
Cowboy Bebop Film's American Premiere Announced 276
From the Big Apple Anime Site "The Big Apple Anime Fest 2002 (BAAF 2002) is proud to announce that the festival will premiere the theatrical English dub version of "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie" on August 30th, 8:00pm at Loews State Theater (Virgin Megastore) in New York City's Times Square. At the premiere, Cowboy Bebop director, Shinichiro Watanabe, score composer, Yoko Kanno and character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto will be on hand to meet their legions of fans." That's a show worth seeing.
Festival (Score:1)
Re:Festival (Score:3, Informative)
www.otakon.com
Anime theatre (Score:3, Funny)
John ritter starring in Akira.
L
Re:Anime theatre (Score:1)
Re:Anime theatre (Score:1)
Re:Anime theatre (Score:2)
Britney Spears and Shakira starring as the Dirty Pair.
This is good news (Score:1)
DVD Release? (Score:2)
However, I'm clearly not enough of a fan to know that there has been a movie made, or that there were even plans of dubbing it and bringing it over the US. Since I'm sure there are bigger fans out there, does anyone have more info about when this was made, and if it's available on DVD? If not, when is it going to be? I've had no reason to buy the series on DVD since it's on weekly, but the movie I might actually buy.
Re:DVD Release? (Score:1)
Re:DVD Release? (Score:3, Informative)
If you want to import it from Japan, of course.
You probably meant something a little more accessible.
Re:DVD Release? (Score:3)
Wait?
Re:DVD Release? (Score:2)
Re:DVD Release? (Score:2)
it from there about a week or so ago.
Re:DVD Release? (Score:3, Informative)
Of course, most people dont give a crap either way anymore and you can still find it
Re:DVD Release? (Score:1)
Re:mega-edited? (Score:2)
Re:DVD Release? (Score:1)
Anyway, when I was looking for that I did see many listings for the movie on DVD, don't recall if it was an english dubbed version though. Great series, excellent quality animation, cool action, interesting charachters, and a story that builds and keeps the watcher interested. If you really want to get into it, the subtitled japanese does have some different dialog than the dub version.
I love the differences that pop up because of the Japanese vs. American culture. Some people don't get it, but I love the stuff.
Re:DVD Release? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:DVD Release? (Score:2)
That practically screams bootleg. Don't buy nonlicensed anime; it's the same as paying someone to photocopy an entire book for you. For more info: Pirate Anime FAQ [anime.org.uk]
Re:DVD Release? (Score:2)
Release your product in a region free format
I'm sure if there was a release of a Harry Potter book in Engalnd 3 years before it was released in the US and you could only read it with a licensed viewer moddified to allow other region viewing people would photocopy the entire book and sell it.
Its just another illustration of how screwed up the whole dvd region system is, and frankly I don't have much sympathy.
I just caught this show on cartoon network (Score:1, Troll)
Re:I just caught this show on cartoon network (Score:1)
Re:I just caught this show on cartoon network (Score:4, Insightful)
For those of you who aren't into Adult Swim on Cartoon Network, this is a 3 hour block on Saturday nights where they play the "mature" anime, the stuff that doesn't quite fit into the afternoon kiddie stuff (like DBZ and Zoids and the like). This is where they run Bebop, at 11:30, like a previous poster said. (There's also a Swim on Sunday nights with "funny" adult cartoons, but Saturday's got the better stuff, IMHO)
It's worth noting, however, that last Saturday they had a Bebop-a-thon - the entire 3-hour block for Adult Swim was all Bebop cartoons, and unless I misunderstood the scheduling, they're doing it again this Saturday. Last Saturday's 'thon had Fallen Angels in it; I donn't know if they're repeating the same episodes this Saturday, but it's worth watching to find out
Re:I just caught this show on cartoon network (Score:2)
of course it has to be dubbed (nt) (Score:1)
what's the big fuss? (Score:2, Insightful)
come to think of it that's about all you get from most hollywood fare these days, too
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:3, Interesting)
The movie is good, seems like an abnormally long episode, but funny and interesting like almost all the bebop episodes. I think its supposed to take place between eps 22 and 23, but I'm not sure exactly.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
The dub is considered one of the best around.. i rather like it. It does, however, still fall to the "strange pace of talking" that anime dubs often do.
