Voice actress Veronica Taylor brings the magic of Pokémon to Manila
Both children from the ‘90s and kids today are familiar with the iconic Pokémon trainer, Ash Ketchum, from the beloved anime series Pokémon.
Pokémon has become widely recognized, becoming a staple in households since the early 2000s and an integral part of every Filipino child’s upbringing.
The voice behind Ash Ketchum, American voice actress Veronica Taylor, was in Manila to relive every child’s dream of meeting the beloved Pokémon trainer—through her iconic voice.
In an interview with Manila Standard Entertainment, Taylor reflected on the unexpected life lessons she learned from the iconic character. She also shared that before lending her voice to Ash, she didn’t fully appreciate the importance of positivity, friendship, and teamwork.
“I think, you know before I played Ash, I think I took for granted the power of positivity and the power of friendship and how important it is to help each other along. And I just didn’t track it,” she said.
For eight seasons, Taylor breathed life into Ash in the English dub version of the anime, alongside other characters in the Pokémon universe like Ash’s mom, Delia, and May. Her energetic and determined portrayal perfectly embodied Ash’s undying dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.
“But stepping into his sneakers and for the hours that I played each week as Ash, it really made me realize how important all of that was. I was pregnant with my daughter the whole first season that I played Ash. So, when that season was over, I played Ash and his mom. And at the end of that season, I was a mom, and still Ash,” she added.
“So, all of this, there are so many things that I learned from the show and from playing Ash that have continued to reverberate in my life to this day, actually,” Taylor continued.
Veronica then recalled the first time she heard that she was going to be the voice behind Ash, saying that it had never occurred to her that Pokémon would be a hit.
“They said, it’s gonna be on TV. And we all said, ‘Sure, whatever.’ And it actually did come on TV, 6:00 a.m. and then 6:30, and then it kept going. And people apparently were watching it. So, we kept going with the first season. In that time, and in the eight years I worked on it, never did it occur to me that we would still be talking about it now,” she shared.
When asked about her thoughts on why the anime continued to be loved by many, she emphasized on how Pokémon became a part of everyone’s life who watched it, regardless of age.
“And I do think the only reason that it’s gone on this long is because people have taken it and run with it. Pokémon allows you to key into your creativity and imagination in a way that very few other shows and projects do. And it just ignites something in people’s hearts. And that, I don’t know, they take that with them. Whether it’s about helping your friends or creating a story or a drawing, you find your way through Pokémon,” added Veronica.
Taylor was in Manila for the first time alongside the singer of the show’s theme song “Pokemon Theme (Gotta Catch ‘Em All!)”, Jason Paige, to join the Pokémon-themed convention dubbed “Pokeverse: Choose Your Journey”.
According to its producer, Kirck Allen, “Pokeverse” aims to reconnect generations of generations who grew up watching the anime series.
The event featured officially licensed Pokémon merchandise, a museum showcasing authentic vintage and classic Pokémon memorabilia, a competition area where guests tested their Pokémon knowledge or battle skills, and some Pokémon-themed treats like Pikachu burgers.
Powered by PLDT, “Pokeverse” ran from May 31 to June 2, at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall.