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November 10, 2024, marks the 25th anniversary ofThe First Movies English release.
ThePokemonanime had premiered only 11 months beforeThe FirstMovieopened at No.
There was no more prep time, not many more takes, and not much more pay.
But, they did get to use a nicer recording studio.
The firstPokemonmovie wasout in Japanbefore the first episode of the TV show aired in America.
Did that mean it was on your radar from the start of your time voicing Ash on the show?
Somehow, I still auditioned, which seems quite irresponsible of me.
It was such an amazing show to work on, but all of us voice actors were just working.
Did you watch the Japanese version before recording your lines?
We didnt have the luxury to try a take and work on it.
You look at the script, look at the screen, and then do it.
Was that the same process for the movie?Same process.
But we still worked at it the same way we approached the series.
I read that there was talk ofgetting Leonardo DiCaprio to voice Ashfor the movie.
Had you heard that?I have never heard that before.
That cant possibly be true.
Theyre paying for the emotion and the voice that they know and for the character to come alive.
Also, fitting the lip flap is such a specific talent.
It would have taken a lot longer, and they didnt pay very much.
Wow, that would have been such a different thing.
You know, Ash is [does the Ash voice]kind of in here, or whatever.
How attached were you to Ash at this point?
Was it just a gig, or did it connect on a deeper level?Day one.
I would say even at the audition.
I loved the energy and the positivity that Ash has.
From day one, I could just understand him.
I gave my hundred percent, my whole heart to him.
The movie was icing on that first seasons cake.
I certainly didnt say Now that it matters to people, it matters to me.
When did you learn about Ashs death scene?
I learned about it right when it came up on the page.
We didnt evenpreviewthe scene, I was just acting in the moment.
Hes running and he dives and is turned to stone.
With dubbing, you only see where your lines are.
you’ve got the option to see what hes going through.
My role, as the actor, is to breathe life into the character.
You have to believe every moment.
You see that hes just given his life.
Even though its just a breath, its full of subtext.
Thats the glory of doing any cartoon.
you’re free to (quickly!)
layer in other emotions or other ideas.
When Pikachus almost sobbing, we would have skipped that in the studio.
Thats one thing that makes me cry, when I see the movie.
Its so intense and beautiful.
This is a movie for kids!
There are so many deep lessons in it.
Its kind of burned in my brain with him reaching and hes just laying there and everyone is shocked.
Everyone in the audience is shocked.
That Ikue Otani can do that by just saying pika is amazing.
Is that something that was on your radar when you were doing voiceover work in the 90s?
Nothing that we did for the movie or the series was on the fly.
They had their reasons for it.
I love Rica Matsumoto so much, and what I know of her Ash, I adore.
So I should probably watch that.
I just focus on what Im working on, and Ive never only had one job.
Even working onPokemon, I had I dont know how many other jobs at the same time.
And when youre dubbing, you just need to step into a moment and play that moment.
You just have to bring your best and then adapt to whatever the director is asking of you.
It was never necessary and it probably wouldnt have helped anything had I been watching those original Japanese episodes.
What was it like after the movie opened No.
1 at the box office?It was so amazing.
I got to go to the opening in Los Angeles.
We did all of the recording in New York.
I remember going into the theater and it looked empty.
It was full of kids and their parents.
It was just amazing to hear reactions from kids.
Then in Times Square, youd see the billboard of the movie.
To be able to say, Yeah, Im in that, was a banner moment.
I cant believe were still talking about it now.
Its crazy and wonderful.
Most days on the show, we just worked in the little studio and then we went home.
None of that merchandise was around where we started recording.
We had our job, and this other stuff was happening outside.
Did returning to recording to the normal show feel like a letdown?No, not at all.
The thing is its the characters that youre playing.
It doesnt matter the medium.
Whether its on the small screen in the studio or the big screen, it doesnt matter.
Its the heart of the characters.
Including once inLucario and the Mystery of Mew, which was the last movie you voiced him in.
There is that self-sacrifice.
Even from the first episode, he rescues Pikachu and puts himself out there for the Spearow.
Like, Come and get me!
I think its a good message.
But its interesting though that its poor little Ash who keeps getting bashed.
Well, Pikachus usually taking the knocks.Thats true.
Ash can take it.
