How can I help this cause?
There are countless ways. You can take a look through our current and past projects to participate and/or formulate ideas. The easiest way to express your feelings is through a letter, but you can also call PUSA/Cartoon Network. You are welcome and encouraged to start personal projects such as fanart submissions and other nifty creations. If you do so, contact us and we’ll show it off at this site!
Where can I start discussing projects and other aspects of SOVA?
SOVA members have two branches, one at
Serebii and one at
Bulbagarden. The two branches are constantly in touch with one another, although
Bulbagarden is much more popular and active.
Isn’t it too late to get the original voice actors back?
No! Absolutely not! People will say this, and they will bring your hopes down with their ignorant and biased opinions, but do not listen to them. The number one factor leading towards failure is doubt, and we cannot let that happen. Even though SOVA has been working for a year, what does it matter? Why shouldn’t we continue to fight passed that year mark for the eight years the VAs dedicated towards Pokémon?
Even if PUSA offers the voice actors to return, will they? Didn’t some of them say the fight is over?
Who knows. Each and every one of them has expressed their desire to continue voicing their characters, and many of them continually state how much they miss doing so. Even if this is so, yes, some of the VAs have admitted defeat – but that doesn’t mean they would not reprise their roles, if offered. You see, PUSA has not offered them that choice, so no one can say for sure, not even them.
What about the current cast? Are you malicious enough to allow them to get fired?
No, nor do we want them to, because the original voice actors have been there, and it’s not fair for them to know that pain, too. However, there are limitless roles these current actors can play on Pokémon, if desired, and although we feel these actors might not be right for their current roles, it does not mean they are talentless.
You are all overreacting.
Maybe. But at least we're not underreacting. We have been handed the opportunity to take action, and we're going to make use of it.
You haven't even heard the new voices yet. What if you're wrong and they're not that bad?
We have never said the new voice actors will be bad. They are not our enemy - no one is, except perhaps indifference and greed. But the new voice actors are going to be imitators of the old voice actors, and thus we know that the standard of quality will be how much they sound like the old voice actors. And in the end, only the original voice actors themselves can match their own voices. The new voice actors simply cannot best the old voice actors in this respect. We want the best, the genuine voice actors for our characters. Not substitutes.
Can't you at least wait until April 29th anyway?
And sit on the edges of our seat for over a month waiting for a special when we already know who we want? I think not. That's an entire month of action we could be taking. If you want to wait that long, fine, but don't expect the rest of us to put this campaign on hold until then.
Do the voices matter that much? Isn't it good enough if they sound pretty much like the old voices?
Yes, they do, and no, it's not. The fans have identified these voices with their respective characters for eight years. They are not just lines synched to the lip-flapping animations, they are a part of the characters' identities. And because of this, even the smallest difference is a huge difference.
Many fans have complained about the dub for years and called for change. Why are they now saying the opposite, that change is bad?
Because in this case, it is. If there is one thing the English dub has always done right, it's the voice acting. Even Pokémon USA seems to acknowledge this by finding new voice actors who sound like the old ones. Also, since voice actors are not the exclusive property of 4Kids, it is possible that we could still have the voice actors we know and love even as the dub is handed over to a new group. That would be the best way to please all fans.
But no one's had any big problems with Pokémon USA before. Why fight them over this?
I would like to emphasize the fact that we are not fighting them. They are not our enemies, nor are the imitator voice actors. Our goal is not to 'beat' Pokémon USA, but rather to persuade them into changing their minds. In fact, should this campaign be successful, it is quite likely many fans will think even higher of Pokémon USA than they did before. Conversely, if this campaign is unsuccessful and the voice actors are replaced, many fans - even those who would continue to watch the dub after the change - will lose a lot of confidence in Pokémon USA, and bitter feelings will likely arise between the company and its formerly devoted fans. There is more to this issue than what appears on the surface, most notably how highly Pokémon USA values the respect and loyalty of fans.
A lot of the fans who are speaking out seem to be in the oldest part of the fandom. Aren't most of the fans still in Elementary School? I mean, will they even notice if the voices are replaced, let alone care?
