Trench Kamen wrote:

English
Saionji: ...that's 'hidden love'.
Utena: Yeah. Nice skirt, Saionji.

Ha, ha! I switch over just for this line, every time. Even funnier that WE know she knows about his ridiculous  exchange diary but he doesn't know that she knows. So he's just doubly humiliated.   I'm re-watching so I'll try to notice stuff like this as I go along...

There's a line in Qualifications of a Duelist, in which Mamiya (whose English VA is creepy and totally boss) says something ratherly awkwardly phrased about the relaitonship between Mikage and Tokiko:  "You'll never defeat the sister of mine within your memory, not for all eternity."

In the dub, it's paraphrased in way which I feel had more impact:  "My sister resides in your memories, and there you shall never defeat her."

You know at first I bristled that they'd dare change anything, but that line is totally exactly what convey's Utena's reaction best to an American audience. Also, it makes me like Utena more that she'd talk such trash to a superior that's bigger than her. Even if he does get his ass handed to him by her and is more or less a big jackass.

I adored Liam O'Brian's performance as "Mamiya". I like the dub in equal measure to the sub, for different reasons.

^ I agree that it doesn't fit it at all with the character, but it was pretty funny to me.
English dubs in general change what sentences mean or how they're said. That's a reason I don't like english dubs. Japanese is truer to the intentions of the director. Knowing all that, I don't expect the dub to be perfect. So I roll with it. 

Last episode, as Utena is imploring Anthy to reach out her hand, Anthy says:

Subs: 
Utena: Your hand! Please! Himemiya!
Anthy: No! If you don't get out of here...!

Dubs:
Utena: Your hand! Please! Anthy!
Anthy: No! Just leave me!

The dub seems like possibly a better character moment here. Utena would not be mindful of the million swords ready to impale her, she's not thinking about that but the subs imply that Anthy is. At this moment, should Anthy give Utena a lame half measure warning of what's coming (subs)? Or should Anthy be wrestling with the choice that has finally been given her between her cage and a life outside it (dubs)? Or do the subs show that Anthy is weighing her freedom against Utena taking the swords for her? It's an intriguing change.

Last edited by Dani (06-04-2011 03:27:53 AM)

There's always Nanami's "Well aren't we Ms self sufficient USA?" I admit it was a really stupid line but I laughed.

Last edited by chrisb (06-04-2011 05:52:48 PM)

Nanami's VA was brilliant and hilarious.

Japanese
Nanami: My prince (I forget, actually)
Utena: ...

English
Nanami: My prince will lead me to victory!
Utena: No, he won't.

Katzenklavier wrote:

Similarly, I couldn't stand Anthy's over-medicated tone at the beginning, but it really developed. By the end of the series, you could hear the malice dripping out of the suga. Those rare moments where she drops the act, and sounds appropriately dark (and a bit seductive) are all the more alarming. That said, I love her Japanese voice too, so I can't really pick one I prefer.

This alone kind of soothes my worries over the dub. See, I positively adore Anthy's Japanese voice and swore up and down that I could never listen to her dubbed because I figured it would never come close to the original. Case in point, the betrayal in 39, I've stated elsewhere that it's well... let's just say  distracting (the good kind...) for me because of Anthy's cold delivery and just what she says (trying to be vague just so I don't have to mark spoilers ). If the dub actor can get across the same level of venom, seduction and even a hint of dominance that I read into those lines with the original Japanese dialogue, then I would be mighty happy.

Last edited by Calamity (06-13-2011 10:49:23 AM)

KaleMarsh wrote:

Katzenklavier wrote:

I gotta say, I like the dub. BUT...only about when the Black Rose arc begins. For some reason, the voice acting seems to blossom after the first season, in which it's truly atrocious.

That's interesting.  I swear SKU's dub is the worst I've ever heard, but the truth is I can't even make it through the first episode.  I can't say I can see the VAs improving that much.  I'll have to try the last episode.

Try Nanami's Egg episode 27. With the really dramatic, emotional scenes, I like the Japanese dub better, but for me, the humorous episodes are funnier in English. And nothing like Crispin Freeman giving the "girls and boys" speech.

I agree that the English dub voices in the beginning are off. Juri, especially.

Last edited by Dani (06-22-2011 07:54:53 PM)

Dani wrote:

KaleMarsh wrote:

Katzenklavier wrote:

I gotta say, I like the dub. BUT...only about when the Black Rose arc begins. For some reason, the voice acting seems to blossom after the first season, in which it's truly atrocious.

That's interesting.  I swear SKU's dub is the worst I've ever heard, but the truth is I can't even make it through the first episode.  I can't say I can see the VAs improving that much.  I'll have to try the last episode.

Try Nanami's Egg episode 27. With the really dramatic, emotional scenes, I like the Japanese dub better, but for me, the humorous episodes are funnier in English. And nothing like Crispin Freeman giving the "girls and boys" speech.

Oh god, this episode has to be watched in English.  Since Crispin Freeman seems to get more of what's going on in SKU, his performance is just spectacular.

Gotta agree about the funny episodes having a lot of charm in English.

I also agree that the dub gets somewhat good around the Black Rose arc, but Anthy seems to get worse and worse. She was really good at the start and in the movie though.