Saturday, December 08, 2007

Kanon dub: Thoughts.

Yes, The Anime Network (ADV's privately-owned digital cable network, in case you didn't know) has put out a preview of Kanon, which will premiere on the 28th. (The first DVD comes out on New Year's.) The scene they use for the commercial, available on their site, is from the first episode; Nayuki goes grocery shopping and Yuuichi gets dragged off by Ayu. Naturally, I felt compelled to review it.

Good. And bad.

Good objectively, or at least as objective as I can get with something like Kanon. The actors are obviously professional, and they seem to understand their characters well enough. They've also taken new directions with their characters, instead of copying the Japanese versions. Anyone that watches the dubs (yes, I know that's not most of you) will have no problem with it.

But the bad thing is also, well, the new directions. I love Kanon 2006 and I've seen it a million times. I even liked the original Kanon, styrofoam snow and all. This whole time, just as the rational side of my brain was praising the voice actors, the rest of me was wailing and clawing at the screen. "Why doesn't Nayuki sound slow and sweet? Why isn't Yuuichi sarcastic enough? WHERE'S HORIE YUI?" Suffice to say, with a show that gets you as emotionally invested as Kanon, you get used to the original and don't like change.

Of course, getting exact copies of the original voice actors would not only be impossible but counterproductive, so says the rational side of my brain. Then there's the rabid fan side. Good as the dub is, this is not the show to choose when you want to convert an avid sub-watcher.


Now I want taiyaki. Or ice cream. Preferably not "jam".

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, one of the major problems with many American dubs is the way they alter the characters' personalities by casting the voices differently.

Yuuichi has the same problem as Kyon's English dub - without that fast-paced, smoothly sarcastic delivery he just ends up sounding bored and/or stupid.

Ayu sounds horribly emo. Nayuki is ok, IMO, but only acceptable...I still think they could have aimed for a better voice. >_>

Basically, it's the same problem that ruined the Shana dubs - changing the fundamental perception of the character by changing their voice and delivery.

Anonymous said...

wa...you know...
this is the first time I really see a people from English speaking country who watch kanon`!!!or other animation..
I'm a chinese and I want to make a friend with you`and talk a little about kanon or other japanese anime..I also love kanon very much~and my MSN is sakurachan401@hotmail.com.
if you add me write your blog's URl ...and I'm sorry>..though my English is not that good

Anonymous said...

[url=http://firgonbares.net/][img]http://firgonbares.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]sms store software, [url=http://firgonbares.net/]Suite 4[/url]
[url=http://firgonbares.net/][/url] property management filemaker pro template free adobe creative suite 4 design standard
downloadable software programs [url=http://firgonbares.net/]discounted software[/url] really cheap software
[url=http://firgonbares.net/]sms store software[/url] Mac WinZip
[url=http://firgonbares.net/]cheap engineering software[/url] cheap software for schools
best office software [url=http://firgonbares.net/]buying old software[/b]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://sunkomutors.net/][img]http://sunkomutors.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]discount on software for, [url=http://sunkomutors.net/]adobe creative suite 3 design premium student discounts[/url]
[url=http://sunkomutors.net/][/url] academic software and used filemaker pro
education discount software [url=http://sunkomutors.net/]places to buy software[/url] developing educational software
[url=http://sunkomutors.net/]kaspersky rebate[/url] message store software
[url=http://sunkomutors.net/]educational discount on software[/url] office 2003 templates
macromedia flash professional software [url=http://sunkomutors.net/]i buy software to[/b]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://vonmertoes.net/][img]http://vonmertoes.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]sell your software, [url=http://vonmertoes.net/]kaspersky internet security 2009 and mcafee siteadvisor[/url]
[url=http://vonmertoes.net/][/url] software price comparison is there photoshop cs4 for mac
oem software mean [url=http://bariossetos.net/]Advanced Mac Retail[/url] adobe photoshop cs4 adjustments panel size
[url=http://hopresovees.net/]sell adobe software[/url] canada software
[url=http://hopresovees.net/]adobe creative suite for mac[/url] kaspersky keys
buy dreamweaver software [url=http://hopresovees.net/]cheap xp pro software[/b]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://murudobaros.net/][img]http://murudobaros.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]winzip 12 registration code, [url=http://murudobaros.net/]free adobe photoshop cs3 download[/url]
[url=http://murudobaros.net/]2007 Retail Price[/url] and software store software at a discount
filemaker pro free template [url=http://murudobaros.net/]adobe photoshop cs3 classroom in book w/cd[/url] teacher discounts on software
[url=http://murudobaros.net/]software sales people[/url] software of macromedia flash player
[url=http://murudobaros.net/]lowest price for adobe creative suite 3[/url] academic software com
buy a software to [url=http://murudobaros.net/]academic office software[/b]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://hopresovees.net/][img]http://vonmertoes.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]adobe photoshop software, [url=http://hopresovees.net/]teacher discount for microsoft office[/url]
[url=http://bariossetos.net/][/url] filemaker pro migration adobe image editing software
adobe photoshop cs3 key generator [url=http://hopresovees.net/]microsoft smartphone software[/url] office basic software
[url=http://vonmertoes.net/]oil price software[/url] kaspersky work space security
[url=http://hopresovees.net/]torrents adobe photoshop cs4[/url] office 2007 enterprise key
buying pirated software [url=http://vonmertoes.net/]lp software store[/b]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://hopresovees.net/][img]http://vonmertoes.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]office 2003 oem software, [url=http://bariossetos.net/]software price lists[/url]
[url=http://hopresovees.net/][/url] all adobe softwares utility software downloads
where can i sell my software [url=http://vonmertoes.net/]software like adobe[/url] windows vista key generator
[url=http://bariossetos.net/]windows xp easter eggs[/url] http www macromedia com software flashplayer
[url=http://hopresovees.net/]microsoft freeware software[/url] rules of order software
2009 Poser 7 Mac [url=http://bariossetos.net/]Deluxe 2009 Mac[/b]

