anime
Audio: English – Exploring the Gundam Dubs
With the Audio:English series, PenguinTruth takes a critical look at the English
dubs which grace some of anime’s most defining series in North America.
There isn’t a group of animated programs that dominate the world of entertainment for me quite as much as the Gundam franchise. What started as a passing interest in Gundam Wing‘s hamfisted philosophical debates and cool mecha evolved into an obsession, much as man is meant to evolve into the Newtype. (Or maybe not. Don’t even ask Yoshiyuki Tomino about that one. He doesn’t know.) What are essentially elaborate (some more than others) robot toy commercials have so my anime fandom that I’ve forgotten what life was like before Gundam. Did I dream? Did I breathe? Now I have several DVDs of Gundam material and a mind filled with useless trivia. And I’m not even the biggest Gundam geek. I’ll save that honor for the guys who can give you the exact specs of the engines of a Zaku II.
Maybe because I’m the breed who, perhaps foolishly, watch Gundam for the plot(s), for the characters and themes, the presentation of the English versions of these show are important to me. I want to be sure that the voice actors who portray these roles, many of them iconic anime characters, do at least some justice and show the proper respect for them. Whenever available, I’ve heard the English dub for every Gundam anime I’ve ever seen.
Some Thoughts On: Evangelion 2.22 English Dub Cast
Funimation has announced the English dub cast for Rebuild of Evangelion 2.22:
Spike Spencer (still) as Shinji Ikari
Brina Palencia (still) as Rei Ayanami
Allison Keith (still) as Misato Katsuragi
Tiffany Grant (reprises her role) as Asuka Lagely Shikinami
Trina Nishimura as Mari Makinami Illustrious
Colleen Clinkenbeard (still) as Ritsuko Agaki
J. Michael Tatum as Ryoji Kaiji
Great. Tiffany Grant is back as Asuka. Hoy boy, this is going to be rough.
While it’s true that Spike Spencer improved somewhat from his previous performance as an obscenely exaggerated, stereotypical cartoon coward Shinji Ikari for 1.0, it wasn’t such a huge change as to rival Megumi Ogata’s brilliance as Shinji. And Allison Keith seems to have improved as an actress, too, but she’s no Kotono Mitsuishi. Tiffany Grant’s Asuka may have been fine for its time, but when you look back today, it was so over-the-top and lacking in humanity, that Grant’s going to have to really do her best just to be tolerable in the role. The problem is, Tiffany Grant, from what I remember from her various roles, is incapable of subtlety, and while Asuka isn’t the most subtle character, she certainly does have moments where real acting chops help, and Tiffany Grant has very little of that.
Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 51 (FINALE) Review
Episode 51, "Laws and Promises” (FINALE) Review
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: As Edward lies in a pool of blood, Envy gloats over his victory. Frank Archer makes his way to the Fuhrer’s residence, where Roy’s flame alchemy is having little effect on Pride. Pride warns Roy that if he succeeds, the public wouldn’t embrace him. Suddenly Selim Bradley arrives, but Pride panics and is in pain when Selim holds up his "secret treasure". The Fuhrer strangles Selim, but Roy manages to get ahold of the "treasure", which turns out to be a skull, a piece of Bradley’s original body. Roy uses it and his flames to get an advantage over Pride. In Dante’s lair, Alphonse uses alchemy to disable Gluttony. Dante tells him not to, as he’ll waste away, but Alphonse is desperate to save his brother’s life. Before Envy can attack him, Alphonse activates the arrays Dante set up. Roy finishes Bradley off, destroying the skull, but as he carries Selim out of the residence, Archer arrives and shoots him. Archer is shot dead by Riza, who is devestated to find Roy injured. At the Gate, Edward warns Envy not to go through the Gate, but he does to go find Hohenheim. Edward awakens in Dante’s lair, with both his human arms, Rose by his side, and Dante and Gluttony gone. Dante tries to escape the underground city, but an out of control Gluttony lunges at her before she’s able to do anything. Edward decides to sacrifice himself to bring Alphonse back from the Gate. Time passes. The government had taken back the country. The military has reversed their policies on Ishbal. Roy Mustang is recovering with Riza Hawkeye at his side. Alphonse Elric has returned to his human body, without memories of what had happened during the brothers’ journey. Edward had disappeared. Alphonse requests that Izumi train him more so that he can find a way to reunite with his brother. Back on the other side of the Gate, Edward and Hohenheim are in Munich, Germany, in 1921. Edward studies rocketry, hoping he can find a way back home through space. Edward wonders if all he’s been through was worth it, but Hohenheim tells him that all he went through was the price he paid. Edward and Alphonse are both determined to reunite.