So, while doing my latest review of Sailor Moon Crystal [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.856538-Rose-Reviews-Sailor-Moon-Crystal#21440896], I saw an ad that Hulu was featuring the new dub of original Sailor Moon. Well, I couldn't pass up a chance to check that out, and I'm inviting all of you to check it out with me. Let's see how this one measures up both to the original DiC dub (which was awful) and with dubbed anime in general.
Thus, without further ado....
The Crybaby: Usagi's Beautiful Transformation
First off, I'm very, very glad they went with the original Japanese opening. I figured they would, but part of me was just a bit afraid we'd get "Fighting Evil by Moonlight" etc.
Okay, I don't want to review the whole episode, just the voices. So, within the first five minutes, I can say this: Usagi is perfect. Freakin perfect. She sounds young and immature, but not annoying. When she is speaking introspectively, she sounds convincing. Whoever is doing her dubwork (I could only find the original DiC dub and Crystal on IMDB) is doing a fantastic job.
Except... for the crying. Usagi's crying drifts between okay and really fake. Of course, since Usagi tends towards crocodile tears anyway, that might be intentional. When she accidentally kicks a wall and cries out in pain, the crying sounds much more real. Maybe it's meant to be a cue to the audience about when she really is or is not upset? The jury is out on that one.
Naru is pretty good too, although in some ways she sounds a little too similar to Usagi. As pointless and silly as her Brooklyn accent from the DiC dub was, it at least differentiated her. I believe she's supposed to have an Osakan accent (so, like Osaka from Azumanga Daio) which is often dubbed as southern... so that might have helped. Ah well.
Beryl sounds quite good - honestly, she sounds a lot like the DiC dub, but more skilled (and with a better script) and not at all screechy. Although, on the negative side, she can't pronounce Jadeite (she puts a ton of emphasis on the Jade part of Jadeite). Ah well.
Jadeite sounds... young. Not bad, just young.
I will say, having all the terms corrected (Great Ruler instead of Nega-whatever, for instance) really, really helps.
Mamoru is pretty good so far. Didn't really get enough of him to judge. I will say, Usagi muttering about the "stupid jerk with his stupid purple pants" cracked me up.
Luna... still sounds too old. Competent, but too old. At least she isn't randomly British this time. Still, I quite like her - she captures Luna's personality FAR better than the previous dub. ... for some reason, she reminds me a bit of Twilight Sparkle's voice.
Overall, a damn good dub. I'd rank it up there with some of the better anime dubs I've encountered.
Okay then. Time to skip ahead to:
"The Girl Genius is a Monster"
First off, they kept in the episode previews and recaps. Cool, although I hope the BluRay release has the option to turn them off.
Usagi's crying has improved. What an odd thing to say, but it's true. I'm actually convinced by her crocodile tears this time.
Usagi continues to be excellent otherwise. She handles all of Usagi's mood swings and makes them convincing (in some cases, more convincing than the Japanese VA managed).
Luna continues to impress. Damn fine voice acting.
Naru is growing on me.
Umino... ... ... made an "over 9000" joke. Burn him. Cleanse his memetic sins with fire.
"Fat Friend's" voice is just awful though. I'm glad I skipped over the episode that she's actually important in.
Okay, time for the moment of truth: Ami Mizuno. Her voice actor is pretty good. Since Ami is under-spoken, it's hard to get a read on her voice actress, but she sounds pretty good overall. She improves when the battle starts (her confusing over Usagi's accusation - "I'm a what-now?" made me laugh) as she has a bit more to react to.
Also - random aside - I really dislike original anime Ami's hair. Crystal's hair looks so much better.
Motoki - sounds about right. Again, not a lot to judge.
Youma - wait... is this the same voice actress from the youma in the first episode? They sound nearly identical.
Okay, so the dub continues to be quite good. Time to check on Mars.
The Cursed Bus: Enter Mars, Guardian of Fire
You know what, Luna really does sound like Twilight Sparkle. Like, voice and subject matter. I keep expecting her to call Usagi "Spike."
Rei's Grandfather sounds like Master Happosai from Ranma 1/2. I approve.
Usagi - yay! They kept in her Freudian slip/girl-crush on Rei. As ShadowJack once put it in his IWIW - Usagi: "I'd do her part time! I mean that. I'd do that part time."
The preservation of Ikuhara's attempts at les-yay aside... Rei is pretty good. She's far less screechy than before (fortunately) and instead merely comes off as forceful. I wonder how that will translate to later episodes when she's being... less firm and more bitchy.
... gods I hate Ami's hair. Just sayin'.
The youma appears to have a new voice this week. That's nice.
Rei's banter with Usagi at the end feels natural, and has a bit more personality than her performances earlier. Hm. Maybe that's how she's going to portray Rei's bitchiness? That... actually seems like a good way to go.
And, with that, I think I'll call it quits for now.
