Meeting Legendary Voice Actors Ted Lewis and Lisa Ortiz from Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and more!

Collectable World event in Houten at Expo Houten in the Netherlands was the place to be for Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sonic and One Piece fans as legendary voice actors Ted Lewis and Lisa Ortiz were special guests at the event! Fans of all ages gathered for an unforgettable weekend on February 22 and 23 2025, bringing along their favorite collectibles, sharing their love for the characters, and meeting the voices behind some of the most iconic figures in anime history.

A Weekend of Nostalgia and Excitement
The event was filled with excitement as fans brought an incredible variety of items for Ted Lewis and Lisa Ortiz to sign. Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) cards featuring Giovanni and Sabrina were among the most popular choices, as both characters are recognized Gym Leaders of the Kanto region in both the anime and games. Fans also brought Pokémon TCG cards featuring Pokémon used by Giovanni and Sabrina in different games, anime episodes, and even movies.

But it didn’t stop there! Nostalgic items such as vintage sealed VHS tapes, Pokémon CDs, Funko Pop! figures, plush toys, posters, and even custom fan arts made their way to the signing tables. Below you see Ted Lewis signing a Pokémon TCG for a fan. Ted had his own TCG collection for fans and also amazing prints! I have a print in my personal collection graced with his signature from 2023 when he was at an event in USA which took place at Epic Trading Co. My very first autograph of Ted Lewis was in 2023 when Ted and Rotterdam Comics where in the UK for a private signing event. We got 3 autographed Pokémon TCGs from that day which we cherish. On that day I also got a video shoutout from Ted Lewis as well which to this day I appreciate and cherish a lot.

Below is also a moment frozen in time from when Lisa Ortiz was signing an Umbreon Pokémon Funko Pop! for a fan. On Lisa's table there were Umbreon Funko Pop!, Amy Rose, Tony Tony Chopper and Vaporeon. Lisa also had beautiful prints, which in fact were a representation of her career, a beautiful canvas consisting of the characters that she had voiced through the years and also photos of herself.


Seeing fans pull out their childhood treasures, still in perfect condition, was a testament to how much these characters and voice actors have meant to them over the years. Some fans proudly told stories about their favorite Pokémon episodes, their first introduction to the anime, or the moment they pulled a special card from a booster pack as kids.

Others came to celebrate their love for Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, bringing rare TCG cards featuring Giovanni from Team Rocket, Gengar, Snorlax, Yami Bakura and Bandit Keith for Ted to sign. Lisa Ortiz’s fans were just as excited to meet her, especially those who grew up watching Pokémon, One Piece and Sonic X, where she voiced the beloved reindeer Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece, the Pokémon Umbreon, Vaporeon, Sabrina, and also Amy Rose from Sonic The Hedge Hog. Fans also brought their beloved Funko Pop! for Ted and Lisa to sign and others bought them there at the event. Below are 2 photos of a moment when took her phone to take a photo of a fan who got Lisa's autograph on prints.


The Legendary Voices Behind the Characters
Ted Lewis is a voice acting legend known for bringing multiple unforgettable characters to life. His most famous Pokémon roles include Team Rocket’s Boss Giovanni, James before Eric Stuart took over, Gengar, Haunter, Gastly, Snorlax, and Tracey Sketchit. But his talents extend far beyond Pokémon. Fans of Yu-Gi-Oh! know him as the voice of Yami Bakura, Bandit Keith, and Jack Atlas, while Kirby fans recognize him as King Dedede and Escargoon in Kirby Right Back at Ya! Yep, he's a legend!


Lisa Ortiz has had an impressive career spanning decades in the anime industry. Not only is she the voice behind Sabrina, the Psychic-Type Gym Leader of Saffron City, but she also voiced Sabrina’s mother, as well as several Pokémon, including Umbreon, Vaporeon, Totodile, Larvitar, Venonat, Oshawott, Litten, Kangaskhan and more. Beyond Pokémon, she voiced Tony Tony Chopper in the 4Kids dub of One Piece, Amy Rose in Sonic X, Lina Inverse in Slayers, and Serenity Wheeler in Yu-Gi-Oh! What makes her career even more special is that since 2016, she has been the English voice director for Pokémon, ensuring that the series continues to thrive for new generations. She even reprised her role as Tao Jun in Shaman King 2021 on Netflix.

