Brief Summary
This podcast episode discusses the English dub of the anime series Fooly Cooly (FLCL). The hosts share their personal histories with the show, discuss the voice direction and scriptwriting by Mark Handler, and analyze the performances of the English voice actors. They touch on the unique and odd nature of the dub, its localization efforts, and the distinctiveness it holds compared to other anime dubs.
- The dub is considered odd but charming, with unique localization.
- The voice acting is generally praised, especially Kari Wahlgren as Haruko.
- The show itself is seen as a product of Gainax wanting to do something less stressful after "His and Her Circumstances".
Intro
The Dub Talk podcast episode begins with a warning about potential language and spoilers for Fooly Cooly. The hosts express their excitement to discuss the anime, posing the question, "What is Fooly Cooly?" and joking about its philosophical implications.
Show Introduction
The hosts introduce the topic of the episode: Fooly Cooly. They describe the show's elements, including rock music, guitars, violence, and general insanity. They mention that Fooly Cooly was a seminal dub for many English-speaking anime fans, particularly those who discovered it on Adult Swim. The hosts then share their initial experiences and evolving opinions of the show.
Personal History with FLCL
Andrew recounts first encountering Fooly Cooly late at night on Adult Swim and initially being horrified by the bizarre imagery. He grew to appreciate the show after repeated viewings, recognizing its deeper themes and symbolism. He acknowledges that Adult Swim frequently reran the show, which Jason DeMarco, head of Toonami, has stated is his favorite anime. Adult Swim even co-produced the sequels, FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative.
Jamal's History and Initial Thoughts
Jamal shares his on-and-off history with Fooly Cooly, admitting he didn't fully understand it initially. He made an effort to watch it again in 2013 but often fell asleep. He finally understood the show better after watching the sequels. He appreciates the show's gags and the music by The Pillows.
Bond's First Impression and the Dub
Bond recalls seeing the first episode of Fooly Cooly on Adult Swim, vividly remembering Haruko yelling about Rage Against the Machine. He was initially confused by the random South Park character appearance. He grew to like the show and recognizes it as his "brand of [Β __Β ]". The hosts then transition into discussing the English dub of the series.
The Dub's Director and Writer: Mark Handler
The hosts introduce Mark Handler, the ADR director and scriptwriter for the English dub of Fooly Cooly. They mention his extensive resume, including work on Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and the movie Metropolis. They also note his early work on Voltron. Handler's website includes a link to a Cartoon Cipher video about the Fooly Cooly dub, where he discusses the differences between working on Voltron and adapting anime.
General Thoughts on the Dub
Andrew describes Fooly Cooly as a very Japanese show with many cultural references, onomatopoeias, and honorifics. He notes that some of the performers in the dub were making their debuts and have since become industry legends. He finds the dub strange but pretty good, appreciating the performances of Kari Wahlgren and some background players. He acknowledges the difficulty of working on such a complex show and finds the dub charming despite its weirdness and roughness.
Localization and Fourth Wall Breaks
Jamal agrees that the dub is odd and notes the show's fourth-wall breaks and constant changes. He found it hard to understand some of the choices made in the dub, even for that era. He appreciates the localization efforts, which he considers necessary for a show like this. He mentions references to jog wheels and animators putting cats in their shows.
Gainax's Influence and Production Context
The hosts discuss Gainax's involvement in the production, noting it was a joint venture between Gainax and Production I.G. They clarify that this was early Gainax, before the studio became known for Neon Genesis Evangelion. Andrew explains that the changing animation is noticeable, but the dub is not bad, though not perfect. He notes that Doug Tyler directed episode 5.
References and Production Details
Andrew admits he finds new things each time he watches the show, citing references he now understands, such as Lupin the 3rd. He mentions that Hideaki Anno, co-founder of Gainax, voiced the cat in the Japanese version. The hosts explain that Fooly Cooly was partially a product of Gainax wanting to do something less stressful after the troubled production of "His and Her Circumstances".
Personal Connection and Distinctiveness
Bond says he can't look at the dub objectively because it's welded to the show in his mind. He had never heard Mayumi Shintani's voice as Haruko until the new anime came out. He enjoys how weird the dub sounds and appreciates that the English and Japanese performances sound similar in terms of energy.
Localization and Production Insights
Bond mentions that the director of the show was present for the first three days of recording, providing suggestions and input on casting. The goal was to recreate the feel of the show for an English audience, localizing references like discontinued soda brands. He notes the dub's distinct weirdness and the fact that Sync Point, the dubbing studio, was short-lived.
Transition to Character Discussion
The hosts transition to discussing specific characters and their voice actors in the English dub.
Naota's Dad and Granddad: Performances and Character Analysis
The hosts discuss Naota's dad, Kamon Nandaba, voiced by Joe Martin, and his granddad, Shigekuni Nandaba, voiced by Steve Kramer. They describe Kamon as a weirdo and loser, and Shigekuni as a grumpy old baseball coach. They note Joe Martin's limited resume and Steve Kramer's extensive voice acting work, including roles in Eureka Seven and Naruto.
Steve Kramer and Joe Martin's Performances
Andrew describes Steve Kramer's performance as a good grumpy old fart, highlighting a funny line where he comments on Mamimi's relationship with Naota's brother. He notes Joe Martin's quirky voice and his portrayal of Kamon as an adult manchild and pervert. He expresses surprise that Joe Martin only has two credits on IMDB and may have retired from acting shortly after this role.
