Channing Tatum has to trick daughter to watch his animation Smallfoot

No stranger to voicing animated characters in The Book Of Life and The Lego Movie, Channing Tatum takes on what may be his biggest role to date in Smallfoot.

In the new animated family film, the 38-year-old US actor plays lead character Migo, a yeti who sets out to discover whether humans exist when news of a "smallfoot" throws the community into an uproar.

Opening here on Sept 27, the voice cast also includes Zendaya, Common and James Corden.

What drew you to the film?

I love stories and myths, and I thought the way the film-makers reversed the Bigfoot myth was really clever.

Also, I grew up on Looney Tunes and the Warner Bros style of animation and physical comedy. I miss Wile E. Coyote, Bugs Bunny and Tom and Jerry. When I heard about the plans for Smallfoot and how it would pay homage to that Looney Tunes style and comedy, I thought it could be a lot of fun.

Which scene in Smallfoot reflects that style?

There are several, but I remember one of the first animatics (a rough draft) that I was shown, which led me to think, 'Yeah, this could really work.'

Migo journeys below the clouds of his Yeti village for the first time. He is falling and runs out of breath, and he is going, 'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...' - and he is still falling (laughs).

It is a real Wile E. Coyote moment right out of my childhood. It got a lot of laughs out of me. I wanted to explore this further and create a character that would live in this world.

Is your five-year-old daughter looking forward to seeing Smallfoot with you?

Of course I want to experience this film with her. But I am going to have to trick her into seeing this with me because she does not like anything I appear in (laughs).

When I ask if she wants to see a film I am in, her answer is, 'No, I want to see a real movie.'

I tell her, 'It is a real movie, please watch it.'

I have a plan to make sure she sees Smallfoot: I am not telling her I am in the movie. I will see Smallfoot with her, and if she likes it, I am going to be like, 'Haha, daddy is in that. It is a real movie and you like it. Gotcha.'

I think she already knows because she gets a little funny when someone mentions Smallfoot. She will give me a look, like I am keeping a secret from her - which I am trying to do.

How did you find Migo's voice?

It is my voice, but it is definitely not the way I talk. There is a naivety, youthfulness and optimism in Migo's voice. I would call him the ultimate optimist because even when he thinks somebody has said something strange, he will do anything to avoid offending them.

I think director Karey Kirkpatrick heard Migo's voice before I did. Karey was my sounding board for that. I always tried to maintain an optimistic mindset and he would dial me up or down.

What was it like to work with Kirkpatrick?

He directed Over The Hedge (2006), one of my favourite animated movies. I used to be called Hammy - after the squirrel in it - because I was a hyperactive kid. I am still sometimes hyperactive.

Karey was not only working to get a good performance out of me, he was enjoying the process. He listens like an audience member. For me, that combination always creates the best results. Karey would be in the booth, directing, and at the same time, he would be laughing with me and coming up with ideas.

It is a fun process, which is impressive because making animated movies can be challenging. There is always the potential to feel overwhelmed, but the really good directors, like Karey, rise above that pressure because they love what they are doing. They find real joy making these movies. Karey is a student of cinema - and he is always trying to be better and make you better.

You worked for a day with Zendaya, who voices Meechee. What was that like?

It was great. It was the first time I have acted opposite another actor for an animated film.

Working with Zendaya was fun because she is a fantastic actress. Zendaya loves her work and you can really feel that. She wants it to be great. Our recording sessions together went by quickly because I was having fun with a beautiful, talented actress and singer (laughs).

Zendaya's song in Smallfoot is incredible. She has the voice of an angel. She can do it all.

Actor-rapper Common voices Stonekeeper. Have you had a chance to experience the song he performs in the film, Let It Lie?

I grew up on hip hop and I am a big fan of Common, so it was something to see his Stonekeeper rap in the film.