Controversy Surrounds Kinich’s New English Voice Actor in Genshin Impact
The Genshin Impact community is no stranger to controversies, with issues ranging from the 2021 review bombing on app stores to the ongoing “Natlan boycott”in 2024. Recently, the recasting of Kinich’s English voice actor has ignited heated debates among players.
As many English voice actors in the U.S. continue their strike, lasting over six months, they push for safeguards against the unchecked use of AI within the voice acting industry. This has led to several characters in the English version of Genshin Impact being left without voices for multiple patches.
The Recasting Announcement
With the launch of Genshin Impact version 5.5, HoYoverse revealed that Kinich’s former voice actor, John Patneaude, has been replaced by Jacob Takanashi. Players can experience Takanashi’s portrayal of Kinich in the primary event quest of this version, where Kinich plays a significant role.
Takanashi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity on social media, but this announcement did not sit well with many members of the voice acting community. A wave of criticism emerged, in which various actors accused Takanashi of taking a role from someone currently on strike.
I feel so bad for Kinich’s new VA: (( by u/Excellent-Pay6235 in Genshin_Impact
This topic garnered attention on the subreddit r/GenshinImpact, where players discussed the implications of the recasting. In a troubling twist, some voice actors who had been critical of Takanashi allegedly received death threats, prompting him to advocate for a cessation of such hostility.
Community Reactions
In response to the backlash, user u/JMGamer193 noted:
“My man defended them against the death threats and kys messages they’re getting and still got attacked as a response.”
Another user, u/InazumaShinesEternal, commented on Takanashi’s performance, emphasizing that he believed Takanashi did a commendable job as Kinich. They expressed hope that he could rise above the current controversy and remain positive.
Comment by u/Excellent-Pay6235 from discussion in Genshin_Impact
Additionally, user u/Ijuander24 pointed out that Ororon’s voice actor extended a warm welcome to Takanashi, showcasing camaraderie within the voice acting community despite the strife between some members.
Understanding Kinich’s Voice Actor Change
Originally voiced by John Patneaude, Kinich’s absence from the voice roster became notable after he joined the SAG-AFTRA strike, resulting in the character missing voiceovers during the Natlan Archon quest.
HoYoverse’s decision to appoint Jacob Takanashi as the new voice actor sparked protests from voice actors such as Corina Boettger (Paimon), Kayli Mills (Keqing), and others—many of whom publicly denounced the recast, arguing that Takanashi’s role came at the expense of a striking colleague.
“Have fun with Genshin! You’ll never work on anything else lmfao.”
As the situation unfolds, Jacob Takanashi is set to voice Kinich in all future updates, with his recordings replacing Patneaude’s in the game. The community remains divided, with a significant portion supporting Takanashi while others align with the sentiments expressed by the critics.