Ryan Drummond: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
| spouse =[[Lisa Drummond]] |
| spouse =[[Lisa Drummond]] |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Ryan Drummond''' (born [[January 10]], [[1973]]), an [[actor]]/[[comedian]], is best known as the voice of [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] in the popular [[Sega]] video game franchise. His youthful, energetic, yet realistic sounding voice was well known and very popular with fans of the series. |
'''Ryan Drummond''' (born [[January 10]], [[1973]]), an [[actor]]/[[comedian]], is best known as the voice of [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] in the popular [[Sega]] video game franchise. His youthful, energetic, yet realistic sounding voice was well known and very popular with fans of the series. |
||
==Sonic the Hedgehog performance== |
==Sonic the Hedgehog performance== |
||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
''[[Sonic Heroes]]'', for the [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]], and [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] was the next game for which Drummond provided the voice of Sonic. By this time, there was an audible difference between the voice he used for Sonic Adventure, and the voice he was presently using. While they were both the same basic voice, Drummond's Sonic Heroes voice was noticeably higher pitched than his voice in the Sonic Adventure titles, thereby sounding more cartoon-like and less serious, but some of the other characters who had their old voices sounded more high pitched as well. |
''[[Sonic Heroes]]'', for the [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]], and [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] was the next game for which Drummond provided the voice of Sonic. By this time, there was an audible difference between the voice he used for Sonic Adventure, and the voice he was presently using. While they were both the same basic voice, Drummond's Sonic Heroes voice was noticeably higher pitched than his voice in the Sonic Adventure titles, thereby sounding more cartoon-like and less serious, but some of the other characters who had their old voices sounded more high pitched as well. |
||
Drummond's next two roles as Sonic the Hedgehog were the handheld games [[Sonic Battle]] and [[Sonic Advance 3]]. While these games were not especially dialogue heavy, they contained several in game voice clips, mostly consisting of short phrases or shouts. His voice was also used in the PS2 game [[Sega SuperStars]], though all the clips in that game were recycled from his acting in previous games. Drummond also originally took Sonic's role in [[Sonic Rush]], but the arrival of the [[4kids Entertainment|4Kids]] cast led to his role in that game being replaced for its final release. |
Drummond's next two roles as Sonic the Hedgehog were the handheld games [[Sonic Battle]] and [[Sonic Advance 3]]. While these games were not especially dialogue heavy, they contained several in game voice clips, mostly consisting of short phrases or shouts. His voice was also used in the PS2 game [[Sega SuperStars]], though all the clips in that game were recycled from his acting in previous games. Drummond also originally took Sonic's role in [[Sonic Rush]], but the death of [[Deem Bristow]] (the voice of [[Dr. Eggman]] caused arrival of the [[4kids Entertainment|4Kids]] cast led to his role in that game being replaced for its final release. |
||
==4Kids Entertainment controversy== |
==4Kids Entertainment controversy== |
||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
After putting in calls and emails with 4Kids, Drummond was contacted by [[Michael Haigney]], and informed that 4Kids could not use him as the voice of Sonic, allegedly because of 4Kids' Headquarters' location in New York. 4Kids, instead of casting Drummond for the part, chose their own voice actor [[Jason Anthony Griffith]] (credited as Jason Griffith). Drummond stated in a reply to Haigney, and on his website that, while he appreciated his honesty, he was frustrated that 4Kids wasn't able to contact him sooner, and that he would have willingly relocated to New York at his own expense. |
After putting in calls and emails with 4Kids, Drummond was contacted by [[Michael Haigney]], and informed that 4Kids could not use him as the voice of Sonic, allegedly because of 4Kids' Headquarters' location in New York. 4Kids, instead of casting Drummond for the part, chose their own voice actor [[Jason Anthony Griffith]] (credited as Jason Griffith). Drummond stated in a reply to Haigney, and on his website that, while he appreciated his honesty, he was frustrated that 4Kids wasn't able to contact him sooner, and that he would have willingly relocated to New York at his own expense. |