The new dub is pretty awesome. I already planned to get the new BluRays, but this has sold it. I want this dub.
Guess that means I'll be able to sell my collector's edition DVDs on E-bay or something.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Thus, without further ado....
The Crybaby: Usagi's Beautiful Transformation
First off, I'm very, very glad they went with the original Japanese opening. I figured they would, but part of me was just a bit afraid we'd get "Fighting Evil by Moonlight" etc.
Okay, I don't want to review the whole episode, just the voices. So, within the first five minutes, I can say this: Usagi is perfect. Freakin perfect. She sounds young and immature, but not annoying. When she is speaking introspectively, she sounds convincing. Whoever is doing her dubwork (I could only find the original DiC dub and Crystal on IMDB) is doing a fantastic job.
Except... for the crying. Usagi's crying drifts between okay and really fake. Of course, since Usagi tends towards crocodile tears anyway, that might be intentional. When she accidentally kicks a wall and cries out in pain, the crying sounds much more real. Maybe it's meant to be a cue to the audience about when she really is or is not upset? The jury is out on that one.
Naru is pretty good too, although in some ways she sounds a little too similar to Usagi. As pointless and silly as her Brooklyn accent from the DiC dub was, it at least differentiated her. I believe she's supposed to have an Osakan accent (so, like Osaka from Azumanga Daio) which is often dubbed as southern... so that might have helped. Ah well.
Beryl sounds quite good - honestly, she sounds a lot like the DiC dub, but more skilled (and with a better script) and not at all screechy. Although, on the negative side, she can't pronounce Jadeite (she puts a ton of emphasis on the Jade part of Jadeite). Ah well.
Jadeite sounds... young. Not bad, just young.
I will say, having all the terms corrected (Great Ruler instead of Nega-whatever, for instance) really, really helps.
Mamoru is pretty good so far. Didn't really get enough of him to judge. I will say, Usagi muttering about the "stupid jerk with his stupid purple pants" cracked me up.
Luna... still sounds too old. Competent, but too old. At least she isn't randomly British this time. Still, I quite like her - she captures Luna's personality FAR better than the previous dub. ... for some reason, she reminds me a bit of Twilight Sparkle's voice.
Overall, a damn good dub. I'd rank it up there with some of the better anime dubs I've encountered.
Okay then. Time to skip ahead to:
"The Girl Genius is a Monster"
First off, they kept in the episode previews and recaps. Cool, although I hope the BluRay release has the option to turn them off.
Usagi's crying has improved. What an odd thing to say, but it's true. I'm actually convinced by her crocodile tears this time.
Usagi continues to be excellent otherwise. She handles all of Usagi's mood swings and makes them convincing (in some cases, more convincing than the Japanese VA managed).
Luna continues to impress. Damn fine voice acting.
Naru is growing on me.
Umino... ... ... made an "over 9000" joke. Burn him. Cleanse his memetic sins with fire.
"Fat Friend's" voice is just awful though. I'm glad I skipped over the episode that she's actually important in.
Okay, time for the moment of truth: Ami Mizuno. Her voice actor is pretty good. Since Ami is under-spoken, it's hard to get a read on her voice actress, but she sounds pretty good overall. She improves when the battle starts (her confusing over Usagi's accusation - "I'm a what-now?" made me laugh) as she has a bit more to react to.
Also - random aside - I really dislike original anime Ami's hair. Crystal's hair looks so much better.
Motoki - sounds about right. Again, not a lot to judge.
Youma - wait... is this the same voice actress from the youma in the first episode? They sound nearly identical.
Okay, so the dub continues to be quite good. Time to check on Mars.
The Cursed Bus: Enter Mars, Guardian of Fire
You know what, Luna really does sound like Twilight Sparkle. Like, voice and subject matter. I keep expecting her to call Usagi "Spike."
Rei's Grandfather sounds like Master Happosai from Ranma 1/2. I approve.
Usagi - yay! They kept in her Freudian slip/girl-crush on Rei. As ShadowJack once put it in his IWIW - Usagi: "I'd do her part time! I mean that. I'd do that part time."
The preservation of Ikuhara's attempts at les-yay aside... Rei is pretty good. She's far less screechy than before (fortunately) and instead merely comes off as forceful. I wonder how that will translate to later episodes when she's being... less firm and more bitchy.
... gods I hate Ami's hair. Just sayin'.
The youma appears to have a new voice this week. That's nice.
Rei's banter with Usagi at the end feels natural, and has a bit more personality than her performances earlier. Hm. Maybe that's how she's going to portray Rei's bitchiness? That... actually seems like a good way to go.
And, with that, I think I'll call it quits for now.
The new dub is pretty awesome. I already planned to get the new BluRays, but this has sold it. I want this dub.
Guess that means I'll be able to sell my collector's edition DVDs on E-bay or something.
Anyway, thanks for reading!