Aileen Quinn

Description
Aileen Quinn is an American actress, singer, and dancer who provided the voice for the lead role of Dorothy Gale in the 1982 anime feature film The Wizard of Oz. Born in Yardley, Pennsylvania, in 1971, Quinn is best known for her live-action performance as the title character in the film Annie the same year, a role that earned her two Golden Globe nominations. Her involvement in The Wizard of Oz came during this period of her career as a prominent child actor.

The Wizard of Oz is a Japanese anime production by Toho and the Topcraft studio, the latter of which would later form the core of Studio Ghibli. The film features a score by renowned composer Joe Hisaishi. In a notable production quirk, the English-language version, featuring Quinn, was released in the United States in 1982, while the original Japanese version was not released until 1986. For her role, Quinn not only voiced Dorothy but also performed three of the film's songs, including the main theme "It's Strictly Up to You," for which the English lyrics were written by Sammy Cahn. The English-language cast also included Lorne Greene as the voice of The Wizard.

Outside of The Wizard of Oz, Quinn's other work in animation appears to be limited. She also voiced the character Brown-Eyed Susan in the 1983 animated television special The Charmkins. Her primary career has been focused on live-action film and theater, with extensive work in regional theater and on Broadway national tours in productions such as Fiddler on the Roof and Peter Pan. In her later career, she became an adjunct theater professor at Monmouth University and lead singer for her rockabilly band, Aileen Quinn and The Leapin' Lizards. Her contribution to anime voice acting remains defined by her leading role in this unique English-first production of The Wizard of Oz.
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