Hollywood and anime are interconnected in more ways than you’d think. For decades, American directors like Quentin Tarantino have been inspired by Japanese animation. This also ties well with the actors partaking in animation projects headlined by Japanese Studios but this isn’t boding well in any case.
This is particularly true with a recent dub that has most fans questioning the move altogether. This also reflects upon the history of miscasting actors for prestigious projects. But what it also does is highlight the major issues of dub culture in the anime industry.
Hollywood celebrity’s dub leaves fans disappointed
The sub versus dub debate has always been around for decades, and it continues to frustrate fans. There are purists, loyalists, and fanatics in every fandom that stand divided when it comes to brilliantly done dubs. That isn’t to say dubbed versions are bad but there are very few that hit the mark.
Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, and Fullmetal Alchemist are some of the finest examples of brilliantly done dubs. But there are occasions where film actors and actresses dabble in the field of dubbing and Studio Ghibli is a perfect example.
From Robert Pattinson to Christian Bale, actors have experimented as Seiyuu (voice actors) in the Japanese animation industry. For some, it worked out well but for others, it ended up a disaster which is precisely what happened in the case of Solo Leveling anime’s Episode 6.
Redditors on r/anime were of the consensus that J Balvin’s casting was a bad choice.
This is what happens when you hire a Celebrity for the English Dub instead of an actual Voice Actor, it results in one of the worst dubs I’ve ever heard [Solo Leveling]
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Balvin’s performance rained on the fans’ parade especially the ones who were looking forward to the epic fight. While the animation was phenomenal, the actor’s dub ruined it completely as most viewers noted. This also stands in contrast with other American actors who have delved into the dub culture.
Mark Hamill, for instance, is regarded as a multifaceted artist who gave us some of the finest dubs in Ghibli movies. Others stepped out of their comfort zone and ventured into the dubbing zone. Yet, it points to the incessant highs and lows of the dubbing culture in animation spaces.
The highs and the lows of dub culture in anime
Truly, J. Balvin’s performance as Karlgalgan was disappointing, however, it highlights a major problem in the industry. The experimentation isn’t the problem so much so as the miscasting. Most actors aren’t seasoned voice artists to be able to wring out the depth and gravity of their characters.
In some cases, voice actors are miscast in certain roles despite their brilliance and finesse. One such case is Frieren’s voice actress Mallorie Rodak whose casting as the elf mage stirred up debates within the fandom. In contrast to the Japanese seiyuu, Rodak’s voice seemed incoherent.
Dubbing has its pros and cons which is precisely the reason why some fans are sub-loyalists. It is understandable considering how scenes tend to get mistranslated and underwhelming however there are exceptions to that as well which makes one thing certain.
Animation studios should encourage seasoned artists to partake in their projects. While actors seem perfect, voice actors with expertise deserve a chance. Lastly, the Solo Leveling series’ dub is something that sub-loyalists should reconsider mainly because of experienced artists like Aleks Le.
Solo Leveling is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manhwa is available for reading on Tapas.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
