After announcing the English dub’s release, it was revealed that Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is recasting Chad in support of representation in anime.
Specifically, it was announced by Viz Media that Chad is voiced by a new actor. This is after Chad’s previous voice actor declined to come back for the new Bleach anime.
Chad's English Dub VA Steps Down, Will No Longer Audition for POC Roles
Chad or Yasutora Sado is an important character in Bleach, and he is of Mexican and Japanese descent. In the original English dub, he is voiced by Jamieson Price beginning in Episode 86.
In case you’re unfamiliar, Price is a veteran voice actor who has played various popular anime characters, including Kirei Kotomine in Fate/Stay Night, Dreyfus in The Seven Deadly Sins, and Tobirama Senju in Naruto: Shippuden, among others.
Unlike the recent English dub fiasco in Mob Psycho 100, Price decided not to return to his role, not because of a union dispute.
Instead, he didn’t return as he will "no longer audition for roles of people in color."
In his statement posted on Twitter, Price explained the reason for his stepping down:
Access to opportunity in Anime has not been equal. But that has changed. By stepping aside now I open the door of Access and give opportunity to an actor who can represent Yasutora Sado with the same love and pride and imagination but with more life experience than I have.
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Bleach: TYBW Chad's New English Dub VA
To end his statement, Price revealed that Alain Mesa (an American actor of Cuban descent) is the new voice actor of Chad in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.
Mesa’s new role as Chad was also shared by Viz Media on its official Twitter account. The announcement also acknowledged how Price graciously stepped down from the role.
On his personal Twitter, Mesa also shared his thoughts on his new role. He said that the previous actor “was a rockstar and brought so much life to this role” and that he will do his best in voicing Chad.
The Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War English dub will be released today on Hulu in the US. New episodes will be released every week.
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