Ballad of the Guardian of Courage and the Rat Sensei! - RIP Emi Shinohara and Peter Renaday

This just in (and I don't like it, either).

No sooner after the passing of Sid Eudy, Rachael Lillis, and especially James Earl Jones, we get a one-two gut punch, especially around September 11th of all days. Emi Shinohara and Peter Renaday have passed away on September 8th, 2024. They were 61 and 89 years old respectively. 

Emi Shinohara, was a Japanese seiyu or Japanese voice actress, who did such characters as Kaho Mizuki from Cardcaptor Sakura, Kagero from Ninja Scroll, Kushina Uzumaki from Naruto and our most importantly, the original Japanese of Makoto Kino aka Sailor Jupiter from the original Sailor Moon anime, who inspired the likes of Susan Roman and Amanda Miller to voice the character in their respective English dubs. She was also married to actor Hiroshi Watari, who starred in the Metal Heroes shows, Space Sheriff Sharivan and Jikuu Senshi Spielban. Shinohara died a month after her birthday, due to an unspecified illness (God forbid it's cancer). And you think that's heartbreaking enough? Let me talk about the guy in question next.

Peter Renaday, was an voice actor, best known for such characters as Abraham Lincoln in multiple episodes from shows like Animaniacs, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and Evil Con Carne, Mandrake the Magician from Defenders of the Earth, Master Blaster from Kidd Video, and most of all, did two characters in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not only Vernon Fenwick, one of April O'Neil's co-workers at Channel 6 News, but most importantly, Hamato Yoshi aka Splinter, the Turtles rat sensei. My favorite Splinter moment was, and always will be, doing the "Cur-Lee" Maneuver on Shredder in the episode, Blast from the Past. Wise and funny to the last. Renaday died, two days after his birthday, of natural causes and the remaining TMNT voice cast, including Townsend Coleman (Michelangelo) gave their heart-filled tribute to the man who brought the rat sensei to life, even though he is one of many versions of Splinter, but that's another story.

On a personal note, it saddens me that we lose a part of our childhood and always remember the good they have done for us, knowing that they will never truly be gone. However, what makes me mad is the fact that the news media and Screen Actors Guild continues to treat voice actors like second class citizens, thinking that they are not as famous as all the actors and other famous people combined, especially sports athletes. Look, voice actors may not look the part, and may not look glamorous like the other actors, but they are more talented than you look. No matter how they sound, whether it's high-pitched, low baritone, squeaky, dark and brood, or even normal, but with more emotions, voice actors as a whole deserves a lot more than emotion alone. This is why I slap on the hashtag, #RespectVoiceActors, it is not just a hashtag, it is a rallying cry. A rallying cry to show the media and SAG that voice actors deserve to be acknowledged and have the respect they so rightfully deserve. This crime of ignorance will not go unpunished. For the sake of those who passed away, we will fight on, and voice actors will one day finally be acknowledged.

Until next time, and Godspeed to our Sailor Guardian of Thundering Courage and rat sensei of the Turtles. Thank you for all the memories. Be at peace.

(TAPS play)

Emi Shinohara-Watanabe
(August 8th, 1963 - September 8th, 2024)

 Peter Renaday
(September 6th, 1935 - September 8th, 2024)

This has been a Retro Rebellion Special Report (Please, no more!)