random note: sushi & the FMA dub.

[mikkeneko]

I feel towards the FMA dub much the way I feel towards sushi.

Back when I was just getting into anime, and was developing an obsession with all things Japan, I decided I ought to learn to like sushi. So I tried. Every time sushi became available, I would get myself some. Did my damnedest to learn to eat and like it, since I figured it would make me open-minded and multi-cultural.

That was also how I approached the FMA dub. Obsessed with all things FMA, determined to like the dub to show my open-mindedness. Watched every episode for the first 12 and actively searched for good things I could say I liked about it.

I don't like sushi. I concluded, after over six months of trying to like sushi, that I hate it. It's cold, slimy and disgusting.

And I also don't like the FMA dub.

Comments

[wiccat.livejournal.com]

LoL, to each their own, I suppose XD I personally could live on sushi, especially sashimi. Not that I like the dub, but it's not all that bad... with the exception of Gluttony *shudder* and possibly Envy.

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Heh, it really is a matter of personal tastes. I know lots of people who adore sushi, and I can just sit back and marvel at them.

[mizukori.livejournal.com]

Here here! Well, about trying my damndest to like the dub.

[tangent] I never really tried sushi until after I got out of my Japan-obsession. It was forced down my throat and I hated it, because vinegar makes me ill. But then... I decided to give it another shot, only this time without the vinegar (I work at a Japanese resteraunt, and the cheif is cool about making custom sushi), and it was delicious. So I eat sushi now and adore it, only it's not sushi because... sushi means vinegar-flavored rice. Whatever man. [/tangent]

Seriously, though. I watched 14 episodes of the dub. I just hate it. I'm sorry. X_x. I tried, though.

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

hmmm, it wasn't the taste of vinegar that put me off (I can't even remember that taste, really) it was just the temperature and texture. Cold and slimy. I invariably gagged/choked on it, and that just didn't make it a very enjoyable eating experience for me.

[silvertailstora.livejournal.com]

The vinegar is definitely my least favorite part.I've never had sushi with fish,so I have no idea if I like that or not,but I love California Rolls(Crab, cucumber, and avacado).Since I saw the dub first,I'm kind of biased,but I did like Al's, Lust's, Envy's, Havoc's, and Fury's voices in the original,while I still prefer Mustang's, Armstrong's, and Rose's voices in the dub.Gluttony is a lot better in the original,he actually has some lines other than, "Can I eat him/her now,Lust?"

[grifstar.livejournal.com]

*sigh* amen to that -_-..


but, I know much worse dubs out there, so I'm on the other hand thankful that it's not too awful >.>;

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

In an abstract way, I'm grateful it's not as terrible as it could be. In actuality, since I won't be watching it, I don't care whether it's semi-awful or awful-awful. :)

[bleedingsand.livejournal.com]

There's some sushi where I get that texture problem. But some... eel is HEAVEN. It's usually warm and the sauce? Mm. Yummy. Cucumber is pretty damn good too.

But that's a pretty good analogy.

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Hmm, maybe I'll try eel then, if I ever get the chance. :)

Although, it's hard to explain... it's not even the temperature/texture per se. I wonder if a lot of it doesn't just have to do with the portion size. I have to eat it all in one bite, if I have to struggle to bite it in half, I gag. But then if the whole sushi bite is to big, I gag again. If I could find someone to make itty-bitty sushi for me, then maybe...

[bleedingsand.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Maybe you should try making your own. You can make it as big or small as you want, the rice as vinegary or sugary as you want... my house, we go sweet.

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

I should totally do that... someday when I get the kitchen facilities. :) And find a goot asian mart nearby to buy seaweed from.

[bleedingsand.livejournal.com]

When you can, I hope you like it.

[jade-pen.livejournal.com]

I do have to agree with your points; the dub does have some flaws in it, and it's a matter of taste as to whether one likes it or not.

Personally... as strange as it sounds, while some of the voices really aren't that good (and I'm sure that this goes without saying, yes?) some of the ways they've translated their lines are better than the original, in my opinion.

*shrugs* As you said, it's a matter of personal tastes. :)

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

That's actually hard for me to tell. :) I speak just enough Japanese that, while watching a sub, I think I'm really only using the subs as a guideline for what I should be listening for. I'm hearing and understanding the Japanese with the help of the English script, rather than reading and understanding the English script. So watching it in dub.... I lose half of everything that's there. It's very flat to me.

[jade-pen.livejournal.com]

Ah, that would be where you have an advantage over me; as I speak very little Japanese, I have to go with what the subtitles are saying. So in that regard, the subbed version doesn't have as much of an appeal to me.

To put it another way... I suppose I understand more of what's going on in the dubbed versions, which is the more important issue for me. ^_^;

[reikah.livejournal.com]

Neither do I, and I still find the dub (mostly) grating and irritating. In my case, it has to do with Ed's accent and Al's lack of emotion. *Shudders*

That and Tucker and Cornello's Stereotypical British Accents ('cause only the bad guys are British, of course, and even then Funimation seem to have forgotten that nobody in Britain talks like that *anyway*, it's just how Hollywood thinks we talk. Augh.)