Anonymous said...

I looked it up on the apple store and it says to hold down and tap the picture from via email/ internet and then it will give me the option to save it. But when ever i do that it either magnifies the picture or it copies the picture. Is there a new way to do it with the iphone 3g s?
[url=http://forexrobot-review.info]best forex software[/url] [url=http://www.consumerqueen.com/the-message-boards/comment-page-5#comment-49373]unlock iphone[/url]

Anonymous said...

Hello I'd love to congratulate you for such a great quality site!
Was thinking this is a perfect way to introduce myself!

Sincerely,
Edwyn Sammy
if you're ever bored check out my site!
[url=http://www.partyopedia.com/articles/monster-truck-party-supplies.html]monster truck Party Supplies[/url].

Anonymous said...

ok, cool... i just added lots of different emo backgrounds for my blog
http://www.emo-backgrounds.info

Anonymous said...

I am reading this article second time today, you have to be more careful with content leakers. If I will fount it again I will send you a link

Anonymous said...

Predilection casinos? sanction this untested [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] advisor and wing it denigrate online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also discontinuance our up to rendezvous [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] promulgate something at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and rally honest genially bad !
another late-model [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] sort out is www.ttittancasino.com , because german gamblers, submit c be communicated during means of freed online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

You have to express more your opinion to attract more readers, because just a video or plain text without any personal approach is not that valuable. But it is just form my point of view

Anonymous said...

You have to express more your opinion to attract more readers, because just a video or plain text without any personal approach is not that valuable. But it is just form my point of view

Anonymous said...

prepositor for all to look into this gratis [url=http://www.casinoapart.com]casino[/url] extant at the influential [url=http://www.casinoapart.com]online casino[/url] handbook with 10's of courtliness [url=http://www.casinoapart.com]online casinos[/url]. actions [url=http://www.casinoapart.com/articles/play-roulette.html]roulette[/url], [url=http://www.casinoapart.com/articles/play-slots.html]slots[/url] and [url=http://www.casinoapart.com/articles/play-baccarat.html]baccarat[/url] at this [url=http://www.casinoapart.com/articles/no-deposit-casinos.html]no passion casino[/url] , www.casinoapart.com
the finest [url=http://de.casinoapart.com]casino[/url] to UK, german and all acclaimed the world. so in echelon of the proceed [url=http://es.casinoapart.com]casino en linea[/url] inhibition us now.

Anonymous said...

Just popping in to say nice site.

Anonymous said...

Just popping in to say nice site.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I begin on internet with a directory

Anonymous said...

Поздравления с днем святого Валентина
[url=http://idimka.ru/pozdravlenie_%D1%81_day_%D1%81%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_valentina]Поздравления с днем святого Валентина[/url]
Поздравления с днем святого Валентина родителям