Thread: Do you feel the voices have improved since the cast change took place?

Five years ago, the cast of the American dub of Pokemon was completely changed when Pokémon USA took over. While some liked the new voices, others thought they didn't fit the characters at all. Now that all this time has past, do you feel the voice actors have improved, or do they still have work to do? Please explain your thoughts here.

In BW, yes they all have improved tremendously. Especially James and Jessie. They actually sound like serious agents for a change instead of a British Boy in a candy store and a shrill psycho. I hope that they don't revert back to those tones when they go back to white.

As for the rest, they all have steadily improved. Sarah's rendition of Ash is actually pretty entertaining sometimes. I can see she's really trying unlike BF.

I feel that the new voice cast has improved drastically in the B/W series, especially Jimmy Zoppi. His Meowth and James are much better now!!

As for Sarah Natochenny, she can be good at times. And I'm actually enjoying her performance in the B/W series (which is a step up from her performance in D/P). But I'll admit, Sarah still doesn't live up to my expectations. Personally, I wish that Sarah would make her Ash voice sound closer to Veronica's voice. Of course, I know that the voice can't be exactly the same, so I'm not expecting that, but I do wish it would sound closer to Veronica's Ash. You know, like how Michele's Jessie sounds similar to Rachael's Jessie.

Dub-wise, I felt that the Battle Frontier season was a train wreck. It was around the Battle Dimension season where the voices began to stick and that I felt improvement from Sarah; to the point where I've begun to prefer her Ash to Veronica Taylor's (although I still prefer Veronica's May).
I've only seen the first two episodes of the Black & White dub so I can't really comment on that, but I still think Jimmy Zoppi has quite a way to go before he can make his James voice comparable to Eric Stuart's, which is annoying at the best of times. Zoppi's Meowth has certainly gotten better though, although I'm still confused as to whether I prefer Zoppi's or Maddie's rendition of the character. Bill Rogers has definitely gotten better at Brock though; which is a shame as Brock is no longer in the show.

Yes
Expect For May because she is not voiced by Veronica Taylor anymore

I agree. Veronica did a great job as May! I really enjoyed her performance! =)

Originally Posted by Joshawott

Dub-wise, I felt that the Battle Frontier season was a train wreck. It was around the Battle Dimension season where the voices began to stick and that I felt improvement from Sarah; to the point where I've begun to prefer her Ash to Veronica Taylor's (although I still prefer Veronica's May).

Well, I do agree that Sarah has come a long way since Battle Frontier. She has definitely improved, cause I finally like Sarah's Ash in B/W (which means a lot coming from me, cause I hated Sarah's performance in D/P).

However, even though I like Sarah's Ash in B/W, I will always prefer Veronica Taylor as Ash Ketchum. To me, Veronica WAS Ash.

And by the way, Joshawott, I find it interesting that you prefer Veronica's May. But you don't seem to like her Ash voice anymore. Is there any particular reason why you hate Veronica's Ash voice now? Or, have you simply not seen any episodes of the 4Kids dub for a long time, so you're just more used to Sarah now?

Looking back, I don't hear that much difference between then and now. They weren't bad then. Truly bad acting is Digimon's early Finnish dub.

While they do seem a bit better now, but I think it's because I've gotten used to them

Yes. Not too long ago, reruns of Battle Frontier episodes were on YTV in Canada (where I live) and seeing them made me think about how they improved.

No I don't feel they've improved a whole lot, though I must admit they have taken a turn for the better. Sarah is improving, and I think that Jimmy Zoppi's meowth voice is much like Nathon Price's meowth. Glad to see Ted Lewis back as Me, and I recently heard him do a voice similar to Tracy's in the 3rd episode of Black and White. Looks like PUSA is slowly but surely listening to the fans when they say "Bring back the old voice actors now!" That is a step in the improvement of the voice actors. So far, I've heard Jimmy Zoppi, Kazie Rogers, Roger Parsons, Ted Lewis, and Lisa Ortez from 4kids, so yeah, they're getting there. Now they just need to bring back Veronica Taylor, Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis, Dan Green , Alexander Davis, Nathon Price, and Raymond Johnson.

