In today's ever-connected, social-media-driven world, news of a celebrity death is always met with knee-jerk "RIP" status updates. But last Friday's sudden passing of TVB voice actor Lam Pou-chuen at 63 resonated deeper, because for those who grew up in the city between the 1970s and 2000s, Lam was the voice of our childhood.
Though he was best known as the voice of Japanese anime character Doraemon (or "Ding Dong", as many Hongkongers prefer), Lam was also the voice of more than 100 cartoon characters on screens both small and big during his four decade-plus career, including Garfield, and Squirtle in Pokemon.
Many celebrities, including singers Ivana Wong Yuen-chi and Alex Fong Lik-sun, paid tribute to Lam on social media over the weekend.
Personally, I will remember him as Shiryu in Saint Seiya, an anime about mystical warriors that aired at 1am on Sunday morning in the '80s because of its violent nature.
I still remember vividly my eight-year-old self fighting to stay awake past midnight, waiting for my favourite show. Shiryu was my favourite character, and Lam's voice became synonymous with him. Even today, hearing that voice takes me back to my childhood.
On a fitting — and eerie — note, Lam's final completed work is a big-screen version of his most famous role. Titled Stand by Me Doraemon (in theatres on February 19), its Hong Kong trailer — released before Lam's death — ends with Doraemon/Lam saying: "I can no longer stay here. I have to go now."