Characters change. They grow. Sometimes they get a total makeover that leaves fans arguing in Reddit threads for a decade. But with Miles "Tails" Prower, the two-tailed genius of the Sonic universe, the conversation almost always circles back to that specific, youthful pitch. Getting the tails the fox voice right is a balancing act that Sega and various production studios have struggled with since 1993.
It’s not just about sounding like a kid. It’s about sounding like a kid who can also build a trans-dimensional warp drive.
The current era of Colleen O'Shaughnessey
Honestly, if you’ve played a Sonic game or watched a movie in the last ten years, you know Colleen O'Shaughnessey. She is the definitive voice for most modern fans. What’s wild is that she broke a huge "Hollywood rule" when the 2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie came out. Usually, big movie studios swap out seasoned voice actors for "A-list" celebrities to sell tickets.
Think Chris Pratt as Mario.
But Colleen? She stayed. After voicing Tails in the Sonic Boom series and various games like Sonic Forces and Sonic Frontiers, she reprised the role on the big screen. It was a massive win for the voice-acting community. Fans practically rioted (in a supportive way) to make sure she wasn't replaced by a random pop star.
She brings this specific sincerity to the role. It’s less "Saturday morning cartoon" and more "loyal best friend who is actually smarter than everyone in the room." As of early 2026, she’s still the primary voice, having recently finished work on the third film and continuing to lead the character's presence in the games.
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Why the "Sonic Prime" voice was different
If you watched Sonic Prime on Netflix, you probably noticed Tails sounded... a bit different. That’s because the show was produced in Canada under specific union regulations (often called "Canadian content" or CanCon rules).
Ashleigh Ball took over the mantle there.
She had the unenviable task of playing multiple versions of the character—Nine, Sails, and Mangey. Each one needed a slightly different edge. Nine, in particular, was a much darker, more cynical version of Tails. Ball had to keep that core "Tails" DNA while making him sound like someone who had been through the wringer. It’s a great example of how the tails the fox voice has to adapt to the tone of the story, even if the "main" version of the character stays consistent elsewhere.
A history of changing voices (and why it happens)
Before the era of O'Shaughnessey, the casting was a bit of a revolving door. Part of this was intentional—Sega often refreshed the entire cast when they moved to new studios or production houses.
- The 4Kids Era (2003–2010): Amy Palant is the name you’ll remember if you grew up on Sonic X. Her take was high-energy and very much in line with the anime aesthetic of the time. Interestingly, rumors have floated around for years that Palant essentially retired from the industry to pursue a career in psychology, which is a pretty cool pivot from being a fox who flies planes.
- The Studiopolis Shift (2010–2013): Kate Higgins stepped in for games like Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations. Her Tails was slightly softer, maybe a bit more mature than the 4Kids version. Most people recognize her now as the voice of Pauline in Super Mario Odyssey.
- The "Literal Child" Era: In the early 3D days, Sega actually hired young boys to voice Tails. Corey Bringas did the voice in Sonic Adventure, and then his younger brother, Connor Bringas, took over for Sonic Adventure 2.
The problem with hiring actual kids? Puberty.
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By the time the next game would roll around, their voices had deepened, and they simply couldn't hit those high notes anymore. This is exactly why the industry moved toward casting adult women to play young male characters—they can maintain the same pitch for twenty years without a voice crack ruining the recording session.
The Christopher Welch mystery
There is a weird bit of internet history involving the very first tails the fox voice. For a long time, people thought the actor Christopher Evan Welch (who was in Silicon Valley) voiced Tails in the 1993 Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon.
It was a total case of mistaken identity.
The real actor was Christopher Stephen Welch, who was just ten years old at the time. He recorded his lines in Vancouver and then basically walked away from acting at age 13. He’s now a sales rep for a food distributor. Imagine buying a crate of frozen goods from the guy who gave Tails his first-ever voice. Life is strange.
What makes the voice work?
If the voice is too high, Tails becomes annoying. If it’s too deep, he loses his innocence. The "sweet spot" is a raspy, youthful tenor that carries weight. When Tails is explaining some complex "technobabble," the actor has to sound confident. When he’s scared because Sonic is in trouble, that vulnerability has to be front and center.
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Colleen O'Shaughnessey often talks about how she doesn't really "change" the voice between games and movies. The core is the same. The difference is the acting. In a game, you’re yelling "Gotta go!" or "Watch out, Sonic!" every five seconds. In a film like Sonic 3, there’s room for quiet moments and actual character development.
How to track the voice changes yourself
If you're a nerd for this stuff, you can actually hear the evolution by jumping through a few specific titles:
- Sonic Adventure (1998): Hear the raw, actual-child performance of Corey Bringas. It’s charmingly unpolished.
- Sonic Unleashed (2008): Listen to Amy Palant’s version to see how the "anime style" influenced the games.
- Sonic Frontiers (2022): Listen to the modern O'Shaughnessey performance, which is much more grounded and emotional.
The tails the fox voice is more than just a sound; it’s the emotional anchor for the franchise. While Sonic is the "cool" one, Tails is the heart. If that voice doesn't land, the relationship between the two iconic heroes falls apart.
Actionable insights for fans and creators
If you’re interested in the world of voice acting or just want to keep up with Tails, follow Colleen O'Shaughnessey on social media. She’s surprisingly open about her recording process and frequently shares behind-the-scenes tidbits from the Sonic movie sets. For those looking to get into the industry, study her "raspy" technique—it’s a masterclass in playing a young male character as an adult woman. Stay tuned for the upcoming game releases in late 2026, as the casting for spin-off media often shifts even when the main cast remains stable.