Voice actor Ben Starr, known for Final Fantasy XVI, provided a fan dub for a character in Pokémon Legends: Z-A during a recent Kit & Krysta Podcast episode. The humorous performance highlights the ongoing fan demand for voice acting in the Pokémon series. Starr delivered the lines in his signature broody style, acting alongside co-hosts as other characters.
Event Overview
In a lighthearted segment on the Kit & Krysta Podcast, Ben Starr auditioned for the role of Naveen, a character from the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The episode featured Starr voicing the scene with his gravelly tone from Final Fantasy XVI, while co-hosts Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang portrayed the protagonist and Taunie. This fan-created dub pokes fun at the game's lack of voice acting, despite its cinematic cutscenes where characters' mouths move without sound.
Background on Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the latest entry in the monster-taming RPG series, continues the tradition of forgoing full voice acting. As the games have grown more narrative-driven, fans have long created their own dubs to bring characters to life. The Kotaku article notes that while the game includes some grunts and yells for the protagonist, similar to Link in The Legend of Zelda, the rest of the cast remains silent. This has led to memorable fan interpretations, but also underscores calls for official voice work, as seen in the Pokémon anime or Detective Pikachu.
Fan and Industry Perspectives
Starr's performance, described as a 'broody simp for a Pokémon streamer,' emphasizes how voice acting could enhance the series' writing and humor. The podcast clip, shared on social media, invites viewers to imagine Starr in the role and supports broader fan advocacy for voiced characters. Examples like the pantomimed concert in Pokémon Sword and Shield illustrate how silence allows creative freedom but misses opportunities for immersion.
The segment applauds Game Freak's strong writing in Legends: Z-A, set in the Kalos region, while hoping for future advancements in audio production.