Shredder has never been voiced by a Japanese man for a cartoon

[CyberCubed]

In the original cartoon he was voiced by James Avery, a black man, most notable known for being on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In the 2k3 series he was voiced by Scottie Ray, a white guy. Although Shredder was an Utrom, he still voiced the human Oroku Saki too and Saki still gave the appearance of a Japanese man.

In the Nick series, Shredder was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, another black man.


I don't know who voiced Shredder in Rise, but again I'm assuming it wasn't a Japanese. How do you feel about this? Is it politically incorrect?

[Prowler]

Well, TMNT is an American property. How many Japanese people live in USA and work as voice actors? And don't mention Americans of Japanese ancestry, because most of those probably can't even speak Japanese. So what difference would it make?

It's a cartoon. Doesn't matter. Women often voice male kids/teenagers in cartoons and anime because there aren't a lot of grown men who can mimick the high-pitched voice of a 10 year old boy. Does anyone have a problem with women voicing young male characters? No. Same goes for people voicing characters of a different ethnic background than them. It doesn't matter. Voice acting isn't the same as physically portraying a character on TV.

[mrmaczaps]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

In the original cartoon he was voiced by James Avery, a black man, most notable known for being on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In the 2k3 series he was voiced by Scottie Ray, a white guy. Although Shredder was an Utrom, he still voiced the human Oroku Saki too and Saki still gave the appearance of a Japanese man.

In the Nick series, Shredder was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, another black man.


I don't know who voiced Shredder in Rise, but again I'm assuming it wasn't a Japanese. How do you feel about this? Is it politically incorrect?

Do you need medical attention? Are you at suicide risk? You seem to love sh!t stirring the pot. Its a cartoon. It should not matter who voices a cartoon character. No real turtles voice the bros either.

[Leo656]

Whenever they do need an Asian voice actor they usually just get George Takei, anyway.

He's the Kevin Michael Richardson of Asians. "Oh MY!"

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

How do you feel about this? Is it politically incorrect?

Don't care and yes it is. That's why they are actors. They act like people they are not.
Something like this only matters to the simple-minded or to the provocative anarchist who appeals to the simple-minded.

Originally Posted by mrmaczaps

Do you need medical attention? Are you at suicide risk? You seem to love sh!t stirring the pot. Its a cartoon. It should not matter who voices a cartoon character. No real turtles voice the bros either.

He's either lost as hell and trying this $#!( out on other people so as to help him figure it out himself, or he's a provocateur, lost in life-boredom and has nothing better to do but to brainstorm any angle he can to come at this nonsense just to watch people scurry around it. Either way and.... well.... you know. I go back and forth in my thoughts about him - can't decide if he's stunted and we should roll with it or if he's a $#!(bag. Seriously, I don't know.

Originally Posted by Leo656

Whenever they do need an Asian voice actor they usually just get George Takei, anyway.

He's the Kevin Michael Richardson of Asians. "Oh MY!"

"My haarreee feels so fluffy! Oh my!

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by IMJ

or he's a provocateur, lost in life-boredom and has nothing better to do but to brainstorm any angle he can to come at this nonsense just to watch people scurry around it.

That's Our Cubed! It's amazing how some people still don't know, though.

He's not a "forum poster", he's a Performance Artist.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Leo656

That's Our Cubed! It's amazing how some people still don't know, though.

He's not a "forum poster", he's a Performance Artist.

Yeah but that actually makes him a $#!(bag.
People who provoke others, or stir up problems are $#!( bags. That is the nature of a $#!( bag.

I can laugh about a $#!( bag and not care, but my main issue with a $#!( bag is that they are always one step away from being a sociopath and doing something that gets them locked up. See, the $#!( bag is a sociopath who is only able to keep himself in check by being a $#!( bag. It's not humor - it's a compulsion.

Once you identify the true nature of the $#!( bag, you are less inclined to do that naive, sort-of ignorant "eh laugh it off, that's just the way he is" interpretation of the $#!( bag.

It would be open to different interpretation if he'd balls up and take a position on these topics instead of just pretending to be The Joker. But he has no message. There's just the $#!(bag threads.

[superstaff]

Originally Posted by Leo656

That's Our Cubed! It's amazing how some people still don't know, though.

He's not a "forum poster", he's a Performance Artist.

Classic CyberCubed post right here.

Oh, and on a more serious note, Yuki Matsuzaki, who voiced Usagi in the 2012 series, might be a good pick for Shredder. Maybe.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by IMJ

Yeah but that actually makes him a $#!(bag.
People who provoke others, or stir up problems are $#!( bags. That is the nature of a $#!( bag.

I can laugh about a $#!( bag and not care, but my main issue with a $#!( bag is that they are always one step away from being a sociopath and doing something that gets them locked up. See, the $#!( bag is a sociopath who is only able to keep himself in check by being a $#!( bag. It's not humor - it's a compulsion.

Once you identify the true nature of the $#!( bag, you are less inclined to do that naive, sort-of ignorant "eh laugh it off, that's just the way he is" interpretation of the $#!( bag.

