We all know the iconic, triangular-headed optimist who spends every single day of his summer vacation building rollercoasters, traveling to the moon, or finding a way to make Perry the Platypus proud. But have you ever actually thought about the voice? That raspy, high-energy, fast-talking kid who makes you believe that anything—literally anything—is possible with a bit of blueprints and a backyard.
If you’ve spent any time on Disney Channel over the last two decades, you’ve heard him.
The person responsible for bringing that "Hey, where's Perry?" energy to life is Vincent Martella.
He didn't just read lines. He defined a generation of childhood wonder.
Vincent Martella: The Man Behind the Triangle
Vincent Martella was just a teenager when he started playing Phineas Flynn. Think about that for a second. While Phineas was busy avoiding being "busted" by Candace, Martella was navigating the weird transition from child actor to a household voice. Most people actually recognize his face from Everybody Hates Chris, where he played Greg Wuliger, Chris’s nerdy, lovable best friend. It’s a wild contrast. In one show, he’s the live-action sidekick; in the other, he’s the lead of the most successful animated musical-comedy of its era.
Martella’s voice is distinct. It has this specific gravelly texture that isn't quite "cartoonish" in the traditional sense. It sounds like a real kid. Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, the creators of the show, have mentioned in various interviews and TikTok deep-dives that they weren't looking for a "voice actor" voice. They wanted a kid who sounded like he actually had big ideas.
Martella delivered exactly that.
The chemistry between his voice and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (who voiced the man of few words, Ferb Fletcher) was a bit of a miracle, considering they rarely recorded in the same room. That’s the secret of voice acting that ruins the magic for some people—they are often thousands of miles apart. While Martella was in a booth in Los Angeles, Thomas was often recording his lines from London.
Why the Voice Changed (But Didn't)
If you watch the early episodes of Season 1 and then skip ahead to Candace Against the Universe (the 2020 Disney+ movie), you’ll notice a shift. It’s subtle, but it’s there. Martella grew up. Humans do that.
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Puberty is the natural enemy of the boy-led animation series.
However, Martella managed to keep his pitch high enough to stay "Phineas" for over 15 years. It’s an athletic feat for your vocal cords. He has described the process as finding a specific "placement" in his throat to ensure he doesn't sound like a grown man trying to play a ten-year-old. He’s basically a vocal chameleon.
The Viral Brazilian Boom
Something weird happened in 2024. Vincent Martella became an absolute superstar in Brazil. It started with a single photo of him wearing a shirt that said "I am famous in Brazil" (in Portuguese). The internet did its thing. In a matter of days, his Instagram following jumped from a few hundred thousand to over six million.
The fans weren't just there for Greg from Everybody Hates Chris. They were there for Phineas.
It proved that the voice of Phineas on Phineas and Ferb isn't just a nostalgic footnote. It’s a living, breathing cultural phenomenon. Martella leaned into it, showing that he’s just as much of a fan of the show’s legacy as we are. He knows that Phineas represents an uncomplicated kind of joy.
Is Phineas Coming Back?
The big question everyone asks now is about the revival. Disney Branded Television announced that Phineas and Ferb is returning for 40 new episodes. The fans went feral. But the first thing everyone checked was the casting.
Yes, Vincent Martella is back.
It wouldn't work without him. You can replace a lot of things in animation, but the specific cadence of Phineas’s "I know what we're going to do today!" is burned into the collective psyche of Gen Z and Millennials. It’s foundational.
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The Technical Side of Being Phineas
Voice acting isn't just talking. It’s acting with a blindfold on. Martella had to convey Phineas’s utter lack of malice—which is harder than it sounds. Phineas is never snarky. He’s never mean to Candace, even though she spends her life trying to ruin his.
Martella’s performance has to be purely earnest.
If there was even a hint of sarcasm in his voice, the whole character would fall apart. We would see Phineas as a brat instead of a genius. That’s the nuance Martella brings. He plays Phineas with a level of sincerity that makes the ridiculous plots—like building a giant bowling ball or a beach in the backyard—feel like the most logical thing in the world.
The Supporting Cast Around the Voice
While Martella is the engine, the voice landscape of the show is a masterclass in casting.
- Ashley Tisdale (Candace): The high-strung energy that balances Phineas’s calm.
- Dan Povenmire (Dr. Doofenshmirtz): The creator himself voicing the "villain."
- Dee Bradley Baker (Perry): Making chattering noises that somehow convey deep emotion.
Martella has often said in panels that the musical aspect of the show was the biggest challenge. He isn't a "singer" by trade, but Phineas sings a lot. From "Gitchee Gitchee Goo" to "Summer Belongs to You," Martella had to stay in character while hitting notes and maintaining that signature rasp.
It’s exhausting work.
Most sessions lasted hours, with Martella having to scream, laugh, and sing, often straining his voice to keep that youthful "edge" that Phineas requires.
Beyond the Backyard
If you want to hear more of Vincent Martella, he hasn't just stayed in the Tri-State Area. He’s popped up in The Walking Dead as Patrick (a short-lived but memorable role during the prison arc). He’s also done voice work for video games like Final Fantasy XIII, where he played Hope Estheim.
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But let’s be honest. He will always be the kid with the orange shirt and the big dreams.
The legacy of Phineas is one of relentless positivity. In a world of cynical cartoons and "edgy" reboots, Martella’s portrayal of Phineas remains a lighthouse of pure, unadulterated creativity. He’s the reason why, when we see a platypus, we instinctively ask where it's going.
How to Appreciate the Performance Today
To truly understand why Martella’s work is so good, you have to watch the "special" episodes. Look at Phineas and Ferb Star Wars or Across the 2nd Dimension.
In the movie Across the 2nd Dimension, Martella actually has to play two versions of Phineas: the happy-go-lucky one we love, and a cynical, repressed version from an alternate reality. The subtle shift in his voice—dropping the brightness but keeping the core sound—is where you see his actual range as an actor. It’s not just a "funny voice." It’s a character study.
What’s Next for Vincent and Phineas?
With the new episodes currently in production for 2025 and 2026, the focus is on how the voice will sound now that Martella is in his 30s. Technology helps—producers can do a lot with pitch correction—but most of it is just Martella’s skill. He’s been "Phineas-ing" for so long it’s likely second nature to him now.
The return of the show means a whole new generation of kids will be asking who the voice of Phineas on Phineas and Ferb is. And they’ll find a guy who seems genuinely grateful to be part of the madness.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Voice Actors:
- Watch the Evolution: Go back to Season 1, Episode 1 ("Rollercoaster") and compare it to the 2020 movie. Listen to the way Martella manages his breath and pitch. It’s a lesson in vocal preservation.
- Follow the Creators: If you want behind-the-scenes clips of Martella in the booth, follow Dan Povenmire on TikTok or Instagram. He frequently posts raw audio sessions that show how much energy goes into a single "Ferb, I know what we're going to do today!"
- Support the New Era: Keep an eye on Disney+ for the revival. The best way to ensure voice actors like Martella keep their jobs is by showing the data that people still care about these characters.
- Explore Martella’s Range: Check out his work in Final Fantasy or Everybody Hates Chris to see how he separates his natural speaking voice from the iconic Phineas persona.