The Official Voice Actor Discussion Thread

[DizneyXBirds95]

I don't want to sound insensitive to Japanese culture, but is that silence of characters whose voice actors passed away rule something that they enforce forever? I can understand not recasting for a project that they were currently working on when they passed away, but would they still enforce it 10-20 years later if the property is revisited?

I don't think so, and it largely varies on what the role that specific character from the Disney world plays, I mean Phil not speaking in Olympus in KH3 had to do with partly due to Nagai's death and also he didn't play much a role when compared to his previous KH appearances for Olympus Coliseum. Even Japanese fans who grew up with Nagai's voice of Phil from the Japanese dub of the film and the KH games would feel awkward if they choose a different actor to voice him. Of course that's subjective and debatable as we had two different actors for Winnie the Pooh in the Japanese version of the KH games before they passed away with Mitsuaki Kanuka taking over in KH3: Shun Yashiro who voiced Pooh in the first KH (until his passing in 2003) and Sukekiyo Kameyama who voiced Pooh in KH2 and BBS (until his passing in 2013).

I think They only would replace an actor/actress if the character is important and if they pass away during production of an episode of a show for instance in the 2011 adaptation of Hunter x Hunter, Ichiro Nagai voiced Chairman Netero, but when he passed away Banjo Ginga took over the role starting in the final half of the Chimera Ant arc. For Bleach, Tomoko Kawakami who originally voiced Soi Fon passed away before Houko Kuwashima took over the character due to Soi Fon appearing in some episodes. Even the same can be said when the original voice for Professor Oak and the Narrator in Pokémon Unshō Ishizuka passed away they got a new actor, along with Bulma's original voice actress Hiromi Tsuru passing away before the got a new voice actress to voice her in the later episodes of DBS. Other times if the character doesn't play a big role or the voice for this character that the actor/actress played is so iconic to be replaced they would decide not to recast them out of respect for the actor/actress (e.g. Tomuki Dan as Kisame in Naruto).

Also it isn't in Japan, but also in some American productions like in The Simpsons and some Pixar films, when the actor/actress who voiced a particular character pass away they either would recast them or in the case with the Simpsons they "retire" that character out of respect for the original actor/actress.

 

[Face My Fears]

I don't think so, and it largely varies on what the role that specific character from the Disney world plays, I mean Phil not speaking in Olympus in KH3 had to do with partly due to Nagai's death and also he didn't play much a role when compared to his previous KH appearances. Even Japanese fans who grew up with Nagai's voice of Phil from the Japanese dub of the film and the KH games would feel awkward if they choose a different actor to voice him. Of course that's subjective and debatable as we had two different actors for Winnie the Pooh in the Japanese version of the KH games before they passed away with Mitsuaki Kanuka taking over in KH3: Shun Yashiro who voiced Pooh in the first KH (until his passing in 2003) and Sukekiyo Kameyama who voiced Pooh in KH2 and BBS (until his passing in 2013).

I think They only would replace an actor/actress if the character is important and if they pass away during production of an episode of a show for instance in the 2011 adaptation of Hunter x Hunter Ichiro Nagai voiced Chairman Netero, but when he passed away Banjo Ginga took over the role starting in the final half of the Chimera Ant arc, and in Bleach Tomoko Kawakami who voiced Soi Fon passed away before Houko Kuwashima. Even the same can be said when the original voice for Professor Oak and the Narrator in Pokémon Unshō Ishizuka passed away they got a new actor, along with Bulma's original voice actress Hiromi Tsuru passing away before in later episodes of DBS. Other times if the character doesn't play a big role or they like the iconic voice for this character that the actor/actress played before their passing they would decide not to recast them out of respect for the actor/actress (e.g. Tomuki Dan in Naruto)


Also it isn't in Japan, but also in some American productions like in The Simpsons and some Pixar films, when the actor/actress who voiced a particular character pass away they either would recast them or in the case with the Simpsons they "retire" that character.

I get that and thank you for replying.

It's just I can't imagine limiting the usage of the property because of a situation like this. A Simpsons character being "retired" makes sense, but on the flip side what if it was the voice actor for Homer or Bart? Would the show just end? I suppose it's a case by case basis. I'm sure if Phil were to ever return to the KH series and be needed in a larger role, they would find a replacement.

I mean look at the Master Xehanort situation. He's been through 3 English voice actors and he's vital to the story. I did like that they respected the voice actor who voiced him in KH3 and didn't replace the work done in KH3 vanilla. But still, they had to continue on with him because ReMIND required Master Xehanort.

 

[Dandelion]

I mean look at the Master Xehanort situation. He's been through 3 English voice actors and he's vital to the story. I did like that they respected the voice actor who voiced him in KH3 and didn't replace the work done in KH3 vanilla. But still, they had to continue on with him because ReMIND required Master Xehanort.

Keep in mind, Xehanort's original voice in Japan also died before KH3, and they replaced him with his son. Vexen's voice also died, and many other Disney voices throughout the series have died -- but Disney will work on projects regardless of KH or not, so eventually Disney Character Voices will find Japanese voices for Phil and Goofy, regardless of customs. It's a case-by-case basis, but Nomura has shown he's fine with replacing original characters, given the need, and Disney's gonna do it anyway.

 

[DizneyXBirds95]

I get that and thank you for replying.

It's just I can't imagine limiting the usage of the property because of a situation like this. A Simpsons character being "retired" makes sense, but on the flip side what if it was the voice actor for Homer or Bart? Would the show just end? I suppose it's a case by case basis. I'm sure if Phil were to ever return to the KH series and be needed in a larger role, they would find a replacement.

