Archived comment by Cebu:
Hikeeba!!

...

Archived comment by Obsidiana:
My favourite instance of comical dubbing was that one movie they showed on MST3K...

The version of Hamlet that had been translated into German then dubbed back into English. Crazyness...especially since the voice actors were truly atrocious.

Archived comment by Denise:
I'm VERY anime limited.. but I loved Totoro..
and um.. what the hell was it called?

Guyver? We had a series of like 10 of them.. they were really good.

Also - a guy I used to work with is married to a woman named Anna May...and it used to crack me up every time he talked about her.

"I have to go pick up Anna May."
"Oh good! Pick me up some, too."
*puzzled look*
*me, crackin' up*

Archived comment by Paul:
"MAY PRE-HOUSE THE SEAMY SIDE VOLITATION!!"

Winding finger have got bloodstream not wallk.
Prythee no sport with stingy or play aspersity game.
Till the cowcomes home!

(namelink work safe)

Hey, at least it's better than All Your Base...

Archived comment by Noyock:
Nope, the girl's name was something like Mariko, which doesn't mean pumpkin in any way. And, yes, Tuxedo Mask, that's right. Oddly enough, because he wears a tuxedo and a mask. Funny how that one worked out. ;) Japanese, gotta love 'em.

Archived comment by umrguy:
One of the most interesting dub/sub instances I've seen was catching French TV (subtitled) on like C-SPAN real late at night/early morning, and they had a bit where they were interviewing an American general, which the French had dubbed into French, which was then subtitled with the rest of the program back into English :)

Archived comment by Saint:
lol--maybe that was the girl's name. Wasn't the main chick dating some guy named "Tuxedo Mask"? My wife is actually into Sailor Moon--the original, uncut, closer-to-true translations thereof, I mean. Mainly for the lesbian Sailors. What can I say, you find your role-models where you can.

Archived comment by Noyock:
There are definitely some ludicrous subs out there. I remember once seeing a subbed episode of Sailormoon where the villain said a line at one point, I can't remember what the Japanese was, but the English rendering was "I have you now, pumpkin with honour!"

Archived comment by Inuki:
There is ONE movie that I would rather watch dubbed than subbed, and that's Princess Mononoke. (Hence the Americanized title, also.) There's a bloody good reason for that, too - the translations were given to Neil Gaiman (who I'm sure I've ranted about before), who turned the "Deer God" into the "Forest Spirit" and did a better job of matching words to lips than the animators did originally. (Most animation, the sound is recorded first, and the images are matched to it.)

Cowboy Bebop is fairly good dubbed - the voices match the characters, and the translation is fairly smooth. Don't know about the movie, though.

If I'm tired, or sick, or something, I'll put on something dubbed, just so I don't have to concentrate on it. The rest of the time, I'm for subs.

It's fun to take a DVD and turn on both English subs and English dub, and then see how good the translation is.

Archived comment by Jon:
Aha! I knew that we'd attract some anime fans in the subtitle/dub wars. :) If you're really into the genre, you can purchase whichever you like. To make the movies more accessible to US audiences, however, you may have to get used to more theatrical releases with dubbing.
Besides, some of the subtitles I've seen in anime are every bit as laughable as the dubbing(can't remember the titles). If the movie itself is of poor quality, it won't matter whether it's dubbed or subtitled.
/end rant

Archived comment by Alyssa:
On the topic of good/bad anime... I don't mind people liking lesser quality series so much, seeing as I can like even the campiest of anime (cough cough cough Digimon)... what gets me is dubs. I am of the opinion that all dubs are doomed to lose something from the original, so I'm something of a subtitle snob. ::shrug:: It's especially galling in the case of shows like Digimon, where they make rampant changes with no respect for the original ideas.

And I sense a rant coming on. Before I start foaming at the mouth here, I'm going to cut myself off. By the way, my $0.02 on series: I love Slayers, Saber Marionette J, and Lost Universe. And yes, Trigun is definitely good stuff. And Noyock? Don't feel too bad, I like Lodoss too. It's fun, if nothing else.

Archived comment by Inuki:
Well, since people seem to like Dar Williams, how about some more?

Are You Out There?
Perhaps I am a miscreation
No one knows the truth there is no future here
And you're the DJ speaks to my insomnia
And laughs at all I have to fear
Laughs at all I have to fear

You always play the madmen poets
Vinyl vision grungy bands
You never know who's still awake
You never know who understands and

Are you out there, can you hear this?
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis,
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time

Last night we drank in parking lots
And why do we drink? I guess we do it cause
And when I turned your station on
You sounded more familiar than that party was
You more familiar than that party
It's the first time I stayed up all night
It's getting light I hear the birds
I'm driving home on empty streets
I think I put my shirt on backwards

Are you out there, can you hear this
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time

And what's the future, who will choose it?
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the tables
Indie versus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
Oh....

