Local voices for foreign films

Domestic celebrities can enhance the viewing experience when they make characters in overseas animations sound local, but things can sometimes go wrong.

At a giant venue at Beijing's 751 Park, a stage was decorated like a replica of an apartment building in New York.

Then, a few minutes after the event host appeared from the door, three windows opened, with comedian Chen Peisi, actor Feng Shaofeng and Taiwan singer-actress Amber Kuo appearing from them.

Each of the guests then hugged a furry creature resembling the animal characters they perform in the voice-overs for the upcoming Hollywood animation sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2, which will open across the Chinese mainland on Friday.

In the film, Chen is the voice of the conceited rabbit Snowball, while Feng dubs the canine protagonist Max, and Kuo lends her voice to Gidget, a white Pomeranian.

As well as the three celebrities, the film also features renowned director Feng Xiaogang and actress Ma Li, who lend their voices to two of the major animal characters in the Mandarin version.

At a news conference held in the Chinese capital on June 25, the stars tried to strike a chord with local audiences through sharing personal stories about raising pets.