Jason Griffith Explained

Jason Griffith should not be confused with Jason Griffiths.

Jason Griffith
Birth Name:Jason Adam Griffith[1]
Birth Place:Lakeline, Ohio, U.S.
Other Names:J. Griff
Adam Caroleson
DJ Tanner
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1997–present
Children:2

Jason Adam Griffith is an American actor best known for his voice acting work, he portrayed Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow the Hedgehog in the 4Kids Entertainment English dub of the anime Sonic X, and reprised both roles from 2005 to 2010, and Jet the Hawk from 2006 to 2009, for Sonic the Hedgehog video games.

His other voice roles for 4Kids Entertainment include Usopp in One Piece, and Brawly in Pokémon, among others. He parted ways with the company in 2010 and has since done voice work for NYAV Post and DuArt Film and Video.[2]

Early life

Jason Griffith was born in Lakeline, Ohio.[3] He graduated from the North High School in Eastlake, Ohio in 1999.[3]

Career

Griffith began his acting career in 1997, at seventeen years old.[2] He made his feature film debut in the romantic comedy-drama film, Edge of Seventeen in an uncredited role as Scott. He also had an uncredited role as Cassius in the 2008 thriller film, Kill Kill Faster Faster. In television, he appeared in an episode of Blue Bloods as a man wearing a suit inside a red sportscar.

In 2003, Griffith began extensive work as a voice actor. He served as in-house voice talent for the children's television block 4Kids TV, which led him to voice many characters in various animated media including Tom Majors in Chaotic and Miyamoto Usagi in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He was also an occasional promotional announcer for the block, as well as for The CW4Kids and Toonzai. He also provided the voice of Bongo the Monkey in commercial advertising for Danimals.

Through his voice work as the titular character, Sonic the Hedgehog, for the 4Kids English dub of Sonic X, Griffith was brought on by Sega to portray Sonic (replacing Ryan Drummond), Shadow the Hedgehog (replacing David Humphrey), and Jet the Hawk in the mainline video games for the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Griffith began voicing Sonic and Shadow with 2005's Shadow the Hedgehog and ended with 2010's Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, and began voicing Jet with 2006's Sonic Riders and ended with 2009's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. During this time, he was often credited as "Adam Caroleson". His role as Sonic was passed to Roger Craig Smith, while his role as Shadow was passed to Kirk Thornton and his role as Jet was passed to Michael Yurchak in 2010.[4] [2] Other than Sonic, Shadow and Jet, Griffith also voiced Sonic the Werehog and Professor Pickle's Assistant in Sonic Unleashed and Newscaster in episode 16 and Prison Guard in episode 42 in Sonic X.

From 2011 to 2012, he starred in the web comedy series Casters as Cal. In 2015, he starred in the English dub of the animated children's series Super Wings.[5]

In 2020, 2021 and 2024, Griffith reprised his role as Sonic and Shadow in the YouTube fan series Sonic and Tails R.

Personal life

Griffith married Melissa Ryan on August 15, 2015.[6] [7] They have two sons.[8] [9]

Filmography

Live-action

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Edge of Seventeen Scott Uncredited
2007 Am I Evil Greg
2008 Kill Kill Faster Faster Cassius Uncredited
The Machine Girl Ryota, Additional voices English dub
2009 ManDate Chris Short
2013 The Penny Dreadful Picture Show Clive
2016 Monsterland Doctor Segment: "The Grey Matter"
C Street Congressman Wood
2017 Hold on Loosely Ronnie Short
2018 Yucatán Additional voices English dub
2019 Threebound Matt Cahill Also producer
Mr. Styx and Me Teo Short
2020 Psycho Sally Manny Short
2021 Andromeda Griffin Short
2022 Lift Edward Short
2024 A Complete Unknown Additional voices

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Blue Bloods Suit in Red Sportscar Episode: "Black and Blue"
2020 The Last Word Konstantin Nowak (voice) English version
5 episodes
2022 The Orville Krill Soldier Episode #3.10
2023 Chronicles of Jessica Wu Officer Miller Episode: "Wanna get away?"

