You’ve probably heard "No job is too big, no pup is too small" about a thousand times if you have kids. It’s the anthem of a generation of toddlers. But have you ever stopped to actually listen to the voices? If you’re a parent who has been watching since 2013, you might have noticed something kinda weird. Ryder sounds different. Chase sounds different. Basically, the cast of PAW Patrol is a revolving door of talent, and there’s a very specific, slightly frustrating reason for that.
Most cartoons, like The Simpsons or SpongeBob, keep the same actors for thirty years. Not this show. Because Spin Master and Nickelodeon hire actual children to voice the pups, puberty is the ultimate villain. Once a voice drops, the pup gets a "promotion" to retirement, and a new kid steps into the recording booth. It keeps the show sounding authentic and youthful, but it makes tracking the credits feel like a full-time investigative job.
The human at the helm: Who voices Ryder?
Ryder is the glue. He’s ten years old, somehow has an unlimited budget for high-tech gadgets, and never seems to have a parent around to tell him to come inside for dinner. Because he’s the lead human, his voice is the most recognizable.
In the beginning, Owen Mason gave Ryder that earnest, helpful tone we all know. But he didn't stay forever. He was followed by Ewan McRae, and then Jaxon Mercey took over for a long stretch. If you watch the later seasons, you’re hearing Joey Nijem or Kai Harris. Honestly, it’s impressive how the casting directors find kids who can mimic that specific "Ryder cadence" so perfectly that most kids don't even realize the switch happened.
The weirdest part? In PAW Patrol: The Movie, they actually went for a "name" actor. Will Brisbin voiced Ryder in the first film, but for the sequel, The Mighty Movie, they swapped him out for Finn Lee-Epp. This caused a bit of a stir in the fan forums (yes, they exist), because people get surprisingly attached to their specific version of the boy leader.
The original pups and the Canadian connection
The show is Canadian. Produced by Spin Master Entertainment and animated by Guru Studio in Toronto, the cast of PAW Patrol draws heavily from the deep well of Canadian voice talent.
Take Chase, the police pup who is always on the case. In the early days, Max Calinescu voiced him. Max's voice eventually changed, leading to Justin Paul Kelly and later Luke Dietz. Chase is a German Shepherd, so the voice needs to be authoritative but still, well, a puppy. When the big-budget movies hit theaters, the producers decided they needed some Hollywood star power. They brought in Iain Armitage—the kid from Young Sheldon—to voice Chase in the first movie. It was a huge departure from the TV show's sound, but it worked for the "origin story" vibe they were going for.
Marshall is the clumsy Dalmatian and a fan favorite. His "I'm okay!" catchphrase after crashing into the elevator is iconic. Gage Munroe was the first to tackle this role. Since then, we’ve seen Drew Davis, Lukas Engel, and Christian Corrao take the fire helmet.
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Why the voices change so often
It's a biological reality. Young boys' voices break.
When you’re recording a show that produces 26 episodes a year, plus specials, plus movies, you can't have a pup who suddenly sounds like he's going through a growth spurt and needs a shave. The producers have a system now. They scout for kids whose voices haven't dropped yet, train them up, and then usually get two or three seasons out of them before the "great voice change" happens. It’s a bit of a cycle.
- Skye: Usually voiced by young actresses who can stay in the role longer than the boys. Kallan Holley held the role for years before Lilly Bartlam took over.
- Rubble: Devann Cohen was the original, followed by Lucien Duncan. Rubble’s voice needs that "tough but sweet" gravelly quality.
- Rocky: Originally Stuart Ralston. Later, Samuel Faraci and Jackson Reid.
- Zuma: Alex Thorne started it off, followed by Lyon Smith and Shayle Simons.
Celebrity cameos and the Big Screen shift
When PAW Patrol moved to the silver screen, the cast of PAW Patrol exploded with celebrities. This is where things get really interesting for the adults watching. You’re sitting there in the theater, and suddenly you realize Liberty—the sassy dachshund from Adventure City—is voiced by Marsai Martin from Black-ish.
Then there’s the villain, Mayor Humdinger. In the show, he’s voiced by Ron Pardo (who also does Cap'n Turbot). Pardo is a legend in the Canadian voice-acting world. But in the movies, they surround the core cast with people like Kim Kardashian (who voices Delores the poodle), Chris Rock, James Marsden, and even Serena Williams.
It’s a bizarre mix of world-class athletes, reality stars, and professional voice actors. For the kids, it doesn’t matter. For the parents, hearing Kim Kardashian talk about grooming a poodle is a "wait, what?" moment that keeps you awake during the third viewing of the week.
