Brief Summary
The video discusses the various English dubs of Sailor Moon, focusing on the voice acting choices for the main characters across the DiC/Cloverway dub and the Viz dub. The creator shares her opinions on the different voice actors, highlighting aspects she appreciates and those she finds less appealing. The video also touches on censorship issues in older dubs and the unique charm of certain character portrayals, like Molly's accent in the DiC dub.
- The creator prefers the DiC/Cloverway dub due to nostalgia and unique character portrayals.
- The Viz dub has accurate translations but the voice acting doesn't always feel natural.
- The video emphasizes the importance of personal preference and invites viewers to share their opinions.
Intro
The video creator introduces a discussion comparing the Viz dub and the DiC/Cloverway dub of Sailor Moon. She references a blog post from 2016 where she initially praised the original dub and Linda Valentine's performance. She clarifies that while she respects Linda Valentine, she no longer considers her the best Sailor Moon voice actress. The creator also acknowledges the serious censorship issues in the DiC/Cloverway dub, particularly regarding LGBT relationships, emphasizing that her preference for the dub is not an endorsement of the censorship.
Usagi/Serena Tsukino
The video begins with a discussion of Usagi's voice actresses, starting with Tracy Moore, who voiced Serena in the DiC dub. The creator felt Moore's voice was the closest to a realistic teenage voice for the character. Terry Hawks, the second voice of Usagi, is also discussed. While the creator wasn't initially fond of Hawks, she acknowledges that Hawks brought a lot of personality to the character, making her memorable for many original dub fans.
Stephanie Sheh
The video transitions to Stephanie Sheh, the voice of Usagi in the Viz dub, who was approved by Naoko Takeuchi. The creator's issue with Sheh's portrayal is that her voice sounds forced and unnatural, as if she's constantly using an affected high-pitched tone. This is a common issue in modern anime dubs, where voice actors often use exaggerated "kawaii girl" voices. The creator admits that watching Sailor Moon in Japanese is probably the best option, bypassing the dubbing issues altogether.
Linda Valentine
Linda Valentine took over the role when the show was brought back to Cartoon Network, dubbing the third and fourth seasons. The creator was shocked by Valentine's voice, feeling it didn't sound like a teenager or a human being. This led to the creator's strong reaction against the article praising Valentine as the best Usagi. The creator felt that the Cloverway cast was set up to fail due to rushed production schedules.
Amy/Sailor Mercury
The video shifts to Amy, also known as Sailor Mercury, and her voice actresses. The first actress used an affected, high-class accent, which the creator didn't prefer but at least found distinguishable. She was later replaced, and the creator recalls almost nothing about the second actress's portrayal in seasons three and four, finding it unremarkable.
Rei/Sailor Mars
The video then discusses Rei, or Sailor Mars, and her voice actresses. Christina V is mentioned, with the creator noting she often plays similar character types. In the DiC dub, Katie Griffin and Emily Barlow switched places, with Barlow completing the last half of season two. The creator expresses lingering frustration about the delayed completion of season two.
Makoto/Sailor Jupiter
The video moves on to Makoto, or Sailor Jupiter, highlighting the character songs that appeared in random episodes. The creator recalls an episode in season two where Makoto gives a blood transfusion, and a puddle of blood made it onto American TV, contrasting this with the censorship of LGBT themes. Susan Roman voiced Makoto in both the DiC and Cloverway dubs, but the creator feels something was off in the Cloverway dub, possibly due to directing or script issues.
Minako/Sailor Venus
The video discusses Minako, or Sailor Venus, and her voice actresses. Amanda Miller is doing her best, but the creator doesn't like Kate. The original Minako had a valley girl persona that worked well, especially with Artemis sounding like a "pothead." Emily Barlow, who was also Sailor Mars, voiced Minako in the Cloverway dub, which confuses the creator.
Artemis
The video then focuses on Artemis, noting that Ron Rubin's portrayal with a "surfer dude" accent was the best. The creator appreciates Johnny Yong Bosch in the Viz dub for making it feel closer to the Japanese version. She wishes the cats had more to do in Sailor Moon Crystal.
Chibiusa
The video shifts to Chibiusa, noting she is extremely annoying in the DiC dub, which the creator attributes to the actress's skill in portraying a spoiled brat. Stephanie Beard is praised for her natural-sounding voice in the Cloverway dub, though the dialogue was insane. The creator specifically mentions an episode where Chibiusa rides Pegasus, and the dubbed song sounds inappropriate. Sandy Fox in the Viz dub is also commended for her excellent job, even though the character is annoying.
Mamoru/Tuxedo Mask
The video discusses Mamoru, or Tuxedo Mask, and his voice actors. The first actor left after episode 11, and Toby Proctor, who voiced Mamoru in pivotal episodes, was considered goofy but did a good job. Vincent Corazza, who was Alan in Sailor Moon R, later took over. Robbie Diamond in the Viz dub is considered the best part of the Viz dub, perfectly encapsulating Mamoru's character.
Setsuna/Sailor Pluto
The video briefly mentions Setsuna, or Sailor Pluto, noting that the creator had an opinion in 2016 but doesn't have one now, considering all the voice actors fine. The creator expresses indifference to the dub debates, pointing out that other great shows like Fushigi Yugi only have one English dub.
Molly/Naru Osaka
The video addresses Molly, or Naru Osaka, and her unique portrayal in the DiC dub. The creator believes that Molly's Brooklyn/Jersey accent is what makes the DiC dub so charming. In the original Japanese, Naru has an Osaka accent, so the English dub gave her a regional accent as well. The creator loves Molly's accent and will watch the dub just for her.
Outro
In the outro, the creator mentions that the video took two months to edit and offers a part two if there's interest. She encourages viewers to watch more Sailor Moon and Fushigi Yugi, and to share their opinions in the comments. She expresses a desire to hear why she might be wrong about her opinions and invites viewers to convince her of the merits of the Viz dub and even Linda Valentine's portrayal.