Lisa Ortiz’s First Appearance in the Netherlands
This event was particularly special because it marked Lisa Ortiz’s first-ever public appearance in the Netherlands. It was amazing to meet her—she’s incredibly kind, talented, and so passionate about her work. Fans were thrilled to welcome her, and she was just as excited to meet them.


Ted Lewis, on the other hand, made his second visit to the Netherlands. His first public appearance here was last year at Heroes Dutch Comic Con Summer Edition on June 22 and 23, 2024. That event was extra special too because he was there with Matthew Sussman, the OG voice of Team Rocket’s Meowth. Yes, that talking Meowth! Matthew also voiced the wise Slowking in Pokémon The Movie 2000.

Seeing Ted and Matthew together was like watching Giovanni and Meowth side by side—or maybe even James and Meowth, since Ted voiced both Giovanni and James! Last year I had the opportunity to assist Matthew Sussman personally at Heroes Dutch Comic Con and also Ted Lewis when I was needed. After Heroes Dutch Comic Con last year, Jason Paige arrived in the Netherlands and it was Tuesday, June 25th, where I could go on a photo with Ted Lewis, Matthew Sussman and Jason Paige! Legendaries! See the photo below of that special moment:

After Heroes Dutch Comic Con I also got to tour together with Rotterdam Comics bringing Ted and Matthew to Flash-Cards in Hoogstraeten in Belgium where fans could meet them for the first time. Amazing days for sure!

A Heartfelt Thank You
Meeting and working with Ted Lewis and Lisa Ortiz was an incredible experience. Their kindness, professionalism, and genuine love for their fans made the event unforgettable. They took time with every fan, shared behind-the-scenes stories, and created special moments that everyone will cherish.

It’s amazing how we, the kids, teenagers, and young adults who grew up watching Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sonic X and One Piece, etc, are now adults seeing a new generation—our own children, nieces, nephews, and cousins—fall in love with these same characters from these same franchises. The legacy of these voice actors lives on through their work, and it’s heartwarming to see how their voices continue to shape childhoods around the world.

It was an honor assisting Lisa Ortiz during those two special days and helping Ted Lewis whenever needed. I will always appreciate their kindness, their passion, and the incredible memories they’ve given us. Thank you, Ted and Lisa—you are legends, and we fans are grateful for everything you’ve done for the fans!

Photographer: Tobias van der Heide (@fotografie_vdheide)

Of course I also had to go on a photo with these legends and below are the photos of the special moments with Ted and Lisa:


Special thanks to Rotterdam Comics for making moments like these possible. If you missed meeting Ted and Lisa and any other voice actors that have visited the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK, make sure to visit the website at rotterdamcomics.com where you can get exclusive signed items by Ted Lewis, Lisa Ortiz, Matthew Sussman, Jason Paige, Tara Sands, Veronica Taylor, Brian Beacock and more!

Below I also got a photo in which you can see me with these amazing Pokémon Legends Jason Paige, Ted Lewis, Matthew Sussman, Tara Sands, and Lisa Ortiz. A photo I put together specially for Pokémon Day, February 27, 2025, to commemorate these special days. It's all thanks to Rotterdam Comics who made these moments possible!

I also have a photo with Brian Beacock, who voiced characters from Digimon, Danganronpa, Bungo Stray Dogs, and more! This photo was taken at Heroes Dutch Comic Con, where he was a special guest together with Jason Paige in the Winter Edition of November 2024 and it was also thanks to Rotterdam Comics who made this moment possible to meet this multi-talented voice actor.


Thank you for reading my blog. More coming see keep an eye out on our Instagram @comicconwanderers for more and that includes events and public appearance updates and news!


Ranbert Hernandez