stupid lipflap.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
Very awesome movie from the fansub that I've seen, though honestly I haven't checked out the dub of the series at all. It doesn't matter though, because I MUST go see this - thank god I live in New York
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:3, Interesting)
It's a "modern" Anime with a "retro" look. The sets, vehicles, design, etc. all is super-detailed, nicely drafted, but the characters follow the more cartoony approach of 70's-era anime like "Speed Racer" and "Star Blazer", "Battle of the Planets" (um Gachaman, Space Cruiser Yamato, and Go Go Go, IIRC). Or even Lupin.
Not that there's anything wrong with the Shirow-ites of the 90's. The more realistic approach is cool too - but it lacks a little bit of that light-hearted "life" of the older style.
The main characters are extremely likeable, the stories are about as deep as you can go within a half-hour framework. There's an arc, that comes to a tragic end in the last episode.
The action, is typical edge-of-your-seat anime.
There's good music too.
In fact, I think pretty much everything that I like about CB, I also like about Lupin.
(btw - Steven Speilberg was quoted back in the 80's as saying that Lupin III: Castle Cagliostro was the greatest action/adventure movie of all time, I happen to agree).
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:2)
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
I think that anime, for most of us who read /., is a way to reach our childhood again. We all watched cartoons when we were little, and people try so hard at finding their childhood again and trying to recapture it. The success of the revamped comic versions of Transformers, G.I.Joe, Thundercats, and Battle of the Planets speaks this out.
However, we as people have matured and anime has filled in the gap, giving us adult themes to satisfy our need to be entertained at our intelectual level, and the cartoons that make us feel like a kid again.
Granted, it's not for everyone, but for some, it's the way to finding that lost youth that so many people spends their lives trying to find, and I figure, if you can find it as soon as possible, you're better off than most.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:3, Interesting)
First, it falls in to the usual US cultural trap of labeling all animation as "cartoons for kids". While there is more than ample evidence of "kids cartoons" from the likes of Hanna Barbarra, there is plenty of adult content in other animated works. Disney's classics are wonderful artworks. And many of the unedited Warner Bros. classics are full of humor and cultural references that only an adult (with some idea of history) will likely catch. Even some of the later cartoons such as Animaniacs packed in adult references. Of course, that completely ignores animation that is entirely of an adult nature - such as Heavy Metal.
Of course - when I was a kid, I hated Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Thundercats. I wasn't overly fond of Battle of the Planets. But I loved Robotech (especially the feeling of depth during space combat scenes). I find anime interesting because of its style, concepts, and because it doesn't fall in to the trap of being "just for kids" all the time.
One final comment - nostalgia exists. I fall in to it myself. I occasionally catch The A-Team and CHiPs on TV. Sometimes I'll catch some cartoon I remember from childhood. I think I probably enjoy Space Ghost Coast to Coast partly because of its mocking 70s-era cartoons (or at least the Space Ghost series). But I've always appreciated animation and have no illusion that any current appreciation is induced by a desire to revisit my childhood.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
Anime is not exempt from the so called Spurgeon's Revelation: In any given medium, about 95% of something is going to be a bunch of crap (paraphrased). Not all movies from Hollywood are Oscar worthy, not all TV shows are Emmy winners, not all plays or musicals will win Tonys, and not all Anime is great.
Cowboy Bebop, if watched with an open mind in the beginning, instead of the seemingly closed mind of the parent post, is clearly better than a large amount of anime thanks to the humor, style and direction, spectacular soundtrack, and gripping characters.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
Correction. That should be Sturgeon's Law [jargon.net], "Ninety percent of everything is crap".
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:5, Interesting)
To really enjoy it you have to allow yourself to indulge in slapstick humor and sexual comedy. Sure, we like to imagine that we are a cultured, civilized poeople who don't appreciate that sort of thing, but if you take the stick out of your ass and allow yourself to be entertained it's usually worth it.
