Veronica Taylor Answers All Our Questions About the First Time Ash Died

As a seasoned voice actor who has lent my voice to Ash Ketchum for over two decades, I can confidently say that my life has been nothing short of a Pokémon adventure. The journey started in a small studio in New York, and it’s hard to believe that it led me to where I am today – talking about the impact we made on millions of kids worldwide with this little show called Pokémon.

Ash Ketchum, who’s been leading the Pokémon series as its consistent protagonist since forever, seems ageless at 10. However, it’s been an astounding 25 years since he and Pikachu embarked on their journey to catch them all in the big screen. Remarkably, Ash has shown exceptional longevity given that he was once turned into stone and experienced a temporary demise during Pokémon: The First Movie.

2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the English release of “The First Movie,” a groundbreaking milestone for Pokémon. This film, which follows Ash, Misty, and Brock as they navigate a mysterious island entangled in Mewtwo’s plot for revenge against the world that created him, was a pinnacle moment for the Pokémon franchise. Just 11 months prior, the Pokémon anime made its debut, with “The First Movie” opening at No. 1 at the box office—a historic first for an anime movie in the U.S. As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the impact this film had on the world of animation and the hearts of Pokémon enthusiasts like myself.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can say that voicing Ash in The First Movie felt like achieving the status of a Pokémon Master for me, Veronica Taylor. Despite the fact that recording it was not a significant evolution from my regular duties on the show, this project held a special place in my heart and career.

Taylor described how the voice-recording for the show worked: instead of having rehearsals, actors would quickly glance over the script before looking at the screen and starting to dub their lines without delay. Despite the increased importance of the scenes in “The First Movie,” the rapid dubbing process remained unchanged – there was no additional preparation time, fewer retakes, and minimal pay increase. However, they were allowed to record in a more comfortable studio.

As a seasoned voice actor, I must confess that my knowledge of Pokémon was quite limited before I landed the role of Ash in the TV series. All I knew was that some Japanese show had caused a stir among children, and that it might have been linked to seizures – not exactly encouraging news for someone considering voicing a character!

When exactly were you informed about the filming of the movie?

In our Pokémon days, we didn’t usually watch the original Japanese version before recording our lines. Only on rare occasions, when there were tricky parts that left us puzzled about the joke or why it was done a certain way, would we refer back to the original. However, these instances were under tight deadlines and we didn’t have time to re-record or revise our takes. Essentially, we’d look at the script, look at the screen, and then deliver the lines without seeing the script ahead of time – a practice that has remained consistent for any anime I’ve worked on since then.

Was the method of production consistent between the movie and the series, or did anything change? The film was made in a larger setting, giving it a more expansive feel, but the approach to creating it remained similar to how we handled the series.

I haven’t heard anything about it, and I find it hard to believe that Leonardo DiCaprio would voice Ash in a movie. Have you heard something different?

The producer, Norman Grossfeld, was discussing distribution options with an executive who favored a big-name star. However, Norman firmly stated, “I’m quite confident children are familiar with Ash’s voice.” Essentially, kids aren’t buying tickets based on the star’s name; they’re drawn to the emotion, the familiar voice, and the character’s embodiment. While Leonardo DiCaprio is a fine actor, having already portrayed Ash for a year, I was more qualified to step into the role than DiCaprio would have been, given the time constraints. Moreover, matching lip movements (lip flap) is a unique skill that requires considerable effort. Considering the limited budget and time, it might not have been feasible to hire DiCaprio, and I’m unsure if he would have been interested in the project anyway.

Remarkably, that scenario would have unfolded quite differently. You see, Ash’s character is often portrayed with his distinctive voice, something like “Ash’s unique delivery“. Leonardo DiCaprio has a captivating voice indeed, yet it exudes warmth and boyish charm, which is different from the rough-and-ready, “let’s get down to business” appeal that Ash’s character typically possesses.

At this stage, I would describe my connection with Ash as quite profound, even going back to the audition process. His energy and positivity resonated strongly with me from the very beginning, and I felt an instant rapport with him. So much so, that I invested myself fully – heart and soul – into our working relationship. To me, the movie was simply a wonderful addition to the bond we had already established during the first season. It wasn’t a case of “Now that it has become important to others, it becomes important to me,” but rather, our connection transcended the professional realm and touched upon something deeper.

Did you find out about Ash’s death scene during the script reading, or was it something you discovered just before the recording session, as with most other details? Indeed, that was when I became aware of it. We didn’t even preview the scene; instead, I simply acted in response to what was on the page. In the scene, Ash runs and dives, turning into stone. Since my lines were the only parts shown during dubbing, throughout the entire time he lay there, I didn’t see how it actually looked until I watched the completed movie because I didn’t have any lines that showed the full extent of what happened to him. Therefore, the true nature of his fate was unveiled to me when I saw it in the cinema for the first time.