Steve Kramer's Versatility and Joe Martin's Uniqueness
Jamal praises Steve Kramer's crotchety old man voice and mentions his role as Darkonda in Power Rangers in Space. He agrees that Joe Martin's performance is quirky and highlights a scene where he's rubbing against Haruko. Bond expresses his heartbreak that Joe Martin dropped out of acting, praising his weird and distinct performance.
Naota's Friends and Teacher: Gaku, Masashi, and Ms. Komiyaji
The hosts introduce Naota's friends, Gaku Manabe (Bob Marks) and Masashi Masamune (David Lucas), and their teacher, Ms. Komiyaji (Jessica Straus). They describe Gaku as horny, Masashi as calm, and Ms. Komiyaji as a teacher trying hard to be an adult. They note that Masashi drives a truck and may be delivering booze illegally.
Voice Actors and Character Impressions
Andrew finds Masashi the most relatable, while Gaku is overly horny. He appreciates Jessica Straus's portrayal of Ms. Komiyaji, particularly her overreaction to a gossip magazine. Jamal notes that he forgot about Gaku and finds Masashi's voice surprisingly deep for a young boy.
Bob Marks, David Lucas, and Jessica Straus
Bond finds Bob Marks's performance fitting for the hyperactive Gaku. He appreciates David Lucas's level-headed portrayal of Masashi and Jessica Straus's yelling as Ms. Komiyaji. He notes that the show is weirdly pre-internet in some ways, with a zine as a plot point.
Commander Amarao and Lieutenant Kitsurubami
The hosts discuss Commander Amarao (Dave Mallow) and Lieutenant Kitsurubami (Elle Villa). Andrew admits he didn't remember Amarao's name and jokes about his eyebrows. They explain that these characters are investigating Medical Mechanica and Haruko.
Dave Mallow and Elle Villa's Performances
Andrew thinks Elle Villa sounds cool and does a good job as the stern female soldier. He notes that episode 5 was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki. He also mentions that the female soldier is using a Yoko Littner sniper rifle. He wants to talk about Dave Mallow, who is stern, commanding, and funny.
Elle Villa's Mystery and Dave Mallow's Range
Jamal likes Elle Villa's natural voice and is surprised it was her only role. He finds the interactions between the two characters acceptable. He also likes Dave Mallow's performance, even though he can hear his South Park voice. Bond says Elle Villa is very nice in this role, and it's a shame she didn't do anything else. He also says Dave Mallow is so good at playing the cool authority figure.
Mamimi Samejima and Ninamori Eri
The hosts introduce Mamimi Samejima (Jennifer Sekiguchi) and Ninamori Eri (Heather Lee Jolson). They describe Mamimi as Naota's older brother's ex-girlfriend and a pyromaniac. Ninamori is a classmate of Naota and the daughter of the mayor.
Melissa Fahn and Stephanie Sheh
Andrew breaks the gimmick and reveals that Ninamori is voiced by Melissa Fahn and Mamimi is voiced by Stephanie Sheh. He says Melissa has a distinct tone of voice and does a great job as Ninamori. He also says this is one of Stephanie Sheh's earliest performances.
Stephanie Sheh's Performance as Mamimi
Jamal says he likes how Melissa managed to play off the deadpan aspect of Ninamori. He also says Stephanie Sheh is really good, but he doesn't know how to put it. Bond says he enjoys Melissa's a lot as Nina Morey. He also says Stephanie Sheh fits this character really well.
Naota Nandaba and Haruko Haruhara
The hosts introduce the main characters, Naota Nandaba (Barbara Goodson) and Haruko Haruhara (Kari Wahlgren). They describe Naota as a 12-year-old living in a boring town and Haruko as a pink-haired alien trying to find her boyfriend.
Guitar Talk and Character Dynamics
Bond talks about the guitars used in the show, noting that Adam uses a Gibson EB-0 bass guitar and Haruko uses a Rickenbacker 4001. He also says Naota uses a white Gibson Flying V. He says Haruko is not really good or evil, she is just selfish.
Barbara Goodson and Kari Wahlgren
The hosts introduce the voice actors for Naota and Haruko, Barbara Goodson and Kari Wahlgren, respectively. They note Barbara Goodson's long and illustrious career and Kari Wahlgren's debut role as Haruko.
Kari Wahlgren's Debut and Barbara Goodson's Performance
Andrew says Kari knows how to make a goddamn entrance and is great, fantastic, and wacky. He also says Barbara is fantastic too and sells it pretty well. Jamal says this was actually her first ad boy voice. He also says Kari is like the most interesting character ever.
Haruko's Character and the Dub's Impact
Bond says Barbara is just really good as Naoto. He also says Kari is a star and this could not have been an easier role to play. He says her performance is unquestionably integral to this dub.
Final Thoughts
Andrew says it's taken him a few years to really sort out what he thinks of it. He also says it is not a show that he personally adores. Jamal says he can see that while I was sometimes what people talk about. Bond says this dove is a personal favorite of mine.
Outro and Music Recommendations
The hosts provide their social media handles and thank their Patreon supporters. Bond recommends music by The Pillows and other bands. He also says you can watch it streaming on Funimation's website and on Adult Swim's website for free.
