What's the reasoning behind the Pokemon dub voices these days?

[BulbaTCG]

This is something I've noticed since Sun and Moon started. For reasons I don't understand, less Pokemon retain their original Japanese voice, even if they simply make animal noises or their names in English are similar/the exact same. For the most part, Pokemon that kept their voices before Sun and Moon seem to stick to this pattern (Electabuzz, Zubat, Tauros), but with things like Togedemaru, Mimikyu, Rowlet, and even in cases like Togepi in the latest movie, they seem to completely forego this. What's your theory on why this is happening? I'm betting it has something to do with the music situation that the dub's been dealt with for the last few years.

 

[Dogasu]

They dubbed over Togedemaru, Mimikyu, etc? Ew. Are there any Alola pokemon who get to keep their Japanese voices in the English dub?

It's such a waste of everyone's time, money, energy, etc though. I don't know why they do it; "because TPCI" is about the only explanation I can come up with, really.

 

[BigDocFan]

I actually prefer it when Pokemon received Dubbed voices

 

[Lightning Flame Blast]

I don’t get why they changed Rowlet’s coo when it still only makes bird sounds.

 

[BulbaTCG]

They dubbed over Togedemaru, Mimikyu, etc? Ew. Are there any Alola pokemon who get to keep their Japanese voices in the English dub?

It's such a waste of everyone's time, money, energy, etc though. I don't know why they do it; "because TPCI" is about the only explanation I can come up with, really.

I don't believe there are. Everything's been dubbed over thus far, with the exception of Kiawe's Charizard.

 

[Dogasu]

Meanwhile Onix is still very clearly saying "Iwaaaaaaark" without anyone batting an eye

 

[Alola]

It is pretty silly imo. As of late, the most annoying for me is Eevee's. Eevee has the same name and pronunciation in Japan, so why they feel the need to dub over it for essentially the same sounds is beyond me.

 

[kantoskies]

Does TPCi get royalties if other language dubs use their Pokemon voices instead of the originals? If they do I could understand it, even if it is ridiculous.

I kind of get it if the original is very clearly saying its Japanese name and it wouldn't fit, but then again so many of them are subtle enough that it's not super obvious (it took me years to realize what Iwark was saying, for instance).

It burned me up when Mimikyu and Kiteruguma got dub voices. Mimikyu's is the exact same concept, only somehow worse-acted so it makes no sense. Kiteruguma's is the same idea but way, way less intimidating (and sounds much more like a woman in her 30s pretending to be a bear).

 

[Jared DiCarlo]

When Togedemaru became the first Electric Rodent Pokemon to not retain its Japanese voice, I knew something was up (although I actually really like Togedemaru’s voice in the dub). Now, after looking at the cast list for the new movie, and seeing that even Togepi has fallen victim to this, my worst fears have been realized.

 

[Yash]

Eevee having its voice changed for the new movie really puzzles me, when you consider the new games keep it without any issue.

I realize it's not as iconic, but when Let's Go makes a point of keeping both Pikachu and Eevee's voices, you'd think the anime would too.

But... TPCI.

 

[Jared DiCarlo]

Eevee having its voice changed for the new movie really puzzles me, when you consider the new games keep it without any issue.

I realize it's not as iconic, but when Let's Go makes a point of keeping both Pikachu and Eevee's voices, you'd think the anime would too.

But... TPCI.

In its very first appearance, Eevee’s voice was untouched. But I can’t think of another instance where it wasn’t dubbed.

Another bizarre case of this is with Ash’s Noivern. When he first evolved, TPCi left in his Japanese voice. But when he made his next appearance, he suddenly had a bizarre vampire-like voice by Marc Thompson. What was the point of leaving it in that one time if they were just going to dub it over after that? Stuff like this is a good reason why I only watch the Japanese version of XYZ.

 

[Silktree]

Eevee having its voice changed for the new movie really puzzles me, when you consider the new games keep it without any issue.

I realize it's not as iconic, but when Let's Go makes a point of keeping both Pikachu and Eevee's voices, you'd think the anime would too.

But... TPCI.

Aoi Yuki voiced Eevee in multiple languages for Let's Go Eevee, since its name varies. They didn't just reuse her lines.

 

[Yash]

Aoi Yuki voiced Eevee in multiple languages for Let's Go Eevee, since its name varies. They didn't just reuse her lines.

That's interesting - makes me think if they do future Let's Go games with other Pokemon (like Teddiursa as some people have suggested), they'll go the same route.

 

[Gligarman]

I'm guessing it's probably cheaper for PCI to pay their own actors.

 

[Nitro Indigo]

I've got to wonder if there are legal reasons for it, but I didn't notice Togepi's voice at all in The Power of Us.

 

[PokeMasterLA]

Is there any generation 7 Pokemon (aside from Solgaleo and Lunala) that kept it's Japanese voice in the Sun & Moon anime?

 

[RetroPokeFan]

Is there any generation 7 Pokemon (aside from Solgaleo and Lunala) that kept it's Japanese voice in the Sun & Moon anime?

Alolan Raichu?

 

[Jared DiCarlo]

Alolan Raichu?

You know, I think you’re right. Then again, Raichu has always had its voice left alone in the dub, no matter how many times it’s been recasted in Japan.

 

[BulbaTCG]

Another bizarre case of this is with Ash’s Noivern. When he first evolved, TPCi left in his Japanese voice. But when he made his next appearance, he suddenly had a bizarre vampire-like voice by Marc Thompson. What was the point of leaving it in that one time if they were just going to dub it over after that? Stuff like this is a good reason why I only watch the Japanese version of XYZ.

Funnily eough, they did that with Ash's Primeape - voiced by Hiroshi Otake in its debut episode, but then by Michael Haigney in "The Punchy Pokemon", but that was at the begining of the series and they never did it again.

 

[BigDocFan]

Funnily eough, they did that with Ash's Primeape - voiced by Hiroshi Otake in its debut episode, but then by Michael Haigney in "The Punchy Pokemon", but that was at the begining of the series and they never did it again.

It was strange, Primeape of course gets a dubbed voice now all the time, most recent being Marc Thompson