Were those grunts and breaths significant during recording?
Absolutely, they were. As an actor, I endeavor to bring my character to life authentically. Every moment must feel genuine and impactful. It’s a massive responsibility because it seems like he’s given everything. Even when he wakes up, there’s a transformation happening that needs to be portrayed. Though it’s just a breath, it carries profound subtext. That’s the beauty of voice acting – you can swiftly add depth and nuance to your performance.

“The emotional impact of that particular scene is largely due to Pikachu’s heartrending “pika-chuuus” as he attempts to revive Ash. Since Ikue Ōtani, who voices Pikachu in all languages, provides those sad “pikas”, did you pick up on them before your recording? It’s a moment that always brings tears to my eyes when watching the movie; it is incredibly moving and beautiful.

Back when I first watched it unfold on the big screen, I was absolutely blown away. It’s a film made for young ones yet brimming with profound teachings. The scene where he reaches out, then collapses, left an indelible mark on me. The audience was as stunned as if they were witnessing it in real life. And there was Pikachu, just like any loving parent would be, rushing to help. It’s incredible to think that Ikue Ōtani can evoke such emotion with just a simple “pika.

As for the changes made in the English version of the movie compared to its Japanese counterpart, such as portraying Mewtwo as a more distinct antagonist, I wasn’t privy to much information about this during my work in voiceovers in the ’90s. However, what I do know is that any alterations made were approved by Japan for localization purposes. The adjustments we made were not impromptu; they had their reasons for it.

Since I’ve never watched the movie in its original Japanese version, I can’t pinpoint the differences precisely. Yet, considering my admiration for Rica Matsumoto, particularly her role as Ash, it seems long overdue for me to watch it. After all, I have a soft spot for her performances.

Have you noticed how many of the original Japanese Pokémon series have I watched? To be honest, my schedule hasn’t allowed much time for that. Instead, I concentrate on what I’m engaged with at the moment and juggle multiple tasks, including work. Even while working on Pokémon, I was involved in several other jobs simultaneously. When dubbing, you need to immerse yourself in a particular moment and play it as authentically as possible. There’s no room for thinking “Oh, I just saw the Japanese version and this part was slightly different.” You simply have to give your best performance and adjust according to the director’s instructions. In fact, watching those original Japanese episodes would not have been essential or beneficial during my work on Pokémon.

After our film topped the box office charts, the atmosphere was electrifying! I was fortunate enough to attend the premiere in Los Angeles. Interestingly, most of the recording took place in New York City. Upon entering the theater, it seemed almost deserted, but upon closer inspection, it was filled primarily with children and their parents who were too small for their heads to be visible above the seats. Hearing the kids’ reactions was a truly memorable experience. Then, in Times Square, there was a giant billboard displaying our movie, featuring only Pokémon characters. It was such an incredible feeling to be able to say, “Yes, I’m part of that.

It’s hard to believe we’re still discussing it, yet it’s both astonishing and delightful. Most days on the program, we’d just work in our small studio before heading home. If you weren’t reading about kids purchasing cards or similar items in The New York Times, you wouldn’t have known how much children were into it. None of that merchandise was present when we began recording. Our responsibilities were confined to the show, while this other phenomenon was unfolding externally. It took me by surprise, and it gave us a boost when we returned for season two.

Was going back to the regular show a bit underwhelming? Not at all. To be honest, it’s not about the medium we perform in, whether it’s on stage in a studio or on a large screen. What truly matters is the essence of the characters we portray.

I’ve continued playing Pokémon games, but I haven’t followed the anime closely. So, it came as a shock to me during my preparations for this interview that Ash has actually been revived multiple times since The First Movie.

In one of Lucario’s movies, namely “Lucario and the Mystery of Mew,” which was your last time voicing him, is it striking how Pokémon consistently revisits this well? Well, we see Ash as a character who’s always ready to take risks for those he cherishes. It’s all about selflessness, even from day one when he saved Pikachu and stood up against Spearow with a brave “Come and get me!” It’s a valuable lesson – giving of ourselves to help others grow. However, it’s intriguing that it’s Ash who seems to bear the brunt of these recurring situations.

Well, Pikachu’s usually taking the knocks.
That’s true. Ash can take it.

The movie came out in Japan on July 18, 1998. The TV show premiered in North America on September 8, 1998.
Occasionally dub actors would preview a long, complex scene by watching it before they started recording to help get a sense of timing. But in most cases, even in this instance, they would just jump straight into recording on the first pass.

2024-11-09 16:54

Veronica Taylor Answers All Our Questions About the First Time Ash Died

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