It would be open to different interpretation if he'd balls up and take a position on these topics instead of just pretending to be The Joker. But he has no message. There's just the $#!(bag threads.

I mean, by all means, feel free to yell at him. He has an incredible knack for letting any and all criticism slide off his back like water off a duck's ass. He's broken many a forum member here during my tenure; countless otherwise-sane and rational people have left (or been banned) screaming into the night about "That Damned CyberCubed!"

Like it or not, he's an institution here. I'm not even disagreeing with you, I'm just saying... he has a power that few can comprehend. Many have tried to fight that power, and all have fallen to madness.

I just shrug and laugh, and sometimes play along. He's never going away, so what else can a guy do?

[The Great Saiyaman]

But all the same in the 2012 series Splinter, Tang Shen, Karai and Alopex were all voiced by Asian voice actors although again they took some creative freedom.


Hoon Lee Voiced Hamato Yoshi/Splinter but Lee himself is Korean, not Japanese.


Kelly Hu voiced Karai but Hu is Chinese, not Japanese

And here's the biggest uproar...

This is Minae Noji, the only actress of the 2012 series who truly WAS Japanese and she was the Voice of Tang Shen, who was a Chinese woman.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Leo656

I mean, by all means, feel free to yell at him. He has an incredible knack for letting any and all criticism slide off his back like water off a duck's ass.

Yeah I've noticed that. Actually it's his ability to do that which had me confused about the $#!(bag vs crazy thing.

Originally Posted by Leo656

I just shrug and laugh, and sometimes play along. He's never going away, so what else can a guy do?

Fair enough. Although I don't really want him to go away either. I think it's enough that he knows he's a $#!( bag. And then carry on, you know....

Originally Posted by mrmaczaps

No real turtles voice the bros either.

I was just scrolling and realized you said this. It was hysterical.

[CyberCubed]

I forgot about Batman vs. TMNT movie, the Shredder in that movie was a Japanese VA. Although he was born and raised in Colorado. So he is an American Japanese.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I forgot about Batman vs. TMNT movie, the Shredder in that movie was a Japanese VA. Although he was born and raised in Colorado. So he is an American Japanese.

Japanese American. Someone will say you are being insensitive and that is worse than being a $#!(bag.

[oldmanwinters]

Cubed saw this morning's other click-bait thread and thought "I can't be outdone!"

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Leo656

That's Our Cubed! It's amazing how some people still don't know, though.

He's not a "forum poster", he's a Performance Artist.

He was due for a heel turn any moment now. It was time to change up the gimmick.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by The Great Saiyaman

Kelly Hu voiced Karai but Hu is Chinese, not Japanese

Things like this are why Hank Hill saying "So... are ya Chinese, or Japanese...?" is always in my head.

And it's funny, because that example with Karai shows how things can be so silly and at times disingenuous. You know that behind the scenes, there was a conversation about "We need to cast an authentic Asian actor for this role, for purposes of inclusion and diversity."

BUT. When pointed out that said actor was in fact Chinese, and playing a Japanese character, you know that the response was, "Oh, who cares? As long as we got an Asian actor."

SO. You get the Good and the Bad. The Good: "We wanna be inclusive." The Bad: "Ehhhh, they're all the same anyway."

There is no way that conversation didn't happen.

[Zulithe]

Considering how TMNT has piggybacked on japan culture for its entire existence I think more Japanese talent would be very welcomed, if not outright owed at this point. If they announced that the next TMNT show/movie would have the turtles, splinter and shredder all protrayed by people of actual Japanese descent I would applaud that.

The obvious problem here is that unless they do actual production in Japan, the talent pool for Japanese actors/voice actors/etc. is very, very small outside of Japan.

[Leo656]

Do they not have range?

If Hank Azaria and Seth MacFarlane can voice multiple characters on their respective shows, why not let George Takei see if he can convincingly do the same? (half-joking, kinda)

Although to be fair, Seth gets away with most of his characters using the exact same voice, so that's kind of not a good example I admit.

[frank_one]

Originally Posted by mrmaczaps

Do you need medical attention? Are you at suicide risk?

Man, I'm sure you are a good guy but sometimes your "sharpness" is a bit uncomfortable.

I honestly never mind about actors voicing characters with different ethnicity as long as their acting is not annoying or weird.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

In the original cartoon he was voiced by James Avery, a black man, most notable known for being on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In the 2k3 series he was voiced by Scottie Ray, a white guy. Although Shredder was an Utrom, he still voiced the human Oroku Saki too and Saki still gave the appearance of a Japanese man.

In the Nick series, Shredder was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, another black man.


I don't know who voiced Shredder in Rise, but again I'm assuming it wasn't a Japanese. How do you feel about this? Is it politically incorrect?

I guess we get to cancel Cubed now for the use of "a Japanese." I mean it worked for ole Teddy Geisel

Hoon Lee, the voice of 2k12's Splinter was Shredder in Rise. From what my Goggling pulls up he's of Korean decent.

EDIT: Like The Great Saiyaman said...whoops.