Griffith Out; Widespread Change Effective for Colors, Free Riders
It was touted as “franchise changing news” by Sega Europe’s Kevin Eva on his independent radio broadcast Sunday. We opted not to cover it on it being yet another “announcement of an announcement,” the last of which was underwhelming at best. In truth, upon the actual announcement today, the only thing changing for the Sonic franchise will be the voices behind them–not the direction of the games themselves.
Sega affirmed Roger Craig Smith is the new voice of Sonic in-game minutes ago, replacing Jason Griffith, who had voiced Sonic since 2005. The 34 year old Smith has voiced numerous characters for games and ANIME, notably for both ends of the Naruto franchise, and as the voice of Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 5. For Tails, Kate Higgins assumes the role. The 40 year old is also a Naruto alum, and she has also voiced an array of game and ANIME characters. For Sega, she most recently voiced Valkryia Chronicles and MadWorld.
Mike Pollock retains his role as Dr. Eggman.
The changes are effective as of the next two Sonic games, Sonic Colors for the Nintendo Wii, and Sonic Free Riders for XBOX’s Kinect. Sega’s statement notes that “just about everybody in the ‘active’ cast” was replaced.” Knuckles is confirmed to appear in SFR, and Amy’s likely to appear in Colors, and those voices too will be changing as will others like Shadow, TSSZ News has learned, but it’s presently unclear who will assume those roles.
On Tuesday, Sonic Stadium webmaster Svend Joscelyne let half the cat out of the bag, reporting from sources Griffith was out. We’ve also learned through another independent source that the circumstances of Griffith’s depature weren’t so rosy, and we’ll give you that angle in the coming days. The third component of this is whether fans will truly will see this as “franchise changing,” as Eva touted Sunday. Do you? Talk about in our comments section. We’ll gauge fan reaction later this evening.
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How exactly was that even close to franchise changing?
While I am pleased with the news and I think after hearing these guys that they will do a good job, did they HAVE to get actors from Naruto?
Franchise changing news? Not really, the most important part of a Sonic game is the actual gameplay, not the people who voice them. If you want to help improve the voices, try improving the actual game scripts and lines we hear come out of the characters.
Now, this is big news though, and I can’t wait to hear Roger speak some lines as Sonic in Sonic Colors. But I don’t think hiring new voice actors will make the franchise in whole different in any way. It will just help improve the franchise if Roger Craig Smith handles the role of Sonic better than Jason did.
This is absolutely a game-changer for me, more than I expected Sega to give us. I really thought Griffith was really good in the last couple games, I’ll be sad to see him go. I hope I like the new voice actor.
I am, however, extremely pleased Tails is getting a new voice actor, and I am equally pleased that Eggman’s voice is not changing. =D
@Kits’Okami
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B77hss_dEX8
Roger does more than voices than just Naruto you know..
What? Why Griffith? He was the best for Sonics role. If he wont be voice of Sonic again I will be really angry. But it explains everything. I though that Sonic in Sonic Colors had strange voice. Damn.
@Kadeb
If you’re talking about the “SPIN IT” and “LAZER” that was an announcer….
Unless you mean the grunts.
Really? that was annoucer? Thanks god. But those grunts were like from Griffith. So they are same, maybe? Well, I cant judge from what I know now. I will see in future:-)
Or when he said Awesome, Perfect, Outstanding. That was announcer too?
@Kadeb
I knew it was the second I heard him. Why would Sonic sound like he’s talking into a mic in a Amusement park. :3
I hope Bella Hudson will stay to voice Blaze I see no else then to be Blaze
@Jetronic: I do know, but it’s just the fact that he and Kate have been in Naruto as well frankly disgusts me.
But I’m sure they’ll be awesome in their new roles.
Finally. Should be interesting.
@Jetronic
Yeah, its trueXD, didnt realize:-). But why not? Sonic might get money for that. maybe Eggman hired him as guideXD
I think Griffith should stay as shadow.
If this happened then there is a chance that the Japanese Sonic actors could change.
Very happy. Jason was just cheesy and annoying.
Here’s my new Sonic cast voice ideas:
Roger Craig Smith: Sonic / Metal Sonic
Kate Higgins: Tails
Mike Pollock: Eggman / Eggman Nega
Kyla Pratt: Amy
Dan Green: Knuckles / Vector / Storm
Jason Griffith: Shadow / Jet
Bella Hudson: Blaze / Wave
Pete Capella: Silver
Lani Minella: Rouge
Melissa Altro: Cream / Marine / Shade / Vanilla
David Wills: Espio
Amy Birnbaum: Charmy
Jon St. John: Omega / Big
If it means the voices are good enough that people stop talking about voices in Sonic games as if they’re evil by default? Sure, that’s franchise-changing. Or, well, fanbase-changing, hopefully.