Voice roles

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Sir Aaron
2008 Short
2009 Marcus
Turtles Forever As Adam Caroleson
2010 Animals United Toto
2011 The Painting Additional voices
Cilan
2012
2013
2015 009/Joe Shimamura
2016 Psychic School Wars Saito
2017 The Guardian Brothers Chet Spiritman
GadgetGang in Outer Space Robots
2018 Kai, Admiral, Additional voices
Pixi Saves Christmas Melchior, Elfreud, Anelfmari
2019 UglyDolls Additional voices
Tall Tales from the Magical Garden of Antoon Krings Benny
Mucha
2021 Skinny, Additional voices
Vivo Additional voices
Night of the Animated Dead Scientist #2, Police Officer
2022 Additional voices

Anime

Year Title Role Notes
2003–2006 Sonic X Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog, Newscaster (ep 16), Prison Guard (ep 42) 78 episodes
Credited as J. Griff
2003–2023 Pokémon Brawly, Cilan, Looker, Timmy Grimm, Tate, Marcus, Additional voices 207 episodes
2004 Gravitation Tatsuha Uesugi [10]
2004–2007 One Piece Usopp, Yasopp 95 episodes
4Kids version
2005 MÄR Monkey #3 Episode: "Babbo: The Legendary ÄRM!"
G.I. Joe Sigma 6 Flashbacks, 4Kids version
2005–2008 Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Atticus Rhodes, Nightshroud, Harrington Rosewood, Osamu 22 episodes
2008–2011 Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Primo, Ghost, Taka, Shira, Robert Pearson
2009 Keita Ibuki 23 episodes
2010 Slayers Evolution-R Abel Ranzaad
Bakuman Hayato, Kawasaki 13 episodes
2011–2015 Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Nistro, Caswell Francis 46 episodes
2015–2017 Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V Herk, Reed Pepper, Iggy Arlo, Officer 227 2 episodes
2018 FLCL Progressive Masurao5 episodes
2022 Romantic Killer Kazuki Tsukasa
2023 Vinland Saga Snake, Berge Netflix dub[11]
2025 My Happy Marriage Season 2 Tadakiyo Kudo
2025 New Panty & Stocking Farm Boy Episode 4 Paramount+

Animation

Year Title Role Notes
2002–2003 Mission Odyssey Zephyr
2004–2023 GoGoRiki Chikoriki (Yoshik/Ежик) 4Kids dub
2004–2009 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Utrom, Miyamoto Usagi, Raxis, additional voices 12 episodes
2005 Winx Club 23 episodes
4Kids version
2006–2009 Viva Piñata Terry Tigermisu
2006–2010 Chaotic Tom Majors, Zhade, Frafdo Credited as Adam Caroleson
2008 Three Delivery Additional voices
2008–2009 TMNT: Back to the Sewer Miyamoto Usagi
2009 Astonishing X-Men ElixirMotion comic
Angel's Friends Sulfus Episode: "Volare con le proprie ali"
2010 Iron Man: Extremis Motion comic
2004–2006 Blue's Room The Small Green Thing
Tai Chi Chasers Yanima
2011
Virus Attack
2013–2014 The Crumpets Grownboy Distribimage version[12]
2013–2016 Alisa Knows What to Do! Professor Salazar [13]
2014-2015 Super 4 Additional voices
2015, 2017 Super Wings Bello 3 episodes
2016 World of Winx Ace[14]
Lastman Additional voices 4 episodes
2017 Tip the Mouse Snail #2
2018–2019 Space Chickens in Space Chuck
2023 Hero Inside Ginseng Man, Lucy's Father Episode: "Revolution"

Video games

Year Title Voice role Notes
2004 Slashuur, Miyamoto Usagi
2005
Sonic Rush
Shadow the Hedgehog Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow Androids, Sonic the Hedgehog
2006 Neverwinter Nights 2 Bevil
Sonic Riders Sonic the Hedgehog, Jet the Hawk, Shadow the Hedgehog [15]
Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog
Sonic Rivals
2007 Sonic and the Secret Rings Credited as Adam Caroleson
Sonic Rush Adventure Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic Rivals 2 Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
2008 Sonic the Hedgehog, Jet the Hawk, Shadow the Hedgehog Credited as Adam Caroleson
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog
Sega Superstars Tennis Archive audio
Alone in the Dark Hammet, Jack the Watchman PC and 7th-gen versions only
Sonic Unleashed Sonic the Hedgehog / Werehog, Professor Pickle's Assistant
2009 Sonic and the Black Knight Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog, Jet the Hawk
Foot Ninja
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog, Jet the Hawk
2010 Shira Oka: Second Chances Sakuragi Hiroshi [16]
Sonic at the Olympic Winter GamesSonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the HedgehogArchive audio; mobile game
Sonic & Sega All-Stars RacingArchive audio
I Spy Spooky Mansion Riddle Reader
2012 Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
SGS Soldier
2013 Thor: The Dark World Marauder 3, Dark Elf 4, Einharjar 1
2014 Alex Hawk
Dungeon Hunter 5 Malcor
Asphalt Overdrive Cop
2017 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links Primo
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School Music Teacher, Bong-gu
2018 Baron
2021 The Artful Escape Caretaker, Gnarl Sagan, Record Store Clerk
2022 Elex II Falk
Neon White Additional voices [17]
Additional voices
2023 Yuan Shao English version

