Don’t call it merely a children’s film. The Cat in the Hat, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s new animated feature, promises to amuse the younger audience while also addressing adults, offering multiple levels of interpretation and a story that goes beyond gags and laughter. They shared this in a preview with Stefano Fresi and Herbert Ballerina, the Italian voices of the film and guests at Lucca Comics & Games, during the Italian premiere, scheduled for October 31 at the Cinema Astra.
The Cat in the Hat: What the animated film is about with the voices of Stefano Fresi and Herbert Ballerina
Directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, The Cat in the Hat will arrive in Italian theaters on November 5, 2026, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. For the first time, the famous character born from Dr. Seuss’s imagination becomes the lead in a feature-length animated film for the big screen. In the original version, the Cat is voiced by Bill Hader, while in the Italian version Stefano Fresi voices the Cat and Herbert Ballerina lends his voice to Waffle. The story follows the protagonist on his most challenging mission: on behalf of the I.I.I.I. (Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration Ltd.), he must bring a smile back to Gabby and Sebastian, two siblings dealing with moving to a new city. For the famous agent of chaos, known for always exaggerating a little too much, it will be a defining moment to prove his worth and not lose his magical hat.
Stefano Fresi and Herbert Ballerina: a new challenge in voice acting
The two actors spoke about their relationship with voice acting and the difficulties of giving voice to such distinctive characters. Fresi, who had already had some experience in animation, first wanted to emphasize the respect due to a profession different from acting: “It’s a job completely different from ours, complicated and difficult. Italian voice actors are extraordinary.” Playing the Cat allowed him to explore a range of vocal nuances, shifting from intimate moments to the character’s outbursts of madness. “When you dub a bringer of chaos like the Cat, you’re asked to use a voice that spans different registers. This allowed us to play a lot and it was a lot of fun.”
For Herbert Ballerina, making his dubbing debut, the challenge was confronting a character distinctly distant from his own personality. “It’s a character that doesn’t resemble me at all, because he’s orderly, he has a conscience, says the right things, and above all speaks with clear diction. For me, it was a truly difficult job,” the Molisan actor noted, recalling the valuable help he received from Massimiliano Manfredi, the dubbing director. “He gave me some advice and suggested a few tricks for approaching the dubbing. Thanks to his help I was able to undertake this experience. I wouldn’t say I nailed it, but close: you can’t even recognize my voice!”
The strengths of a film for everyone
The discussion then moved to the relationship between humor and a young audience. For Stefano Fresi, the secret to connecting with children isn’t about crafting a synthetic language or forcing something to appeal to them at all costs. “Young kids aren’t fooled; they recognize the sincerity of someone who is doing something,” the actor stated, explaining why it’s important to address the little ones with the same respect reserved for adults. Herbert Ballerina, now beloved especially by both “youngest and oldest” audiences thanks in part to Affari Tuoi (as he himself admits), added that the youngest viewers often notice aspects in the performances that the actors themselves hadn’t considered: “They see in what you do something you hadn’t seen yourself. They pick up things you might not have noticed, and that’s very beautiful.” And it was Fresi who emphasized the film’s ability to engage viewers of different ages, identifying cross-generational appeal as one of its strengths: “For many adults, parents, there’s a story that speaks to them directly on a personal level. It isn’t just a cartoon you take your child to see. It’s for everyone.”
What is Stefano Fresi and Herbert Ballerina’s magical hat?
To close, we asked the two actors what their own personal magical hat might be: their secret weapon to brighten others and bring a bit of joy to daily life. Stefano Fresi’s answer tied to his profession: “The desire to keep doing this wonderful game that is ours.” As for Herbert Ballerina, the secret is decidedly more irreverent: “I’ve always protected myself by saying nonsense.” A line that drew a big laugh and well captures his approach to comedy and his ability to never take himself too seriously. The release of The Cat in the Hat is in cinemas from November 5, 2026.
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