A parallel to anime (and the problem with it) (Score:3, Interesting)
A lot of people think Horror Movies are crap. And a lot of people just go to get their willies off at seeing B,G,T&A (blood, gore, tits and ass). And then there is a large loyal underground composed of fanatics and fanzines.
And no matter how hard the genre tries it still can't overcome the lowest common denominator.
Of course I think the best works of Horror movies far exceed anything done in anime. Personal opinion? Yes. But a movie like Dawn of the Dead seems to reverberate with zeitgeist fears: Nuclear Annihilation, slow death from radiation poisoning, the Cold War, isolation of the self in modern consumer civilization... The best Akira did was: fear technology, stuff blows up real good.
Re:A parallel to anime (and the problem with it) (Score:2)
If you want heavy/serious, take a look at Ayashi no Ceres, Evangelion and maybe Akira (haven't seen it). If you want high school/college humor, try Love Hina or Ranma 1/2. And if you want just plain wacky, try Kodomo no Omocha.
It's not all Magical Girls, aliens, and giant robots, you know.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:2)
And then you have to look at the subjects of anime. Sure, Card Captor Sakura is about little kids--great, it's a kids' anime. But then you get into stuff like Marmolade Boy and To Heart and you have to wonder what kid in his right mind would sit through 30 minutes of panning shots of the school and sakura blossoms.
That, and I have to argue with your broad categorization. I haven't seen any of the shows you listed--mostly because they looked childish. I'm not talking Voltron here--the stuff I'm talking about is Bebop, Trigun, Tenchi, Love Hina, Onegai Teacher, Noir...the list goes on. They all have some pretty adult themes, and they're all direct adaptations of manga (well, Tenchi is a special case).
But I'm not going to argue that everyone watches it. I meant all ages, and I still believe that that is the case. I find it immensely enjoyable, even though anime suffers from the same (or worse) social stigma in the states. I have a hard time thinking that it's that much different over there.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
Anyways, I watch Anime movies because they come from "Bizarro-Hollywood" (ref Seinfeld). They're just like american movies, just completly different.
It blows my mind, and I like getting blown.
Which episode did you watch? (Score:3, Informative)
I recommend trying a couple more episodes, especially since you're watching for free.
As for anime in general, one of the big deals is variety. Anime is FAR, FAR more varied than you seem to be giving it credit for. There are kid's shows like pokemon, but there are also shows for older audiences. There are shows for guys, and shows for gals. There are dark, violent thrillers, but there are also flowery girly romances, and everything in between.
One of the problems I find with people's view of anime is that it is formed by looking at what they see in video stores and comic shops, and the selection there tends to be skewed towards the violent, R-rated type of thing because that's what the shop owners think their audience is. A vicious circle, really.
Three quick films for you to try to rent:
Princess Mononoke - Violent, but also amazing. Humanity vs. Nature in a powerful story that examines both sides of the issue, and allows the audience to draw their own conclusions. By Studio Ghibli, probably the best animators currently working on Planet Earth.
Kiki's Delivery Service and Totoro - By the same people that did Princess Mononoke, but these are both for children. Kiki is a young witch out on her own, but all she can do is fly a broom. So she starts a messenger service... Totaro is about two little girls living in the country who encounter a friendly and magical forest creature in the woods. Both are probably in the kid's section of your local Blockbuster.
Jon Acheson
There is a lot of it (Score:2)
Personally, I find Anime, particularly Cowboy Bebop, aesthetically pleasing. If you like good Camera Work more than substance in your movies (I do - I loved Minority Report even though I thought the plot was, frankly, stupid. I liked The Fugitive primarily for the cinematography, although it had many other good points,) than I recommend Cowboy Bebop.
It is Eye Candy.
Incidentally, I've seen priated copies of the Movie (good quality DivX,) and it's not better than the show. If you like the show, you'll like the movie, but the animation is about the same - a little more polished, but not a drastic improvement.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:5, Interesting)
I am not a huge anime fan. In fact, I think most of it is crap (Sturgeon's Law? [tuxedo.org]), but having said that, I really like Cowboy Bebop. Why? Well...