Young children are much more aware of these details than our society gives them credit for. Even if they don't know why, or haven't seen enough of the anime yet to really mind the difference, the change will certainly be noticed by even the youngest of fans. And the fandom is not as children-focused as many seem to think. To quote an interview with one of the original Pokémon developers:
But to answer your question about the maturity level of Pokémon games, I counter with this - are hide-and-seek and jump rope just for kids? The answer is no - kids love those games, but adults learn more complicated and intensive games, and soon lose sight of the fun and joy of simple games.
Even though concepts and ideas behind Pokémon seem complicated, the game is designed so that any gamer can pick it up and enjoy it. People tend to think that the anything that appeals to all ages is somewhat immature - fairy tales, for instance. Pokémon has become ageless and that is why many assume that it seems to be aimed at children.
This idea is one which resonates through all aspects of the Pokémon fandom, including the anime. Indeed, there are a multitude of Pokémon fans who are in high school, college, or even in the working world. And, as an additional note, there are parents out there whose children are fans of the show and who care about the series simply because their son or daughter cares about the series. And it is all these older fans who have the money to buy merchandise and the transportation to participate in events sponsored by Pokémon USA. Regardless of whether or not we are in the minority of the fanbase, we deserve to have our say in what the fans want from the anime.
All the information on this issue is coming from voice actors themselves. What if they're just getting the fans riled up so they can avoid having to take a pay cut to keep their roles?
Is that a chance we want to take? The majority of Pokémon fans admire the work of the voice actors, and we don't want to see them leave just as much as they don't want to lose the roles they've had for eight years. This is no time to doubt the actors whose work we appreciate. This is a time to trust and support them. If we take no action, then it is very likely that the greatest mistake for the English dub of the Pokémon anime will soon be made - and we will only have ourselves to blame for not recognizing the reality of the situation and responding.
Oh, come on, you know this all has to be about money. Why else would a voice actor care so much about keeping his or her role?
The actors have other roles - their paycheck does not seem to be the major issue here. Do you know what it's like to act? A good actor - which I don't hesitate to say all the major Pokémon voice actors are - doesn't merely read the script in a voice that he or she thinks sounds like the character. A good actor, in a sense, becomes the character they are playing, and thus it is very easy for an actor to become very attached to his or her character. I, Pie, know this feeling from only having small roles in plays and script-readings. The Pokémon voice actors have been bringing life to their characters for eight years. How attached do you think they are to these characters?
But, on the subject of money, there's still one major problem - the new voice actors are being considered because they are cheaper. Money, therefore, is most likely their primary concern. Do you really think a bunch of rabid fangirls are going to change their minds?
We can always hope. After all, the newest special is being released because Pokémon USA wants to see the response to new voice actors. If the response is an outcry in the fandom, Pokémon USA will hopefully reconsider this terrible decision. And thus, with this thought in mind, we raise our voices.
How do you know Pokémon USA is even going to look at the letters? E-mails can be deleted, letters can be thrown away...
First off, this again depends on how much Pokémon USA values the respect and loyalty of the fans. If they do care about how the fans feel - which we can only hope they do - then this should become a non-issue. Regardless of that, though, that is the reason why much of this campaign is focusing on writing hard-copy letters instead of just e-mailing them, since it is easier to delete an e-mail than it is to throw away a letter itself. Also, that is why we hope to motivate as many fans who want to keep the old VAs as possible to take action, since it is harder to ignore ten letters than one, and harder to ignore a hundred than ten, and harder to ignore a thousand than a hundred... The more people raising their voices, the louder the collective voice becomes, and the less likely they are to ignore what we have to say.
I still have my doubts. A lot of these campaigns have failed before.
And a lot have succeeded. Still, if you don't risk your energy on this campaign, that's understandable. But if you do want to see this campaign achieve its goal, even if you don't think it can, take a moment to consider - would really hurt you to write a letter telling Pokémon USA how you feel? The worst thing any of us can do is nothing, because you never know until you try.
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