Ever looked at your dog and wondered if they’re secretly plotting a revolution or just thinking about cheese? That’s basically the premise that launched a billion-dollar franchise. But let’s be real. The reason those movies actually work—and why they don't just feel like another generic kids' flick—is entirely down to the voices in The Secret Life of Pets.
Illumination Entertainment has a specific "vibe." They don't just hire voice actors; they hire personalities. They want the DNA of the comedian to bleed into the fur of the animal. If you’ve ever sat through the credits and thought, “Wait, was that who I think it was?” you’re not alone. The casting history of this series is actually a bit of a rollercoaster, involving massive star pivots, a high-profile replacement, and a cast of SNL legends that basically turned the recording booth into a late-night sketch set.
The Max Problem: Why the Lead Voice Changed
Max is the heart of the story. He's a Terrier mix with some serious abandonment issues and a very specific, neurotic energy. In the first film (2016), Max was voiced by Louis C.K. It worked. He brought that dry, slightly exhausted tone that fits a dog living in a cramped Manhattan apartment.
Then 2017 happened.
Following the sexual misconduct allegations against Louis C.K., Universal and Illumination didn't wait around. They cut ties. For The Secret Life of Pets 2, they needed a replacement who could capture the same anxiety but maybe with a bit more "lovable grump" energy. Enter Patton Oswalt.
Oswalt didn't just mimic the original; he made Max his own. He’s a guy who actually sounds like he’s worried about a scratch on the floor or a missing ball. It’s one of those rare instances in animation where a lead character changes voices between sequels and most of the audience—especially the kids—didn't even blink.
Kevin Hart as a Bunny is Honestly a Stroke of Genius
If you're talking about the voices in The Secret Life of Pets, you have to talk about Snowball. Kevin Hart playing a tiny, adorable white rabbit who is also a militant gang leader is the literal definition of "casting against type" while also being exactly what you'd expect from Kevin Hart.
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He screams. A lot.
Snowball is the leader of "The Flushed Pets." He hates humans. He wants "liberation." What makes Hart’s performance so effective is the high-pitched intensity. Usually, villains are deep-voiced and brooding. Snowball is a vibrating ball of fluff who sounds like he’s had sixteen espressos. It’s arguably one of the best uses of Hart’s comedic timing in his entire career, mostly because he isn't limited by his physical size on screen—his voice fills the entire room.
The Rest of the Apartment Complex
The supporting cast is where the movie gets its texture. You’ve got:
- Eric Stonestreet as Duke: You know him as Cam from Modern Family. Here, he’s a massive, shaggy rescue dog. He brings a deep, bumbling warmth that balances out Max’s sharp edges.
- Jenny Slate as Gidget: Gidget is a white Pomeranian who is secretly a high-level assassin when she’s provoked. Slate’s voice has that natural rasp—what people call "vocal fry"—that makes Gidget’s obsession with Max feel both cute and slightly terrifying.
- Lake Bell as Chloe: This is peak casting. Chloe is a grey tabby cat who literally couldn't care less about your problems. Bell plays it with a deadpan, bored-out-of-her-mind delivery that every cat owner recognizes.
Harrison Ford’s First Animated Role (No, Really)
One of the biggest shocks in the sequel was the addition of Rooster. Rooster is a seasoned farm dog. He doesn't have time for your city-pet neuroses. He’s tough. He’s weathered. He’s... Indiana Jones?
Yes, The Secret Life of Pets 2 managed to get Harrison Ford to do an animated movie. It was his first one ever.
Ford famously hates doing press and isn't a fan of "fluff." According to various interviews during the press circuit, he took the role because he liked the idea of playing a character who was basically a mentor but a very grumpy one. He didn't try to "act" like a cartoon. He just used that iconic, gravelly Harrison Ford voice. When Rooster tells Max to stop acting like a coward, you believe him. Not because of the animation, but because the voice has fifty years of cinematic authority behind it.
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The SNL Connection and the Comedic DNA
If you look closely at the roster, it’s basically an Saturday Night Live reunion.