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:2)
Except Edward? Apart from the episide where she is introduced, Ed seems to be there for mainly comic relief. Too bad, too. I thought her character had lots of possibilities, and apart from that chessmaster episode, she doesn't really seem to have much of a role at all.
(although, I haven't seen *all* of the episodes - CN disrupted the start-to-finish airing a couple weeks ago and I've lost track).
Re:whoa there with the DBZ flame! (Score:2, Interesting)
Have you ever watched a soap like 'young and the restless' or 'guiding light'? I had to endure summer vacations watching that drivel as a kid. Somehow though, occasionaly, I'd find myself interested in the show. Only it would take forever for the plot to advance in soaps. They'll have the same conversation for a week sometimes. That and some of the plots are silly/corney. Deamon Possesed Housewives, Cloned Housewives, Alien Abducted Housewives...who could sit and watch that?
Anyway, DBZ is a lot like that. It is a developing story, not a planned one. If you don't have patience, don't watch it.
The fuss is.... (Score:3, Insightful)
Obviously, I'm going to clarify that. "Cowboy Bebop" is popular with a lot of Americans who otherwise dislike anime as a whole. Most anime shows are genre-driven -- fantasy, giant fighting robots, ninja/samurai, schoolkids, hentai, what have you -- but "Bebop" isn't so easily categorized. It's science fiction, yes, but it's not about the spaceships and technology. And there's no robot suits anywhere to be found.
The story is about the bounty hunters, "cowboys," who constantly wander the solar system in search of their next paycheck. They're pretty good at it, but they're generally nice people who keep their friends, which means they give up paychecks from time to time. I'm halfway through the DVDs, but I'd say about 90% of their jobs (the ones seen on the show, anyways) end up profitless. So you keep rooting for them to come out ahead when they almost never do.
It's not that violent a show, really -- at least not compared to, say "NYPD Blue". Compared to "The Simpsons" or "Pokemon", yes, it's occasionally violent and sexy and bloody, but the characters aren't violent or sexaholic by nature. And, of course, they all have a Mysterious Past that's uncovered a bit at a time.
If you don't like anime/animation, then you don't like it, and that's all there is to it. If you're willing to open your mind a bit to it, and watch a few episodes of the series (unedited on DVD is nice), you'll see a good bunch of stories and some very interesting and likeable characters.
Re:The fuss is.... (Score:2)
It's "The Rockford Files" in the 22nd century. :-) Well, the non-Vicious episodes anyhow.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:2)
Rent or buy the DVDs - its worth it. i don't even really like anime all that much (i respect it as an art form, but most of it just doesn't impress me enough to keep watching), but I really dig on Cowboy Bebop.
And the Bebob dub is OK. Its better than most other dubs out there. I've seen the movie plenty on DVD, and I'd LOVE to get the chance to see it on the big screen.
now as soon as they get CB in the IMAX theatre, i'll be a real happy camper.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:2)
There is some very good anime, and there's a lot of bad anime; it follows Sturgeon's Law just like everything else. Unfortunately most anime fans seem to lack any critical ability when judging anime, so I think a lot of people are turned off when they turn on something that they've heard raved about, then find it isn't that good.
Personally I think Bebop is great, but I a) first watched it on DVD, which is always at least a little better than the tv versions, and b) recognize that not everyone shares my tastes. Don't give up on anime because of it, I'd just recommend you try renting a different title.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:3, Insightful)
So, fair enough, I can totally understand why you wouldn't catch what the fuss was about after only one random episode. I'd encourage you to go rent the first DVD and start from the beginning...you'll have a much better experience.
And as far as there being a big deal about anime in general, I'd suggest to you that you not think of "anime" as a genre unto itself. There are good movies and TV shows that happen to be animated, and there's also a bunch of crap out there.
Anime is a medium, not a genre.
Re:what's the big fuss? (Score:1)
But that's just my $.02.
Ok.. (Score:1)
She's a great guest too! (Score:3, Informative)
Hopefully she'll do some live music at the NYC con.
Gotta finish the graphic for my Cowboy Bebop "best of" CD... (Note: I bought all the Japanese CDs, so don't even start...).
