Jefferson Utanes, the Voice of Mr. Krabs In the Filipino Dub of 'SpongeBob SquarePants', Has Passed Away, Aged 46

Jefferson Utanes, the voice behind Mr. Krabs in the Filipino dub of SpongeBob SquarePants, sadly passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. He was 46 years old.

Jefferson Utanes. Image: Instagram/@jeffutanes

Utanes’ death was confirmed by his sister-in-law Elizabeth on Tuesday, December 16, as she asked the voice actor’s followers to pray for his soul. The cause of his death was not disclosed.

“In behalf of my sister Catherine and her children Jhulianne [and] Justin, we humbly ask for prayers for the soul of my brother-in-law Jefferson Seril Utanes. May the Lord grant him eternal rest and perpetual light. Amen,” her Facebook post read.

A day later, his wife Catherine announced the details of his wake, which took place at the St. Peter Chapels in San Roque, Antipolo, on Wednesday, December 17. 

“Join us as we honor Jeff’s beautiful life and enduring legacy. Our hearts overflow with gratitude for the love and joy he so generously shared. Though we miss him beyond words, his memory continues to shine as a guiding light within us forever,” the obituary read.

His death was first reported by anime platform ANIMEPH, which led to a stream of tributes and heartwarming messages from fans and those who grew up listening to his work in Filipino-dubbed anime through the years.

One of the notable tributes came from Ani-One Philippines which honored his “passion, voice, and dedication” to the anime community.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and the entire anime community. Your spirit will live on through the voices you inspired and the legacy you leave behind. Rest in peace, Jefferson Utanes. You will always be remembered,” Ani-One’s tribute continued.

Utanes, lovingly known as “Goku ng Pinas” for voicing Son Goku in the Filipino dub of Dragon Ball,  has also been the voice of several characters in Filipino-dubbed versions of anime aired on TV. His work earned him a big following in the anime and dubbing community, notable for being a huge part in the lives of Filipino anime fans. 

Aside from Son Goku, some of his notable voice works were as James in Pokemon, Doraemon in Doraemon, Ken Matsuhiro in Yakitate!! Japan, Kogori Mori in Detective Conan and Usopp in One Piece. He also served as the Filipino voice for iconic characters such as Shrek, Ben 10, Genie (Aladdin), Knuckles (Sonic the Hedgehog), Mickey Mouse and more.

R.I.P. Jefferson Seril Utanes, June 9, 1979 - December 16, 2025

Sources: Inquirer.net, @ToonHive.

Some Fans Think 'Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl' Dev Teased Goku DLC

A Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl developer suggests third-party characters could come to the game when asked about potential Goku DLC.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is out now, giving players the chance to face off as a variety of characters from Nickelodeon TV shows in a Super Smash Bros.-style setting. And like Super Smash Bros., it seems Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will be expanding its roster through DLC characters. There are plenty of Nickelodeon characters that could make the cut for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl DLC, but it seems that non-Nickelodeon characters could also be on the table.

In an interview hosted by professional Super Smash Bros. Melee player Hungrybox, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl developer Thaddeus Crews was asked if non-Nickelodeon characters could come to the game as DLC, with Goku from Dragon Ball Z given as a specific example. Crews responded by saying that third-party characters weren't something that the developers considered at all "initially," suggesting that this is something that is now a possibility. Ultimately, Crews declined to elaborate further on Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl DLC characters or future plans for the game.

Now, it's entirely possible that Crews was just referring to the possibility of third-party characters coming to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl and wasn't meaning to tease anything about Goku specifically. In fact, that seems to be what he suggested in a followup post on the game's Discord without outright denying the possibility of Goku DLC, as seen in a separate screenshot. Regardless, it seems many fans would be excited to see Goku fight the likes of SpongeBob SquarePants and Nigel Thornberry.

Goku has been one of the most highly-requested DLC characters for Super Smash Bros. over the years, but Nintendo has made it clear that it wants its crossover fighting game to only feature video game characters. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl doesn't have that restriction, and while Goku is not a Nickelodeon character, the anime series Dragon Ball Z Kai has aired on Nickelodeon's Nicktoons network in the past. There have been all kinds of crazy, unexpected guest characters in fighting games over the years, so it's certainly not outside the realm of possibility that Goku DLC comes to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, even if it's not being worked on at this time.

Of course, it's best for fans to keep their expectations in check. Again, it seems most likely that Crews was not meaning to tease Goku DLC at all, and was instead just referring to third-party characters coming to the Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl roster in a general sense.

It should also be mentioned that Goku wasn't featured in the Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl DLC leak that cropped up recently, which could be a good sign that he won't actually make it into the game. The potential Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl DLC characters that were leaked include Garfield, Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jimmy Neutron and Cindy Vortex from The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Plankton, Mr. Krabs and Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants, Tommy Pickles from Rugrats, Vlad Plasmius from Danny Phantom, Prince Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and finally Rocko from Rocko's Modern Life. None of those characters have actually been confirmed for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl either, though.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. To find out more about the game, click here.

