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Post by scoobyfan27 on Mar 18, 2021 8:49:32 GMT -5
This has been weighing in my mind and it’s bugging me to the point that I have to say something. First of all I love Kate Micucci as Velma yes she’s different from Mindy Cohn but she brings her own spin on things. But also I have friends that work in the industry and let’s say that Kate does read those comments bashing her Velma voice and it does hurt her feelings.
I’m disturbed at the amount of comments I’ve read here either bashing her voice or hoping she gets replaced. Please put yourself in her shoes. Imagine if you had a job and you have strangers wishing you get fired or replaced. On top of that you have strangers saying you are horrible at your job and they hate you. How would that make you feel? I’m sure horrible. This is how she makes a living people. Life isn’t all about you. There are people that depend on this to feed their families and make a living. Wishing someone gets fired or replaced just because it doesn’t fit your little Scooby-Doo world isn’t right.
I’m not saying you have to love her voice but please realize what you put on the internet can be read by anybody and just because these people are celebrities doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings. Please keep that in mind next time you’re insulting her voice acting.
Again we are entitled to our opinions but please keep it civil and respectful. I personally love her voice and her take on Velma but I respect those that feel differently. Doesn’t mean we have to insult voice actors over this.
Sorry I just hate seeing people get bullied and finding out she reads these messages was the last straw for me. I don’t tolerate bullying in any forms.
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Post by Ark on Mar 18, 2021 9:46:17 GMT -5
I mean, being a VA of a character that has been loved for decades is a risky position. Anyone who does so is putting themselves in a position to be heavily criticized, online commenting ethics aside.
They brought Heather North in for Zombie Island, then dropped her. The cold reality of voice acting gets even worse: her replacement only lasted a few movies before competition and mental illness set in, forcing Daphne to get yet another voice actor by Cyber Chase. I suppose my point is this: the voice acting world is like walking on eggshells for female voice actors. I admit that an element of sexism seems to be driving this, but women are also more socially competitive in nature, too. Those elements make for a potentially rough time as a female voice actor. It's not even just unhappy fans-- it's people in the industry too. A handful of rude online comments is nothing compared to a director or coworker telling you that you're starting to lose your voice, and having people ready to take your position the moment you back down. |
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Post by cometcrystal on Mar 18, 2021 10:39:30 GMT -5
I mean, being a VA of a character that has been loved for decades is a risky position. Anyone who does so is putting themselves in a position to be heavily criticized, online commenting ethics aside.
They brought Heather North in for Zombie Island, then dropped her. The cold reality of voice acting gets even worse: her replacement only lasted a few movies before competition and mental illness set in, forcing Daphne to get yet another voice actor by Cyber Chase. I suppose my point is this: the voice acting world is like walking on eggshells for female voice actors. I admit that an element of sexism seems to be driving this, but women are also more socially competitive in nature, too. Those elements make for a potentially rough time as a female voice actor. It's not even just unhappy fans-- it's people in the industry too. Women are probably more socially competitive because sexism makes it so it's harder for women to be successful. We feel a need to stand out because people underestimate us be default (it's gotten better over time, but it still happens). It's in any industry, not just voice acting. And just because that's how things are doesn't mean it's okay. On the subject of Kate Micucci in general, I definitely think people are way too harsh on her. It's because people were too atached to Mindy Kohn, and because Kate is Different, people freaked out. The situation with the VAs changing is unfortunate (I read that Mindy was just not invited back for whatever reason), but that's not Kate's fault. She shouldn't be blamed for that. |
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Post by cometcrystal on Mar 18, 2021 10:43:41 GMT -5
I also know that when Frank Welker passes (hopefully not for a long time yet), people are inevitably going to be nasty to the new Fred and new Scooby, whoever they end up being. People hate change, and they let nostalgia get in the way of treating voice actors like human beings instead of symbols for whatever.
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Post by scoobyfan27 on Mar 18, 2021 10:49:36 GMT -5
I mean, being a VA of a character that has been loved for decades is a risky position. Anyone who does so is putting themselves in a position to be heavily criticized, online commenting ethics aside.
They brought Heather North in for Zombie Island, then dropped her. The cold reality of voice acting gets even worse: her replacement only lasted a few movies before competition and mental illness set in, forcing Daphne to get yet another voice actor by Cyber Chase. I suppose my point is this: the voice acting world is like walking on eggshells for female voice actors. I admit that an element of sexism seems to be driving this, but women are also more socially competitive in nature, too. Those elements make for a potentially rough time as a female voice actor. It's not even just unhappy fans-- it's people in the industry too. Women are probably more socially competitive because sexism makes it so it's harder for women to be successful. We feel a need to stand out because people underestimate us be default (it's gotten better over time, but it still happens). It's in any industry, not just voice acting. And just because that's how things are doesn't mean it's okay. On the subject of Kate Micucci in general, I definitely think people are way too harsh on her. It's because people were too atached to Mindy Kohn, and because Kate is Different, people freaked out. The situation with the VAs changing is unfortunate (I read that Mindy was just not invited back for whatever reason), but that's not Kate's fault. She shouldn't be blamed for that. THIS! All of this tbh! Just because something is a certain way doesn’t mean it’s ok. In the past women couldn’t even vote. Imagine if people were like “oh well that’s life!” and just let it happen. We wouldn’t have the changes and progress we’ve made as a human race. Yes, VA can be a harsh and sexist field but that doesn’t mean that behavior is ok. It’s ok to have VA preferences. I personally don’t like Scott Innes Shaggy as I found it a bit too exaggerated. However, I’m not going to insult the man or wish he loses his job. It’s a balance. I also agree that nostalgia gets in the way of a lot of things and people usually aren’t welcome to change hence Be Cool Scooby-Doo’s reaction. I think Kate is a great Velma. Did I like Mindy Cohn? Of course I did! But we shouldn’t take our anger out on Kate for doing her job. |
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Post by Ark on Mar 18, 2021 10:53:03 GMT -5
That's another example of not the fans, but the industry messing around with the lives of voice actors. People should be kind, yes, but even more that that... I think the industry should be even kinder. They won't though, knowing that at any given time they can have a whole line of people to choose from if they were to drop somebody. Lillard, for example, seemed far more hurt about getting replaced without being told verses the entire culmination of criticism, jokes and shaggy memes that have sprung up with him adopting the role.
