho-Diggety”

Tom Lends His Talent to This Classic Disney Character in the 2011 Revival

“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)

This Nickelodeon smash hit has given us a wide array of voices that showcase Tom Kenny’s talent. From the soothing commentary from the French Narrator to Gary’s adorable meow, we’ve even seen Kenny in live-action as Patchy the Pirate. And of course, there’s our porous, yellow hero himself – SpongeBob. The amount of energy Kenny puts into voicing SpongeBob is remarkable - capturing his fun, youthful personality while occasionally showing his softer, wiser side when needed. SpongeBob himself demonstrates plenty of vocal range, able to alter his voice at the drop of a hat, which only further demonstrates Tom Kenny’s abilities. With Kenny’s acting chops in the booth, it’s no wonder why SpongeBob’s become a household name.