Natochenny, a Junior Olympic bronze medalist in rhythmic gymnastics turned voice actress, by no means envisioned herself so dedicated to voice performing. After attending performing college at age 12, she tried her hand at indie movies and performing on digital camera. But she was a giant Pokémon fan on the top of the primary video games’ recognition within the late ’90s and early 2000s, and was carefully aware of the anime sequence. The attract of voicing the present’s most important character was simply too robust to disregard.
“It was really nerve-racking,” Natochenny stated. “I never thought about this as something that would define my career.”
Natochenny, who changed Ash Ketchum’s authentic voice actress Veronica Taylor from Season 9 onward, would bodily go into the recording studio for one more 17 years to voice the character — even in the course of the pandemic — as showrunners feared that scripts could also be leaked if despatched exterior their places of work. The present all the time recorded the Japanese dub a number of episodes forward of the English dub. Natochenny would enter the sales space, and look concurrently at her script and a display screen displaying the episode she was recording for. At first, her purpose was merely to emulate her predecessor to the very best of her potential whereas guaranteeing the timing of her strains matched the period of time the character’s mouth was shifting. Eventually, she grew to become snug sufficient within the function to make the character her personal.
Natochenny would go on to voice different roles too. On Pokémon, she additionally performed Ash’s mother, Delia Ketchum, in addition to a number of Pokémon, together with Chansey, Misdreavus and Buneary. Her profession grew exterior of the present as effectively. She voiced Marian in “Robin Hood: Mischief in Sherwood,” Aura in “Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V,” and Igor in “44 Cats,” to call just some roles.
On Nov. 11, 2022, Natochenny discovered concurrently the remainder of the world that the character she portrayed for nearly 20 years had lastly gained his first World Championship. She was attending Grand Rapids Comic-Con when the episode aired in Japan, and he or she noticed tweets celebrating Ash’s win exploded throughout her feed.
“I made a video saying like, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing!’” Natochenny stated. “And then, over the course of the day, everyone started messaging me, ‘Hey, what do you think’s going to happen?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean what’s gonna happen? He’s going to make another season!’
“It didn’t occur to me that this was the end.”
It’s been a rare privilege to have been the English voice of Ash Ketchum for what might be 17 years. No matter what lies past his remaining chapter, he’ll stay eternally within the hearts of many generations to return. I’ll hold him current for all of us in each means I can. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UZxPO4xD6E
— Sarah Natochenny (@sarahnatochenny) December 16, 2022
A month later, the present introduced that the sequence would transfer away from Ash Ketchum and star a brand new protagonist. The announcement was an emotional one for Natochenny, however now, she’s seeking to the long run.
“Voice acting kind of consumed my career,” she stated. “I have projects that I’ve wanted to do that I haven’t really been able to hit the gas on because I’ve been comfortable in this role.”
Among these tasks is “Unicorn Boy,” a movie starring Patton Oswalt that’s set to premiere on the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Natochenny performs Prince Purpleton within the movie). She’s additionally engaged on an animated sequence primarily based on characters her mom — a Broadway violinist — sketched in the course of the pandemic.
Natochenny additionally needs to get into writing, penning a live-action function that follows a voice actress as she tanks her life after dropping her job. “It’s going to be very dark and very funny,” she stated. “It’s not what I’m going to do, but if I did [tank my life], this is what it would look like.”
Natochenny believes voice performing will all the time play some half in her profession, although, and he or she’s keen on her time as Ash Ketchum. If it have been as much as her, she admitted, she would like to proceed engaged on the present.
“I would love to stick with Pokémon if they’ll have me in other roles,” she stated. “And if not, this is also okay. It’s okay to move on. I’m sad. I’m excited. I’m emotionally ready for this to end.”
Will Pokémon be capable to attain the identical heights of recognition it used to take pleasure in with Ash on the helm? That stays to be seen. But for Natochenny, her outlook on her future stays optimistic, largely resulting from a well-recognized quote.
“My message to the fans? ‘Be the very best like no one ever was.’ And when you’re in doubt, ask yourself: ‘What would Ash Ketchum do?’”