Pokemon Voice Actors Canned!

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Anime News Network reported:

According to several confirmed sources, the entire Pokemon voice cast is being replaced for the Tenth Anniversary Special and following seasons. "We who work on the show care very much about it and are heartbroken over the possibility of not continuing production," says Veronica Taylor, who has played Ash since 1998. "Unfortunately we have no say in what is going on. We are simply forced to wait for the outcome."

This must be really rough: to be let go after having worked for a really popular anime for upwards of 10 years. One wonders why Pokemon USA (the guys who now hold the Pokemon license) would let these GREAT V/A's go--and once more, why are they not doing the ten year anneversary special?

[DragonSlayer]

woe, as much as pokemon isnt big as an anime its a huge show and thats pretty big. its wierd they woul d fire them for the tenth special. that really sucks.

[MorwenLaicoriel]

It's too bad, since the VAs on Pokemon were fairly good. The newer ones probably won't be that great...

I guess the VAs weren't 'american enough' for 4Kids. XD

[beau99]

I guess the VAs weren't 'american enough' for 4Kids. XD

4Kids didn't let them go, though. Pokemon USA did.

I feel really sorry for Veronica Taylor and Rachel Lillis now. At least Eric Stuart still has Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

[MorwenLaicoriel]

4Kids didn't let them go, though. Pokemon USA did.

I feel really sorry for Veronica Taylor and Rachel Lillis now. At least Eric Stuart still has Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

Ahhh, gotcha. I wonder who they're going to hire now, then...

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Ahhh, gotcha. I wonder who they're going to hire now, then...

According to ANN, they're gettting "Sound Alikes" to replace the originals for the Anneversary special and 'for subsequent seasons thereafter..." There's no cast list for the new season, though...I'll dig deeper and find out more.

[Rocketshipper]

*kills pokemon USA* You know, I think I'd like to give the license back to 4kids. How dare they even consider fireing the CPM actors!!! They could have easily kept them, it;s not like they're owned by 4kids. The one glimmer of hope is that the new voices on the 10th Anniversary special are being introduced as a test run before the final decision of whether or not to use them in season 9 and onward, so if they get bad responses they might reconsider the decision. Hopefully serebii.net and bulbagarden's "save the dub" campaign will help things as well

[Joshua Christopher]

At least Eric Stuart still has Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

...Man, ya know, I don't think that's really much of a compliment to him.

I do feel bad, even if I don't nor have watched PokeMon. At least I thought the manga was pretty fun.

[beau99]

...Man, ya know, I don't think that's really much of a compliment to him.

I actually find it's dub quite enjoyable.

[GrubbTheFragger]

man thats a shock after ten yrs they loss there voice acters*remembers watching it back when he was little*

[Myoti]

I don't know. I was never a fan of Ash's voice. >.<

[zelda]

this is so sad.... i love that show....

[mitsuki lover]

They'll all probably be working at new jobs before you know it.There aren't that many veteran VAs running around so I doubt they'll be unemployed for too long.

[beau99]

They'll all probably be working at new jobs before you know it.There aren't that many veteran VAs running around so I doubt they'll be unemployed for too long.

Well, it's well-known that 4Kids hates Rachel Lillis anyway, so I doubt she'll be doing anything major again, unless she switches companies.

As for Veronica Taylor, she's currently got a small role in One Piece, and I don't know about her future yet.

Eric Stuart has Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and a music career, so he's set.

The other actors I have no idea about.

[TrigunX89]

I feel bad for the V/A's, too. No matter who replaces them, it just won't be enjoyable after hearing the same voices for 8 years. I don't really watch the show anymore, but I have many fond memories of it.

Does anyone know why they're doing this?

[DragonSlayer]

i wish I knew I but I agree with you, the show just wont be the same if they really go.

[RedMage]

Well, it's well-known that 4Kids hates Rachel Lillis anyway, so I doubt she'll be doing anything major again, unless she switches companies.

As for Veronica Taylor, she's currently got a small role in One Piece, and I don't know about her future yet.

It's not well known to me, but then I never followed the Pokemon anime. What's their problem with her?

[beau99]

It's not well known to me, but then I never followed the Pokemon anime. What's their problem with her?

I don't know what they have against her.

I thought she did an excellent Misty and Jessie.

She also does Jigglypuff and Horsea, though those don't take much effort.

[RedMage]

I don't know what they have against her.

I thought she did an excellent Misty and Jessie.

She also does Jigglypuff and Horsea, though those don't take much effort.

I meant what's happened that's made it well known they hate her?

[beau99]

Well, she posted a few things on her now-defunct website, for starters.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

I visited her website--it's pretty cool...when it was up to date.

::rimshot::

Anyway...there's an audio file on the main page with her as Ash and his mom welcoming you to the website. I got to give her props--she's one of the greats. I have a sinking feeling that with the change of V/A's will come the end of Pokemon as we knew it.

[Puguni]

Maybe Ash finally went through puberty. :|

But seriously, this is going to be weird. +_+;;

[mitsuki lover]

Maybe Ash finally discovered he liked Misty more than Pickachu!

[Kkun]

Either the voice acting for Pokemon has really gotten terrible or I heard the new voices. They were nothing like I rememered. I haven't watched Pokemon in several years, but these new voices were terrible. Brock sounded horrendous. That was kind of disappointing.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Either the voice acting for Pokemon has really gotten terrible or I heard the new voices. They were nothing like I rememered. I haven't watched Pokemon in several years, but these new voices were terrible. Brock sounded horrendous. That was kind of disappointing.

That must have been the 10 year anneversary thing they were talking about on the web. I didn't see it, but it was reported that the special would have the new voice actors.

It took ten years, but I guess we can finally say that Ash has hit puberty. Better late than never.

[Kkun]

That must have been the 10 year anneversary thing they were talking about on the web. I didn't see it, but it was reported that the special would have the new voice actors.

It took ten years, but I guess we can finally say that Ash has hit puberty. Better late than never.

He didn't sound pubescent. He sounded worse, like the woman doing his voice had something caught in her throat. It was pretty horrible.

[thelostsindar]

I watched the 10 year anniversary special this morning and wanted to turn it off after the first 5 minutes. The new voices are so different, and most of them don't fit the characters at all. I really hope this isn't a permanent change.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Sorry peeps. Anime News Network Reported :

According to several confirmed sources, the entire Pokemon voice cast is being replaced for the Tenth Anniversary Special and following seasons. "We who work on the show care very much about it and are heartbroken over the possibility of not continuing production," says Veronica Taylor, who has played Ash since 1998. "Unfortunately we have no say in what is going on. We are simply forced to wait for the outcome."

Here's a link to the actual article--http://animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=8530

I can't seem to find who were the new V/A's, but from all accounts, it is a noteable change from the norm.