Carlos Alazraqui voice of El Chupacabra has been a stand-up comedian for over 25 years and a top voiceover actor for 18 years! Part of his resume includes the voices of Rocko and Spunky in Rocko’s Modern Life, and the Latin Penguin in Happy Feet. Carlos also provides his voice to characters in some of my sons favorite shows including King Magnus from Sophia the First and Felipe from Handy Manny. Currently he is the voice of my favorite character in Disney Planes, El Chupacabra.
During the Disney Planes Event at DisneyToon Studios we got to sit down with Carlos and ask him all about El Chu and being a voiceover actor. So without further ado, here is our interview with El Chu! Sorry, could not resist that one.
What do you like about being a voice actor?
You get to play anything you want without makeup and talk in different dialects. (Saying in the characters voices) Rocko from Australia, or Mr. Crocker, or Handy Manny Felipe, or El Chu! It is awesome! It is like being a kid and helps keep you young.
What was your favorite scene or line?
I liked the set up to when El Chu sings “Love Machine!” He is so flamboyant and over the top. He also gets a chance to be subtle or sweet or sad or concerned for Dusty.
I think this is one of my favorite scenes with El Chu is the clip below, and of course his line:
You leave me no choice! I swish my cape at you! – El Chu
What was the draw to be a part of this film?
The draw is working for someone like Disney. They are great storytellers. It is an opportunity for me to do what I do, and they liked it. That is so rare.
Do you ever use your voices in public?
The fun part is that most of the time I am a mystery. You can watch people react to your voice without them knowing you are there. I was the voice of the Taco Bell dog, and people would be buying the dolls and squeezing them to hear them talk, and I would be right in the room.
Where there any challenges for you being the voice of El Chu?
Not really, it is almost like being a parent. You become comfortable with it so the challenges become smaller. The challenge for me will be talking with Spanish press. It is a little bit easier for me to talk about El Chu in English, I feel like I can bring out more of his personality. In Spanish, I cannot grasp the full language, but I embrace it for sure.
Dusty Meets El Chu on Disney Video
How did you become a voiceover actor?
I fell into it. I was doing a lot of characters in my stand up comedy act. One day there was an audition for a project called Rocko’s Modern Life in San Francisco and I auditioned and got the part for my first cartoon. Then I moved to LA and got an agent and started auditioning for more and it grew from there!
Did you do any research for the voice of El Chupacabra?
During the table read I made sure I brought the most I could to it. There was not a lot of research to it, the voice was my gut feeling of what El Chu should sound like. Whatever I brought to the table read they liked a lot of it. Then it was refined over the past two years.
What are you doing next?
I hope to part of Planes 2 that was recently announced! I am currently working on El Chupacabra. I am also working on a video game called World of Warcraft and I do Skylanders characters. I also play a couple of parts in Disney’s Sophia the First. King Magnus and Gnarley the Troll. I am also working on being a Dad for my 2 year old daughter and the next phase of being a parent!
See Carlos Alazraqui as El Chupacabra in Disney’s Planes today!
Disney provided me with an all expense trip to learn about Planes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
definitely my favorite character of PLANES by far. The “swish my cape at you” part was one of my favorite parts too but my most favorite part was the “Love Machine” scene
I haven’t got to see this yet but I really want to watch it with my 3 year old nephew becuase I think he’d love it. How cool that you got to meet Carlos!
i cant wait to take my family to see this movie! thats so awesome that you had the opportunity to meet with Carlos!
Such a great interview! I can’t wait to see the movie!
I love the pics in your review! This sounds like such a great movie, I can’t wait to see this with my kids!
No wonder I loved seeing the trailers with him in it! I grew up on Rocko’s Modern life, I never would have known if I didn’t read your article. Thanks for sharing the interview as well.
Such a great movie!!
Can’t wait to see this movie. Great behind the scenes info.
I had no idea he was behind all of those voices. Can’t wait to see this movie!
Loved the interview, seem like you had a great time, and I can not wait to see this movie!
Ha! That’s funny what he said about the Taco Bell dog’s voice!
I totally remember Rocko’s modern life! I used to watch that show as a kid. I loved this character in the movie, he was a hoot!
I thought I recognized that voice while watching the Planes trailers, and seeing that Carlos has done so many projects, it’s no surprise as to why!
Wonderful interview! Although I hardly go to the theater anymore (too expensive, lol), I might have to take my son to see this.
Cute. Thanks for the clip and the interview! I want to see this with Sweet T next week.
El Chup was my favorite character in the movie. He did an amazing job.
What a great interview! Can’t wait to see this movie.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned his role in Reno 911!
That’s so cool– we still have to see Planes.
That’s so cool– we still have to see Planes.
So interesting to put a name with a face after seeing him as a “plane”
Wow, he’s done a LOT of voices that I’ve watched! {&Even the video game my husband plays!} I took Shane to see Planes this weekend & he loved El Chu!
He sounds like a pretty down to earth kind of dude. I still haven’t seen this but looking forward to seeing it soon.
Sort of odd that they named the plane chupacabre… considering what a chupcabre is (yikes)
Oh how fun — he did a great job with the Taco Bell dog … I bet his voice in this movie is just as funny!
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