An actor since the 80s, David Hyde Pierce first came to our attention as Frasier Crane's brother, a character which has earned him a number of awards. He can now often be found on the big screen in both supporting roles, such as "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Nixon", or as the voice behind animated characters in "A Bug's Life" and his current film, "Treasure Planet".
Did you think it was risky taking a classic novel and making it into a sci-fi animated movie?
Oh yes. I think it could have been ruined by translating it to outer space. But I think these guys were so sensitive to what was unique, beautiful, and wonderful about the original story that they brought all that along and just set it in a different environment. In a way, outer space, for us, is what the ocean was for people of that time - an unexplored, slightly scary, mysterious, beautiful place where anything can happen.
Is there anything of your famous TV alter ego Niles Crane (TV sitcom Frasier) in Doctor Doppler?
There definitely is! What I loved about the character is that he starts out very much like Niles. He's very uptight, overeducated, and well-to-do, but then he goes on these adventures and becomes a hero. That was a nice change for me.
You do quite a bit of voice work for animated features. Do you get the same feeling as when you're acting a character of their journey and growth?
I think the journey and the growth are very important. Even when I'm doing the TV show, in any given episode I'm always thinking "He starts here. So where does he end up and why?" And I think that's the fun for the audience, seeing someone go through those changes.
