I was browsing the Catherine message boards, and happened upon a topic all too familiar...
"The female voices are terrible."
This was in reference to the demo which showed off the English dub of the game. Featured in the game are Laura Bailey, Michelle Ruff, Troy Baker, Yuri Lowenthal, and countless other voice actors who lend their voices to countless anime and Japanese based videogames. There was an insinuation that without subbed audio, the game wouldn't sell enough to be profitable. This leads to the overall "dub/sub" argument that has hounded this industry (and ONLY this industry) for what seems forever. I say only because I've never heard people clamor for Seth McFarlane's head or claim that the old school Disney/Looney Toons actors sucked balls. Nor do I hear anyone ever say "so and so Japanese actor sucks." Only dub actors get said treatment, and I cannot gauge why. Part of it is due to being in (the apparent) minority of dub fans. The other is due to the bigger issue: zero accountability.
I called out the topic creator for justification as to why Bailey and Ruff are "terrible." As of yet, there's no response. I never do see answers. All I hear from others are phrases like "mediocre dub," or "SUBS ARE BETTER!" That would be fine if people actually stated what makes dubbing such a crime in their eyes (or ears). Here's a simple checklist to facilitate accountability.
1. The actors' voices are the problem.
I would have no problem if anyone stated "this person has a voice I can't stand." I myself can't stand Karen Strassman (with exception to some roles) or Aaron Dismuke, but at least I refrence them by name (or by role). However, the overarching sentiment is that "the dub as a whole" is the issue. If one person's voice is the issue, why should that ruin what could be a stellar performance by someone else? Otherwise, could it be a particular style that actor is fond of using? Laura Bailey for example has three voice tendencies, low and evil (Lust from FMA/CoD from Dissidia), timid or stoic (Henrietta from Gunslinger Girl), and hyper (Rise from P4, Catherine). Do you hate one style, but like another? As I stated before, no one takes those into account.
2. The director/casting was at fault
Actors are told exactly how to say lines and do them multiple takes. Perhaps the director was an idiot and didn't piece together the best takes to fit the subject matter. It could be they chose the wrong people for the wrong roles. One instance was Love Hina. Quality voice actors left and right, but so horribly miscast, I could only cringe.
3. Japanese actors did the voices first, so they did them right the first time
What percentage of fans actually know Japanese, much less know how they are acting? I don't know either. There seems to be this idolatry of the Japanese audio as if it can't be beat. I highly doubt the hundreds of posters in the corners of the internet causing this mess all know every nuance of acting and every cultural nook and cranny of Japan.
All I'm doing is opening people's eyes to the zero accountability shown by posters. Given the internet, it's nothing new. Why is there such fervor on one side (subbers), while dub fans rarely or never seem to go ape****? I'm certain there are instances, but the majority of topics are like what I described. I get the sense even if DA is implemented in everything, someone will still complain. After, if ther is one rule on the internet, it's this:
"You don't like what I like, so **** YOU!"
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"Should I slice off your tongue or break your countless bones? Either way, I get paid; you'll bleed to death and die alone." - Blood Money