Pokemon fans will recognize Jay Goede as the voice behind one of the biggest characters in the franchise, Mewtwo. Goede gave voice to the legendary pokemon and its creator in Pokemon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back. Dallas Comic Show will be bringing the actor to Lewisville this weekend for its Spring Spectacular convention. Luckily, we were able to have a few words ahead of his appearance at Music City Mall this weekend! Read below as Goede answers five quick questions about his Pokemon experience, then catch the actor at Dallas Comic Show for one of his first convention appearances!

Before voicing Mewtwo in 1998, did you have any knowledge of Pokemon?

Prior to doing the voice for Mewtwo, I had no other awareness of Pokemon as a phenomenon, that was until it came to the states. Then, I understood the size of it and, later, the depths of it’s staying power for generations.

You’ve done quite a bit of Broadway and theatrical work but only a handful of films. Is it strange that an overwhelming majority of people still associate you with your role as Mewtwo almost 25 years later?

I’m so flattered and honored that might be true! We don’t know what’s going to stick when we become actors. We don’t know what’s going to move people or affect people or touch them. It’s all out there in the ether somewhere as we deliver a performance. Finally, time, history, open minds, and open hearts eventually tell us what becomes beloved for people. I’m extremely honored to be a part of Pokemon as a phenomenon and most particularly to be Mewtwo’s voice, because he speaks so profoundly to so many people over generations. That will outlive my life and I can’t be anything but flattered and humble to buy that.

If you could choose a companion Pokemon, who would it be and why?

Without question, I would ask for Mewtwo as a companion. First of all, he’s a loner, as am I. Second of all, he has such melancholy and darkness, as do I. Also, I think he has great, profound wisdom as he finally releases the layers of his pain and rage to uncover the truths of life’s many lessons.

Do you still keep up with the current versions of Pokemon, either the games or shows?

I have to be totally honest and let you know that I feel like I’m 9 years old, discovering it all for the first time. Like so many jobs that I’ve had as an actor, once they’re done you do your best and you put them behind you. You move on to the next job, and I have to say Pokemon was like every other job in that sense. It wasn’t until decades started to pass and people would tell me how much the character, the other films, the series, and the phenomenon of Pokemon meant to them, that I really started to understand how important it was. I was late in arriving to the wonder and magic of it, as children experience it. So, it’s been a kind of amazing gift to really appreciate it this late in my life.

There is a theory stating that there are multiple Mewtwos. Much of this theory is based on the voice differentiation between yours in Mewtwo Strikes Back and other appearances of the character in various shows and movies. What is your stance on the theory?

I believe there are three actors who have done the voice of Mewtwo. I was the first in the original Pokemon film, Mewtwo Strikes Back, and then there were at least two other actors who did the voice for the subsequent films and series. I think there’s a dark version of Mewtwo out there. In my opinion, there’s two versions, a shadow one and the regular Mewtwo. One of light and one of dark.