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Post by scoobyfan27 on Mar 18, 2021 10:55:57 GMT -5
That's another example of not the fans, but the industry messing around with the lives of voice actors. People should be kind, yes, but even more that that... I think the industry should be even kinder. They won't though, knowing that at any given time they can have a whole line of people to choose from if they were to drop somebody. Lillard, for example, seemed far more hurt about getting replaced without being told verses the entire culmination of criticism, jokes and shaggy memes that have sprung up with him adopting the role. Correct but as fans why would we want to ADD to the already stressful situation the voice actors have? Yes, the industry is harsh and cold so why make it worse with insults. It’s just adding fuel to the fire. Imagine if Kate is already going through a hard time and you have these “fans” insulting her wishing she gets replaced. Doesn’t make the situation any better does it? |
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Post by Ark on Mar 18, 2021 11:00:29 GMT -5
It's entirely possible to be kind while disagreeing with a choice for a character voice. Kate seems like a good person and is spending a great deal of time trying to keep Velma alive. That's good, even if to me-- as a fan of 20+ years, thinks she sounds nothing like the Velma I know.
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Post by Doo on Mar 18, 2021 12:17:55 GMT -5
I'm sort of in the middle on this. I think Kate's voice isn't quite as good as Mindy's personally, but I still like Kate's voice. I think it's okay to state your opinion, even if it's negative, as long as you are doing so in a kind, constructive way. However, I agree people are pretty harsh on Kate in saying she's the worst voice ever. Constructive criticism is okay and unfortunately inevitable, as not everyone is going to like everything, but I do agree that some of the criticism she gets is quite mean-spirited and it's not appropriate to say someone should be fired and/or living out on the street just because you don't like how they do a cartoon character's voice. I think some of Kate's criticism unfortunately comes from the fact that many people don't like Be Cool, and because she started voicing Velma in that series, there's this presumption that the Be Cool writers are responsible for kicking Mindy out of her role or something (which is a rumor that has been debunked by JCB, the head writer). That show unfortunately got a lot of hate, to the point of the head writer was getting death threats (yes, you read that right) mailed to his house depicting violent and sometimes oddly specific ways that they wanted to kill him. It's okay to dislike something, but a cartoon is just not worth saying people should lose their job or die simply because you don't like it.
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Post by matt on Mar 18, 2021 13:16:27 GMT -5
I have stated that I don’t like her Velma voice recently, so maybe that inspired this, but I will defend myself in saying that I believe that I did not do it in a rude way as much as I said her voice just feels off to me as someone who has grown up with old Scooby Doo. That’s just my opinion that I like the other ones better. I certainly never wished for her to lose her job. To be completely honest, I didn’t even know she got so much hate so now I feel bad a little, but as I said before I have absolutely no personal problems with her
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Post by Dyland on Mar 18, 2021 17:18:19 GMT -5
Eh. It's a legacy character, and the fans are just expressing their own opinions. (Some really enjoy her performance, too!) Don't get caught up in looking at only the negative comments. I say, so long as the fans aren't sending death threats or anything, it's perfectly fine.
I'm not a fan of her Velma either - mostly because it's basically just her regular voice. I've like Micucci in other things, but just not in Scooby-Doo. Nobody is trying to make her loose her job or "cancel" her just by ranting on an internet forum. Broader social media is a bit of a different case - but I say it's better for people to express themselves than to hold it up bottled inside them.
Having been a part of a plethora of forums for nearly 2 decades now, I've seen my fair share of people bash a certain casting choice or star or show or whatever and eventually come around to it later. (Doctor Who fandom is a great example. Nearly every modern Doctor was "heavily disliked" online before their eventual win-over of the fans and tearful goodbye a few years later) If Micucci continues to voice Velma for more years, I'm sure *some of the nay-sayers will eventually get used to it, or just move on in the meantime.
One BIG negative I will say, though - and not about the fans - is Time Warner/Hanna Barbera/Warners' or whoever's handling of casting in the past. Several times seasoned VO veterans have been dropped on a dime with no explanation or acknowledgement. Scott Innes, Mindy Cohn, everyone but Frank Welker for the Scoob film, etc. Pretty despicable, if you ask me. Unfortunately, unless something majorly shakes up the studio, I bet any and all current and future Scooby VOs will be given the same treatment... And, even if I personally dislike Micucci's Velma, I'd hate to hear her learn of her replacement in the news/social media a la Matthew Lillard for Scoob. THAT needs to come to a stop.
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Post by mattpricetime on Mar 18, 2021 22:18:19 GMT -5
I think she does a good job with the material she's given. I'm more likely to criticize the way her Velma has been written more than the way Micucci performs her.
As I stated around the time of celebrity Scoob cast announcement. As someone who grew up with the characters in the 90s, I admit i'm more partial to the original actors than their replacements, but I admit i'm less concerned about it given how so many of the original actors are no longer with us. I guess i'm more open to the changes and see what they can offer.
But to be honest sitting here to type i'm not sure I actually hate any current voice actor on most of these projects. Because if anything like I stated first, i'm more displeased with the material they were given than I am the actual actors reading it.
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