English

Posted in

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 28 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 28, "Father"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Alphonse arrives at Father’s lair, and is surprised by the appearance of the homunculi’s creator. Suddenly, Gluttony bursts, and out of of his fake gate emerges Edward, Ling, and Envy. Father questions the brothers, interested that Hohenheim has sons, and heals the damage to them without so much as bringing his hands together. Ling tells the brothers that he’s not normal, and Father tells Gluttony to eat him, as he is not a sacrifice. Ed and Al try to combat Father, but he disables their alchemy, and they are subdued by Envy. Ling is likewise subdued by Gluttony. Father, seeing Ling’s determination, decides he will use him as a pawn, and, using a bit of Philosopher’s Stone that comes from his body, transforms him into the new Greed. Ling accepts the spirit of Greed for his chance at immortality, and the new Greed inhabits his body. However, the new Greed has no memories of its previous incarnation. Scar and Mei arrive, with Mei and Xaio Mei reuniting. Scar’s destructive alchemy and Mei’s Eastern alchemy somehow remains working, and they attack Father and his minions, however Scar’s destructive arm does no harm to Father himself. Scar, Mei, and Alphonse attempt an escape, and Scar disappears, but Alphonse is taken back into custody. Ed is subdued by the new Greed. Father orders the brothers to be taken to Wrath on the surface. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 27 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 27, Banquet at the Crevice"


 

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: In a dream, Hohenheim talks to a younger Pinako about his sons, the country, and humans. Another version of him appears and reveals that "Pinako" is really him trying to defend the human race. In the end, he dreams of confirmation of his beliefs by Trisha and the people he knew in Resembool. Waking up, Hohenheim continues on his journey.

Comments:

How does one review the dub of something that is largely a clip episode? The only characters who aren’t speaking merely in clips are Hohenheim, Father, a younger Pinako, and Trisha. So, I guess what I’ll have to do is, well, just comment on their performances. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 26 ENGLISH DUB Review

Episode 26, "Reunion"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: While unsuccessfully trying to battle Envy, Edward comes to a realization, and halts the fight with the promise of returning himself, Envy, and Ling back to the real world. Back at Central, Scar and Mei follow Alphonse and Gluttony in underground passages. Edward decides to do a human transmutation on himself to open the real Doors of Truth, and use Envy’s Philosopher’s Stone to send everyone back. He also reveals his realization that whoever made the homunculi used Xerxes’ people to transmute a Philosopher’s Stone centuries before. In Central HQ, Bradley relates to Roy the story of his childhood and becoming Wrath. Back in the darkness, Edward activates an alchemy array and goes through the Gate, finding himself face-to-face with Alphonse’s withering body. As the gate reopens to pull him out, he promises to return some day. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies Re-Release Cast

Funimation has announced the cast for the new English dub for the new DVD release of Dragon Ball Movie 1, "Curse of the Blood Rubies" (1986):
 

SON GOKU ….. Colleen Clinkenbeard
BULMA ….. Monica Rial
OOLONG ….. Bryan Massey
ROSHI ….. Mike McFarland
YAMUCHA ….. Chris Sabat
PU’AR ….. Brina Palencia
PANSY ….. Cherami Leigh
GURUMES ….. Jeremy Inman
PASTA ….. Kate Oxley
BONGO ….. Jonathan Brooks
SHENLONG ….. Chris Sabat
NARRATOR ….. John Swasey
　 read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth••0