Cartoon Voice Acting Script · Cartoon character monologue
Wendell's First Pour (Nervous Teapot)
A nervous talking teapot animation script for cartoon voice practice: Wendell frets, steams, and squeaks through his first pour at a fancy tea party.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Length
- 168 words · ~1 min 7 sec
- Skills
- character voice, comic timing, pitch range
- License
- CC BY 4.0
The script
(trembling on the tray)Oh no. Oh no no no. They're coming. Everyone's sitting down. Why is everyone sitting down?
Okay, Wendell. You're a teapot. This is what you were made for. You hold the tea, you pour the tea. Hold, pour. Hold, pour. Easy.
Unless I spill. What if I spill? What if I dribble down my own spout in front of the Duchess? She has a white tablecloth! It's very white! Who chooses white?
(starting to heat up)Oh. Oh, I'm getting warm. Is it warm in here? It's warm in here. That's the water. That's fine. That's normal.
(a squeaky whistle escapes)Wheeeee! Sorry! Sorry. That was me. I do that when I'm nervous. And when I boil. Mostly when I'm nervous.
Here comes the hand. Big hand. Lovely rings. Okay. Lid on. Handle up. Spout at the cup. Not at the Duchess. Not at the Duchess...
(pouring, holding his breath)Hnnnnnnn...
(amazed)I did it. I did it! Not one drop on the tablecloth! A perfect cup! She's smiling! The Duchess is smiling at me!
(suddenly worried again)...Wait. Did she just say 'refill'?
Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0. Original script drafted with AI assistance and edited by SceneDub; any resemblance to existing characters is coincidental.
Practise it now
The teleprompter scrolls at the speed you set in words per minute. Tick "Record audio while reading" to capture a take; the audio stays in your browser until you download it.
Coaching notes
- 'Hold, pour. Hold, pour.' is Wendell's pep talk. Say it like a little chant to calm himself down, with a tiny bit more wobble each time.
- The whistle ('Wheeeee!') should start high and slide higher, then snap into a mortified 'Sorry!' The faster the switch, the funnier it is.
- Hold your breath for real on 'Hnnnnnnn...' then let the joy rush out on 'I did it.' That release is the payoff, so don't rush into it.
Try it three more ways
- Play Wendell as a very old, very proper teapot who has never once been nervous before today.
- Play him as a tiny toy teapot at a child's pretend tea party, with an extra-high, squeaky voice.
- Play him as a dramatic opera singer of a teapot who treats every pour like a grand performance.
Take it further
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the "Wendell's First Pour (Nervous Teapot)" script?
168 spoken words, about 1 min 7 sec at a conversational 150 words per minute and 1 min 18 sec at a slower 130 wpm. Your take will vary with pauses and character choices.
Can I use this script in my voice acting demo reel?
Yes. SceneDub's original scripts are licensed CC BY 4.0. You can perform, record, edit, and publish them, including in demo reels, classes, and auditions, as long as you credit "Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0" where you share the recording or the text.
How should I practise this script?
Read it silently once, then perform it with the direction above: jittery, fussy, sweetly anxious, fast and fluttery, ~165 words per minute, with sudden stops. Record a take with the teleprompter, listen back, and try one of the alternate reads to stretch your range.