In early October, Japanese action title developer PlatinumGames said: game informer Its Upcoming Switch Exclusive Bayonetta 3 We won’t see voice actress Helena Taylor reprise her iconic sensual role as the lead character.Instead, Bayonetta’s English VA will be Jennifer Hale, one of the industry’s most ubiquitous voice actors, known for roles like Commander Shepard. At the time, Platinum claimed the exchange was due to “various overlapping circumstances” that made it “difficult” for Helena to play Bayonetta again. It disputes that, suggesting the studio wasn’t completely transparent about what really happened.
Instead of Hale being a better performer or missing the role due to scheduling conflicts, Taylor claims he was overpaid. In a series of videos, Taylor goes on to say that Platinum apparently only offered him $4,000 for the entire performance. This is based on the trailer. A major VA seemed to be voicing multiple versions of the same characterThe offer was seen as an insult to Taylor, who had spent years studying her craft and undoubtedly created one of the most memorable performances in all of the media.
“We held an audition to cast a new voice for Bayonetta and offered the role to Jennifer Hale, who we felt was a perfect fit for the character,” said game director Yusuke Miyata. game informer at the time. “We understand some fans are concerned about the voice change at this point in the series, but Jennifer’s performance far exceeded our expectations. , we are confident that it will exceed the expectations of the fans.” game informerAccording to the story, the publication found Hale’s performance to be virtually indistinguishable from Taylor’s.
However, Taylor called the whole situation “immoral,” though legal.
“Sometimes I think I don’t look like Bayonetta at all,” Taylor said in the video, referring to her decision to talk about what’s going on.
“I understand that boycotting this game is a personal choice, and some people don’t,” she continued. Who cares about the world and who is hurt by these economic decisions? Then we recommend boycotting this game.”
Taylor was originally on She played the role of the Bullet Time witch in the critically acclaimed action game of 2009 and reprized her role for the series in the 2014 follow-up. The series is widely considered her one of Nintendo’s best modern franchises.
“I decided to do it to stand in solidarity with people around the world who are not getting proper compensation for their talent,” Taylor continued. There is now a wider movement among voice actors, with leading roles being displaced as performers vie for better pay through unions..
“Fat cats cream over the top and leave us with crumbs,” she says, not being able to earn a living wage from the industry as she struggles with depression and anxiety. As she says, after being understated, she wrote to the game’s executive director, Hideki Kamiya, to plead her case. He claims he acknowledged how much it meant.
“I was afraid I would be on the street,” she said of not being able to pay a living wage. “It scared me so much that once I killed myself. I’m not afraid of non-disclosure agreements. I can’t even afford to drive. What are they going to do, take my clothes?” Good luck to them.”
Nintendo, Bayonetta 3‘s publisher, Taylor did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Platinum Games has not issued an official statement on the matter, but Kamiya himself seems to have responded on Twitter.
“Sad and deplorable about the false attitude,” he wrote. “That’s all I can say for now.”
But more plainly, he ended the note by typing, “By the way, pay attention to my rules.” As far as anyone can tell, this seems to be related to his Twitter usage, where Kamiya is infamously said to block people left and right. It’s just a series of posts warning him to have or block, especially against insects in foreign languages such as English. And his pinned Twitter post warns of a set of “rules” that if broken, users will be blocked. It reads, “My block button is bigger than ever.”
Sure enough, Man, and even publications person reporting about Bayonetta 3 The current voice actor situation seems to be hammered by Mr. Kamiya’s lifting of the ban. Meanwhile, other voice actors share anecdotes and experiences. Sean Chiprock as the voice of Revali Breath of the Wildanother Nintendo-published game, was based on the number of hours he spent in the studio, so he claims he was given only about $2,000 to $3,000 for his role. said that it was because he was voicing three different characters instead of one. According to the SAG-ATRA 2020 rate sheetOff-Camera Day Performers Guild If you perform a single role, you can expect a minimum of $451.00 per hour.or $902.00 per hour for up to 3. again, small potential Bonus compensation that depends on the number of sessions, but these guidelines are based on the established For example, an actor like Jennifer Hale might get paid for her performance.
“Bayonetta will always stand up for the weak and stand up for what is right,” Taylor says in the video. “And by doing this, you’re supporting her,” she said of the player’s potential decision to boycott her game.In the video, Taylor is also the new Bayonetta. I wish Hale all the best. But she still had tough words to say about what taking on her role in Bayonetta meant to her.
“But you have no right to say she’s Bayonetta’s voice. I created that voice,” said Taylor. “She doesn’t have the right to sign merchandise as Bayonetta. Even if I was her parent in the video game The Golden Compass, I don’t have the right to sign as Eva Green. That betrayal is hers.” , it’s just for her.They’ll probably try a spin-off with Jeanne.Don’t buy that either.”
The last video Taylor shared was aimed entirely at Nintendo, Platinum Games, and “fat cats” in general. It was a bigger critique of the morality that goes with doing.
Bayonetta 3 It will be released on Nintendo Switch on October 28th.