Commercials

Title Role Ref.
4Kids TV Sonic the Hedgehog, Usopp
Danimals Bongo the Monkey
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Sonic the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog Shadow the Hedgehog

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2011–2012 Casters Cal 6 episodes
2018 Kappa Crypto Mr. Salazar 8 episodes
2020–2024 Sonic and Tails R Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog 3 episodes
YouTube fan-made audio drama series[18]
TBA Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Mania Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube fan-made animated short film[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jason Griffith on IMDbpro.
  2. Web site: Jason Griffith . amtcworld.com . 2015-09-26 . 2016-11-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161101164115/http://amtcworld.org/featured-grads/jason-griffith/. 2016-11-01 .
  3. Web site: Jason Griffith on Facebook. .
  4. Web site: Changing of the Guard: New Sonic, Tails In-Game VAs . https://web.archive.org/web/20100717225520/http://www.tssznews.com/2010/07/15/changing-of-the-guard-new-sonic-tails-in-game-vas/ . dead . 2010-07-17 . TSSZ News . 2016-11-01.
  5. Web site: How the Sonic X Anime Got the Video Game Actors Fired . 17 November 2022 .
  6. 632736254279315457. RYANtheDRUMMOND. Aaaaand they got hitched!! Congrats Jason Griffith and his lovely wife Melissa!!. 2016-11-01. 2015-08-15 .
  7. 630211703385403392. RYANtheDRUMMOND. All Sonic fans! Jason Griffith is getting married a week from today! Hurray!!. 2016-11-01. 2015-08-08 .
  8. Griffith . Jason . Jason Griffith . jgriff_4real . 904351163486752768 . September 3, 2017 . https://t.co/DlIj4PWRVN . en . June 14, 2021.
  9. Griffith . Jason . Jason Griffith . jgriff_4real . 1367151187447799811 . March 3, 2021 . Our Julian. https://t.co/lmmr3GksOb . fr . June 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210522190509/https://twitter.com/jgriff_4real/status/1367151187447799811 . May 22, 2021 . live.
  10. Web site: Gravitation. TSRI. Menu->Series->English Staff & Cast. January 12, 2010. dead. July 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130730080239/http://gravitation.rightstuf.com/.
  11. Snake. Vinland Saga Season 2. 3. Closing credits, English Language Cast. Netflix. USA.
  12. Web site: THE CRUMPETS - EP16 - Octosquito . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/luyn-lsCfl8 . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube . THE CRUMPETS OFFICIAL . 26 June 2018 . 4 October 2016.
  13. Web site: Alisa Knows What to Do! - Season 1. Hoopla.
  14. World of Winx . World of Winx . 1 . Netflix . Closing credits, Main voices .
  15. Web site: Jason Griffith . https://web.archive.org/web/20160324030023/https://www.amtcworld.org/featured-grads/jason-griffith/ . dead . 24 March 2016 . amtcworld.com . 23 August 2019.
  16. Okashi Studios . Shira Oka: Second Chances . Okashi Studios . Ending credits, 4:09 in, Voice Casting by NYAV Post. Credited as Jason Griff . 2010.
  17. Web site: Neon White (2022 Video Game) . Behind The Voice Actors . 6 September 2022.
  18. Web site: January 28, 2023. Fan-Made Sonic Audio Play Featuring Original Sonic Adventure Voice Actor Gets Second Season. February 28, 2025. GameRant. en.
  19. EarthCore Media . December 7, 2025. Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Mania - Teaser A Charity Fundraising Film. YouTube. February 1, 2026.