You know that feeling when you realize two characters who couldn't be more different are actually played by the same guy? It’s a trip. For most of us, it happened somewhere around the middle of season one of BoJack Horseman. You’re sitting there, watching this yellow-beanie-wearing slacker fail upward into another ridiculous scheme, and suddenly it hits you.
Wait. Is that Jesse Pinkman?
Yes, it is. The todd voice actor bojack horseman fans have grown to love is none other than Aaron Paul. Honestly, the shift from the gritty, "science, bitch!" world of Breaking Bad to the candy-colored, animal-filled existential dread of Hollywoo is one of the greatest pivots in TV history. It's not just a fun fact for trivia night; it’s the secret sauce that made Todd Chavez work.
Why Aaron Paul Was the Perfect Choice
When Raphael Bob-Waksberg was first dreaming up the show, he didn't just need a voice; he needed a vibe. Todd could have easily been a one-dimensional "dude, where's my car" trope. He’s a guy who crashes on a couch and never leaves. In the hands of a lesser actor, he’s just annoying.
But Aaron Paul brought this weird, infectious earnestness to the role. Basically, he made us care about a guy who built a "Halloween Store that is only open in January."
Paul didn't just show up to record lines, either. He was so bought in that he became an executive producer on the series. He actually helped pitch the show to Netflix alongside Will Arnett. Imagine being the guy who helped convince a major streamer that a show about a depressed horse was a billion-dollar idea.
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The range is what’s truly wild. One minute, Paul is doing high-pitched, manic energy for a rock opera about space. The next, he’s delivering that crushing "It's you" monologue to BoJack. You know the one. "You can't keep doing shitty things and then feel bad about yourself like that makes it okay! You need to be better!"
That scene works because we’ve spent years hearing Todd be the comic relief. When the funny guy finally snaps, it hurts more.
Breaking the Mold with Asexuality
We have to talk about the "Ace" in the room.
One of the most significant things the todd voice actor bojack community celebrates is how Todd became a landmark for LGBTQ+ representation. In season three, Todd realizes he’s asexual. It wasn't a joke. It wasn't a phase. It was a genuine, heartfelt exploration of an identity that almost never gets screen time.
Aaron Paul has talked about how much this meant to him. He’s mentioned in interviews how fans would come up to him, emotional, saying they finally felt seen because of a cartoon guy in a red hoodie. The nuance Paul put into those quiet moments of discovery—the confusion, the "I think I'm nothing" line—it gave the character a soul.
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It’s rare to see an actor who is famous for playing a hyper-intense drug dealer pivot so successfully into a role that requires such extreme gentleness.
The Weird Connections: Jesse vs. Todd
Kinda funny when you think about it, but Jesse Pinkman and Todd Chavez actually have a lot in common.
- They both have terrible mentors (Walter White and BoJack).
- They both get stuck in "partnerships" where they do all the work while the ego-maniac gets the credit.
- They both have a weirdly pure heart despite the chaos around them.
The difference is the ending. While Jesse had to literally escape a cage and drive into a neon-lit Alaskan sunset to find peace, Todd just had to move out of BoJack's house and find a girlfriend who also liked snacks and didn't want to have sex.
Beyond the Yellow Beanie
Since the show wrapped in 2020, people keep asking if Paul will do more voice work. He actually just recently (as of late 2025) voiced the lead character, Robert Robertson III, in the superhero workplace game Dispatch.
It’s funny because even in a video game, you can hear that "Todd-ness" occasionally—that specific crack in his voice when a character is overwhelmed by the sheer absurdity of life. He’s also done stuff like Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV and a quick, terrifying cameo in Black Mirror.
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But honestly? Todd is the one that sticks.
What Most People Miss About the Performance
If you listen closely to the early episodes versus the finale, Paul’s voice for Todd actually matures. In the beginning, he’s very breathy and high. He sounds like a kid who just woke up from a nap.
By the end of the series, when he’s working as a nanny and managing his own life, the voice is grounded. It’s deeper. He’s still "Todd," but he’s a Todd who has set boundaries. That is top-tier voice acting. Most people think you just stand in a booth and read. Paul acted with his entire throat.
He managed to make a character who was literally designed to be a "B-plot" feel like the moral compass of the entire show. Without the todd voice actor bojack fans probably would have found the show too dark to finish. He was the light.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the work of Aaron Paul or the world of BoJack Horseman, here’s what you should actually do:
- Watch the "It's You" Scene Again: Go to Season 3, Episode 10. Watch it not for the plot, but for the vocal control. It’s a masterclass in switching from "comic relief" to "dramatic lead" in three sentences.
- Listen to the "Dispatch" Game Audio: If you miss Todd's cadence, his work in the Dispatch video game is the closest thing to a spiritual successor you'll find. It shows how much he's evolved as a voice performer.
- Check Out the Behind-the-Scenes Interviews: Look for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation conversations with the cast. Paul talks specifically about the "asexuality" arc and how the writers approached him with it. It’s eye-opening to see how much input he actually had.
- Support Ace Representation: Todd wasn't just a character; he was a bridge. If his story resonated with you, look into organizations like AVEN (The Asexual Visibility and Education Network) to see the real-world impact of that storytelling.
The legacy of Todd Chavez isn't just about the memes or the "Hooray!" catchphrase. It’s about an actor who took a "slacker" archetype and turned it into one of the most complex, lovable, and important figures in modern animation.