[jade-pen.livejournal.com]

I would point out that Alphonse has been getting a bit more emotion in his voice; I agree that he's no Rie, but he's gone beyond *shudders* what he had at the opening sequence.

As for Edward... I don't know. His voice can be irritating at times, but I really do think it fits the role. He sounds like a fifteen-year-old punk (pardon my lack of eloquence there,) and it isn't bad enough to throw me off. Or at least, so my opinion goes.

And... hah, I honestly thought that they were going for a wrestling announcer for Cornello. "In this corner... the Fullmetal ALCHEMIST!! In the other corner... a Chimeraaaaaaa!!!"

...I can see why it would be annoying, but again, I thought it fit the role decently well. (Assuming, of course, that people stuck in the middle of a desert would have the same accent as an island nation... *sighs*)

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

"BRING ME HIS HEAD, MY PET!"

[zalia.livejournal.com]

I don't like Sushi either, for the same reasons as you ^^; It's cold and slimy and it doesn't help that I'm not all that keen on seafood anyway.

The dub interests me more than anything. I like FMA a lot, and it intriuges me as to how they're going to do certain parts.

Although I could have done without Tucker having the sterotypical English villain voice.

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Ah, you'll have to let me know how it is. :) I'm in an apartment without a TV, and no money to buy DVDs, so I couldn't watch the dub even if I wanted to...

[okaasan59.livejournal.com]

What about crunchy rolls? Do they count as shushi? They're my favorite. I don't like slimy stuff either, and despite living in Louisiana, I have yet to try a raw oyster.

The idea of watching a show in Japanese and understanding more than just one or two words per show seems awesome to me. ^__^

Sean's Vietnamese friend was over at our house and called home to see if he could stay longer. The kids just sat around, eyes big, as he chattered away in Vietnamese. When he got off the phone, Sean said, "That is so cool." ^_^

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I don't think I've tried crunchy rolls. (Raw oyster -- shudder!) And yeah, other languages always seem so cool and glamorous. *sighs swooningly*

[cryogenia.livejournal.com]

*amused* You know, this is the most honest and amusing post I've read in a while. Though the only thing remotely intelligent I can say about it is that I like sushi, but I don't like the FMA dub :-/ So I guess the dub loses?

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Sushi > dub?

[stickmarionette.livejournal.com]

*snicker* *raises hand in agreement*

[devils-devotion.livejournal.com]

Completely and entirely.

[youkofujima.livejournal.com]

Yessir. Especially if you're looking at the older dubs.

[youkofujima.livejournal.com]

I love sushi, but I'll agree with you, I can't stand the dub. One reason is cuz I'm just more used to the Japanese version, and I don't think Al's VA can act.

Another reason is cuz I think the VAs are such snobs. -_- met them in person, hate them.

[devils-devotion.livejournal.com]

Another reason is cuz I think the VAs are such snobs. -_- met them in person, hate them.

Reeeeeeeeally? I met Vash's VA from Trigun once, and he was totally rude to the guys (my friend) and the not-good-looking girls (me). It was really fucking annoying. I trashed his autograph.

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Really? D: I didn't want to know this. Sad, Johnny Yong Bosch! The only VA whose work I respected.

[devils-devotion.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was totally depressing. He made me want to die.

[youkofujima.livejournal.com]

=_= I met some of the cast of YGO before and they were total snobs/idiots, too. I asked them some questions about their character and it was obvious they had NO IDEA who they were playing. They seriously just read the script.

And I don't even want to get into the whole thing about how Vic tries to push his religion onto people. Just. Ergh.

[devils-devotion.livejournal.com]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH VIC'S RELIGION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *DIES*

I had heard, somewhere, that Vic gets a little TOO into Ed's character, and gets highly offended at things like, say, YAOI. >.> Don't remember where I heard it, though.

[youkofujima.livejournal.com]

EDWARD ELRIC'S GOD IS EDWARD ELRIC. End of story. =_= He signed a poster for a friend of mine with "God bless you!" WTF.

Yes, he does. He gets even MORE offended with Elricest. And yet he says "I think I'm the only person who truly knows just how much Ed loves Al."

Hypocrite, much?

[devils-devotion.livejournal.com]

DOES he? Why is that? ^^;; Is it the armor thing? Is it because he equates Al to that little kid Aaron who does his voice in the dub? Since he's, like........twenty million years old? WHY GOD WHY?!

*has met many voice actors who don't have a problem with yaoi*

[youkofujima.livejournal.com]

I have NO idea. He says "That's just wrong." WHAT? WHAT IS WRONG???

[asidian.livejournal.com]

Have to say, I haven't met a piece of sushi I didn't like... with the exception of squid. Blarg. Speaking of texture... *shudders*

As for the FMA dub... I tried. Have seen most of the first season, even. Actually enjoyed seeing how different readings of different scenes changed certain things. Thought they did a great job with a couple of characters.

But the shortfallings are much more than the good points, imho. And Ed's voice makes me -weep-. ;_;

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

I like squid. :D Though not in sushi.