Jon Acheson
amazing (Score:3, Informative)
For those who have not seen CB: drop what you are doing, go out, and pick up all the episodes and the movie on DVD. You will not regret it. This is what movie-making is all about.
Cowboy is also known for its excellent English dubs. Many fans prefer the English voice acting (at least for some characters) to the original Japanese soundtrack. If you were disappointed by the dubbing of Akira, do not dispair: Bebop really is better.
My one reservation is in regards to the graphic violence that pervades CB. It is really a cultural thing, and won't be very shocking to anime aficionados. However, it is likely to put many American viewers off. Hopefully, they will remove some of the more gruesome scenes, or perhaps reanimate them so as to be less offensive to a sensible audience.
See you space cowboy... (that's what it always says after each episode!)
Re:amazing (Score:2)
Re:amazing (Score:2)
Not always.
Jupiter Jazz (Score:2)
I still remember the first time I watched CB. By the end of the session where CB is falling from the window looking up at the glass falling, I was hooked. The sound of the girls singing still haunts me. It was me and 3 other buddies, sitting in stunned silence, watching CB fall backwards while reliving his past. We all just sat and cried. At thet time, I didn't even know a cartoon could have that much power over my emotions.
In any event, CB is the best 30 minute show I have ever seen. Thanks for the emotions Space Cowboy...
Re:Jupiter Jazz (Score:2)
"Do you have a comrade?"
Also, the Teddy Bomber episode (Cowboy Funk) ends with "See you Space Samurai..."
I have to go hurt myself now.
Re:Jupiter Jazz (Score:2)
I thought the name was "Ballad of a Fallen Angel", but maybe my id3 was named from the eppisode.
Re:amazing (Score:3, Funny)
Hearing the voice Tetsuo [joshuaseth.com] was surreal after realizing he was the main character of a very child-oriented, VERY popular anime [foxkids.com]for almost 4 gigabytes... er... 100 episodes (i assure you I have no idea how large all of the mpegs would be... er, assuming there even are mpegs) Hearing Josh swearing in the same voice was more amusing after considering the interesting sound bytes that could be meshed together. Which would be a good project for a rabid taiora, but linking to that would demand of me posting anonymously.
Might be bad (Score:3, Insightful)
This will only be exciting if the original dub cast from the TV show worked on this film. I'm talking about David Lucas as Spike, Wendee Lee as Faye, and Beau Billingsey as Jet. For all fans of Bebop, those voices embody those characters, and the Bebop movie would be a terrific disappointment if those voice actors didn't return.
-Evan
Re:Might be bad (Score:3, Funny)
Yes its good dubbibg, technically, but the emotion is often missed. Watch it subtitled, the emotional content is much better. In something as powerfull as Cowboy Bebop, emotional content is very important, as opposed to something like Godzilla.
Re:Might be bad (Score:2, Insightful)
I watched it first with subtitles and wasn't that impressed; when I watched the English dub I was blown away. English-speaking Faye sounds jaded, and english-speaking Jet sounds like a grizzed old ex-cop (which is exactly what he is). And while I think the original spike was good, the english speaking Spike is perfect. And of course, the dubbed Ed is wild-off-her-rocker. Bebop is the only example I've found of the English voice actors "getting" the characters better than the Japanese voice actors.
Re:Might be bad (Score:3, Funny)
No. Koichi Yamadera as Spike, Megumi Hayashibara as Faye and Unsho Ishizuka as Jet Black embody those characters.
The dub might have been above average, but it was still a dub.
Re:Might be bad (Score:2)
There was a petition for this cause. [petitiononline.com]
Re:Might be bad (Score:3, Informative)
you know... (Score:2)
i have seen it and i cannot wait for the DVD release of it, to finnish my collection. What will be even better is the future release of ALL of the Evangelion movies. THe bootlegs are good but professionally subbed DVDs are better.
Re:you know... (Score:1)
although the two are VERY _VERY_ similar, they are not exactly the same. Different music, some re-recorded dailogue and they re-animated some stuff for the theatrical release.
Well, its probably gainax's fault, only giving them the EoE masters.. Thats what it usually is.