I think so. Infact I much prefer most of the new voice actors to the older ones. I like Sarah's Ash, and my favourite voice actor was Bill Rogers, which is a shame because he's not on the show anymore. I did like Veronica's Ash - it was the original, but I've become accustomed to the new voices.

Originally Posted by Croag

I think so. Infact I much prefer most of the new voice actors to the older ones. I like Sarah's Ash, and my favourite voice actor was Bill Rogers, which is a shame because he's not on the show anymore. I did like Veronica's Ash - it was the original, but I've become accustomed to the new voices.

Yeah, I had the same opinion.
Personally, though, I've never had a problem with the voice actors, new or old. I can see that they have improved over time, however.

You could say that it's just getting used to it... but I go back to pretty much any season 9 episode and still cringe at some of Sarah Natochenny's delivery as Ash (not so much when she voiced a female character) whereas I think her work on the DuArt dub has been fairly consistent. Brock was pretty bad in early season 9 too, but by early DP I already liked Bill Rogers' Brock more than Eric Sturat's. So yeah, there was definitely improvement in those regards. I think it was the fact that both of them were too hung up on being sound-alikes early on, and performed much better when they had more freedom to make the characters their own.

Michele Knotz has been pretty consistent as Jessie - but is really nailing it now that she's getting scripts that make her sound somewhat more like a real person. James and Meowth... again, much better in BW with the more serious line delivery. As goofy TR though, I think Zoppi peaked in season 10, as the scripts he wrote for himself weren't quite as ridiculous.

And May, well, Michele Knotz never really tried to immitate Veronica Taylor's May... so despite the different voice I never really had a problem with it because the acting was okay. Max was so-so, but it's not like either character is remotely relevant still.

Originally Posted by Trainer Lisa

I agree. Veronica did a great job as May! I really enjoyed her performance! =)


Well, I do agree that Sarah has come a long way since Battle Frontier. She has definitely improved, cause I finally like Sarah's Ash in B/W (which means a lot coming from me, cause I hated Sarah's performance in D/P).

However, even though I like Sarah's Ash in B/W, I will always prefer Veronica Taylor as Ash Ketchum. To me, Veronica WAS Ash.

And by the way, Joshawott, I find it interesting that you prefer Veronica's May. But you don't seem to like her Ash voice anymore. Is there any particular reason why you hate Veronica's Ash voice now? Or, have you simply not seen any episodes of the 4Kids dub for a long time, so you're just more used to Sarah now?

Well, when I rewatch the older episodes and movies, Sarah's Ash sounds a lot cleaner. That could be due to the methods of recording, but Ash sounds more like he is being voiced by a kid (Yeah I know, he IS a kid, but you know what I mean, in terms of voice clarity and quality). I still like Veronica's Ash, but I prefer Sarah's.

Sarah has improved now that you think about it, but still, Ash is not going to be the same, just as Meowth isn't going to be the same without Maddie Blaustein(rest in peace) but Sarah and Jimmy are doing well. Michele has done vary well, I barely noticed a difference when I first watched season 9.

I hope no one minds if I bump this thread. ^^;

Anyway, I just wanted to say something. I think it's really cool how TPCi got Michael Tatum on the show (he voiced Tobias). And I've heard that they recently got Vic Mignogna. Now personally, I'm not familiar with Vic's work at all (I haven't seen anything that he's been in), but Vic is a very famous VA. I know that he has a huge fanbase. And I'm curious to see who he will be playing. =)

Originally Posted by Christian Woods

Sarah has improved now that you think about it, but still, Ash is not going to be the same, just as Meowth isn't going to be the same without Maddie Blaustein(rest in peace) but Sarah and Jimmy are doing well.

I agree. I like Jimmy's work in B/W. I think he's doing a great job with both Meowth and James.

And I have to admit, I'm impressed with Sarah's recent performance in B/W. I mean, she was GREAT in the episode where Ash caught Sewaddle. I really enjoyed that episode!!

I'm just giving credit where credit is due, you know? Indeed, Sarah is good in B/W, and I can finally enjoy her Ash.

But of course, Veronica Taylor will always be my favorite VA for Ash. And not because of nostalgia, but because I really enjoy Veronica's portrayal of the character.