April 2008 ADR Awards Winners & Highlights

[Chris Beveridge]

Dub of the Month: Genshiken OVA Ep. 1 (Headline Studios / Anime Works)

Genshiken OVA, episode 1, found on Kujibiki Unbalance DVD Vol. 1, is more accurately episode 13 of the Genshiken anime series—but more importantly it is a long anticipated continuation of the Headline Genshiken dub from almost three years ago. Carol Jacobanis (Saki) and Billy Regan (Madarame) won awards for their performances during that earlier release, and they and so far everyone else, from cast to crew, returns here in excellent form, as if little time has passed. Jacobanis, Rachael Lillis (Ohno; nominated for April for Female Performance) and new cast member and up and coming New York dub actor Michele Knotz (Ogiue) are the stars of this first episode as their characters clash and conspire within the changing dynamics of their otaku enclave. They wonderfully re-engage the energy and humor and feeling fans had always enjoyed and praised with the franchise. So far, as well, they promise to take it to another level.

Male Performance of the month: Johnny Yong Bosch as Renton Thurston in Eureka Seven Vol. 12 (Bang Zoom! Entertainment / Bandai Entertainment)

Sometimes, it feels like Johnny Yong Bosch plays almost every single idealistic lead in anime dubbed by Bang Zoom! People sometimes groan when he's cast as another lead who is full of ideals, but lacks any experience with the world. In spite of that sense of JYB fatigue, time after time, Bosch delivers a character portrayal which pushes that aside with the fervor of the idealistic youth he often portrays. In the last volume of Eureka Seven, the emotions run high as Renton grows up and takes things into his own hands all while maintaining the bright idealism. Bosch manages to portray a Renton in these final episodes that has been affected by what he's seen, who has been lost in despair, who has changed after his long journey, who when he finally takes control of his own life does so without adding cynicism or burden. Totally, Renton. The character journeys in Eureka Seven makes it a special series and Bosch truly makes it a great journey for Renton.

Female Performance of the Month: Kari Wahlgren as Anemone in Eureka Seven Vol. 12 (Bang Zoom! Entertainment / Bandai Entertainment)

Up until episode 48 of Eureka Seven, Anemone has been a lie, a facade, a construct, a mystery. Throughout the series her screen time has been limited, but from what has been shown, Anemone lived a tortured life in order to maximize her potential as the pilot of TheEND. To maximize her use to the military, Anemone was drugged and programmed to keep Anemone, as a real person, from surfacing, that is until episode 48, where the no longer drugged Anemone finally senses her real being, but unfortunately it is too late. This leads to an amazing monologue by Kari Wahlgren, who in her lines brings to life Anemone's fatal resignation and grief with an honest clarity that completely opens the character. Even better is when Anemone finds she is not lost. It is an endearing end of series performance.

[The Great Bear]

Even though we're getting it at a painfully slow rate, Genshiken's dub is joy to listen to. And the cast has pretty much returned after the layoff without losing any sense of how they played the characters before.

Eureka Seven's a show I never really checked out much during its run on [adult swim]. I might have to consider seeing it when they rerun it at some point.

[Avatar]

I couldn't agree more with the choices this month. If Media Blasters had released the OVA all alone I still would have bought it, and the performances made it all the more enjoyable! (This in spite of the fact that I am a bit of a fanboy of some of the Seiyuu in the original cast.)

I also think because of his (over)exposure in so many dubs Johnny gets a bad rap. Yet he continues to turn in solid performance after solid performance!

Kari Wahlgren has long been one of my favorite English performers, and her performance as Anemone shows once again why she is one of the best!

[bctaris]

Apologies for this April article and winners announcement being a month late. But recognition for quality work is always better late than never.

Thanks to nominees, winners, nominators, voters, and those responsible for the content of these pieces (particular credit goes to super rats for Eureka Seven).