There\u2019s something in the air this spring. Talking-animal movies, so often seen as the domain of kids and kids alone, are seeping into the adult mainstream. In March, it was Pixar\u2019s Hoppers<\/em>\u2014an animated film about a human who uploads her consciousness into a lifelike animal robot\u2014which was covered in The New Yorker<\/em><\/a> and featured the voices of Jon Hamm<\/a>, Meryl Streep,<\/a> Bobby Moynihan, and more. Now it\u2019s The Sheep Detectives<\/em>, which got a rave review in The New York Times<\/em><\/a> and at least one Vogue<\/em> editor found to be the hottest ticket in town when it opened last weekend.<\/p>\n The Sheep Detectives<\/em> boasts a similarly star-studded cast to Hoppers<\/em>, though in this case, some performers (Hugh Jackman,<\/a> Emma Thompson, Hong Chau)<\/a> retain their human form. But their fleecy companions are voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus<\/a> as the smartest sheep, Lily; Bella Ramsey<\/a> as Zora, who is full of questions (not least of which: What\u2019s the point of human life if it could all end tomorrow?);<\/em> Bryan Cranston<\/a> as Sebastian the loner; Patrick Stewart as the dignified Sir Richfield; Regina Hall as the fluffy, gorgeous, deservedly diva-like Cloud; Chris O\u2019Dowd as Mopple (who is the only one who remembers things); and Brett Goldstein as rowdy twin rams Ronnie and Reggie.<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t yet heard, The Sheep Detectives<\/em> (a passion project directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin) tells the story of a flock of Agatha Christie-style mystery-loving sheep, who set out to solve the murder of their shepherd (Jackman). Even in the positively weird setting of a weekday matinee, I found myself both laughing and on the verge of tears. This is all to say: Animal movies seem to be firmly becoming the province of award-winning actors, top comedic talents, and seasoned legends of the stage.<\/p>\n So, we thought: Who should voice some of the internet\u2019s other favorite (non-animated) animals of late? Without further ado\u2014in a bit of slightly unhinged fare for your week\u2014here is our dream casting for the next strangely poignant animal movie.<\/p>\n Photo: Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nChonkers<\/h2>\n
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