Forum - View topicADV's constant re-use of VAs
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cyrax777
 Posts: 1825 Location: the desert |
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man i know you watch enough anime and its like I know that voice from somewhere then it hits me. Wait she was also this character in this show and then i remembere like 10 shows I've heard her in. |
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Zalis116
Moderator
 Posts: 6921 Location: Kazune City |
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^ Case in point of Japanese VA re-use: Kawasumi Ayako. I don't think she's a bad voice actress by any means, but she's in so many shows and plays similar characters in so many of those shows that it gets annoying after awhile. A few of her roles, so you can get the idea:
Akari in To Heart Aoi in Ai yori aoshi Melfina in Outlaw Star Herikawa in Please Teacher/Twins Mahoro in Mahoromatic Miharu in Girls Bravo Miu in Piano Asami in Okusama wa joshikousei ~~in essence, all these sweet/innocent/motherly/(sometimes)damsel-in-distress types of characters. Though to extend her some credit, Megumi from RahXephon and Fuu from Samurai Champloo are a little different, while still played by her. |
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Ohoni
Posts: 3421 |
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It's not so bad when they reuse the VAs from Ranma in Inuyasha, as they shared many of the same characters.Retaining actors between those series is only nautral. The problem begins when you have a completely different show, with completely different characters, and yet they still use the same VAs.
It's not the public's fault that ADV set up shop in Texas, it doesn't excuse them for reusing VAs endlessly. There's also nothing that sas they can't set up alternate studios in other regions, rent out other studios, or share voice talent with the other anime companies out there. They made their own bed, and they must lie in it. The real problem isn't that actors are reused, it'd be wasteful if they only ever had one role each or something, the problem is that they are reused improperly, cast in a role because they are the most suited to it in the studio, rather than most suited for it within the entire community of actors, or, god forbid, most suited to it among all the actors that would be willing to VA if given the option. By enforcing such a tight studio system, they practically ensure that at least a few of the charatcer cast will be voiced by the second or third best candidate for the job, just because the best candidate happened to work in a different studio. Some re-used Japanese VAs that I enjoy are Mayumi TANAKA, who did Krillin, Luffy, and Ko-Enma from Yu Yu, Ikue OHTANI, who did all language versions of Pikachu, Chopper form One Piece, and Gash Bell, and Konohamaru on Naruto, and Hikaru Midorikawa, who did Hiro Yui, Ryuhou, Silva, Zelgadis, Kaiba, and plenty of other "cool" characters. Sure, Japanese VAs are reused, the difference is that those VAs NAILED each of their roles, something that's uncommon enough over here that even dub fans seem almost shocked when a dub is really well done. |
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remember love
 Posts: 764 Location: Germany |
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Well, of course the simpsons will do there extreme best to keep their voice actors and I'm sure the VAs' want to stay with them as well good money for them. But thats one show. We're talking about over more then one show: the entire ADV company that is which is a lot more then one show. But hopefully, it still doesn't bug you. |
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Kruszer
 Posts: 8015 Location: Minnesota, USA |
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I don't know why it would bother people really. I'd rather they use the talent they have and pull off the good performances they do than pull in untested newbies. Also when you work with the same people you get know them, can predict their responses and actions, and work better with them the next time. Most likely their reuse of VAs is because they can act and have good chemistry togather and the more practice they get the better the quality of performance. Besides, *shrugs* VAs are wage slaves like everyone else they need the work.
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Nani?
 Posts: 632 |
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In general I give mixed reviews to ADV. But it seems like they occasionally hit home runs to the extent that I, who prefers subs about 80% of the time cannot watch shows like Kino's Journey and Princess Nine in Subs because of the quality of the Dub. I cannot think of any other shows like that.
The other thing I also like when they do direct/actor commentaries it's well done and intelligent, mostly focused on the show. I contrast this to Genoen which treats us like little kids and goes off into how the actress just got her drivers liscense and leaves with such a bad taste I had to hold back the desire to slaughter the entire english cast of R.O.D. TV. 
All the Best, Nani? |
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XenoCrisis0153
 Posts: 30 Location: Boston, Mass |
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This is something I've noticed too, especially since I buy a lot of ADV-licensed DVDs. I don't think Hilary Haag and Monica Rial do awful jobs, but it does get tiring to hear the same voices used for so many different characters. Sometimes it can't be helped though, some shows have so many characters in them that ADV has to use pretty much every VA they have (ie, Sister Princess was like the "all-star" version of an anime).
I just wish there was a little more variety, especially in lead role characters. It seems like Hilary is getting a lot of main character roles, which for her is awesome because when you want to be a "star," you want the better roles. But for us fans, it means no matter which anime we're watching, it's the same people. Being a VA for most of the actors isn't a full-time job (learned that from Cynthia Martinez at AnimeBoston 2005), so I would like to see more individuals get involved in more major roles. Nancy Novotny is the best example I can think of since she has only a few projects on her resume, but still managed to do an awesomely spectacular job voicing the title character in Madlax. |
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Berselius
 Posts: 106 |
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[quote="XenoCrisis0153"]This is something I've noticed too, especially since I buy a lot of ADV-licensed DVDs. I don't think Hilary Haag and Monica Rial do awful jobs, but it does get tiring to hear the same voices used for so many different characters.
