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Giovanni/Sakaki's Japanese voice passed away :(

SailorPika

Dark Poke'mon Lover
I read on Anime News Network that just a few days ago, on August 6, Hirotaka Suzuoki, the Japanese voice of Giovanni/Sakaki died of lung cancer at 56 years old. He was also known for his roles as Bright Noa in "Gundam", Hajime Saitou in "Rurouni Kenshin", Tien in "DBZ", Inaba in "Urusei Yatsura", Tatewaki Kuno in "Ranma 1/2", and Ai's creator in "Video Girl Ai". It's so sad he's gone now :(.
 

S.Suikun

Thank you, SPPf! :)
It's a sad day. :(

While it normally wouldn't effect such things as the Giovanni fantasies, since those feature Meowth impersonating him, I have this gut feeling that those will be also be done away with purely out of respect.

Hopefully they had already recorded some final scene at the tail end of Battle Frontier with Giovanni sending TR off to Shinou, unless his VA was out of work for some time.
 

GreenApple

Cherish the Day
It was mentioned on the Bulbagarden forums, and it is sad news indeed. May his soul rest in peace.
 

Trainer Rachel

Let's do it!
When I read that, the first thing I thought was the possibilty of TR the organization disbanding because of it.

Does that make me a bad person? o.o


Actually, they could do that for a plot...

But yeah, it is sad :( Poor guy. And now there goes the "Giovanni is Ash's father" stuff... of course, I guess now they could say that Ash's father really did die.
 

Haunter Hunter Sohrab

Johto Champion
They could even make him say "Ash, I am your father".

But jokes aside, this is sad news. Do the japanese writers take out a character if their VA passes away very often? I find it pretty cool how they respect the VAs over there.
 

CassSept

Well-Known Member
That`s sad. I wonder if they`ll really delete Giovanni out of show... wow, that`d be strange without Meowth`s AWESOME fantasies...
 

~Chibi Mewtwo~

Geared up for D/P ^^
Though I've never heard his voice (yet), this is sad news indeed, not for just Pokemon and Giovanni/Sakaki fans, but for his family and friends. :( May his soul rest in peace and his loved ones given comfort.
 

.Bambi.

Be Wise, Tell Lies.
Well, I guess Giovanni can't be Ash's father now! 8D
It's a shame, I guess, but we hardly ever hear Giovanni speak anyways, as it's usually with Meowth's voice. Last time he spoke was in early, early Battle Frontier, right?
 

Captain Brain

Well-Known Member
I wonder what the VA would have wanted? Maybe he told someone his wishes in this manner. Seeing how most VAs make their parts part of their life. ;025;
 

Trainer Rachel

Let's do it!
^ Very good point. Guess we'll see.

Of course, this has me worried... I mean, for example, what if Ash's VA died? Of course, I doubt she will (well, obviously eventually, but you know) How would they explain all that without, like, just cancelling the show?

Of course, I shouldn't even be thinking these thoughts.
 

Blackjack Gabbiani

Clearly we're great!
If they write Giovanni out because of this, they will completely ruin any shot the show ever had at having a plot resolution.
 

PDL

disenchanted
If they write Giovanni out because of this, they will completely ruin any shot the show ever had at having a plot resolution.

At the rate the writers were going, did it look like a plot resolution was in sight? not really... :\
 

MidnightScott

Super Gamer
Wow - I don't think they should just erase a character because their voice actor. I know it's "respect" - but just erasing the character isn't respecting it in my opinion. Besides, Giovanni hasn't spoken for a long time - he's only shown in the Meowth fantasies.

~Scott;229;
 
Aww That is so sad, I thought he did a great job as Sakaki and Tenshinhan
RIP Hirotaka Suzuoki.
 

Katsu Koneko

明日がある
OMG! He was Saitou and Tien? -falls-

Anyway, this is sad. >.< I've never even heard his voice or maybe I did. I watched the Japanese version of Movie 1 a month ago, so I think I did. *bonks head*

I wonder if he'll be written out or have another Seiyuu replace him.

Rest in Peace.
 
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