When you watch your favourite cartoon or play an animated video game, it’s easy to focus on the colourful characters and thrilling action. But behind every voice you hear, there’s a person helping to bring those characters to life. One of those people is Collette Sunderman—a talented voice and casting director who has quietly shaped the world of animation and video games for over two decades. While some of her best-known work includes classics like The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack, many of her most important contributions are less well known. This essay explores some of her lesser-known achievements and why they matter so much to the world of storytelling.
Early Career and the Road to Directing
Collette Sunderman began her journey in the early 1990s at Hanna-Barbera Productions, one of the most iconic animation studios in the United States. At first, she worked as a talent coordinator—someone who helps find and manage voice actors. But her talent didn’t stay hidden for long. She quickly moved into voice direction, co-directing projects like Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest alongside industry expert Kris Zimmerman.
By the late 1990s, Sunderman had earned her first solo directing credit with a Cartoon Network short called Kenny and the Chimp (1998). While this short itself wasn’t a huge hit, it would later evolve into Codename: Kids Next Door, a wildly popular animated series. This moment marked the beginning of a long and impressive solo career as a voice director.
Voice Direction in Video Games: A Hidden Art
One of Collette Sunderman’s most interesting but often overlooked achievements is her work in video games. Unlike cartoons, where voice actors perform with visuals and context, video game actors often record their lines with little idea of how they’ll be used. That’s where a voice director like Sunderman becomes absolutely essential.
She has directed voice performances in a wide range of popular and critically acclaimed games, including Final Fantasy VII Remake, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Scooby-Doo!: First Frights. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, she helped actors bring complex characters like Cloud, Aerith, and Sephiroth to life. These characters had already existed in fans’ minds for years, so it was important to capture their emotions and personalities correctly. Thanks to Sunderman’s guidance, the game received praise not just for its visuals and gameplay, but also for its voice acting.
Another great example is Batman: Arkham Asylum, a game known for its dark tone and deep storytelling. Sunderman worked with actors like Mark Hamill (as the Joker) and Kevin Conroy (as Batman), helping them deliver unforgettable performances that made players feel like they were in the middle of a gritty animated film. Her direction helped set a new standard for voice acting in games.
Scooby-Doo and the Long-Term Legacy
Although Sunderman is often associated with TV shows, she’s also been the voice director behind a long list of Scooby-Doo movies and specials—many of which aren’t as widely known as the original series but are just as important. Her Scooby-Doo work includes titles like:
- Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
- Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost
- Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase
- Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster
- Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare
Each of these direct-to-video films featured new storylines, new characters, and often darker themes than the original series. Sunderman helped create consistency in the voice acting so that even though the stories changed, the characters still felt familiar and lovable.
These projects also introduced new generations to Scooby-Doo. Many kids today grew up watching these movies rather than the 1960s original. Thanks to Sunderman’s direction, the franchise stayed fresh while still honouring its roots.
Guiding Emmy-Winning Talent
Collette Sunderman’s influence goes beyond directing cartoons and games—she’s also been responsible for guiding performances that won major awards. She has directed voice actors in 12 Emmy-nominated performances and 5 Emmy-winning ones.
One standout example is Duck Dodgers, where she worked with Joe Alaskey, who won an Emmy for his voice performance as Daffy Duck. Another example is All Hail King Julien, where she directed Danny Jacobs in his Emmy-winning role as King Julien. In these cases, her work as a voice director helped bring out the best in already talented actors, showing how important her role is behind the scenes.
Anecdote: The Voices That Almost Weren’t
During a 2018 talk at SF Sketchfest, Sunderman shared an interesting story about working with new voice actors. Sometimes, she said, actors would come in nervous or unsure of themselves—especially in video games, where scripts can be hundreds of pages long. In one case, a young actor auditioned for a minor role in an animated series but ended up getting cast as the lead because Sunderman saw their potential.
She worked with them closely, coaching them through the performance. That actor later went on to become a well-known name in the voiceover world. Although she didn’t name them, this story shows her gift not only for directing but for spotting talent that others might miss.
More Than Cartoons: Commercials and Brand Work
Sunderman’s career isn’t limited to traditional media. She’s also worked on commercial campaigns and branded content, like a national Lucky Charms ad produced with the agency Saatchi & Saatchi. These projects may not get as much attention as TV shows or games, but they show her range and ability to adapt to different types of storytelling.
She’s also worked with companies like Marvel, Disney, Warner Bros, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks. Whether she’s guiding an action-packed superhero show or a light-hearted animated series for preschoolers, Sunderman brings the same level of care and creativity.
Why Her Work Matters
Collette Sunderman may not be a household name, but her work has shaped the childhoods of millions. Voice directors like her don’t just record actors—they coach them, guide the tone of the story, and make sure characters sound believable and consistent. Without someone like Sunderman behind the scenes, even the best animation would fall flat.
Her work has helped prove that voice acting is a serious form of performance art, worthy of awards and recognition. She’s also shown that video games and animated films deserve the same respect as live-action movies when it comes to storytelling.
Conclusion
Collette Sunderman’s career is a reminder that some of the most important people in entertainment work behind the scenes. From directing Emmy-winning voice actors to guiding performances in iconic video games and keeping beloved franchises like Scooby-Doo alive, her contributions are wide-reaching and essential. While she may not be as famous as the characters she helps create, her work continues to inspire new generations of actors, gamers, and fans.
As the world of storytelling grows and changes, Collette Sunderman’s legacy remains clear: she’s the voice behind the voices—and one of the true hidden heroes of modern entertainment.
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