Bobby Moynihan plays Mel, the hyperactive pug. Dana Carvey—a literal legend—plays Pops, the elderly Basset Hound who knows the city's secrets. Even the minor roles are stacked. Hannibal Buress plays Buddy the dachshund with a level of chill that should be scientifically impossible.
Why does this matter? Because animation relies on "the squeeze."
In the industry, that’s when you take a line of dialogue and squeeze the most personality out of it. Stand-up comedians and sketch actors are trained for this. They know how to make a single word like "sausage" funny just by the way they stretch the vowels. When you listen to the voices in The Secret Life of Pets, you aren't hearing people read a script. You're hearing comedians riffing in a booth, often alone, trying to make the director laugh.
Why Some Voices Changed (And Others Didn't)
Continuity in animation is usually sacred, but this franchise has had some shifts. Beyond the Max situation, most of the core group stayed.
- Duke (Eric Stonestreet): Stayed throughout. His chemistry with the lead (whoever it was) remained the anchor.
- Gidget (Jenny Slate): Stayed. Her "tough girl" arc in the second movie needed that specific Slate grit.
- The Villains: This is where things rotate. Nick Kroll joined the second film as Sergei, the circus owner. Kroll is a vocal chameleon (look at Big Mouth for proof), and he brought a theatrical, mustache-twirling energy that the first movie didn't really have.
It’s interesting to note that Tiffany Haddish also joined the sequel as Daisy, a Shih Tzu. This was right at the height of Haddish’s "everywhere all at once" phase. She brought a fast-talking, brave energy that gave Gidget someone to play off of. Without Haddish, the "brave pet" trope would have felt a bit stale.
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The Technical Side: How They Record These Stars
Most people think these actors are in a room together, acting out the scenes.
Nope.
Almost all the voices in The Secret Life of Pets were recorded in isolation. Patton Oswalt might record his lines in Los Angeles while Eric Stonestreet is in a booth in Kansas or New York. The directors, Chris Renaud and Jonathan del Val, then have the massive task of stitching these performances together so they sound like a conversation.
This is why the "voice" is so much more than just talking. The actors have to imagine the physical comedy. When you hear Snowball (Kevin Hart) getting hit by a car or falling off a building, Hart is actually jumping around in a booth, probably sweating, and making weird grunting noises into a $10,000 microphone. It’s a physical workout.
What This Cast Tells Us About Modern Animation
Gone are the days when "voice actors" were a separate class from "movie stars." Today, a movie like The Secret Life of Pets uses its cast list as a marketing tool. The "voice" is the brand.
But it’s a risky game. If the celebrity doesn't have the vocal range, the character feels flat. Luckily, this franchise leans heavily on people with background in stand-up and improv. They understand rhythm. They understand that a dog's "bark" needs to have an emotional subtext.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning on sitting down with the kids (or just yourself, no judgment) to watch these again, pay attention to these specific vocal cues:
- Listen for the "Oswalt Anxiety": In the second movie, listen to how Max’s voice gets slightly higher and tighter when he’s around the baby. That’s Patton Oswalt’s signature "nervous dad" tone.
- Spot the Dana Carvey Easter Eggs: Dana Carvey (Pops) often throws in little vocal inflections that harken back to his SNL characters. He’s a master of the "old man" wheeze.
- The "Bored Cat" Benchmark: Compare Lake Bell’s Chloe to any other animated cat. Most are played for "cute" or "evil." Bell is the only one who plays "indifference," which is arguably the most "cat" thing ever.
- Check the Credits for Nick Kroll: He does so many voices in the industry that you might miss his specific cadence as the villain in the sequel.
The voices in The Secret Life of Pets are what turned a simple "what do pets do all day" idea into a franchise that rivals the big dogs (pun intended) like Pixar. It’s a masterclass in using comedic talent to mask what is essentially a very simple story about friendship and growing up. Next time you hear a Pomeranian scream like a drill sergeant, you’ll know exactly who to thank.