Pugs4Thugs
#1 SpongeBob Reviewer
I frankly think that people have been blowing this whole thing out of proportion. I've been waiting to speak on it until I got to some of the episodes people have been talking about, and I really just don't hear it. The changing nature of SpongeBob's voice has been in discussion for literal decades now because the voice is always changing. All the voices are. No one ever talks about how Patrick sounds completely different (I know that SpongeBob's voice is more iconic, but you take my meaning). It's just irritating to me when people bring this up, for whatever reason, probably because like...if there's a problem, then the cast members know. Tom Kenny more than anyone would know if he can't do the SpongeBob voice, or if his performance is hurting things in any capacity. Clearly, no one has found a real issue with this (and yes, it could be due to Nickelodeon's greed, but Tom Kenny is the voice director of the series, and many of the other higher-ups on the show have been on for some time now, it's not just out-of-touch executives pulling the strings), and so I don't think this newest change to SpongeBob's voice is anything we need to concern ourselves over.
As for the prospect of recasting Tom Kenny or any of the main characters, it won't happen. With the core 5 + Plankton especially, their voices are such a huge part of the character and show as a whole that recasting doesn't even seem to be within the realm of possibility. I mean...remember how they used different voices for the Kamp Koral segments in the third movie, and then the main cast voices for the show? The franchise and Nickelodeon refuse to let go of that. So I think that if any of the main cast wants to retire, that's it for at least their character (the character will be retired). And if Tom Kenny retires, I think the main show goes with him. I would be very, very surprised if any of these characters are recasted rather than retired.
Now, I would not be surprised if the franchise continues on with spin-offs that don't feature SpongeBob or any of the other cast that retire. Like multiple people in the thread have said, Nickelodeon likes cash, and the franchise is still doing extremely well. I think with a proper transition, spin-offs that don't feature SpongeBob in any capacity other than perhaps non-speaking roles could still be successful.
(Maybe my lack of concern also comes from the fact that I'm a DragonBall fan...the (Japanese) VAs in that franchise are much older than the ones in SpongeBob SquarePants).
As for the prospect of recasting Tom Kenny or any of the main characters, it won't happen. With the core 5 + Plankton especially, their voices are such a huge part of the character and show as a whole that recasting doesn't even seem to be within the realm of possibility. I mean...remember how they used different voices for the Kamp Koral segments in the third movie, and then the main cast voices for the show? The franchise and Nickelodeon refuse to let go of that. So I think that if any of the main cast wants to retire, that's it for at least their character (the character will be retired). And if Tom Kenny retires, I think the main show goes with him. I would be very, very surprised if any of these characters are recasted rather than retired.
Now, I would not be surprised if the franchise continues on with spin-offs that don't feature SpongeBob or any of the other cast that retire. Like multiple people in the thread have said, Nickelodeon likes cash, and the franchise is still doing extremely well. I think with a proper transition, spin-offs that don't feature SpongeBob in any capacity other than perhaps non-speaking roles could still be successful.
(Maybe my lack of concern also comes from the fact that I'm a DragonBall fan...the (Japanese) VAs in that franchise are much older than the ones in SpongeBob SquarePants).