I just wish there was a little more variety, especially in lead role characters. It seems like Hilary is getting a lot of main character roles, which for her is awesome because when you want to be a "star," you want the better roles. But for us fans, it means no matter which anime we're watching, it's the same people. quote] Yes i agree entirely with this. I don't think any of the voices are bad, just repetitive after playing so many main character/supporting character roles. It's also nice to hear new VAs in main character slots if they actually do a good job. But yea, i just want more variety in the dubbing with ADV. I have never once felt that the voices for bandai or geneon are repetitive because they do seem to use a huge variety of VAs. |
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bluechibi
Posts: 137 |
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I'm glad others have finally agreed that it does bother them a little.
For me I did notice and like most, it's very obvious with Monica Rial, which by the way I think she is great but her characters in about 10 ADV anime series sound exactly alike. The character just has to say one word and you know it's Monica Rial. Unlike most of the people in this thread, I love variety, I don't want to watch an anime and think in my head, oh she played A in X and B in Y, oh and I think she also played C in Z. Well it's something like that except it happens with most of the VA cast in ADV animes. I think they're all great actors, I just wish ADV would add another 100 VA to their list. Perhaps if you watched 20 new comedy, sci-fi, drama series in 2006 and all of them had characters made up of the same 20 actors, then you would get an idea of how it could get a little tedious. I know I could listen to the Japanese track instead and that they also re-use actors but then I'm not familiar with all the VA in Japan. But I am familiar and know most of the names of those who work on ADV films. |
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Mugen1style
Posts: 281 Location: North of the wall |
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I have to say that I have noticed the re-use of VA's but not just by ADV. All the companies do this its not new for Tv series. I do not mind recognizing a VA as long as they play the character differently than others they have done. Voice recognition dose not equate to good acting abilities and IMO most of the VA's out there are good actors/actress. There will always be a few bad one's but they do not last long normaly.
Also it should be noted that in Japan they have way more content to show the public and the re-use of the VA's there is the same as here just on a biger scale. In other words statisticly it about the same you are just as likely to hear the same VA's there as you would here. I always notice VA's I have heard befor and I will admit that its hard not to associate their voices with my favorite characters from the past or future(depending on if one show is older/newer than the one I watched). Although its tough not to think of them it has become part of watching anime in my own language. I see it as being no different than having a favorite film actor/actress, and going to see all his/her movies. At some point if you want to enjoy the dubs than you will have to get used to the re-use thing.IMHO. |
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remember love
Posts: 764 Location: Germany |
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[quote="Berselius"]
Well, in my opinion if I were to be make an anime I would say to myself do I want someone I know would be good for a lead role or do I want someone who hasn't done this kind work before. Same as I would for a movie. Do I want Tom Cruz to play this role that seems to look good for him or do I want the guy who played as a janitor from a previous movie, not saying the janitor will do a bad job or anything, just that I would know how Tom Cruz will work. And to me variety is nothing if the voice look good with the characters then I can appreciate it. |
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Joe Arizona
 Posts: 144 Location: Phoenix |
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The first few anime series I bought were ADV licences, which was pure coincidence. By and large, I have always liked the performances the ADV regulars put out. Occasionally, I'll watch an episode in Japanese to see what the vets and others talk about, but it just doesn't work for me. I don't speak the language and thus miss out on the nuances that must make it work for those that do . I find it hard to judge acting that is performed in a unknown tongue. Case in point was Azumanga Daioh. The much maligned Texas accent of Osaka in the ADV dub made sense to me because it differentiated her speech from the rest. I did not look at it from the perspective of,"Why does this Japanese girl sound like a Texan, or someone from the country?" The accent is a device, and nothing more. I then checked out the Japanese track, and for the life of me, Osaka's Japanese sounded pretty much like everybody else's. But, this is just one English dub connoisseur's p.o.v. I too like becoming familiar with each company's stable of English VA's. I find it kinda cool hearing them play different types of roles. It's comforting, providing a weird sense of continuity and growth. By the way, Patton was the bomb in RahXephon....
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excel7769
 Posts: 38 Location: Golden, CO United States |
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I'm going to have to agree with others on this topic, the Japanese reuse VA's all the time, If you really look at your collections hard, you'll find a lot of familiar names on there. Case in Point Kotono Mitsuishi, great actress, is in a ton of anime and no one seems to complain. I think she does a phenomenal job (I really liked her as Excel when I watched it in Japanese) I myself find ADV's team really good for the amount of people that they have, it seems that they have a smaller crew of VA's because they really put an emphasis on quality work rather than "Okay that sounds all right let's use it" *cough* Geneon *cough*  So let them reuse, it's sometimes fun to see a familiar actor in a different role, to compare. Take Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, and then as Jack Ryan, same guy different roles, entertaining.
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xanbcoo
 Posts: 245 Location: Houston/Austin Tx |
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Me too! Heh, I love recognizing VAs in different roles Same thing for Japanese dubs, like Cyrax said.
Edit: and no, it doesn't bother me very much that they are reused, though I see how it can get a little...well, boring I guess. Boring and repetitive. |
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Ohoni
Posts: 3421 |
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Yeah, but the problem is that you also have to cast the right person for the job. Do I want to cast a guy just because he's been in a bunch of movies, regardless of what he brings to the table, or do I want to cast the person that looks and acts the part, who IS the character, and who I know will nail the project? I just prefer filling the parts, not filling out a favored actor's resume. I'm sorry, I enjoy Tom Cruise, but I've watched dozens of movies for which he would NOT have been well suited in any of the roles.
She has an accent, but it's an EXTREMELY mild one, like one of those things where you can tell someone is from the south maybe, but they've clearly been living in the north for a while and lost most of it. I don't know what they did in the dub, but she shouldn't have a very heavy accent. |
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