Forum - View topicINTEREST: Megumi Hayashibara Shares Her Thoughts on Modern Voice Acting
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Wandering Samurai
 Posts: 875 Location: USA |
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That lack of originality is really all across the board. The Hollywood movie industry has set that example, and now the other industries are following suit. I've noticed that there are a lot more live action movies based on manga and anime coming out too. And with that yes, a lack of original storylines to provide for anime series. For now, money is doing the talking, and there's not much anybody can do about it.
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Actar
 Posts: 1074 Location: Singapore |
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Personally speaking, the gap between anime character and voice actor is what makes anime characters that much more genuine than say real-life celebrities who would have their own lives off-screen or off-stage. I do really admire, respect and appreciate voice actors, but for the work that they do, not for their physical appearance or personal lives.
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Afezeria
 Posts: 817 Location: Malaysia, Kuantan. |
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There is barely anything original any more these days, since all sorts of ideas has popped out and were used since the dawn of everything. It is also hard to create original characters as well, which is why splicing up and mixing things such as ideas, storyboard, plot, genre e.t.c. is much more preferable. Then again, I have no concern for originality and much comfort to suit up with my entertainment as much as I see fit, no matter how cliche and terrible it is (of course, I wouldn't probably read/watch/listen to it if it's bad). Speaking about voice acting, there is a plethora of characters that shared same traits, personalities and stuff, even a similar sounding seiyuu which you might've heard before but apparently are two different people. Though, I don't mind of such things either since there's whole more important stuff to focused on in real life beside nitpicking about voices. It might be fun to voiced unique and special characters but I don't even know if there's any other characters that can distinguished itself from the rest any more.
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Kougeru
 Posts: 5527 |
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This really does seem true. So many great seiyuu I only hear for a few years now days while we use to have them last a decade+ |
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leafy sea dragon
 Posts: 7163 Location: Another Kingdom |
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That's actually some refreshingly harsh things she has to say. I'm glad it's not the usual fluff these voice actors or other industry people say when asked about their jobs. The words used in this article I interpret as her still sugar-coating some of it, but her intent is obvious: She wants to tell it like she feels it.
I wonder if this is why she lent every female voice in Anima(tor) Expo: It's a series of highly experimental animated shorts and is very different than most things out today. There were still plenty of derivative shorts lacking in originality like "Hill Climb Girl" and "Robot on the Road," but there were just as many innovative and daring shorts, like "Diary of Ochibi" and "Bubu & Bubulina."
And that's how voice actors should be treated: Their talent lies in their voice, and they should be merited on that alone, not for good looks or their private lives. (Unless said voice actor committed a crime that is undeniably wrong.)
I'd bet it's because there are a lot more of them now (as well as those aspiring to be one), out of proportion with the amount of anime that's come out. It means each one, individually, is going to get a smaller piece of the pie, and the job market becomes that much more competitive and cutthroat. |
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MarshalBanana
 Posts: 5316 |
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What Robot on the Road was great, can't speak for the other one, as I'm indifferent on it, but Robot on the Road was really funny.
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H. Guderian
Posts: 1255 |
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Well I'll always appreciate you, Hayshibara!! I will line up to any project that features your work.
Also that book also has Hidaka in it? I might need to grab it... As to what's popular, the internet drives things REALLY fast. Back in my day there were fewer games and anime. Between releases you could celebrate and investigate your hobby. Now its NEW RELEASES, NEW GAMES, NEW ANIME. NOW NOW NOW, MORE MORE MORE. There's so much new anime coming out, even who is 'most popular' won't be in everyone's top shows. And then to mention the pay. Once you're good enough to be famous, you start to cost just a little more. With the glut of talent, that too becomes a problem. I wonder what problems we'll be in next decade. |
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Lemonchest
Posts: 1771 |
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Doesn't help the VAs life expectancy that, no thanks to how every character is "like XX," they're trained to do the voices of specific character types. Then in a few years, when their pay grade is about to go up, they get replaced by someone cheaper who's trained to sound the same.
As for VAs being expected to be more than just voices, that's inevitable in a business that, even if it is booming, is still tiny compared the the number of people wanting to break into it. I think I read something like 10,000 people attend VA schools in Japan each year, which is far more than is needed. In a business where characters sound the same & there's too many people trained to sound that way looking for the same roles, having something to distinguish your profile as a VA is vital. Heck you need to be doing something else just to make rent at the end of the month. Then again, this isn't all that different to any other entertainment business. It all breaks down to it being easier than ever to get in, & harder than ever to make anything of it. |
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MarshalBanana
Posts: 5316 |
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Actar
Posts: 1074 Location: Singapore |
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Now that is something I don't really agree with. If you want to separate the spheres of work and private life, any crimes they commit shouldn't affect the quality or reputation of their work. I'm not saying that dating is tantamount to a legal misdemeanor, but the effect on the fans is still the same. |
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H. Guderian
Posts: 1255 |
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Nah, even in Japan, there was more in the 2000's than there were in the 90's. The amount of available anime has only been increasing. I'll link an ANN forum thread since its relevant: animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=969797 A lot of shows were also longer form back in the 80's and 70's. But that doesn't account for it, as we have plenty of shows that run long still. The number of genres, too, has exploded. Anime never really lost any genre it picked up, and there are several today we just didn't have back then. I'll make the comparison to games. Remmeber back when there were 1-2 hot titles and a couple other releases to come out that year? When the Complete NES Library was a stunning 70 games!? Wow! Now I can go to just Steam and there'll be a dozen releases per week. At least anime is still harder to make so the numbers haven't inflated as badly as video games. |
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Marzan
 Posts: 515 |
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You'd have to be seeiyu of her stature and track record to dare say something critical of the industry.
Having said that, the lack of fresh ideas is not an anime only phenomenon. Hollywood's endless stream of remakes, sequels and carbon copies is sad to behold. |
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Kadmos1
 Posts: 13552 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
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On line reading, it still is, at least sometimes, about heart because the director or creators picked you as they felt you were the one right for the role. You have that talent, so use it wisely.
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yuna49
 Posts: 3804 |
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The decline of reading has much to do with this I suspect. When I was young many movies were adaptations of successful novels from "Gone with the Wind" to "To Kill a Mockingbird," to give just two examples, but the written word has much less purchase these days. Adaptations of theatrical works were also pretty common like "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Inherit the Wind." The trend on Broadway these days is the reverse, with theatrical adaptations of successful movie franchises like "The Lion King." |
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Mr. Oshawott
 Posts: 6773 |
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With so many anime shows being churned out every year, it's only a matter of time before some characters of some end up having the same characteristic or the show having some of the same features; if anything, even some "original" shows may have borrowed some stuff from somewhere. Then again, "originality bankruptcy" isn't an anime-exclusive problem; Hollywood has it far worse.
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