Corporate parents, corporate towns
I know every TV set that has them lit
They preach that I should save the world
They pray that I won't do a better job of it
Pray that I won't do a better job
So tonight I turned your station on just so I'd be understood
Instead another voice said I was just too late
And just no good....

Calling Olson, Calling Memphis
I am calling, can you hear this?
I was out here listening all the time
And I will write this down
and then I will not be alone again yeah
I was out here listening
Oh yeah I was out here listening
Oh yeah I am out here listening all the time

I don't think there's any mistakes in there...this time...

Archived comment by hypoxic:
Multi-pass!

Me save you.

Archived comment by Joe Napalm:
No time for songs! The Fifth Element is on!

*Grin*

-Jn-
Efreeti Sophist

Archived comment by umrguy:
Daen, I think it's cuz everybody's up arguing in what seems to be becoming the new political thread.

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Archived comment by daen:
It's a songless Friday? What's wrong with you people. (I've been dealing with crises all day-- that's my excuse.)

Anyway, my contribution.
Oysterband, please...
I am the fountain of affection
The instrument of joy
To keep the good times rolling
I'm the boy, I'm the boy,
You see the world could be our oyster,
You can put your trust in me,
We'll keep the good times rolling
Wait and see, wait and see, wait and see!

Exultation, a sweet disintegration.
A few discolourations when it comes along
Up is why he chooses the kisses and the bruises
There's nothing he refuses when it comes along
It comes along,
and I am lifted,
I am lifted, I am lifted!

When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get down
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get down
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground...

Archived comment by Arlene:
Has anyone else seen "Bastard"? It's so funny, the important cities are named for metal bands of the 80's, like Iron Maiden & Anthrax.

It had an interesting premise, but apparently there are only 6 episodes. We were at a friend's house & the other girl & I started watching it while the guys played video games in the other room. Then we reached episode 6 & wanted to know where the next one was. When the owner of said video said that he didn't have it, we nearly killed him. As it was, we just frightened him.

Archived comment by Matt:
So where does Evangelion fall? I was subletting an apartment from a friend a couple summers back and he had the entire series. I'm still not sure what to make of it, blatant Christian imagery aside.

And if that stupid penguin didn't remind me of Linux, it would've really pissed me off. Way too much like the animal companion (also a penguin? Can't remember) in the La Blue Girl (hentai) series.

Archived comment by Noyock:
Miyazaki for me is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of director. I really didn't like Mononoke much, but absolutely loved Spirited Away and Tonari no Totoro. Also, for whatever reason (and believe me, I've tried to come up with one), one of my favourite anime series ever is Record of Lodoss War. And I'm well aware of how very, very bad and cliched it is. I can't figure it out.

Archived comment by Apple:
Denise, I didn't actually mean to take the brain, I swear! I got unexpectedly detained in St Louis. I'll just email it to ya! You can have it for the whole week as compensation.

*grin*

Archived comment by Joe Napalm:
Speaking of bizarre.

-Jn-
Efreeti Sophist

Archived comment by Inuki:
Several people I've talked to believe that anime is a medium, not a genre. I'm tempted to agree - you'll certainly find preachy plots in live-action (look at the Matrix), and some series or movies are bloody depressing and realistic (Grave of the Fireflies; Now & Then, Here & There).

The argument can go on forever, but I still recommend Cowboy Bebop. Support mainstream anime, go see the movie! It's a lot like a long episode. Goooooood stuff.

Archived comment by Denise:
Peeg... I'm so desperately sad for you.
Never.
Had.
Peanut butter?

That's like saying... you've never seen sunlight!

DBZ - yeah, I have an 11 yr old son. He's moved on almost completly to YuGiOh! now and doesn't pay a whole lot of attention to DBZ..but he was Goku for Halloween 2 years ago, and I called him "Go Poo" all night long just to upset him.

hehehe

Glad you're back, Apple..
next time you are going to keep the brain that long, please send a memo.

*grin*

Archived comment by Jon:
[Self-deleted post about DBZ]

Actually, there are several scenes of Akira that just freak me out.
Also, part of the reason that I like Vampire Hunter D is its "cheese" factor.

Archived comment by TheEileen:
"Trust me, once you've had sourdough bread, everything else is tasteless."

Sorry - gotta disagree. Everything else doesn't taste... SOUR. Why someone would take a perfect food, slightly sweet and then MAKE it sour, I have never understood.

