Brief Summary
In this episode of Dub Talk, Youngster Jett and LastZet discuss the English dub of "Pokémon I Choose You." They share their personal histories with the Pokémon franchise, discuss the ADR direction and scriptwriting, and compare the dub to the original For Kids dub. They also analyze the performances of the voice actors for Team Rocket, new characters like Verity, Sorrel, and Cross, and the main leads, Ash and Pikachu. The hosts also share their final thoughts on the movie, discussing its strengths and weaknesses, and whether or not it's worth watching for long-term fans of the series.
- The dub is generally serviceable but has some issues with naturalism and the score.
- The voice acting for Ash and Pikachu is a highlight, while Team Rocket's voices don't quite measure up to the original For Kids cast.
- The movie is a nostalgic trip for long-term fans but has some structural issues and too many subplots.
Intro
Youngster Jett and LastZet introduce the episode, focusing on the English dub of the Pokémon movie "I Choose You." They mention that they will be discussing their personal experiences with Pokémon, the quality of the dub, and the voice acting performances.
Personal History with Pokémon
LastZet recounts his early experiences with Pokémon, starting with watching the anime on Jetix and playing the video games. He expresses his fondness for Pikachu and his preference for the story in Digimon over Pokémon at the time. He also shares memories of collecting Pokémon cards and discovering game tips and tricks. Jett recalls watching Pokémon before school and getting into the games with Gold and Silver versions. He also remembers struggling to save his game initially and his brother tricking him in the card game.
ADR Direction and Scriptwriting
The hosts discuss the ADR direction by Lisa Ortiz and the scriptwriting by James Carter Cathcart. Jett believes they did a good job overall, with solid writing and directing. LastZet agrees, noting that the dub is pretty solid, although some voices aren't consistent with what he remembers from the show.
For Kids Dub Comparison
LastZet expresses his attachment to the old For Kids dub of Pokémon and his initial disappointment when The Pokémon Company took over dub production. He notes that while For Kids had localization issues, the Pokémon Company dub sometimes lacks naturalism. Jett agrees, mentioning that the For Kids dub had good voice actors but bad direction. They both feel that the new dub is serviceable but lacks the passion of the original.
Dub Score
The hosts discuss the dub score, with LastZet noting that it was not very good and lacked the emotional impact of the music in the earlier films. Jett agrees, mentioning that the For Kids dub had great orchestral scores and ending theme songs. They both feel that the new score is bland in comparison.
Team Rocket Voice Actors
The hosts discuss the voice actors for Team Rocket: Michele Knotz as Jesse, James Carter Cathcart as James, and an unmentioned voice actor for Meowth. Jett expresses his disappointment with the new voices, as they don't match his image of the characters from the For Kids dub. LastZet agrees, noting that the new actors seem to be emulating the original voices, but it doesn't quite work.
New Characters: Verity, Sorrel, and Cross
The hosts discuss the new characters introduced in the movie: Verity (voiced by Suzy Myers), Sorrel (voiced by David Oliver Nelson), and Cross (voiced by Billy Bob Thompson). Jett feels that Verity had the least to do in the film, while Sorrel and Cross had more developed character arcs. LastZet thinks Verity's voice acting was the best of the group, while Sorrel's was OneNote.
Ash and Pikachu Voice Actors
The hosts discuss the voice actors for the main leads: Sarah Natochenny as Ash Ketchum and Ikue Ōtani (Japanese) and Kate Bristol (English) as Pikachu. Jett praises Natochenny's performance, saying she sounds nearly identical to what he recalls from Ash. He also loves Pikachu's voice acting, both in Japanese and English. LastZet agrees, noting that Natochenny has improved a lot since taking over the role and that Ōtani and Bristol were great as Pikachu.
Ash's Character Arc and Movie Structure
LastZet appreciates that Ash has something to do in the movie and a bit of a character arc. Jett notes that the movie is structured differently from most Pokémon movies, combining character development from the first episodes of the show. He feels like it flows more like a few extended episodes rather than a movie.
Final Thoughts
Jett summarizes his thoughts on the movie, stating that it's hit-or-miss in terms of voice acting. He enjoyed Ash and Pikachu's performances and thought Verity was the best of the side cast, but Team Rocket's voices took him out of the film. LastZet concludes that the dub is serviceable and that the movie is a nostalgic trip for long-term fans.
