Yeah, I need to vent some anger (Had a huge argument with some dumb*ss on Youtube complaining that this dub will be following the Japanese version and not the other dub, him complaining they should have everything Americanized just because of this being release in America. Sadly it wasn't Bandit Keith. I mean it that was LITTERALY his only thing against new Viz dub in his argument. Not Americanizing it. I will talk about my thoughts of Americanization in a minute.) and have some time so I want to talk about what it is about what makes me despise the DiC and CWi dub.
- The Voice Acting - Aside from Katie Griffin, and some additional voices by Tara Strong, these voices were all annoying. With either voices that just hurt my ears, or such fake accents, that don't even fit these JAPANESE characters. Plus everytime anyone aside from Katie spoke, it felt like just a VA reading their lines, and not the character saying it, the delivery of the lines were just so flat. The very worst example of the VAs in it had to be Linda. When CWi took over the dub around episode 85 or something, this had to be the absolute WORST VOICE I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE!
- Americanization - All right, as much as I complain about the voices.....this is actually one thing I hate more, and is the BIGGEST and also my most hated problem I have with the DiC and CWi dub. I can not stand Americanization, unless it is minimum such as what was done with DBZ. I may be an American, but I hate the whole "America is the only place that matters" mentality. That is EXACTLY as what Americanizing forign shows comes off as, nearly EVERY TIME. Removing references to their culture, changing their names, and all these unneccissary changes just to make them sound normal to Americans, always comes off as insulting to it's country of origin. If there is already an America referance in the show, good, just do your "America is amazing" stuff there. Other than that, just keep it in AMERICAN MADE SHOWS! In addition it is so racist! They try to make it look like it takes place in America, and there for changing the ethnicity of the characters. Also, before anyone says anything about 'it needs to be able to fit the standards of American brodcasting to air!'...here is the really funny thing.......DragonBall Z was around the same time! DBZ wasn't changed very much from it's source material. It had only a few changes here and there, and it was allowed to air. Why not do the same with Sailor Moon? DiC/CWi's dub of Sailor Moon does not even resemble the original in the slightest. DBZ was much more raungey and it was allowed to air in america. Plus I think it was even MORE raungie than the Japanese Sailor Moon. Plus one joke basicly proves they wanted to insult Japan. They called Japanese writing 'weird symbols'.....that is just wrong on so many levels. Even as a kid I knew what Japanes writing looked like! Why not say "There were a lot of spelling mistakes" or something. Instead of calling them "Weird symbols."
- The Characters - This another huge problem I had. The Japanese had such stong characters, and the DiC and CWi ones felt more like 1 dimensional characatures of themselves, and so freaking BLAND. Rei is a total irredeamable bitch, Usagi is a bigger idiot, etc. Everyone feels a EXTREAMLY flanderized. (Not as bad as what has happened to Spongebob in recent years, but it is pretty bad)
- However, what Toon Makers wanted to do with the characters was even worse. When you make an adaptation, you need to show respect for the original sorce material. I find what Toon Makers wanted to do (ESPECIALLY the changes for Sailor Mercury and Sailor Venus) to be insulting to the original. The original has such likable characters, who Toon Makers wanted to replace with some really annoying stereotypes, such as "The Party girl", the "Valley Girl", just to name a few. I HATE that. Plus they also wanted to redisign everyone. This is another thing I hate. ALL of the redisigns they wanted are serious downgrades.
- Other things that suffer from the problem of being insulting to it's source: Saban's Power Rangers (Then again even the original sucks), Disney's Chicken Little, Bay's Transformer films, Shamylan's Airbender film, and most modern Spongebob episodes, and of course Teen Titans Go!
- However, what Toon Makers wanted to do with the characters was even worse. When you make an adaptation, you need to show respect for the original sorce material. I find what Toon Makers wanted to do (ESPECIALLY the changes for Sailor Mercury and Sailor Venus) to be insulting to the original. The original has such likable characters, who Toon Makers wanted to replace with some really annoying stereotypes, such as "The Party girl", the "Valley Girl", just to name a few. I HATE that. Plus they also wanted to redisign everyone. This is another thing I hate. ALL of the redisigns they wanted are serious downgrades.
- Cousins - Yeah. I know it's a bit cliche to talk about this one, but this is another thing that REALLY p*sses me off about it. This is the absolute WORST CHANGE EVER MADE IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MAN KIND!!!!! I can not STAND this change. Changing Haruka and Michiru to cousins is the most retarded change EVER!!!!!!!!!!! Even if it was not intentional.....they are pretty much supporting INCEST by doing this. They should have had enough common sense to think through their implications.
- Plot Changes - This is another one talked about alot. Dumbing down alot of this stuff, but my most HATED of all of these has to be near the end of the first season. Rei stealing the Moon Stick in the DiC version instead of Usagi GIVING HER IT IN THE JAPANESE VERSION, SYMBOLIZING, THAT DISPITE HOW MUCH THEY ARGUE, THEY HAVE BECOME INCREADIBLY CLOSE FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, which one sounds like a likable character? Rei, who can be mean, but is still good friends with Usagi, or "Raye" who is someone who steals, and only pretends to be someone's friend.
- The Humor - I watched the entire dub, and it only got me to so much as even chuckle ONCE (Makoto's talent, only because I know what it was in the Japanese version). Every other time it's jokes just made me groan. The new dub in only the span of 23 episodes have gotten me to laugh like crazy!
- Sailor Says - Oh................this sh*t! I HATE that with a burning passion. Why did they have to dumb the series down to make it look like a kids show. THAT right their is the proof they wanted to turn such a wonderful show for all ages into a kids show. I am so glad Sailor Says is OBOLISHED in the 'better in every possible way' Viz dub. Some shows can appeal to kids while also having it be for all ages! MLP:FiM is a GREAT example of this! True it does teach lessons. Lessons about friendship! They are the plot of the episodes, and not just something tacked on! Plus, the ones in MLP:FiM are wonderfully told!
- Gender changes - .....WHY?!?!?! Fish Eye and Zoisite are males! Same with some monsters of the day.
- Visual Edits - These are TERRIBLE, and are very noticable
- The term Sailor Scouts - It sounds ret*rded. It sounds more like they are selling cookies instead of fighting evil. Why were they not called something that sounds less stupid?
- A Personal Reason - A while back, I lost a friend in an argument about the dubs. He refuses to ever even speak to me again until I admit, and I quote, "The old dub is better than the new one in every way, and that DiC improved it over the Japanese version".........F*CK NO! That is WRONG! Now, the old dub will always remind me of losing a friend, who I have known for 13 years, now.
- The Soundtrack - Cringeworthy.
- Skipped episodes - There were a lot of really good episodes that they skipped! Including one in my top 5, and one that gave ALOT more character to Minako/Venus
I even made this as well:
http://mercury-ami.deviantart.com/art/Anime-Atrocity-DiC-Sailor-Moon-485742005
I actually do have more problems, and will add them later. Man, it felt so good to type this up. It is something I just really needed to get off my chest.