||
Adding to the controversy, however, it was revealed during production of ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', by Drummond himself, that the title, and all subsequent titles, would use the 4Kids voice cast instead of the already-established voice cast. Similarly, Drummond's voice clips for the Nintendo DS game ''[[Sonic Rush]]'' (which were recycled from the game Sonic Advance 3), seen in an early trailer of the game, was also replaced by Griffith's voice. This was allegedly done for continuity between the show and the games (despite the two not having any plot continuity). |
Adding to the controversy, however, it was revealed during production of ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', following the death of [[Deem Bristow]] (the voice of [[Dr. Eggman]]) by Drummond himself, that the title, and all subsequent titles, would use the 4Kids voice cast instead of the already-established voice cast. Similarly, Drummond's voice clips for the Nintendo DS game ''[[Sonic Rush]]'' (which were recycled from the game Sonic Advance 3), seen in an early trailer of the game, was also replaced by Griffith's voice. This was allegedly done for continuity between the show and the games (despite the two not having any plot continuity). |
||
The possibility of Drummond returning to voice Sonic the Hedgehog was hinted at during the [[Digital Life Expo]] in New York City, by a Sega representative, who claimed that Sonic X was finishing its run, and that Sega would have "no reason" to use the 4Kids cast anymore after [[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]. However, this rumor is apparently false, as the game ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' shows Sonic being voiced by Griffith. ''[[Sonic Rush Adventure]]'' used archive clips from ''[[Sonic Rush]]'' with new voices being used for Johnny and Captain Whisker. ''[[Sonic Rivals 2]]'' used Jason as the voice of Sonic. Drummond stated on his [[Myspace]] account that neither he nor his agent were contacted by Nintendo or Sega to voice Sonic in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' |
The possibility of Drummond returning to voice Sonic the Hedgehog was hinted at during the [[Digital Life Expo]] in New York City, by a Sega representative, who claimed that Sonic X was finishing its run, and that Sega would have "no reason" to use the 4Kids cast anymore after [[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]. However, this rumor is apparently false, as the game ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' shows Sonic being voiced by Griffith. ''[[Sonic Rush Adventure]]'' used archive clips from ''[[Sonic Rush]]'' with new voices being used for Johnny and Captain Whisker. ''[[Sonic Rivals 2]]'' used Jason as the voice of Sonic. Drummond stated on his [[Myspace]] account that neither he nor his agent were contacted by Nintendo or Sega to voice Sonic in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' |
||
Revision as of 16:32, 23 November 2007
Ryan Drummond | |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Lisa Drummond |
Ryan Drummond (born January 10, 1973), an actor/comedian, is best known as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the popular Sega video game franchise. His youthful, energetic, yet realistic sounding voice was well known and very popular with fans of the series.
Sonic the Hedgehog performance
While Drummond was not the first English-speaking voice actor to play the part of Sonic the Hedgehog, he was one of the first English Sonic voice actors, with a fully speaking role, to be featured in much mainstream Sonic media, along with his spiritual predecessors, Jaleel White, and Martin Burke. Previous English voice actors included actors who only uttered short phrases, or were featured in more obscure or spin-off titles.
Ryan Drummond first played the role of Sonic the Hedgehog in the Dreamcast game, Sonic Adventure, and in Sega-related commercials. His voice was also used for various talking toys inspired by, and based off of Sonic Adventure.
Drummond again played the role of Sonic, in the Dreamcast spin-off title, Sonic Shuffle. He also played the role of Knuckles the Echidna, exclusively for this title, because the actor cast for Sonic Adventure stepped down from the role, for unknown reasons.
Drummond, again, took on the role of Sonic the Hedgehog, in Sonic Adventure 2, for the Dreamcast, the sequel to the original Sonic Adventure. Drummond also played a part in casting David Humphrey, his friend and fellow actor, as the role of Shadow the Hedgehog.
Drummond was then cast to record the voice of Sonic for various Sonic commercials, advertising the inclusion of Sonic the Hedgehog toys in McDonald's Happy Meals.
