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[Draugoth]

After replacing Charles Martinet as the voice of Mario back in 2023, Nintendo's recasting spree continues. Samantha Kelly has confirmed she's been ditched as the voice of Princess Peach and Toad after 18 years - but she wasn't informed by Nintendo until yesterday, when Mario Kart World released onto Switch 2 without her in the roles.

Article:

Princess Peach voice actor confirms she's been replaced after 18 years

Source: https://www.eurogamer.net/princess-peach-voice-actor-confirms-shes-been-replaced-after-18-years-in-the-role

 

[Deerock71]

 

[Mr Moose]

Nintendo until yesterday, when Mario Kart World released onto Switch 2 without her in the roles.

Uhh? She didn't know it existed until yesterday?

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

 

[Adapting]

 

[RoboFu]

i mean yeah .. you have to pass the torch at some point. 18 years was a good run.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Ok

 

[TKOFromTokyo]

Would she have assumed her pre-existing voice recordings would be in the game?

Seems like Nintendo is doing a refresh to get younger talent in these roles. They're probably cheaper and will be around for awhile vs a Boomer and old GenXer.

 

[yogaflame]

That is sad. But just put a biological women as voice actress and it will be fine.

 

[Pop]

AI is brutal

 

[Dr Cowley]

i mean yeah .. you have to pass the torch at some point. 18 years was a good run.

True, peach might've sounded like Lucille Ball eventually, nobodya gonna rescue that!

 

[Dorago]

The dumped Charles Martinet too. He's "old" of course, but so is everyone else competent in Hollywood. They're just finding younger and cheaper talent. OR they're using digital solutions. At this point they have to have millions of hours of HQ master tapes. How much do you suppose they're going to change the in game personality of Mario characters over the coming 20 years?

 

[ChoosableOne]

Sorry but nobody would go that far for a 57 year old princess.

 

[Hookshot]

It can't have been much work over those 18 years.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

just put a biological women as voice actress and

 

[Magic Carpet]

Sorry but nobody would go that far for a 57 year old princess.

The Legend of Outback Steakhouse.
I would go on a long quest for a steak and potato right now.

 

[Holammer]

Mae Questel was 80 years old when she voiced Betty in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

 

[Connificent]

Time to grow up

 

[MagiusNecros]

I think they are recasting a lot of them. Daisy was replaced in Super Mario Wonder. And I'll always prefer the Donkey Kong 64 era of Donkey Kong over what we have now.

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

They're probably just getting desperate fans for dirt cheap prices to voice the new characters. Experience matters until it doesn't.

 

[InterMusketeer]

Bit disappointing they don't notify those actors beforehand. They've been working together for a while after all. Maybe that's just how the industry is though.

 

[Spukc]

Ok

.

 

[Banjo64]

Bit disappointing they don't notify those actors beforehand. They've been working together for a while after all. Maybe that's just how the industry is though.

Surely they negotiate on a game by game basis so probably not much room to notify them beyond 'yeah we've reviewed it internally and we're going with someone younger'.

Wonder how much she's earned as Peach - hope it was a decent wedge.

 

[Zacfoldor]

They're probably just getting desperate fans for dirt cheap prices to voice the new characters. Experience matters until it doesn't.

I'm just guessing here but I'm starting to realize my guesses are pretty insightful.

Seems like they loved the mario move and wanted to move the VA closer to what that ended up being. Just like with DK model. I'm assuming the new peach sounds closer to the movie? Just a guess.

Nintendo won't cheap out on mario and charging exorbitant prices is not the same thing as being cheap. Nintendo values and treasures the IP. No way they would replace a VA because it was cheaper. Only because it was in their eyes, better or more sustainable.

As with all fine things in life, the quality will be remembered long after the price is forgotten.

 

[peronmls]

All to save money. Why pay the top actress when you can find the same for less. Voice acting is everywhere and easy to find and fill a role.