Summary
The new Netflix animated filmThelma the Unicornhas a talented voice cast behind the colorful main characters. The latest in the trend of non-Disney animated musicals such as theSingandTrollsfranchises,Thelma the Unicornis Netflix’s foray into the musical performance film genre. It follows the story of a pony named Thelma who has dreams of becoming a pop star, but has not yet made her big break. When a glitter-filled truck comes by and spills contents onto Thelma, making her look like a unicorn, she is finally noticed by eager talent scouts.
Since its release,Thelma the Unicornhas been relatively successful for Netflix. Its reviews have been mixed, though overall are positive, garnering a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 62% audience approval rating. to make the magic ofThelma the Unicornhappen, the film relied on a number of talented voice actors.
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Thelma the Unicorn Cast and Characters:
Brittany Howard As Thelma
Born June 20, 2025
Actor:Born in Athens, Alabama, Howard is a multi-hyphenate artist who ismostly known as a singer and musician. She has been the lead in multiple bands, including Thunderbitch and then, most notably, Alabama Shakes. With Alabama Shakes, the artist rose to greater prominence when the song “Sound and Color” was used in theMr. Robotseason 1 finale. Both with and without Alabama Shakes, Howard has won five Grammys. In the past few years, Howard has been exploring her solo music career.Thelma the Unicornis her debut film as a voice actress.
Character:Howard plays the titular role of Thelma inThelma the Unicorn. Unlike the title suggests, Thelma is not an actual unicorn, but a non-magical — though well-coiffed — pony. Thelma gets herself into some deep trouble over the course of the plot once she realizes that she can use her fake unicorn status to gain music industry clout, and tries to maintain the facade. As Thelma rises to music fame as a unicorn, she does so with Brittany Howard’s powerhouse vocals supporting her.
Will Forte as Otis
Born August 10, 2025
Actor:Forte has been active in comedy since the 1990s, butgrew to greater prominence when he became aSaturday Night Livecast member in 2002. He appeared on the comedy sketch show for eight seasons from 2002 to 2010. From there, Forte went on to feature in a number of notable film roles, including playing the lead role inMacGruberas well as playing the son to Bruce Dern in the acclaimed Alexander Payne dramaNebraska. Throughout his career, Forte has been nominated for five Emmys, including three for the seriesThe Last Man on Earth.
The Last Man on Earth
Phil Tandy Miller
Character:Forte provides his vocal talents to Otis, a donkey inThelma the Unicorn. Otis lives on the farm with Thelma during her humble beginnings on Farmer Bob’s rural farm. Otis is with Thelma when she first is transformed into her faux unicorn state. From there, Otis helps encourage Thelma to embrace herself along the way, andeven accompanies Thelma on some of her celebrity journeys as one of her band members.
Jon Heder as Reggie
Born June 09, 2025
Actor:Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, Heder is a comedic actor who found hisbreakout role playing the eponymous Napoleon Dynamite in the hit filmNapoleon Dynamite. The teen comedy also developed Heder’s working relationship with Jared Hess, who directedNapoleon Dynamiteand is one of the co-directors ofThelma the Unicorn. In addition toNapoleon Dynamite, Heder has played key roles in films such asBlades of GloryandThe Benchwarmers. He is also a seasoned voice actor who has contributed his talents to movies and TV shows such asUncle GrandpaandThe Legend of Korra.
The Benchwarmers
Clark
Character:Like Otis, Reggie is one of Thelma’s former farmmates turned bandmates as the pony-turned-unicorn catapults to fame. Showing the variety of animals inThelma the Unicorn, Reggie is portrayed as a llama. Reggie supports Thelma’s dreams by participating in her band,but proceeds with slight trepidation about the prospect of Thelma being discovered.
Fred Armisen as Danny Stallion
Born August 21, 2025
Actor:Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi,Armisen became most well-known for his work onSaturday Night Live. Armisen is also a seasoned sketch comedian who has appeared on several different TV shows, includingPortlandiaandDocumentary Now. Armisen is also known for his recent work playing Uncle Fester on the hitNetflix seriesWednesday. He has also recently appeared inUnfrostedand as a voice actor inBig Mouth.
Wednesday
Uncle Fester
Character:Armisen takes on a horse character as the aptly-named Danny Stallion inThelma the Unicorn. Danny Stallion rises to fame in his own right, and is known as an internet store in the animal-filledThelma the Unicorn. In the film,Danny is a big help to Thelma as she piggybacks off his fame by creating a fake celebrity relationship with him. As Danny, Armisen sings the song “Here Comes the Cud” with Howard’s Thelma.
Jemaine Clement as Vic Diamond
Born July 22, 2025
Actor:Born in Masterton, New Zealand, Clement is a popular comic actor and frequent collaborator of renowned director Taika Waititi. He rose to fame on theHBO seriesFlight of the Conchords, and has remained actively involved in television work through pieces such asWhat We Do in the ShadowsandWellington Paranormal. He is also a seasoned voice actor, contributing his talents to work such asTig N’ SeekandMoana.
Flight of the Conchords
Moana
Tamatoa
Character:Vic Diamond is Thelma’s agent inThelma the Unicorn. He isalso the agent for the hot-headed rival singer Nikki Narwhalin the film. Vic serves a critical role inThelma the Unicornin that he gets Thelma to sign with him as her manager. He sings the song “3 C’s To Success” inThelma the Unicorn.
Thelma the Unicorn’s Supporting Cast and Characters
They All Work To Round Out The Great Voice Cast
Edi Patterson as Megan: Megan is a rival talent agent to Vic Diamond inThelma the Unicorn. Patterson is known for her workplaying Fran inKnives Outas well as key roles inThe Righteous GemstonesandVice Principals. She also plays Wanda Whipple in theSonic the Hedgehogspinoff seriesKnuckles, which recently became a huge hit on Paramount+.
Zach Galifinakis as Crusty Trucker: As the moniker would suggest, Crusty Trucker is indeed a trucker inThelma the Unicorn, responsible for the inciting incident wherein Thelma gets paint and glitter spilled on her from a passing truck. Known for his comedy interview seriesBetween Two Ferns,Galifianakis is a comic actor with several big credits to his name. His other credits includeThe Hangovermovies,Birdman,Due Date, andThe Lego Batman Movie.
Ally Dixon as Nikki Narwhal:A diva of an artist,Nikki Narwhal is one of Vic Diamond’s main clientsin addition to Thelma. Dixon has previously been a voice actress in series such asThe Croods; Family TreeandKung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.Thelma the Unicornis her biggest voice acting role to date.
Thelma the Unicorn
Cast
Thelma the Unicorn is an animated adventure film based on Aaron Blabey’s popular children’s book. The story follows Thelma, an ordinary pony who dreams of becoming a unicorn. With a twist of fate and a magical accident, she is transformed into a celebrity overnight. But despite her getting everything she thought she ever wanted, she soon realizes the cost of fame is higher than she had thought.