Looking for the DVDs? (Score:1)
Why subbed/dubbed? (Score:1)
The perfect world does exist, you know.
I like it (Score:1)
Since I'm way out here in Wisconsin, I doubt that I'll get to see this movie anytime soon. But what I'm Really waiting for is the Trigun Movie that I keep hearing about.
ANIME USA (Score:1)
If you ever wanted to see some die hard fans, that was the weekend. Never could you cram 120+ people in a tiny little room with no AC and yet still ask them to sit through two hour of awesome bebop action.
We also gave away 3 free copies of the fan sub version for 3 lucky attendees to take home.
Need money! (Score:1)
dub (Score:1)
Letterboxed with subtitles below, that's the way to go.
Cowboy (Score:1, Flamebait)
Just what I want, jpop mixed with the japanese-obsession-with-American-80's music/pop-culture-tears-for-fears-esq garbage. Whoo.
Worth Waiting For (Score:2)
This is definitely a movie worth seeing in the theater, shown right. The art is gorgeous and it looked wonderful on film.
Also, while I'm a huge fan of anime, I find the quality of most theatrical-length anime to be... lacking. Not so in this case! It's a great movie all around. It would be enjoyable for anybody, I think, because it doesn't require any prior knowledge of the series, but long-time Bebop fans will really love it because of their attachment to the characters, who are in fine form in this movie. I got chills seeing all of the characters "one more time".
Movie is so-so (Score:2)
WITH the same English dub cast (Score:2)
There's a press release [animeondvd.com] here with a bit more information that is the confirmation on the dub cast.
Knocking on Anime Heaven's Door (Score:2)
- To those who think English dub sucks, it is all realitive. (For some odd reason no one complains about crappy Japanese recording since they do exist)
Dubbing was bad in the 80s because you had only half a shoe string budget and scheduled recording time between SMURFS and GI JOE. Now that Anime has been shown to be a proven money maker recording quality has gone way way WAY up with the amount of money invested in making them.
COWBOY BEBOP is an example of this. The English production crew from Bandai USA loved the show and worked hard in all aspects of it. If the KNOCKING receives the same TLC then it will be a quality English recording.
- To those who think "What is so great about this show...I saw one goofy episode and it sucked"
I suppose I could say the same thing about ATTACK OF THE CLONES can't I? ^_^;; COWBOY BEBOP is different than a lot of the stuff that came out post EVA/X-FILES/Angsty. It has clearly defined characters that you can identify with. It has a clearly defined ending(so many Anime these days leave endings open 'just in case' they can sell a second season). CB was more about style. A typical Anime series has "super plots" where consecutive episodes explain the themes and story but CB did many self contained one shots. Of course no one mentions CB without mentioning the music of Yoko Kanno. If CB represents anything about the future correctly it is that good music is timeless. ^_^
- To those who say "why is this news?"
Until recently if it was animated it had to have Disney on it or it was shown only in art house style movie theaters. This is one of the biggest openings for a non-US animated feature in the US. I think that is as newsworthy as anything else on
- To those living in NYC I say "LUCK STIFFS" ^_^
Take lots of pictures! Try to get an autograph(I would die for Kanno to autograph my BLUE CD). Have fun watching one of the better movies to come out of Japan recently.
Re:Knocking on Anime Heaven's Door (Score:2)
For the anime OST geek, a bit of fun trivia as well (for those who haven't seen the series): Yoko Kanno (Macross Plus, Vision of Escaflowne) was the producer/composer of most of the soundtrack...
Ann Arbor Slashdot Promotion? (Score:2)
Maybe the editors from a somewhat influential website could co-sponsor some sort of an event. You know, as a sort of house-warming for their new offices. And to show their new community what a great 'n' fabulous 'n' magmanimous bunch of guys they are.
What? It beats hell out of a PT Cruiser...
For the uninitiated…who happen to get the cartoon (Score:2, Informative)
http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com/servlet/Sche
That night's schedule is thus:
11:00pm Honky Tonk Women -The introduction of Faye
11:30pm Sympathy for the Devil -The secret of a child prodigy and what happened to earth
12:00am Waltz for Venus -One man's attempt to set things right
12:30am Black Dog Serenade -What happened to Jet
01:00am Pierrot Le Fou -Why you shouldn't build a homicidal maniac
01:30am Brain Scratch -Online cult (everquest maybe?)
