Why did they change all the voice actors?

[SuzakuCMX]

As far as I know, they sound the same to me. A bit hard to tell with only one line and with the music blaring like that.

Alphinaud was the only one noticeably different. Merlwyb sounds different but not different enough to conclude it's a different VA. Rather it sounds like different director gave her lines/she's not yelling.

[Tawm]

That's not a bad thing. The majority of the voice acting in ARR is atrocious.

[Saerydoth]

Voice acting isn't considered a major occupation in the US like it is in Japan. Voice acting in the US is considered a side project of "real actors". What probably happened is, when they were recording the HW dialog, they tried to get back as many of the original actors as they could, and some of them were just not available due to working on other things. Voice acting jobs are generally the bottom of the totem pole for actors, and if they are working on something else they won't be available for one. So it's a cultural thing, albeit not one I agree with. I would not complain one bit if voice acting in the US started getting the respect it does in Japan.

[Eloah]

Ugh, I really hate voice acting in games cuz it's always the same non-sense... JP voicing is just as bad as EN. Just pick a voice type (or no voices aka mute) and just leave it be. Tired of the JP voices are better and EN are crap because it's the same thing from a different perspective.

This, a million times this. People are complaining about English VAs, but the same complaints are in Japan as well. Like we might say to a frequently used English VA "oh god, he/she's in everything" where as with a Japanese VA, we might say, "I love him/her, they're in everything". People in Japan have the same feelings about their own VAs, that every other language has. And all voice actors are trained professionals. Though the industries are regulated differently, sadly, they don't just pick people off the street; this isn't Hollywood, lol. And to someone who mentioned crappy anime VAs; voice acting is voice acting, there is not anime, american, video games, etc, voice acting falls under only two categories, union and non-union, and both are regulated about the same; the base just determines the pool of actors the studio can choose from. There are plenty of VAs who have worked in all forms of voice acting, but might be considered "anime" because that is where they may of gotten their start.

Personally, I think it's just a stigma, that most people who grew up in the 90's have, that anything dubbed from Japan, or Asia in general, will suck; despite the industry being regulated more thoroughly, and Japan getting the final say in EVERYTHING. There are plenty of "bad" American VAs too, we just may not notice them as much because of how we handle our animation and industy. Because unlike anime, American animation is made after the voices, not before or during, so we can edit to fit the actor not the otherway around.

[Able]

I think the voice acting and cutscenes are pretty awful, anyways.

[Aeyis]

Likewise, most non-Japanese speaking folks will usually not realize what's bad VA in that language. If you've ever seen a Japanese movie that tries to use English speaking actors, you'd have a better understanding of that (e.g. the beginning of a movie called Returner).


They also get proper direction because the director natively speaks the language.

Im my experience english speaking VAs try to speak as tho in a theater, when Japanese try to live the character, thats the main difference.
It's mostly due to the voice direction and experience with (portraying) the character they voice I suppose.

Altho someone made an amusing post of what ffxiv would be like if it was a movie with hollywood actors, theres something there I think. In western countries voice acting isnt really a thing, movie acting is bigger. As such the quality (experience both actors and directors) is a lot better in comparison.

This is loosely related, but wouldn't it be cool if, for one glorifying moment, in a cutscene somewhere in the game, your character spoke ONE line? I think I saw that done in one of the Grand Theft Auto games, where your character is silent all game, and then, out of nowhere, says something.

Heh, during my wow carrier I thought about doing that during a raid sometimes (I literally never spoke), sadly I quit the game before that happened, it would have been epic.

This, a million times this. People are complaining about English VAs, but the same complaints are in Japan as well. Like we might say to a frequently used English VA "oh god, he/she's in everything" where as with a Japanese VA, we might say, "I love him/her, they're in everything". People in Japan have the same feelings about their own VAs, that every other language has. And all voice actors are trained professionals

Theres just a lot more experience in Japan compared to elsewhere. Also as someone earlier pointed out its mostly the english speaking countries that lack the most experience.

The reason for that is that they simply dont dub, or voice stuff enough. Whereas Japan has many many games or anime that they voice, thus creating a large industry to gain experience in. For both VAs and VA directors.
It's that simple reason why overall Japanese VAs are a lot better. Because theres more of them, and they have more experience.


PS: I'm sad, they killed my favorite VA. Oh well atleast I can still enjoy her as Noelia.

[Elleia]

I checked his twitter, I can not find it. Could you please link it for me?

Here it is. Like I said, it's not very telling. It's the JP trailer that convinces me that that line is spoken by Alphinaud, and the voice during that line in the english trailer is definitely not Sam.

[Averax]

Here it is. Like I said, it's not very telling. It's the JP trailer that convinces me that that line is spoken by Alphinaud, and the voice during that line in the english trailer is definitely not Sam.

Im curious how he has no idea.

Did he voice act any lines for them recently or didn't he.

[Eloah]

Theres just a lot more experience in Japan compared to elsewhere. Also as someone earlier pointed out its mostly the english speaking countries that lack the most experience.

The reason for that is that they simply dont dub, or voice stuff enough. Whereas Japan has many many games or anime that they voice, thus creating a large industry to gain experience in. For both VAs and VA directors.
It's that simple reason why overall Japanese VAs are a lot better. Because theres more of them, and they have more experience.

I would say you are half right. I wouldn't say its for a lack of experience, experience-wise I would say all if not most countries are on par with one another. I'd say the big issue is the industry as a whole. Voice Acting isn't viewed as highly as other forms of entertainment. Cartoons in general aren't viewed that highly. And that is the problem, in my opinion. In Japan, and many other countries cartoons aren't just viewed as something for children, and voice acting is regulated more thoroughly. With regular movies and TV shows royalties are given to all parties involved including the actors. But, with American cartoons the actors don't get anything, because, the industry as a whole, thinks they didn't do much, just lend a voice. Whereas, in Japan, the voice actor is treated in higher regard, just like our Hollywood actors. These are my thoughts on the subject, based on what I've heard. But I could be wrong, hopefully, but I doubt it.

[Havenchild]

Idk. I see a lot of people criticize Alphinauds VA but imo his VA fitted his lines like a glove.

A slightly cocky person who felt he could overcome any task with enough effort. That swavy intellect he always displayed. It even drove the whole plot point home to watch this same person so defeated at the end of 2.55.

This new VA detracts so much from what we've come to know of the character Alphinaud up till now from a personality and plot standpoint. Like the old VA or not, the new one certainly doesn't fit his character up till now.

I don't mind a new one, although the previous Alphinaud for me had probably one of the best castings, but at least it should match more with the character. Now his voice is like what I would imagine the average teen in ishgard sounds like.

The rest of the VA changes i've seen, still fit their characters pretty well if they aren't the same.

Tatarus also sounds much more....women in 20s like..