Sonic Heroes, for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube was the next game for which Drummond provided the voice of Sonic. By this time, there was an audible difference between the voice he used for Sonic Adventure, and the voice he was presently using. While they were both the same basic voice, Drummond's Sonic Heroes voice was noticeably higher pitched than his voice in the Sonic Adventure titles, thereby sounding more cartoon-like and less serious, but some of the other characters who had their old voices sounded more high pitched as well.
Drummond's next two roles as Sonic the Hedgehog were the handheld games Sonic Battle and Sonic Advance 3. While these games were not especially dialogue heavy, they contained several in game voice clips, mostly consisting of short phrases or shouts. His voice was also used in the PS2 game Sega SuperStars, though all the clips in that game were recycled from his acting in previous games. Drummond also originally took Sonic's role in Sonic Rush, but the death of Deem Bristow (the voice of Dr. Eggman caused arrival of the 4Kids cast led to his role in that game being replaced for its final release.
4Kids Entertainment controversy
In mid-2003, an animated Sonic the Hedgehog TV series, known as Sonic X, began airing in Japan. The voice cast featured in the Japanese version was essentially the same as the video game cast.
The English dubbing rights for Sonic X were acquired by 4Kids Entertainment, a company known to cause criticism among anime fans. Drummond attempted to obtain the role of Sonic the Hedgehog for the anime, both through contacting Sega and 4Kids.
After putting in calls and emails with 4Kids, Drummond was contacted by Michael Haigney, and informed that 4Kids could not use him as the voice of Sonic, allegedly because of 4Kids' Headquarters' location in New York. 4Kids, instead of casting Drummond for the part, chose their own voice actor Jason Anthony Griffith (credited as Jason Griffith). Drummond stated in a reply to Haigney, and on his website that, while he appreciated his honesty, he was frustrated that 4Kids wasn't able to contact him sooner, and that he would have willingly relocated to New York at his own expense.
Adding to the controversy, however, it was revealed during production of Shadow the Hedgehog, following the death of Deem Bristow (the voice of Dr. Eggman) by Drummond himself, that the title, and all subsequent titles, would use the 4Kids voice cast instead of the already-established voice cast. Similarly, Drummond's voice clips for the Nintendo DS game Sonic Rush (which were recycled from the game Sonic Advance 3), seen in an early trailer of the game, was also replaced by Griffith's voice. This was allegedly done for continuity between the show and the games (despite the two not having any plot continuity).
The possibility of Drummond returning to voice Sonic the Hedgehog was hinted at during the Digital Life Expo in New York City, by a Sega representative, who claimed that Sonic X was finishing its run, and that Sega would have "no reason" to use the 4Kids cast anymore after Sonic and the Secret Rings. However, this rumor is apparently false, as the game Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games shows Sonic being voiced by Griffith. Sonic Rush Adventure used archive clips from Sonic Rush with new voices being used for Johnny and Captain Whisker. Sonic Rivals 2 used Jason as the voice of Sonic. Drummond stated on his Myspace account that neither he nor his agent were contacted by Nintendo or Sega to voice Sonic in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Voice credits
- Blue Stinger - Eliot Ballade
- Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth - J. Edgar Hoover, Seaman Willie Thompson, Experiment, Poorhouse Resident, Cutter Urania Seaman, Yithian
- Undying - Various
- Cold War - Carter, Scientist, Civilians
- Evil Dead: Hail to the King - Merchant
- Gangland - Black Boss, Bouncer, Croupier, Civilian, Sniper, Cop, Ninja
- Sonic Advance 3 - Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic Adventure - Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic Adventure 2 - Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic Battle - Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic Heroes - Sonic the Hedgehog, Metal Sonic
- Sonic Shuffle - Sonic the Hedgehog/Knuckles the Echidna
- Sega SuperStars - Sonic the Hedgehog (Recycled clips)
- Spy Fiction - Michael
- Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger - Rick Arlen