You know that raspy, rebellious, and perpetually exhausted voice coming out of the buck-toothed Princess of Dreamland? It’s iconic. It’s messy. It’s perfectly suited for a character who would rather down a flagon of ale than sit through a royal wedding. If you’ve spent five seasons watching Disenchantment, you’ve probably realized that the voice behind the protagonist isn’t just some random voice actor. It’s a comedy powerhouse.
So, who voices Bean in Disenchantment? It is the incredibly talented Abbi Jacobson.
Most people recognize her as one-half of the duo that created and starred in the cult-hit Broad City. But her transition into the world of Matt Groening’s fantasy-satire was a stroke of genius casting. Jacobson doesn't just read the lines; she breathes a specific kind of modern, suburban anxiety into a medieval setting. It’s why the show works. Without that specific vocal fry and the dry, sarcastic delivery she perfected in the New York indie comedy scene, Princess Tiabeanie—better known as "Bean"—might have just been another generic "rebellious princess" trope. Instead, she’s a disaster. A lovable, relatable, beer-chugging disaster.
The Broad City Connection to Dreamland
It’s actually kinda wild how much of Abbi’s real-life comedic persona bled into the character of Bean. When Matt Groening—the man who gave us The Simpsons and Futurama—was looking for his lead, he didn't want a traditional "princess" voice. He wanted someone who sounded like they’d been up all night at a dive bar.
Jacobson’s voice has this natural rasp. It sounds lived-in. In Broad City, she played Abbi Abrams, a character constantly struggling to find her footing in a chaotic world. Take that same energy, swap the leggings for a tunic, and move the setting from Brooklyn to a crumbling castle, and you basically have Bean.
There’s a specific chemistry in her voice work. In interviews, Jacobson has mentioned that voicing Bean felt like a natural extension of her own comedic timing. She uses silence and "um" and "uh" in a way that feels improvised, even when it’s scripted. That’s the secret sauce. While John DiMaggio (King Zøg) brings that booming, classic cartoon energy, Jacobson grounds the show with a voice that sounds like someone you actually know.
Why the Casting Matters for Netflix
Netflix took a big swing with Disenchantment. It was Groening’s first show in decades, and it needed a lead who could carry both the slapstick humor and the surprisingly dark emotional beats of the later seasons. Jacobson was the anchor. Honestly, think about the scenes where Bean is talking to her mother, Queen Dagmar. The vocal shift from "drunk party girl" to "betrayed daughter" is subtle, but Jacobson nails it.
🔗 Read more: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
She isn't the only star, obviously. The show is a "Who’s Who" of comedy:
- Eric André voices Luci, the personal demon.
- Nat Faxon is the naive Elfo.
- John DiMaggio brings the gravel as the King.
But the show lives and dies on Bean’s shoulders. If the person who voices Bean in Disenchantment didn't have that specific "cool older sister who makes bad choices" vibe, the emotional stakes of her quest to save Dreamland wouldn't land as hard.
The Technical Side of Being Bean
Voice acting is more than just talking into a mic. Jacobson has talked about how physically demanding the role can be. Bean screams. A lot. She falls off cliffs. She fights Vikings. She argues with her demon.
In the recording studio, this means Jacobson has to do "effort sounds"—the grunts, the pants, the gasps—for hours. Doing this while maintaining that specific Tiabeanie "voice" is a feat of vocal endurance. Most people think you just show up in your pajamas and read, but to get that specific Bean cadence, Jacobson has to stay in a very specific headspace of frustrated entitlement and genuine heart.
Interestingly, Jacobson recorded many of her lines in New York while the rest of the cast was often in Los Angeles. This is common in modern animation, but it requires a high level of skill to make the dialogue sound like the characters are actually in the same room. The fact that the banter between Bean, Elfo, and Luci feels so snappy is a testament to the editing and Jacobson's ability to react to lines she isn't even hearing in real-time.
Beyond the Tunic: Abbi Jacobson’s Other Projects
If you're wondering where else you’ve heard her, Jacobson has been busy. Aside from her legendary run on Broad City, she was a lead in the critically acclaimed The Mitchells vs. the Machines (playing Katie Mitchell). She also spearheaded the A League of Their Own series on Amazon, which showed off her dramatic chops.
💡 You might also like: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
But for many, she will always be the voice of the first truly messy princess in animation history. Bean broke the mold. She wasn't waiting for a prince; she was waiting for the bar to open. Jacobson’s performance is what made that shift feel authentic rather than like a forced "girl boss" narrative. It felt real because the voice sounded real.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
People sometimes mix her up. Because Disenchantment has that distinct Matt Groening art style, some fans initially thought Bean might be voiced by someone from The Simpsons or Futurama stables.
- "Is she voiced by Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson)?" No. While Bean has that same intelligence, the voice is much lower and more modern.
- "Is it Tress MacNeille?" Tress is in the show! She voices Queen Oona and Prince Derek, but she isn't Bean.
- "Is it Katey Sagal (Leela)?" Nope. Different era, different vibe.
Abbi Jacobson was a deliberate choice to bring a "New Comedy" feel to a legendary creator's work. It was a passing of the torch, in a way.
The Evolution of Bean's Voice
As the series progressed from Part 1 to Part 5, you can actually hear Jacobson's performance evolve. In the beginning, Bean is mostly a caricature of a rebellious teen. By the series finale, there’s a weight in her voice. She sounds tired. She sounds like a leader.
The relationship between the actor and the character grew. Jacobson has often said she felt protective of Bean. This protection comes through in the performance; she never makes Bean the butt of the joke in a way that feels mean-spirited. Even when Bean is being selfish, Jacobson’s delivery keeps you on her side. You’re rooting for her to figure it out.
What to Watch Next if You Love Bean
If you’ve finished the series and you’re missing that specific vocal energy, you aren't out of luck.
📖 Related: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
First, go watch The Mitchells vs. the Machines. It’s probably one of the best animated films of the last decade, and Jacobson’s voice work there is stellar. It hits those same "misfit" notes but in a family-movie context.
Second, if you haven't seen Broad City, stop what you're doing. It is the raw, unfiltered version of the comedic timing that made Bean possible. You can see the DNA of Princess Tiabeanie in every episode of that show. The way Abbi (the character) reacts to chaos is the blueprint for how Bean reacts to magical nonsense in Dreamland.
Finally, keep an eye on Jacobson’s future producing work. She has a knack for finding stories about women who don't fit into the boxes society builds for them. Whether it’s a princess in a magical kingdom or a ballplayer in the 1940s, the "voice" of her work remains consistent: it’s honest, it’s funny, and it’s unapologetically human.
How to Appreciate the Craft
Next time you rewatch Disenchantment, pay attention to the breath work. Listen to the way Jacobson sighs. Listen to the tiny cracks in her voice when Bean is feeling vulnerable. It’s easy to overlook voice actors because we don't see their faces, but Jacobson put her whole heart into that recording booth.
Summary of Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Follow the creator: Check out Abbi Jacobson's production company, Tiny Pyramids, for more character-driven storytelling.
- Listen for the nuances: Re-watch the "Steamland" episodes to hear how Jacobson adjusts Bean's tone when she's out of her element.
- Explore the cast's other work: If you liked the chemistry, listen to The Midnight Gospel or BoJack Horseman, which feature similar "adult animation" vocal styles and often cross-pollinate talent.
The series is over now, but the legacy of Princess Tiabeanie lives on through five seasons of sharp, raspy, and hilariously cynical dialogue. Abbi Jacobson didn't just voice a character; she created a modern icon for anyone who feels like they're failing at being "royal" in their own lives.