I mean look at the Master Xehanort situation. He's been through 3 English voice actors and he's vital to the story. I did like that they respected the voice actor who voiced him in KH3 and didn't replace the work done in KH3 vanilla. But still, they had to continue on with him because ReMIND required Master Xehanort.

Don't forge the same thing happened with Vexen's voice actor Nachi Nozawa, when he passed away in October 2010 just 9 months after BBS came out. Following his death they decided to make Even be unconscious in DDD after his human form got recompleted which would explain why he didn't have any dialogue. By KH3 when Vexen/Even had a major role in the game was when they use Shigeru Chiba to take over.

Even the same can be said for Minnie not having ANY lines in KH3 due to the death of her Japanese voice actress in 2016 and why Chip and Dale were the ones mainly communicating through Sora via the Gummi Phone.

 

[PikaPal]

Dag nab it, this is not what I wanted to wake up to this morning.

Terribly saddened to confirm that Keiji Fujiwara (Axel’s Japanese VA) has passed away at the age of 55.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1250685587142524928

Keiji not only brought Axel to spectacular life but also both Reno from Final Fantasy VII and Ardyn from Final Fantasy XV in addition to other characters such as Hiroshi Nohara from Crayon Shin-chan, Hannes from Attack on Titan and Leorio from Hunter x Hunter. He was also the dubbing actor for Robert Downey Jr in the Marvel movies too.

R.I.P. Keiji Fujiwara.

 

[Absent]

The world has lost a talented man, may he rest in peace.

 

[DizneyXBirds95]

Dag nab it, this is not what I wanted to wake up to this morning.

Terribly saddened to confirm that Keiji Fujiwara (Axel’s Japanese VA) has passed away at the age of 55.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1250685587142524928

Keiji not only brought Axel to spectacular life but also both Reno from Final Fantasy VII and Ardyn from Final Fantasy XV in addition to other characters such as Hiroshi Nohara from Crayon Shin-chan, Hannes from Attack on Titan and Leorio from Hunter x Hunter. He was also the dubbing actor for Robert Downey Jr in the Marvel movies too.

R.I.P. Keiji Fujiwara.

Oh no, that sucks that this happened.

My deep condolences to his friends and family. RIP Keiji.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Bump

 

[AegisXIII]

I just finished Silicon Valley and was surprised to see Haley Joel Osment in it:

 

[WaltK]

Speaking of Haley

 

[Keyblade Knight 1st Class]

Apologies if this has already been said, but does anyone else miss Hayden Pannetiere?

 

[Soldier]

Apologies if this has already been said, but does anyone else miss Hayden Pannetiere?

Yes, I miss her. I think the last thing I saw her in was Until Dawn (where she played a motion capture character by the name of Sam).

 

[rokudamia2]

Cody Christian voiced cloud in chocobo gp so chances are if we see the ffvii cast again it's going to be the remake cast.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Cody Christian voiced cloud in chocobo gp so chances are if we see the ffvii cast again it's going to be the remake cast.

We are blessed after all the only Cloud VA that matters now

 

[rokudamia2]

Yeah his performance in the remake was great and he's not an anti vaxxer

 

[Raz]

Speaking of Haley

I guess it depends on the urethra!

 

[2 quid is good]

Cody Christian voiced cloud in chocobo gp so chances are if we see the ffvii cast again it's going to be the remake cast.

Didn't know Steve Burton was an anti vaxxer but GOD I'm gonna miss Rachael Leigh Cook and Mae Whitman A LOT. Especially Rachael, because while everyone else is doing really good soundalike performances (a few are better than the original in places) Britt Baron's take is completely different .

It's not that I dislike her or think it's bad, it's just they said the remake cast will be for remake only and I took some solace in that, because let's be honest the remake cast have in one game alone had a lot more opportunity for them to shine than the compilation cast ever had put together, and they are constantly gonna have the spotlight, I was okay with perhaps getting to hear Rachael's softer Tifa in dissidia, mobile games or (long shot I know) future KH games. Basically I didn't even realise Rachael's take on Tifa was perfect for my interpretation of the character until I heard otherwise .

On a lesser note this is a little upsetting to know George Newbern is unlikely to be Sephiroth again, dude nailed it so hard and Sephiroth at least is guaranteed to make appearances outside of the remake. I would be upset about the lack of Rick Gomez as Zack too but unless we get that WoFF sequel I don't see the character turning up in anything of note.

I just want to reiterate I don't think the remake cast are doing a bad job, it's just not to my tastes and I already dealt with that blow and accepted the compilation cast would be relegated to cameos. However, them not being asked at all is just actually quite upsetting, unless I'm blowing it out of proportion and Steve Burton in particular was not bought back bc he failed to comply with a vaccine mandate perhaps? I can but hope.

Also side note, its a little sad we likely won't be hearing Andrea Bowen again because she's the most consistent Aerith VA and always kills it imo, but we're all used to Aerith undergoing vocal surgery between every other appearance haha.

Anyway, glad I heard this tidbit now before I found out later through something bigger and had a meltdown on twitter about it. I'll always have WoFF Tifa to console me....

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

But the originals came back for KH3 ReMind so I don’t think anybody should expect anybody except Steve to be replaced

 

[2 quid is good]

But the originals came back for KH3 ReMind so I don’t think anybody should expect anybody except Steve to be replaced

That's what I keep telling myself but I'm sure SENA could just as easily go "well might as well replace them all" you know? I think I did go overboard with the pessimism though, I kinda reacted before I fully processed the information

 

[WaltK]

KHIV trailer spoiler:

Spoiler Show

This series is never going to be rid of bastard James Woods, is it?