Zul Ariffin shares experience on being part of the global cast of animated feature, "GOAT"

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Zul Ariffin shares experience on being part of the global cast of animated feature, "GOAT"

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Writer: Nisa Irina

Zul Ariffin says he's open and ready to return to the recording booth.

30 Mar - Fan-favourite actor Zul Ariffin has made it clear that he's more than happy to take on voice acting roles for animated films going forward - and honestly, he sounds pretty excited about it.

This is a fresh new chapter for Zul, full name Zulkifli Ariffin, who has long been the go-to face for action and drama on both the big and small screen. But clearly, he's enthusiastic to venture beyond.

"I'm always open and ready to do voice acting for animated films if the opportunity comes. I could do it again tomorrow, honestly. I'm glad I took up the offer - it was tough, but what an incredible experience," he shared at the premiere of the animated film "GOAT" at GSC Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur.

Zul is relaxed and jovial with the media

Zul Ariffin is the voice of Archie - exclusively for Malaysia

And what a debut it was. Zul recently made history as the first Malaysian actor to voice a character in an English-language animated film - lending his voice to Archie the rhino in Sony Pictures' latest release, "GOAT". That's a milestone worth celebrating.

Even after a decade of dominating screens, Zul is honest to admit that animation is a whole different beast. "In films, I usually improvise a lot. With voice acting, I had to mostly stick to the script. The pace is faster, and your voice has to carry so much more emotion and expression," he explained.

Here's a fun behind-the-scenes tidbit - when Zul first got the offer for "GOAT", he assumed it would be a Malay-language dub. You can imagine the nerves when he arrived at the studio and realised the script was entirely in English.

Premiere of "GOAT" at GSC Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur.

"I thought it was going to be a Malay dub. When I got to the studio and looked at the script, reality hit. They showed me some clips and I started getting nervous. Sony Pictures advised me to take it slow, and the whole team was incredibly supportive. I honestly didn't think I could pull it off - but Alhamdulillah, everything went smoothly," he recalled.

Impressively, the entire recording session was wrapped up in just two and a half hours. On a personal note, Zul revealed he's a die-hard fan of the Disney classic "The Lion King" - though perhaps surprisingly, it's the villain Scar, not Simba, who has his heart.

Zul also took the moment to express a broader hope; that the local entertainment industry opens more doors for Malaysian talents to be part of animated voice acting projects.

"GOAT" is currently showing in cinemas nationwide from 19 March 2026. Don't miss it!