| Three entertainment forces are driving the North American economy: NASCAR stock car racing, professional wrestling and Pokemon. Does that sound ridiculous? Well, the author is dead serious when he writes that, and he takes his cue from the Wall Street Journal, which has run stories in recent weeks talking about the impact of Pokemon on the economy. Literally, Pikachu has been driving selected stock prices upward to the point some investors are afraid those stocks may fall (Aug. 26, 1999, "Pokemon Craze Produces Some Bears," WSJ). |  |
| Here to offer their analysis on this situation are noted economists Lisa Ortiz (left) and Rachael Lillis (right), offering their opinion to...well, the two voice actors actually were talking about their Pokemon work at a CN Anime panel on Friday. They've been working on the voice track for the first of the Pokemon movies that will be released for an English-speaking audience. That movie probably will be a holiday season release... |  |
| ...and Ortiz made an observation that gives a hint of where the Pokemon movie will make its money. "It's mother-approved," she said, noting that her mother doesn't want to get up at to see Pokemon when its broadcast at 7 a.m. in her area, but she'll probably go to see the movie during the day. If parents and kids go together to see the Pokemon movie, that means full houses of the kind not seen at a "family" movie since the heyday of the Walt Disney films of the late 50's and early 60's. (By the way, Ortiz said her mom also likes her work in Slayers, too.) |  |
| As in the Pokemon TV series, Lillis voices both Misty and Jessie in
the movie. It's a challenge to make those voices sound different, especially
when the two characters appear on screen together, she said. Body language
helps make the difference, including the trick of shaping her hands like
claws when she portrays the semi-bad Jessie. During the panel, a boy in
the audience peppered the actresses with questions about his favorite characters
(he really likes Meowth). The boy was delighted to learn a few tidbits
about upcoming TV shows featuring Meowth.
Also, both actors are aware of the story from Colorado about the church that has attacked Pokemon as being demonic, and the actors don't take that seriously. |
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