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You know that iconic, friendly drawl of Woody from Toy Story? The one that's launched a thousand adventures and warmed hearts for generations? While Tom Hanks brought the character to life on the big screen, there's another Hanks behind the voice in countless other places – Jim Hanks, Tom's talented brother.
For nearly three decades, Jim has been the voice of Woody in toys, video games, theme parks, and more. He's the Woody you hear when you pull the string on a talking doll or ride Toy Story Mania at Disneyland. He's built a career embodying the spirit of everyone's favorite cowboy, and his story is as fascinating as it is heartwarming.
Jim's journey began in the early 90s when his agent told him about a project his brother was working on – a little film called Toy Story. He went in, not really thinking much of it, and laid down some lines, mimicking Tom's signature vocal nuances. Little did he know, this would be the start of a lifelong adventure.
"I never really knew that my voice was as similar to Tom's," Jim admits. But over the years, he's honed his ability to capture the essence of Woody's voice, even noticing how the character's tone has evolved over the course of four films.
"If you notice, he's having more conversations that aren't powerful," Jim observes about Woody in later films. "He's not trying to control the room...he's having conversations where he's just kind of sitting there going, 'Hey, so what happened to you, Bo Peep?'"
Jim's dedication to the role goes beyond just mimicking his brother. He understands the heart of Woody, describing him as "everybody's favorite teacher who talks to you as a person." This deep understanding of the character shines through in every project Jim takes on.
From the early days of recording lines for pull-string toys to voicing Woody in elaborate video games alongside John Ratzenberger (the voice of Hamm!), Jim has seen it all. He's even had the surreal experience of hearing his own voice booming throughout Toy Story Land at Disneyland.
"It's so weird," Jim laughs, recalling his experience riding Midway Mania. "You're in what the project you are, like you're playing it, you're in the ride, you're...yeah, what was that like? Yeah, I just go, 'Stop telling me what to do!' Oh, I'm talking to myself. Uh, yeah, it's trippy. It's always trippy."
Jim's commitment to the role has made him a legend in the world of voice acting. He's not just the voice of Woody; he's an integral part of the Toy Story legacy. And while Tom Hanks may have hung up his cowboy hat for now, Jim shows no signs of slowing down, ready to answer the call of "Yee-haw!" for years to come.
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