French bread - yum
Italian bread - yum
Ekmek - yum
Sourdough - UGH
Egg bread - yum

And I miss wheat and rye and all those other grain breads. I'm can't eat 'em anymore and my only choices are types of white. And nearly every stinking restaurant in this town, including the French and Italian ones, gives me sourdough.

Hey! I moved AWAY from San Francisco, people!

giggle

Archived comment by Obsidiana:
I can't stand the majority of the anime that gets lots of attention in the US. Didn't like Akira or Ghost in the Shell...can't stand the style of the "art" in Dragon Ball Z. I like Vampire Hunter D...sort of. I really like it, but at the same time, the art is a bit on the cheesy side. I've been dying to get my mits on the sequal but have not yet managed to.

What I really, really like is girly-type anime. The ladies of CLAMP are my goddesses. They pack a ridiculous amount of detail into every picture, and the results are always beautiful.

Archived comment by hypoxic:
yes but most of them aren't quite so over the top and in your face as princess mono. And DBZ isn't that bad I like the storyline in it. The artwork is only ok but it at least has a decent plot.

And I like NinjaScroll.

Archived comment by Jon:
If you can find an anime that's not preachy about something, I'd be surprised.
(some) common themes being:
dangers of technology
corruption in gov't
risks of playing with natural forces
giant megacorporations taking over the world

I think anime that gets a lot of notice in the US (Akira, Ghost in the Shell, the examples cited before) can be a mixed blessing, in that people think that's all the genre can be.
It can be so much more, or so much less. For example, if you are squeamish about adult content, Ninja Scrolls is not for you. I've seen that a few times, and it takes certain scenes a bit far for my tastes.
On the other hand, Vampire Hunter D is one of my favorites. It combines horror, comedy (some of it unintentional, like the talking hand), magic, and some other genres, and the art is fantastic.

Don't even get me started on DBZ. I know some people idolize it, but I've tried to watch it several times, and have never "got it".

Archived comment by peegee:
Hmm, Denise, I think I've never tasted peanut butter, but I'm guilty as charged wrt. honey. I've tried it with various kinds of Marmelade and with Nutella too. And to avoid misunderstandings, sourdough bread in Denmark means dark rhye bread based on sourdough. Don't know if that makes it even more gross to you. If so, I'm glad to have been of service.
*grin*

Archived comment by hypoxic:
Miyazaki is way to preachy. But then again I guess most animes really are. I couldn't stand princess mono. It seriously bugged me.

Archived comment by Denise:
Yes, please, daen.

That would be lovely.


peeg - no! no!
tell me you have never put peanut butter on sourdough! tell me you have never put honey on sourdough! tell me you have never put cinnimon and sugar on sourdough!

please!

*gak*

Archived comment by Inuki:
Along with the "here's the good stuff, wake up and smell the coffee" kind of sentiment, I wish people would stop thinking that Sailor Moon and Pokemon are all that anime is. Seriously, people. Those are the Saturday morning type of anime - if you miss an episode, no big deal.

The good stuff is anything by Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, etc. (all movies)), and shows like Cowboy Bebop (movie is here in a limited release! Go see it!), Trigun, and Escaflowne. Beautiful animation quality, thoughtful scripts (funny sometimes, but with some kind of thought in it), memorable characters, and plots that go somewhere.

Sorry for the rant. I'm doing a documentary project on the college anime club, and all the people I interviewed said Cowboy Bebop was one of their favorite shows. With that kind of recommendation, it can't be bad.

Archived comment by Shade:
*winces*

ParU's Coors drinking ended the year I was born? Way to make a guy feel seventeen again.

(Not that I've had Coors at all...I like wine with dinner, and an occasional Sam, maybe a Killians Red once every two or three months )

Archived comment by Kris the Girl:
"I just ordered a BEER." (deep voice)
"You're straight, I get it."

*grin*

Archived comment by ParU:
You could be right Paul. My memory of Coors drinking ended about 1979 or so. I've no doubt that they've changed it since then. And more power to you and Matt.

Care to discuss wine??

Archived comment by Paul:
Duvel isn't bad. It's better than most beers, but I know of better ones- Orval is around the top of the list. And La Fin Du Monde is up there too, for that style of beer.

Coors... well, it's a step above Natural Lite, but past that I won't say. Except that it's below Michelob on the cheap beer scale.

Apparently it used to be pretty good. But what I've had of it has made me feel vaguely ill immediately, the way Miller Lite does.

Archived comment by Matt:
Speaking of beer (yay! Matt gets to divert to beer again!), the other night I tried Duvel and Maredsous for the first time. The former was saddeningly mediocre, but the latter was excellent. Two big thumbs up. I guess I'm just one of those gentlement who doesn't prefer blondes. And if you can find it, Gulden Draak is tres bon.

