The Many Voices of Arthur

G

Gud

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The animated series Arthur has been running for over 10 years now. And amazingly they are still coming up with great little stories (IMO). Like most long running shows, the voice cast for many of the main characters have changed many times. This topic is for people to talk about their opinions on the many voices for Arthur, D.W. and the others. I know it might seem like a weird topic, but I thought it might be cool to see what othes think.

I'll start with Arthur, the main character. He has had five voice actors over the years. Most of them were kids or younger teens when they started. Even though they all have different voice qualities, I think most of them did a good job imitating the "Arthur voice".
　
Micheal Yarmush- He was the first voice of Arthur and voiced the character through Season 1-4. This one is my favorite, but that might be because I grew up hearing this one. I really liked his voice work in season 2-4, that's where I thought he really got into the character.

Justin Bradley- This was Arthur's second voice and it only lasted for one season. I don't really know how I feel about this one. On one hand, he kinda made Arthur seem little older, like he was hitting puberty, but then there is the fact that Arthur and his friends don't age.

Mark Rendall- Arthur's third voice. This one was closer to Arthur's voice from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th seasons, just a little higher. I thought it was a pretty good one. Very good imitation of Micheal Yarmush's Arthur.

Cameron Ansell- Arthur's fourth voice. Used in Seasons 9-11. Arthur's voice was the highest it's been since season one. I didn't really like this one much.

Dallas Jokic- Arthur's current voice actor. I haven't seen many episodes with him, but he sounds very simliar to Cameron Ansell's Arthur.

If I wanted to rank them I'd say:
1st. Micheal Yarmush
2nd. Mark Rendall
3rd. Justin Bradley
4th. Cameron Ansell
5th. Dalls Jokic
 
Granted, I liked Michael Yarmush's voice of Arthur (And it's seasons 1-5 (1996-2000)), not Season 4). Arthur's Perfect Christmas was the last episode/special voiced by Yarmush.

And Justin Bradley's voice sounded like Yarmush's voice from Season 5 (When he hit puberty in 2000), and his voice was later redone by Mark Rendall (which voiced a character on Nelvana's Wayside), so as if it never happened.

As for another Michael (Caloz), was and still is my favorite D.W. voice (Still don't know why all of D.W.'s voices are guys, but I digress). Sad that he left in 1999, but the earlier seasons with him give me a laugh (especially Season 1-5), which didn't at once give me the notion to regret that it's a educational show on PBS. The rest of D.W.'s voice actors (especially Season 11's voice) can run off on a Crazy Bus.

Luke Reid (Brain's original voice from Seasons 1-4) were on par (except Seasons 3 and 4, when he went through puberty), while Catherine and Sue Ellen's original voice (Patricia Rodriguez, voice of Fox on Skunk Fu!) sounded nasily when I first heard her voice, but I soon went to get used to it. The new voice actor of Sue Ellen...okay , I guess.


The rest of the voice actors stayed on (like Daniel Brochu (Buster), Jodie Resther (Francine), Melissa Altro (Muffy), Sonja Ball (Mom), Bruce Dismore (Dad/Binky), and Holly Frankel (Fern)).
 
I remember not caring much for Arthur's new voice in episodes that came out around 2001 and 2002. To me he sounded like a girl. I am not sure what season/voice actor that was.
 
I would have to say Micheal Yarmush is my favorite Arthur voice actor, whenever I think of the character, his voice is the first to pop into my head.
 
I tend to have an off again, on again viewing when it comes to this show, so I'm thought I'd ask.

Has any previous Arthur voice actor returned to play another character?
 
I grew out of watching Arthur while it was still the original voice actor, but from what I've seen of the others, I don't like them as much. A few years later, my sister mentioned that one of the voices for Arthur went to her school. I can't recall when exactly, but I think it was probably the second or third voice. I don't know if he was still doing the voice when she knew him.
 
While I think all voice actors on this show have their own merits, like I've said on my 100th post, we can't all expect child voice actors to voice the same characters forever (obviously), see the post (linked above) where I mentioned about an animated iCarly spinoff or something, and how long those actors would be able to work before their puberty. Why do you think Bart and Lisa Simpson have had their voice actresses on their show for 20 years? Because they were voiced by adult women from DAY ONE. Why do you think Dora the Explorer had her voice actress changed? Because partly, her voice was getting too deep for the part, as she got older after her Day One.
 
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