Full Coverage: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl!

Original source: Game Rant; Lead image: Shacknews.

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Nickelodeon Greece Acquires Rights to 'Dragon Ball Super'

Toei Animation Europe and VIZ Media Europe have announced the exciting news that Nickelodeon Greece has acquired the broadcast rights to Toei Animation's hit anime series Dragon Ball Super!

Set following the events in Dragon Ball Z, with Majin Buu defeated, Goku has taken a completely new role as...a radish farmer?! With Earth at peace, our heroes have settled into normal lives. But they can’t get too comfortable. Far away, a powerful destructive deity - the powerful God of Destruction, Beerus - awakens to a prophecy revealing his demise at the hands of an even more formidable being. When his search for the Saiyan God brings him to Earth, can Goku and his friends take on their strongest foe yet? The series will see Goku travel to other universes to face more powerful opponents as well as nearly unstoppable foes.

The anime is a sequel to Toriyama's original Dragon Ball manga and the Dragon Ball Z television series, and features the first new Dragon Ball storyline from original series creator Akira Toriyama in 18 years. The series was broadcast on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. on Fuji TV, running for 131 between July 5, 2015 – March 25, 2018. Dragon Ball Super also airs on Nickelodeon Israel. An animated film, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, is also in the works, and it will be the first film in the Dragon Ball franchise to be produced under the Dragon Ball Super title. The film will be released on December 14, 2018. It will be a continuation to the series that will act as a new arc.

Toei Animation Europe and VIZ Media Europe will also be hosting a exclusive panel presentation dedicated to the rapid growth of the anime in the licensing industry Brand Licensing Europe 2018 in London, UK.

The news follows Nickelodeon Russia announcing plans to premiere the anime Screechers Wild! in October 2018.

Περισσότερα Nick: No Job Is Too Big, No Pup Is Too Small! 'PAW Patrol Live: Race to the Rescue' To Visit Greece For First Time In October 2018!

H/T: ToonZone Forums /@Nick Mick; Additional sources: Wikipedia (II), Crunchy Roll.

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Planet Nickelodeon Video Round-Up | NickTube | Saturday 19th May 2018

Check out a selection of video clips featuring your favourite Nickelodeon shows and stars from Nickelodeon channels around the world!

Please note that some videos may be subject to geographical restrictions.

Bunsen is a Beast | Yard Sale | Nickelodeon UK



Bunsen throws a yard sale, but doesn't really understand the concept and wants to give everything away for free.

De Strijdbank | 👑 Beste landgenoten... GRATIS SNOEP! 🍭 | Nickelodeon Nederlands



Stef en Nienke bedenken hun eigen land en iedereen is welkom! Ga jij voor Giga Glitterland of voor de Nickelodeon helden bij Stef?

DRAGON BALL KAI Theme (Dragon Soul) - Saturday Morning Acapella - Triforcefilms

In their latest addition to Triforcefilms' Saturday Morning A Capella playlist, Mr. Dooves performs a capella cover version of the opening theme song of Toei Animation's Dragon Ball Z Kai, a popular anime series that aired on Nicktoons USA between May 24, 2010 to April 13, 2013!:



A Cappella cover of the opening theme to Dragon Ball Z Kai
Original Composer - "Dragon Soul" Yumi Yoshimoto

More Nick: COUNT DUCKULA Theme - Saturday Morning Acapella | Triforcefilms!

Additional source: Wikipedia (II)

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British Children's Television Channel 'Kix' To Start To Show NickToons USA's Popular Anime "Dragon Ball Z Kai" From Wednesday 26th December 2012

Kix, a free-to-air children's and teen's television channel in the UK, has announced in a Tweet (post) on their official Twitter profile page (@Kix_TV) that the channel will start to premiere and show the popular Japanese anime [Japanese animation] television series "Dragon Ball Z Kai" (known in Japan as "Dragon Ball Kai"), which frequently airs on Nickelodeon USA's animation channel, NickToons, from Wednesday 26th December 2012 (Boxing Day). According to Kix's "What's On" online television schedule guide on Kix's official website, kixtv.co.uk, Kix will show "Dragon Ball Z Kai" weekdays at 6.00pm:

4 days to #DragonballZKai!!!!

"Dragon Ball Z Kai" is a revised version of the anime series "Dragon Ball Z" produced in commemoration of the original's 20th anniversary, and features remastered high definition picture, sound, and special effects as well as a re-recorded voice track by most of the original cast. In the opening (first) episode, titled "Prologue to Battle! The Return of Goku!", five years have passed since Goku's victory over Piccolo. An odd looking spacecraft crashes to Earth and a strange man emerges who almost kills Piccolo!