Detective Pikachu and Detective Pikachu Returns set themselves apart from other Pokémon spin-offs by featuring extensive voice acting. From the tough-talking, coffee-obsessed detective himself to the varied citizens and Pokémon of Ryme City, Detective Pikachu Returns has more charm than you can shake a magnifying glass at.
We’ve taken on a little detective work of our own at PC Invasion and dug into the talent behind Detective Pikachu Returns’ colorful cast of characters. Here’s every voice actor featured in Detective Pikachu Returns, and where you may know their previous work from.
Detective Pikachu Returns Voice Actor List
Detective Pikachu — Kaiji Tang
The shining star of the game himself, Detective Pikachu, is voiced by Kaiji Tang in Detective Pikachu Returns. While fans of the live-action movie may be used to Ryan Reynolds, Tang has voiced the video game iteration of Detective Pikachu since the original game’s release in 2018.
Aside from everyone’s favorite coffee-drinking yellow rodent, Tang is best known for playing Ichiban Kasuga from the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series. Other notable roles include Bill from Beastars, Satoru Goju from Jujutsu Kaisen, Guts from Berserk (2016), and Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 1.
Tim Goodman — Khoi Dao
Khoi Dao continues to voice Tim Goodman in Detective Pikachu Returns. Due to the game’s two-year time skip, Tim both looks and sounds older. He still hasn’t ditched his iconic red hoodie, though!
Genshin Impact fans may recognize Khoi Dao as Albedo, while Fire Emblem buffs may be more familiar with Kagetsu from Fire Emblem Engage. Dao has also starred in countless anime, such as Lupin the 3rd: Part VI, Demon Slayer, Karuoko’s Basketball, and even Pokémon Journeys.
Related: Pokemon Go: Detective Pikachu Returns – Dates, Events and more
Rachel Myers — Laura Stahl
Rachel Myers, daughter of Mayor Howard Myers, is Tim’s new friend from college. Rachel is voiced by Laura Stahl, another name Genshin Impact players may know for her work as Barbara and Xinyan.
Stahl isn’t new to the Pokémon franchise either, voicing Bea in Pokémon: Twilight Wings, Zinnia in Pokémon Evolutions, and Skyla, Hau, and Lass in Pokémon Masters. She also plays (female) Alear — the protagonist in Fire Emblem Engage.
Howard Myers — Alain Mesa
If you think you know Howard Myers’ face from somewhere, despite not appearing in the first game, you aren’t alone. Howard Myers is voiced by and seemingly based on Alain Mesa, who provided the likeness and voice of Alejandro Vargas in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, III, and Warzone.
Alain Mesa is known for playing Salazar in Great Pretender, Yastutora Sado (Chad), and Riku Togakushi in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.
Irene Goodman — Dorah Fine
Tim’s mother, Irene Goodman, is voiced by Dorah Fine. While mentioned in the first game, Detective Pikachu Returns marks her first physical appearance. For any fellow World of Warcraft players out there, Fine also voices Sendrax, the enthusiastic drakonid at the beginning of Dragonflight.
Fine’s other best-known roles include Hitomi Sagan in AI: The Somnium Files, Tammy Nobi in Stand By Me Doraemon 2, and Bertha in Pokémon Masters. She’s also provided many additional voices for anime, such as Berserk, God Eater, K-On!, and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Sophia Goodman — Michelle Marie
Tim’s little sister, Sophia Goodman, is voiced by Michelle Marie. As someone with more Sanrio in my house than I care to admit, I was pleased to discover Marie as the voice of My Melody and Chococat in Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures.
Michelle Marie has also appeared in a past Pokémon title, starring as Leaf in Pokémon Masters. Other roles include Nana Hiiragi in Talentless Nana, Anis and Aria in Goddess of Victory: Nikke, and Niffty in Hazbin Hotel.
Will Butler — SungWon Cho
Head of the Pokémon Protection Bureau is Will Butler, voiced by none other than SungWon Cho. He also provides the voice for Falinks and Gurdurr. As well as for his iconic roles, Cho is well-known for his ProZD YouTube channel, where he posts hilarious skits, food reviews, and board game videos.
Cho’s celebrated roles include Ratatoskr in God of War Ragnarok, Kage in Ranking of Kings, FL4K in Borderlands 3, Hyodo in Aggretsuko, and his live-action appearance in Anime Crimes Division.
Supporting Detective Pikachu Returns Voice Actors
Detective Pikachu Returns features a handful of characters from the 2018 game, as well as plenty of new faces. To avoid spoilers, we’ve listed the characters and their talent that don’t appear in the game’s promotional material below.
Warning: This list contains spoilers for certain characters in Detective Pikachu Returns.
- Pablo Milan — Doug Erholtz (returning)
- Frank Holiday — Rich Brown
- Brac McMaster — Bill Roger
- Emilia Christie — Kira Buckland (returning)
- Jessica Miller — Anairis Quinones
- Sanjeev Denis — Maz Ali
- Rich Brown — Frank Holiday
- Brandon Barnes — Michael Sorich
- Larry Turner — Y. Chang
- Claudia Denis — Rebeka Thomas
- Trevor Gordon — Imari Williams
- Chris Honor — AJ Beckles
- Keith Norman — Chris Hackney (returning)
- Charles Merloch — Yong Yea
- Mewtwo — Christopher Corey Smith (returning)
- Harry Goodman — Kaiji Tang (returning*)
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