Keanu Reevesis one of the most recognizable actors on the planet, but his voice acting roles also maintain the same unmistakable presence as his live-action performances. While many will think of highlyquotable Reeves movieslikeBill & Ted,The Matrix, andJohn Wick, he’s also built up an impressive body of work in the world of animation.
Some ofthe best Keanu Reeves moviesinclude his work as a voice artist. Whether it’s voicing supporting characters in majoranimated franchiseslikeToy Storyor even joining the impressive ensemble of theSonic the Hedgehogseries,Reeves has brought his recognizable tone and effortless charm to every voice role he’s ever played.
5DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
The animals of DC stepped into the center stage withDC League of Super-Pets, a unique superhero movie focusing on the heroic exploits of Superman’s pet dog. With Dwayne Johnson as the voice of Krypto and Kevin Hart as his mischievous canine companion Ace, the pair go on a wild adventure with other superpowered pets to save the human heroes.
DC League of Super-Petsfeatured an impressive all-star cast, including the likes of John Krasinski, Natasha Lyonne, and Keanu Reeves. With a gritty and distinctive voice,Reeves portrayed Bruce Wayne, the vigilante superhero also known as Batman, who later becomes Ace’s owner.
Through plenty of fun, family-friendly humor,DC League of Super-Petsput an enjoyable spin on the well-worn superhero genre and gave young animal lovers something to be excited about. Although it sadly fell short of being truly great and felt slightly derivative ofThe Secret Life of Petsfrom just a few years before.
4Keanu (2016)
Keanu Reeves lent his voice to the kitty that bears his name inKeanu, a Key & Peele buddy comedy partly inspired by Reeves' legacy as an action hero. Telling the story of two cousins infiltrating a group of gangsters to retrieve their stolen cat, this absurd premise was made highly watchable due to the comedic talents of its hilarious stars.
While the adorable kitten at the center of this story wasn’t really able to talk, Reeves showed up as the voice of the feline who shares his namesake in a sequence where he guided Peele through a bad drug trip. This cameo appearance included subtle references to Reeves' career, includingBill & TedandThe Matrix.
It was incredible to see Reeves appear inKeanusince his legacy is so tied to the film, which was essentially a comedic version ofJohn Wickwith a cat. Peele even joked in a Reddit AMA, “If we do a Keanu 2, I promise you we will do twice as many deaths as there are in John Wick 2.”
3The Animatrix (2003)
The Matrixfranchise was the series that turned Keanu Reeves from a notable name into one of the most recognizable actors in the world, although many might not know hereprised his role as Neo in the anime anthology spin-offThe Animatrix. This compilation of nine short films expanded upon the universe’s world, exploring stories not seen in the movies.
As an underseen project that was produced and co-written by the Wachowskis,The Animatrixis an important expansion of the mythology ofThe Matrix. Reeves only appeared in one of the segments, titledKid’s Story, where he helped a disaffected teenager break out of the artificial world known as the Matrix.
This animated short was set in the six-month gap betweenThe MatrixandThe Matrix Reloadedand saw Neo communicating with the teen through his computer and him eventually awakening in the “real world,” where he was being overseen by Neo and Trinity. While the kid believes Neo saved him, Neo assured him that he “saved himself.”
2Toy Story 4 (2019)
Most people won’t think of Keanu Reeves when imagining the voice cast ofToy Story, but he actually appeared in the franchise’s fourth installment. Reeves voices Duke Caboom, a 1970s toy based on Canada’s most popular daredevil and stuntman, who was essentially a reimagining of Evel Knievel.
Caboom was unable to perform the stunts he was advertised as doing in commercials and was forced to continually relive his failures while gathering dust on an antique shelf. However, Caboom is broken free of the monotony of his toy life when he joins Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toys in their mission to save Forky.
Reeves was one of the most memorable new additions toToy Story 4, and the only disappointing thing about his appearance was that he didn’t get nearly enough screen time. While it’s not yet confirmed if Reeves will return forToy Story 5, there’s a lot of potential to expand this character further.
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2025)
Historically, it’s been very difficult for movie studios to get video game adaptations right, but one series that’s found outstanding success isSonic the Hedgehog. These movies successfully brought classic Sega characters to the big screen while maintaining the energy, humor, and sense of style that made the games so beloved.
With Ben Schwartz as the voice of the titular hedgehog, Jim Carrey perfectly cast as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, and Idris Elba as Knuckles,Sonichas only gotten better as the series has gone on. The most recent addition to the cast wasKeanu Reeves as the villainous Shadow the Hedgehog, a long-anticipated character who brought depth and maturity to the series.
Reeves portrayed Shadow as a psychologically rich character who struggled with his identity as the antithesis of Sonic. By playing Shadow in a way audiences could empathize with, his journey from villain to hero became all the more compelling.Sonic the Hedgehog 3proved this series' potential as a major franchise and was all the better due toKeanu Reeves' involvement.