With the exception of "Honky Tonk Women" all these episodes are rather dark in tone (especially Pierrot Le Fou, which is one of my favorites of the series). They are also rather standalone, as opposed to last Saturday's, which covered the underlying main plot of the series.
Although I haven't seen these episodes in their dubbed and edited form, from what I've seen of other episodes and Adult swim in general, minus some blood, these episodes should be rather intact and definitely worth seeing if you haven't.
Re:For the uninitiated…who happen to get the carto (Score:2)
Re:Dubbed? (Score:3, Insightful)
Just this past weekend, I actually convinced my gf into watching Princess Mononoke with me, and she actually enjoyed it. One of the things she enjoyed about it was recognizing the good voice acting of well-known actors both of us know. Understanding what the characters are saying, instead of having to read along, can add quite a bit to the enjoyment of a movie.
true, but (Score:4, Insightful)
For example, I saw Cowboy Bebop subbed first, and then watched it when it started running on The Cartoon Network, and the subtle difference in the way the characters voice their lines as well as the slight diologue changes was enough to give the characters and plot a very different feel. Being used to the "Japanese versions" of the characters, I felt that some of Shinichiro Watanabe's vision was lost in the translation to English. Plus, I just found American Ed to be annoying. =)
Granted, I'll still be first in line to see Bebop on the big screen if it has a wider release.
Subscribe? (Score:2, Interesting)
I will subscribe when:
A) Users can moderate stories, decide which ones get posted. No more tyranny of the minority (the moderators)
B) Changes to the Slashdot system are documented (the recent change to the karma system for example) and there is a story posted about such chnages so I can voice my objections and be ON TOPIC (unlike this post, which is off-topic, since there is no on-topic place to post it)
C) Stories that are rejected are accomplined with an explaination (seriously, use a drop-down menu. Pick the top 20 reasons, put them in said drop down menu. Pick one. Easy enough. Total coding time: less than one hour.
D) Stories are spell/grammar checked by the editors, and links are checked. When a story is ready to be posted, no less than 3 minutes is spent trying to find out if it is a duplicate.
When all that happens, I will pay. Not a second before.
Please don't mod me as off topic. It is relevant to the sig of the parent, plus there really isn't an ontopic place to post it.
Yes... Good voice acting... (Score:2)
Anime voice acting tends to be far more melodramatic than live action, which lends
to more emotional impact from the dialog. But trying to carry that same level of
drama across in translation is interpreted as overacting, which only works in the
small percentage of anime situations that are actually trying to be "cartoony".
Because of that, most English voice actors are caught between having to emote to
flesh out a character, and not being able to EMOTE, because that takes the character
over the top of the storyline. THat is why English voices can seem less emotional,
but the better actors are still able to add more subtle undertones to the character to
make them seem more "real" to the audience.
Also, up until recently in the West, voice acting for anime was not considered
to be a "real" enough acting job to attract a lot of people with both talent and
training to be able to sustain a character thru many consistent episodes of a
series or OVA. That has slowly changed as studios/teams like the Ocean group
and Z-RO limit have become more established and been able to retain their
core members thru various projects. The Hollywood interest in anime helps a
little, as it gives more legitimacy to the idea of adding (quality)
voice work into an actors portfolio; but at the same time it adds a hindrance
in Hollywoods habit of substituting "actor with talent who can play the role"
with "Big-name actor with box office appeal that we can shoehorn into the
role". Hopefully anime will be allowed to become mainstream enough that we
can eventually move past that impulse.
In western style dubbing, the process used for ADR is (most often)
to have a lone actor reading their lines to studio cues; and taking the best
reading from a series of individual takes.
The Japanese have traditionally recorded with all the (primary) seiyuu in the
studio at the same time, playing out more like the old style radio drama sets.
