When should a Pokemon have a dub voice (or not)?

[BulbaTCG]

This has been bouncing around in my head since I first discovered certain Pokemon retain their Japanese voices in the dub. I always figured that if a Pokemon has the same name in Japanese, or a very similar one (e.g. Buoysel/Buizel) they would keep their original voice. But most recently in Sun and Moon, Pokemon like Togedemaru, Mimikyu and Rowlet have dub voices, even though they sound practically the same in the original and I'm sure people wouldn't flip out if they retained those voices.

From Kanto to DP, you'd find a lot more instances where a Pokemon would keep its Japanese voice, even if they had a completely different name in English (e.g. Charizard, Onix), or they'd make a sound that sounds nothing like their name in any language (e.g. Staryu, Victreebel, Tauros).

My question is, when do you think it's appropriate for a Pokemon to have a dub voice, and are there any instances where you thought it was kind of unnecessary for a Pokemon to have one?

 

[BigDocFan]

Was quite surprised when Persian was given a dub voice, personally I prefer them to have dub voices

 

[ii kanji]

Most of them are unnecessary as far as I'm concerned - same/similar sounding names and unrelated cries might as well be brought over right? I was both surprised and annoyed that they felt the need to dub Mimikyu's excellent death rattle, especially as it's nothing other than a poor mimic of the original.

That being said, if Weezing for example (who incidentally has one of my fave voices which cracks me up every time I hear it) said "Matadogas!" every time it opened it's mouth, it would be quite obviously incongruent.

 

[Sakuraa]

I think a Pokemon should have a dubbed voice if the name is super different between the Japanese name and 'insert dubbed language' name. Like say, the starters. I think most of them have radically different names across the languages.

If it's a Pokemon like say, Dragonite, that just roars, then I don't think a dubbed voice is really necessary.

 

[Shadao]

English dubbed Pokémon voices are always something for me to be wary of. Most of the time, the voices don't even try to sound like real animals these days. Like they didn't care. There is an art of Pokémon Speak.

In my view, English dub should only apply if:

A) The English and Japanese names are completely different
B) There is no way of making Japanese voice sound animalistic natural and unintelligeable
C) English dub sounds animalistic and natural

For example, Piplup saying "Piplup" rather than "Pocha" is acceptable because it is very easy and surreal to hear Pochama when everyone else says Piplup. But something like Talonflame should keep its "Firarrow" cry because the word "Talonflame" is just a dumb cry.

 

[BulbaTCG]

English dubbed Pokémon voices are always something for me to be wary of. Most of the time, the voices don't even try to sound like real animals these days. Like they didn't care. There is an art of Pokémon Speak.

In my view, English dub should only apply if:

A) The English and Japanese names are completely different
B) There is no way of making Japanese voice sound animalistic natural and unintelligeable
C) English dub sounds animalistic and natural

For example, Piplup saying "Piplup" rather than "Pocha" is acceptable because it is very easy and surreal to hear Pochama when everyone else says Piplup. But something like Talonflame should keep its "Firarrow" cry because the word "Talonflame" is just a dumb cry.

Yeah, I remember hearing Talonflame's English voice and just wondering why they didn't just use the original. It would just sound like it's screeching like a bird, you know?

 

[Gabo2oo]

Rule #1:
Don't dub Victreebel.

 

[technickal]

When it doesn't just make a sound and when the name is different.

Stuff like Eevee is questionable, because while the name is similar in Japanese, it's pronounced noticeably differently.

 

[SinnohEevee]

When it doesn't just make a sound and when the name is different.

Stuff like Eevee is questionable, because while the name is similar in Japanese, it's pronounced noticeably differently.

I personally prefer the game cry of Eevee. It's cuter.

 

[Charmander4]

I mean if the name is Hitokage in Japanese and Charmander in English, it's pretty self explanatory. Michael Haigney was a great Charmander.

 

[BulbaTCG]

When it doesn't just make a sound and when the name is different.

Stuff like Eevee is questionable, because while the name is similar in Japanese, it's pronounced noticeably differently.

Yeah, in terms of Eevee they tend to flip-flop on that one. Serena's Eevee mainly kept its Japanese voice in the dub, but Kayzie Rogers would fill in every now and again.