More likely they just added a third army to the fanwar, but whatevs.
wtf Why not Ryan Drummond? lol
You guys DO know they said it wasn’t a big deal really and that the guy who originally talked about this news said he overexaggerated a bit.
I’m pretty pissed about the change for Sonic, but Tails fits.
@ Ryan
You do know that it’s the entire cast that’s changing. Silver, Blaze, Charmy, Vector, Knuckles… every character minus Eggman.
@ The InFoRmEr
No, because SEGA west where the talking about a VA change. Not SEGA japan.
@ EdwinShy
Well then it sucks to be you since she IS getting a VA change!
@ Edge
I like to see Kyla Pratt to voice Amy Rose. That would be so awsome.
@ Edge
I think other voices will change:
Jack Black: Knuckles
Emily Corkey: Charmy
Kyla Pratt: Amy
Lani Minella: Rouge / Wave
Melissa Altro: Cream / Marine / Shade / Vanilla / Blaze
Jon St. John: Omega / Big / Storm
Danny DeVito: Vector
Ryan Drummond: Silver / Jet
@ Edge
I think other voices will change:
Jack Black: Knuckles / Espio
Emily Corkey: Charmy
Kyla Pratt: Amy
Lani Minella: Rouge / Wave
Melissa Altro: Cream / Marine / Shade / Vanilla / Blaze
Jon St. John: Omega / Big / Storm
Danny DeVito: Vector
Ryan Drummond: Silver / Jet
I do expect a few older actors to return, but I don’t anticipate Ryan Drummond coming back if he’s not playing Sonic. I definitely want to see David Humphrey, Lani Minella, and Jon St. Jon make a return, though.
Jack Black as Knuckles? =D Make it happen, SEGA.
I demand that Shadow be voiced by Steve Blum.
Maybe Vic Mignogna for Silver.
I want David Humphrey to voice Shadow the Hedgehog again, and Kyla Pratt to voice Amy Rose, please SEGA!
Tis a good day for Sonic fans everywhere, but to me, I’m kinda said. I mean that while the 4kids cast was god awful in the English dub of Sonic X but up until now, they have really improve and I’m gonna miss them. Roger Craig Smith and Kate Higgins are acceptable and can’t wait to heard what they sound like in the games. Farewell 4kids (expect for Mike Pollock) shall you torture us no more.
Well it would be nice if Sonic, Shadow, and Jet had their own voices in games. (I.E. not played by the same person.)
And suddenly the previous VAs will be revered by fandom, no matter how much they hated ‘em before. Just wait.
It’s a shame IMO, I liked them well enough, but I guess it happens eventually. Good luck to the new peeps.
@ Edge
What I meant to say was the Sonic japanese va could change as well
SEGA Japan might change the Japanese Sonic VA as well.
i’m little good with shadow but i migth suck doing sonic voice but shadow easy for me no one else.
beside changeing things wow intersting sega moving to diffrenet stuff i hope we see jason playing shadow voice or me i would love to do shadow.
beside guys you will see sonic x but there is diffrenet title its coming between 2010 and 2011 somewhere you see.
Hey guys! Did you want Kyla Pratt to voice Amy Rose? She did good job as actor like Dr. Dolittle movies, Fat Albert, The Proud Family, One on One and other movies and TV shows.
JESUS YES
Well Spax3 you got your wish.
Jason GRIFFITH!!! is no more.
Somebody’s gotta email 2 hollywood actors for voice Sonic characters: Jack Black for Knuckles and Kyla Pratt as Amy.
Somebody’s gotta email 2 hollywood actors for voice Sonic characters: Jack Black for Knuckles and Kyla Pratt as Amy.
And they will email SEGA for these two new actors.
I’m all over Jack Black as Knuckles but Kyla Pratt as Amy, not so much.
I’m really glad that they gave Sonic a new voice actor! Griffith was preatty good in SU, I give him that. But naah, Jason is NOT a talanted voice actor in any way. The voice actors are NOT the most important things, but Jason and nearly all of them sucked. But I’m glad that they didn’t change Eggmans voice actor, cus he’s really good! =)
I hope they’r good. Anything si better than the old ones.
Steve Blum as shadow. Please.
Miles Cyrus as Amy
SEGA should done James Arnold Taylor as Sonic.
Johnny Deep will be perfect for Espio.
I mean Johnny Depp for Espio.
And this is franchise changing news…?
Whoever voted yes….just…wow.