TLDR;
The Dub Talk podcast discusses the English dub of the first season of the anime "Psycho-Pass" (2012). The hosts share their personal histories with the show, analyze the dub's direction, script, and voice acting, and discuss the characters and themes. They praise the dub's consistency, the actors' performances, and the script's balance between faithfulness and creative liberties. They also touch on the show's themes, such as the dangers of technology, the nature of justice, and the importance of individuality.
- The podcast explores the dub direction and script, highlighting the balance between faithfulness and creative liberties.
- The hosts discuss the main characters, their voice actors, and their roles in the anime.
- The podcast touches on the anime's themes, such as the dangers of technology and the nature of justice.
Intro [0:03]
The Dub Talk podcast introduces a special episode focusing on the anime "Psycho-Pass" from 2012. The hosts, Jet, Andrew, and Patrick, are reuniting as "Team Grimgar" to discuss the show's dub. Jet sets the tone by humorously declaring himself the "officer" and the others as his "hunting dogs," establishing a playful dynamic for the discussion.
Personal History with Psycho-Pass [5:24]
The hosts share their initial experiences with "Psycho-Pass." Jet watched it around the time the simuldub initiative started, while Andrew is most familiar with the character designer, Akira Amano. Patrick watched the series in Japanese with subtitles and owns a limited edition set, though he only watched a few episodes of the dub. Megan agreed to watch the show due to friends wanting to know which character she would find most attractive.
Dub Direction and Script [13:38]
The podcast discusses the dub's director, Zach Bolton, and the scriptwriters: Jared Hedges, Alex Mz, BL Rowan, and Joel Bergen. Bolton's previous work includes "Darker Than Black." The hosts praise the script for its solid balance between faithfulness to the original and well-placed creative additions. They note the script is dense with lore, world-building, character development, and political commentary. The hosts also appreciate the actors, some of whom were relatively new at the time, for finding their footing and delivering strong performances.
The State of Modern Dubs [18:30]
The hosts reflect on how dubbing has changed since the original "Psycho-Pass" dub. They note a decline in Dallas dubs and express a longing for the consistency and quality of older dubs. They attribute this change to factors such as the rise of "neck beard" humor and the shift towards simuldubs, which limit the ability to foreshadow or allude to future events. The hosts advocate for the return of writers' rooms to improve dub quality.
Villains of the Week [30:24]
The hosts discuss the "villains of the week" from the first half of "Psycho-Pass," including Meo, Riko, and Todo, as well as Joji Saiga, Makishima's right-hand man. Meo is a "VTuber killer" who steals people's online avatars, Riko is a high school artist who makes sculptures of her classmates, and Todo is a hunter. The voice actors for these characters are Eric Vale (Meo), Brina Palencia (Riko), Charlie Campbell (Todo), and David Wald (Saiga).
Eric Vale and Brina Palencia [35:17]
The hosts discuss Eric Vale's performance as Meo, highlighting the character's psychotic nature and the relevance of his actions in the context of modern VTuber culture. They also praise Brina Palencia's portrayal of Riko, noting her creepy and intimidating presence. They analyze Riko's motivations as a copycat artist who doesn't understand the meaning behind her father's work.
Charlie Campbell and David Wald [48:32]
The hosts discuss Charlie Campbell's performance as Todo, noting the character's uncanny valley appearance and detached demeanor. They also highlight David Wald's portrayal of Saiga, praising his intimidating presence and the respect he commands from Makishima. They analyze Saiga's character as a foreigner who feels ostracized by society and seeks to disrupt it.
The Enforcers and Inspectors [1:04:13]
The hosts discuss the members of the MWPSB (the police force in Psycho-Pass), including inspectors Shinya Kogami and Akane Tsunemori, and enforcers Nobuchika Ginoza, Tomomi Masaoka, Shusei Kagari, Yayoi Kunizuka and Shion Karanomori. They also discuss Chief Kasei and the Dominator.
Ginoza and Masaoka [1:13:20]
The hosts discuss Ginoza and Masaoka, highlighting their complex relationship as father and son. They praise Jason Douglas's performance as Masaoka, noting his grizzled tone and his ability to convey the character's warmth and mentorship. They also commend Jesse James Grelle's portrayal of Ginoza, capturing his internal struggles and his fear of falling down a dark path.
Kagari, Kunizuka and Karanomori [1:25:39]
The hosts discuss Kagari, Kunizuka, and Karanomori. They note Kagari's casual demeanor and his bitterness about his circumstances, and praise Scott Freeman's performance. They discuss Kunizuka's lesbian identity and her survival in the series, and commend Lindsay Seidel's performance. They also highlight Karanomori's chaotic bisexual energy and Lydia Mackay's portrayal of her.
Chief Kasei and the Dominator [1:35:59]
The hosts discuss Chief Kasei and the Dominator. They praise Linda Leonard's performance as Kasei, noting her authoritative tone and her conniving nature. They also commend Stephanie Young's portrayal of the Dominator, highlighting her robotic voice and her chilling delivery of the Sibyl System's pronouncements.
Akane, Kogami and Makishima [1:56:37]
The hosts discuss the main characters: Akane Tsunemori, Shinya Kogami, and Shogo Makishima. They praise Kate Oxley's performance as Akane, noting her growth from a naive rookie to a strong and determined inspector. They commend Robert McCollum's portrayal of Kogami, capturing his grizzled tone and his intense dedication to his job. They also highlight Alex Organ's performance as Makishima, praising his charisma and his ability to make the character's twisted ideology seem compelling.
Alex Organ as Makishima [2:02:30]
The hosts analyze Alex Organ's portrayal of Makishima, comparing him to Moriarty and highlighting his charismatic nature. They discuss Makishima's motivations and his desire to challenge the Sibyl System, while acknowledging the problematic nature of his methods. They also touch on the character's literary references and his ultimate fate.
Kate Oxley as Akane [2:18:35]
The hosts discuss Kate Oxley's performance as Akane, noting her growth throughout the series and her ability to convey the character's warmth and determination. They highlight Akane's strength as a female lead in a genre often dominated by male characters. They also commend her ability to challenge the Sibyl System while maintaining her own moral compass.
Final Thoughts [2:31:59]
The hosts share their final thoughts on "Psycho-Pass" and its dub. They express their appreciation for the show's themes, its performances, and its overall quality. They also acknowledge the show's flaws and its problematic elements. They recommend the dub to fans of the series and encourage viewers to revisit older anime and dubs.