Why doesn't Sonic's voice sound like it used to?

Compare Sonic's voice in the 90s with his voice now, and you'll notice he sounds completely different! In the last 2 decades he's changed voice actors again and again. But why is that? Well, let's find out!

PATREON -   / thomasgamedocs  
TWITTER -   / thomasgdocs  

CORRECTION: at 4:25 I misspoke when I said 1993. The actual year written in the script was 1999.

SOURCES/CREDITS
Jaleel White
   • Sonic SatAM A Conversation with Jalee...   Jaleel White story of becoming Sonic voice

Jun'ichi Kanemaru
https://www.animatetimes.com/news/det... Jun’ichi Kanimaru hand-picked as voice of sonic interview

Ryan Drummond
   • An Interview with Sonic the Hedgehog ...   Ryan Drummond footage, courtesy of FortOfBlankets
https://web.archive.org/web/200710131... Ryan Drummond audition story
https://web.archive.org/web/201604061... Ryan Drummond discusses 4Kids’ recast - Part 1
https://web.archive.org/web/201507161... Part 2
https://web.archive.org/web/201604061... Part 3
https://web.archive.org/web/201711291... Part 4

Jason Griffith
   • An Interview With Jason Griffith, For...   Interview with Jason Griffith, courtesy of FTCR

Roger Craig Smith
   • 20 Sonic Questions Answered By Roger ...   Roger Craig Smith interview footage, courtesy of GameSpot
   • Roger Craig Smith Interview! (Voice o...   Roger Craig Smith interview, courtesy of Sonic's Channel/1upTV Games
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/202... Roger Craig Smith leaving role…?
  / 1354805293369024520   Leaving Sonic Roger
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20... Roger Craig Smith not leaving role
https://web.archive.org/web/202008140... - SEGA asked RCR to make Sonic sound older

With much thanks to the Sonic News Network for much additional background information
https://sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Sonic_N...

MUSIC
Various songs from Sonic game soundtracks
Habanera from Carmen, via Kevin Macleod @ incompetech.com

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:56 Sonic's first voice
3:57 The wishy washy zone
5:06 A new voice for Sonic
6:48 Sega's big controversy
10:40 Who took over Sonic's voice?
14:20 Sega recasts AGAIN
19:04 Outro