The unsung hero: Ron Pardo
We have to talk about Ron Pardo. While the kids rotate in and out, Pardo is the anchor. He’s been there since the start. He voices Mayor Humdinger, the bumbling antagonist with the "Kitten Catastrophe Crew." He also voices Cap'n Turbot, the marine biologist who speaks in alliterations.
Think about that for a second. He’s playing the most annoying guy in Adventure Bay and the guy who always needs to be rescued. His range is incredible. Without his consistent performance, the show would feel way more disjointed every time a new kid took over as Ryder or Chase.
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Tracking the voice changes: A quick reference
Since it’s hard to keep track, here’s how the main roles have evolved over the years. It isn't a perfect science because sometimes actors overlap for specials or "shorts," but this is the general progression:
Ryder's Voice Evolution
Owen Mason (Seasons 1–2) started the trend. Ewan McRae took the baton for Season 3. Jaxon Mercey handled Seasons 3–6. Joey Nijem did Seasons 6–7. Kai Harris took over from Season 8 onwards.
The Case of Chase
Max Calinescu (Seasons 1–4) is the OG. Justin Paul Kelly (Seasons 5–8) saw the show through its peak popularity. Luke Dietz took over in Season 8. Interestingly, Iain Armitage took the role for the 2021 movie, while Christian Convery (from Sweet Tooth) voiced him in The Mighty Movie.
Skye's Consistency
Kallan Holley (Seasons 1–5) is the voice most people associate with the cockapoo. Lilly Bartlam (Season 6–present) has taken the character into the "Mighty Pups" era. McKenna Grace, a huge star in her own right, voiced Skye in the second movie because Skye was the main protagonist of that film.
Behind the scenes: The recording process
Recording a show like this isn't like a live-action movie. The kids often record their lines alone. Because they are in school, the sessions have to be scheduled around homework and extracurriculars.
A voice director works with them to get the energy right. Imagine being an eight-year-old and having to scream "Rubble on the double!" into a microphone twenty times until it sounds "excited but not too loud." It’s tough work. The Canadian voice acting scene is tight-knit, and many of these kids go on to voice characters in PJ Masks or Wild Kratts.
Misconceptions about the cast
One thing people get wrong is thinking the "movie cast" is the "new cast." It's not.
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There are basically two different universes. You have the TV show cast of PAW Patrol, which stays primarily Canadian and consists of young voice actors. Then you have the "Movie Universe," which uses high-profile American actors to help sell tickets and get PR. When the movie is over, the TV show usually goes back to its regular cast.
Another misconception is that the voices are AI. In 2026, people are skeptical of everything. But Spin Master has been very vocal about using real kids. There’s a texture to a child's voice—the slight breaths, the natural lisp, the genuine giggle—that AI hasn't quite perfected for a preschool audience.
Why it matters who voices them
You might think, "It’s just a cartoon about dogs, who cares?"
But for a three-year-old, these characters are real. If the voice shifts too much, it breaks the "magic." That’s why the casting directors are so careful. They aren't looking for the best actor; they’re looking for the best match. They need someone who can step into a role that has already been established for a decade and not ruin the illusion.
It's also a huge break for these kids. Being part of the cast of PAW Patrol is basically the "Mickey Mouse Club" of the 2020s. It’s a launching pad.
What to look for in the future
As the show moves into its second decade, expect more of the same. More "voice breaks," more new kids, and more celebrity cameos in the spin-offs. We’ve already seen Rubble & Crew get its own dedicated cast, which expands the universe even further.
If you’re a fan or a parent, the best way to keep up is to check the end credits of the newer "Mighty Pups" or "Rescue Wheels" specials. You’ll see the names change every few years like clockwork.
Actionable insights for parents and fans
If you're trying to track down a specific voice or want to know more about the actors, here's what you can actually do:
- Check the IMDb Pro or Credits: The regular IMDb often lumps all actors together, making it look like 15 people voice Chase at once. Look for "Season" tags to see who was active during the episodes your child is watching.
- Support the Actors: Many of these kids, like Lilly Bartlam or Justin Paul Kelly, are active on social media (managed by parents) and share cool behind-the-scenes clips of the recording booth.
- Watch the Specials: "Movie" versions of characters often have different actors than the "TV" versions. If your child asks why Chase sounds "different" on the big screen, you can explain that he has a "movie voice."
- Explore Guru Studio: If your kids love the animation and voice style, check out other shows by Guru Studio. They often use the same talent pool, so you’ll hear familiar voices in shows like True and the Rainbow Kingdom.
The cast of PAW Patrol is a living, breathing thing that changes as the actors grow up. It’s part of what makes the show feel "fresh" to every new generation of kids who discovers it. Just don't get too attached to one voice—by the time you get used to it, puberty has usually already won.