The Lemures Files
  Guest Article: November 1st, 2000

A Squeal in the Night

By: Bethany

Ahh, I know I'm late - but better late than never, ne? Actually - I wrote this article for my web page - Purism Act: 2000 - and had some requests to post it on the Worst Sailor Moon Pages Ever page and decided to go for it. Being a regular visitor of the page, I don't know why I didn't think of it myself. ;) So now, without further ado, is my rant on the new voices for the dub.

Not so long ago the Sailor Moon R movie was translated into English. Again, my morbid curiosity got the best of me and I rented it. (I was thankfully warned ahead of time by Meara to not buy it). Where I, a proud "sub" child even at that time, was used to the wonderfully deep and thick voice of the Japanese VA for Mamoru; this was a shocker.

There, in the beginning scene in the garden, was one of two things that could very well send me on a one-way trip to the local insane asylum. The second being Haruka and Michiru being cousins, but I'm off subject.

Mamoru/Darien - acting very girlish.

I have no bad feelings for those in that sort of thing, don't get me wrong. But Mamoru had a wonderful, rich baritone in the Japanese version and they killed it in the dub. In my humble (snickers) opinion - Tony Procter was the best VA for Darien. As my editor pointed out, he brought an edge to the role and actually managed to say the lame dialogue in a believable way. How many do you know who could say "You have used your drum for evil" and keep a straight face? That, on top of the unnecessary talking on his behalf. Why do dub directors think the audience can't handle two minutes without dialogue? Are they afraid we will start thinking on our own? But I'm getting off my rant subject again.

That was the first time I experienced the true depts of horror at what a bad voice actor can do.

The second time I came across this was when watching the Sailor Moon S dub.

For the new season of Sailor Moon to come to a good ole' American television near you, they have managed to get a squawking, high pitched, "cool bean" to do the voice of Serena. From her supposedly "hip" slang to her to shrill voice (that could strip the paint right off the furniture) - there is not one thing about the new VA for Serena that I can say I like at all. Her delivery is flat - there is no soul to Serena. As previously said by my editor, Meara, "She reminds me of nothing so much as Alvin the Chipmunk on the unhappy combination of estrogen and speed."

Now, on to other important vocal subjects.

For the new season, not only did Serena get a do-over, but so did Amy. Her new VA, while not as bad as Serena's, is definitely not the sweet, sometimes over studious girl, that we purist know. I can't really decide on her new VA, I'm going to give it a little more time before going for or against the idea.

When you heard Mina's new voice, did you suddenly get a flash back into DiC land? I know I certainly did. Mina's new VA is actually Raye's last one from the 17 episodes that DiC translated. And Raye's "new" VA is none other than her original VA from season one. Makoto's voice thankfully stayed the same, although I wish I could say I was just as happy about Luna and Artemis' VAs staying.

In the Japense manga and anime, we are introduced to a kitten, just on the verge of adulthood, that is to be Sailor Moon's guardian. In the orginal dub, and now the Cloverway dub, we are introduced to an old lady in cat's skin. The English accent most definitely needs to go and maybe put a little spunk in her kitty litter. She makes Luna sound as if she is perpetually mad at Serena. No wonder the girl blows her off as much as she does! This Luna is like taking your mother along on a date - no fun.

Now what you have been waiting for (and knew was coming eventually ^^;) - my take on Uranus and Neptune's voices. Was it me, or could no one else picture the girls mistaking Haruka (Amara *gags*) for a male? That voice was way too girly for my liking. And Michiru, instead of sounding soft spoken and elegant, sounds amazingly like the VA for Haruka - only with some small differences. Also, she is the old VA for Serena's mom... wonder if they will still keep her for both parts? This is not the Haruka and Michiru we know, either. Their slangs and name calling of the girls is way out of line, and completely uncalled for. Such as Amara calling Serena "Little Miss Beethoven" and Michelle saying "Meatball Alert". This is not the personalities of the original Haruka and Michiru of the subs and manga that we know and love. They simply aren't nice people in this dub and could use a major transplant in the personality department. Always saying they are not good enough for what they are famous for - making them come across as them bragging in my opinion. Or "Hey! Look what I can do!" instead of actually thinking they are not good enough.

From the squeals like someone is torturing small animals to the "girlish" side of Haruka that I bet even she didn't know she had - the over all look at the V.A.s for the new dub probably could have been worse, but for now are bad enough.


Comments on this article can be sent to: Bethany.

Comments made on this page are opinions of the author. They are not necessarily shared by Tripod and the Amazoness Quartet.


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