IMO the Japanese system is better because it allows for greater feedback between
the actors/characters while telling the story. The few people I have spoken to
in the "industry" however, tell me that the English (Hollywood)
method is preferred because it allows for faster production when you don't
have to schedule all the actors at the same time,
and it is easier to work around bloopers/misreads when you only have to
deal with one voice at a time. Unfortunately the English approach does require
a greater effort on the part of the Director to make sure the dialog read
actually fits with the scenes and theme of the animation; and it usually takes
a few episodes of work (or some outside rehearsal) for the actors to really get
into their roles.
More unfortunately, this method is apparently considered efficient enough that
it is gaining popularity with some Japanese studios as an alternative method
to allow them to meet tight production deadlines.
I have seen US dubs with the same voice acting quality as Japanese releases,
or rather I have "seen" (heard) quality English voice work in recent anime
releases (Cowboy Bebop and Excel Saga as examples) that I found as appealing
and dramatic as I would from hearing and not understanding the Japanese dialog.
I have also seen enough raw anime to tell that just becuase it is made in Japan is
no gaurantee that it isn't crap. Most US anime fans are spoiled (blessed) because
they don't get exposure to a lot of the stuff that was not good enough to get picked
up over here. Everything you said about English dubs can be equally applied back
to the majority of anime that has been produced from Japan.
The real point is not to argue for dubs over subs, or vice-versa; it is to argue for
the studios to continue doing a better job with translation, setup, direction and acting
in ways that maintain the quality of the original work, or even benefit it in translation.
And for anime fans in the West to continue to express our preferences in quality anime to
help encourage the Japanese studios to create works in thier own country that can find
such mass-appeal overseas.
Re:Yes... Good voice acting... (Score:2)
However, if you watch with the Japanese tracks, a lot of those shows didn't synch up in the original language in the first place, so one could argue that they are fixing a problem that they could just as easilly ignore.
One of my least favorite dubs comes from "Martian Successor Nadesico". There's a character on that show who frequently cusses "Baka" in the Japanese track. Baka loosely translates to fool or dumbass, both as a plural and singular form, but is also sometimes used as a catch-all explative. The sub tends to use the word "fools" most of the time, but (again, probably due to the "mouth-flap" issue) the dub falls back on "idiots". It probably gets especially confusing for english-dub watchers when the word "baka" is actually printed in english letters on computer displays a couple times. Personally, if I were in charge of dubbing (or subbing) that show, I would have left the word "baka" untranslated. It is used so heavilly that any English-speaking viewer would be able to grasp the meaning from the context after watching two or three episodes.
Re:Dubbed? (Score:1)
Re:Dubbed? (Score:1)
Re:Dubbed? (Score:1)
Re:Dubbed? (Score:2, Insightful)
Besides, real fans watch anime in both langauges and do comparative studies.
money_shot
Re:What's with all this anime news lately? (Score:1)
This gets my +1 Funny (Score:1)
Re:how?? (Score:1)
Re:Don't understand Anime (Score:3, Insightful)
As for your question as to why this is news for nerds...... There are nerds who like Anime, they read here, and submit stories here. Not to mention that the very authors of the site enjoy Anime, and they are nerds. So it is quite obviously 'news for nerds'
Then buy the DVD... (Score:3, Interesting)
Personally, I prefer the English version. The voices fit the characters, settings, and tone of the series much better. The Japanese dubs seem flat and out of character.
Yes, Spike is a super cool badass, Faye is hot and tough, Jet is a disgruntled ex-cop, and Ed is insane. But to the English speaking ear, the English voices convey those same senses of character much better in the English dub.
Put it like this: If you watch lots of Japanese dubbed animation, then you'll get the feel for Japanese voices and will be able to tell flavor and character of the voices. But, to the average non super-anime-fan, it's a bunch of gibberish with no variation in tone or pitch. Flat. Uninteresting.
To me, who can ear the variation in both, I'd say that while they both convey the same feeling of character and flavor, you're more likely to hear it better in the language you understand (unless you watch so much anime that your eyes bleed
Re:Then buy the DVD... (Score:2)
Forget the Japanese. I wish he would leave his works the fuck alone.
Rich
Re:Dub vs. Sub (Score:2)
Jon Acheson