Ash Ketchum's Voice Actor Speaks Out About Being Ousted from Pokémon

Retirement Shock

Pokémon fans were both shocked and overjoyed this year to hear that long-time series protagonist Ash Ketchum was finally retiring. After 25 years of tough battles, Ash Ketchum became the very best Pokémon Trainer and decided to quit while he was at the top.

Unveiling the Truth

Veronica Taylor, the original voice actor for Ash, attended the London Card Show and did a meet and greet for fans. Taylor shared some insight into what happened to the iconic voice cast of Pokémon.

Unexpected Departure

Back in 2006, Ash's original voice actor Veronica Taylor, and the rest of the voice cast were left without jobs following the eighth season. The ninth season returned with a whole new cast of voice actors, leaving fans wondering about the fate of the voices they knew and loved.

Ash's Voice Cast Let Go

Taylor revealed that Pokémon USA took over the show and decided not to renew the contract with the previous voice actors. They simply said, 'We don't need any of you anymore. We've found replacements.' The original cast was abruptly let go, leaving them with a few episodes left in the eighth season.

The Silence

When asked about the reason behind the decision, Taylor admitted that she didn't know. Pokémon USA didn't provide any explanation to the voice cast. Taylor expressed her sadness about the sudden change, as the show's viewers were left with a completely different set of voices.

Love for the Series

Despite the negative experience, Taylor's love for Pokémon remains strong. She stated that she would have never left if they hadn't replaced the original cast and would be willing to return if given the opportunity.

Continuing the Pokémon Journey

If you want to read more about Pokémon, be sure to check out the best counters to the Scarlet and Violet seven-star raid.