Joshua Kaufman (kaufmajs@EMAIL.UC.EDU)
Sat, 20 Feb 1999 08:21:39 -0800
X-Sender: kaufmajs@email.uc.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0.1 Message-ID: <199902201317.IAA27558@newman.bch.uc.edu> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 08:21:39 -0800 From: Joshua Kaufman <kaufmajs@EMAIL.UC.EDU> Subject: Re: Sakura Wars OVAs dubbed in English!
At 12:20 AM 2/20/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Hi guys-- I just watched the dubbed volume one of ADVs forthcoming release
>of the Sakura Taisen OVAs. Thought I'd share some thoughts.
>
>First of all, the voices, obviously. I was ready to be mortified, but
>they're actually cast AMAZINGLY well. Each member of the Hanagumi has an
>uncannily appropriate-sounding actress. Particularly of note were Kanna
>and Sumire's voices, who were dead on. Sakura's was quite good, as well.
>The only sticking point was the accents.
>
>Accents? Well, yeah. Actually, Maria's faux-slavic accent was pretty OK,
>IMO. It was very noticable, but not really obtrusive. I can't say the
>same for Iris' french accent (it sounded like she was just slurring words,
>though it still isn't as bad as that horrible faux-French Kenji Murasame
>in the Giant Robo dub) or for Kohran's accent. Instead of speaking in
>"Kansai dialect" (some sort of English-language analogue, which nobody
>seems to agree upon anyway), she speaks with what sounds kind of like a
>cute-Chinese-girl accent, but doesn't succeed. It's as though she's
>speaking in the same manner of the dubbed Shampoo from Ranma 1/2, though
>her voice is much lower and she doesn't speak broken English. This is
>really a shame, as the English Kohran's *voice* is right on the money,
>particularly when she shouts "Steam bazooka!" in the first episode.
>
>Males weren't bad, either-- Oogami didn't really say much, so not much to
>say about that. Yoneda came across as a little too straightforward and
>dignified, though that's probably just because he hasn't gotten plastered
>yet. Ayame was also fairly good.
>
>Name pronunciation: PERFECT! Well, almost. There is not a single
>instance of actors misplacing accents in Japanese names (ex. pronouncing
>"Yoneda" as "YoNAYda" or "Kirishima" as "KiriSHIma"), but there is one
>mistake. With the exception of Ayame's actress, all the actors pronounce
>"Sumire" with a short 'i'. Who the hell is Sue Murray?!
>
>Translation: Not bad, but some weird inconsistencies. For some reason,
>the dub actors insist that they're preparing to defend Tokyo. Wasn't it
>Kyoto, the IMPERIAL capital? Sakura's last name is romanized as
>"Shinguchi" in subtitles, but still pronounced with a 'j' instead of a
>'ch' sound. The koubu are referred to as "oubu" (no 'k') in the first
>episode. The name of the unit is translated as "Imperial Floral Assault
>Team", which is quite good IMO. Interesting note: Sakura's special
>attack is referred to as the Cherry Blossom technique, but she uses it,
>she actually yells out the Japanese words-- even in the dub.
>
>Overall: Surprisingly good! Folks who just don't want their anime in
>English (like Terrence and Tom Cheng) won't get too much out of it, but I
>strongly encourage all you Sakura Taisen fans to try renting it or
>something. I was pleased with the quality of the OVA animation (and
>especially the music!) and hope to see it out on DVD at some point.
>
>Thoughts?
Cool. I WILL defiantly rent it, if I can find some place that has it
(hopefully Hollywood will). I still would much rather see the sub, but I'm
not paying $30 for it...and since nowhere would probably rent it...
-Joshua