I've railed for years against the mediocre crap shoved into American faces and minds every minute, but oh well. My argument is, okay, if you like it, fine. But here's the good stuff. If you still like that crap you're consuming now, cool. But if you're hanging with it because it's the only thing you know, wake the hell up.

Archived comment by ParU:
Like a processed cheese product, Joe?

Clever analogy to tie it back in to the original thread - cool pt to Joe!

Archived comment by Joe Napalm:
*blinks blankly at slug*

Oh.

"I know that...now."

*Grin*

And ParU, you're right, too. Coors is not bad beer...because it's not beer. It's beer product. Heh.

-Jn-
Efreeti Sophist

Archived comment by ParU:
Coors, you put Coors in with the rest of your list Joe??? I distinctly remember smuggling Coors beer to Iowa to give to a friend of mine at a seminary (they all drank like fishes, but it was illegal to have Coors outside of certain states. They even made a movie about it Smokey and the Bandit).

Coors is not bad beer. And yes I know I'm gonna have to duck from Matt and Paul.

runs and hides behind Denise

Archived comment by slugbuggy:
There are also people out there who like McDonald's food...Same thing with the fans of N'Sync and the Back Street Boys. They have to be to someone's liking, or they wouldn't be there, right?

and then...
There's a name for people who like McDonald's and N'Sync and all that stuff....children.

I was agreeing with Paul.

My point was that kids like all sorts of stuff that many adults would find distasteful or ridiculous, like McDonalds and N'Sych (and booger and fart jokes and cans of slime as toys), so more than likely they're the target market for that sort of thing anyway. If a kid likes something he or she's not going to question its aesthetic value. You could conceivably expose them to like things that require a bit more sophistication to appreciate, but good luck with that.

Archived comment by Joe Napalm:
Maybe you should stop lurking under bridges, Cebu? *Grin* (I'm kidding!)

Anyway - I'm not quite sure what your point is, slugbuggy? People shouldn't have opinions? Just because there's a market for it doesn't mean it's deserving of one. Reality TV, megacorp media, unregulated instant-weight-loss dietary supplements, cancer sticks, ambulance chasing lawyers, buggy software, Coors...people make this stuff because there's folks who'll buy it.

That doesn't make it GOOD stuff.

If people wanna like it, so be it...I'm merely a bit incredulous, on occassion.

Caveat Emptor.

-Jn-
Efreeti Sophist

Archived comment by Cebu:
I can't believe I've been mistaken for a troll again! It's amusing. But like I said, Satchel-cat on my chest/shoulder made my typing different. Also because it takes me so much longer to type with one hand I didn't explain the Satan/flower comment.

Off to watch me some PBS now.

CEBU

Archived comment by Elmin (m):
I'm going to delurk momentarily to share some information regarding infocom games. The namelink has a wealth of information related to the original infocom games (very probably more than you ever wanted to know), and it also has a healthy collection of links to places where you can find new and different games based on the same style of play. Apparently there's a yearly competition involving the creation of these sorts of games, and included in the entries are some real gems (and at this point I'd like to make the statement that I'm not affiliated with any one of them).

Archived comment by peegee:
Hmm, ParU, another reason for you to love Denmark, because over here sourdough is pretty much the bread of choice, with white bread being the fringe product.

And to Denise : there isn't the thing I haven't put on sourdough and enjoyed. Honestly.
*grin*

Archived comment by slugbuggy:
There's a name for people who like McDonald's and N'Sync and all that stuff....children.

It's a pretty big market, too. I'd rather be on the cashing-in-on-it side than on the turning-my-nose-up-at-it side.

Like Chris Rock says, if you can't stand that type of thing more than likely it wasn't made for you anyway.

Archived comment by ParU:
daen - not sure about Canadian history, but sourdough in the SF Bay Area has a long and storied history (in fact, many minors were called 'sourdoughs'). I'd bet that there were similiar stories in the Canadian Westward Expansion.

Trust me, once you've had sourdough bread, everything else is tasteless.

Archived comment by daen:
Denise-- if you want sourdough starter, I can send you directions for starter-in-a-week, with no feeding required afterward. The pancake recipe is thrown in for good measure.

Archived comment by Denise:
Oddly.. or perhaps I should say "par for the course"...

The Twinkie defense came up at lunch today...and my b/f sent me this whole article via email just a few hours ago about how to make homemade sourdough bread...it's a very complicated process that involves about a month of caring for and feeding a "starter"...

I love sourdough with soup... but it distresses me terribly when people order sourdough with their breakfast and then put jelly on it.

Come ON. That's just nast.

Archived comment by Joe Napalm:

Ah. Well.

There it is.

-Jn-