The Pokemon community has lost an acting legend recently, and sentiments have been pouring in for the voice actor who undertook so many beloved roles in the long-running anime. The Pokemon television series or anime first aired in Japan in 1997 before coming west, and ran for 27 seasons. The content is based on the popular video game series from Nintendo, following young trainer Ash Ketchum’s journey to become the best Pokemon trainer in the world. The series spawned a spin-off series, Pokemon Chronicles, but the original run ended in 2023 to make way for a new frontier.
Throughout its longevity, the Pokemon anime has accumulated a roster of beloved characters, including the Team Rocket villains Jessie, James, and Meowth, the protagonist Ash Ketchum, and the aspiring Pokemon doctor Brock. However, the current series, Pokemon Horizons, introduces a new set of trainers to champion. Liko and Roy, from the Paldea and Kanto regions, respectively, cross paths with the Rising Volt Tacklers, who travel the world in their quest to track down the “Six Heroes.”
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Confirmed via a social media post by his wife, Martha Jacobi, it was confirmed that voice actor James Carter Cathcart had passed away at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx after a battle with throat cancer. The actor is most notably known as the English dub voice for Professor Oak, Ash’s rival Gary, and Team Rocket’s James and Meowth in the anime series, alongside other work in Yu-Gi-Oh! and One Piece. Cathcart retired from voice acting back in 2023 due to the advanced cancer, also announced in a statement by his wife, and fellow Pokemon actor Erica Schroeder recently posted a tribute after his passing, describing the actor as “One of the most joyful, exuberant, kind-hearted and talented souls.”
Fans remembered not only his vocal talents and nostalgic charm, but also the “amazing and kind person who will be remembered for generations to come,” shared by OoCPokemon on Twitter. SaoiSayre reflected on watching the anime after school and on Saturday mornings, and never knowing the actor’s talent and contributions until adulthood. The Pokemon community also lost the actor Rachael Lillis, the English dub voice of Misty and Jessie, last year, passing away at the age of 55 after a battle with breast cancer.
Considering the length of some currently-airing anime, including Pokemon that have been running for nearly three decades, it’s understandable why some anime characters have required multiple voice actors. The recognizable trainer Ash was notably voiced by Veronica Taylor for the first eight seasons, before switching to Max, Professor Ivy, and Wobbuffet actor Kayzie Rogers for a time, and then Sarah Natochenny.
Pokémon Horizons
- Release Date
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April 14, 2023
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, GBS, TSC, Nara Television
- Directors
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Fumihiro Ueno, Hiromichi Matano, Ayumi Moriyama, Yūichi Abe, Junya Koshiba, Hiroyuki Okuno, Masashi Tsukino, Makoto Ooga, Satoshi Saga
- Writers
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Kureha Matsuzawa, Naruki Nagakawa, Dai Sato, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Naohiro Fukushima, Deko Akao
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Daisuke Namikawa
Welkamo / Lucius (voice)
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Mitsuki Saiga
Chili (voice)
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Kenta Miyake
Mudoch (voice)