TLDR;
In this episode of Dub Talk, the hosts Stephanie, Jet, Gigi, and Andrew investigate the English dub of "Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited." They discuss the ADR direction, scriptwriting, and voice acting performances, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the dub. The hosts praise the performances of Linda Leonard, Kent Williams, and Rico Fajardo, while also noting some inconsistencies in Adam Rowe's portrayal of Daisuke Kambe. They also touch on the show's production, its episodic nature versus overarching plot, and its overall enjoyment factor.
- The ADR direction by Clifford Chapin is generally solid, with consistent performances across the board.
- The scriptwriting is well-done, with good banter between characters, but the accents are questionable.
- The voice acting performances are mostly strong, with Linda Leonard, Kent Williams, and Rico Fajardo receiving high praise.
- The show itself is more enjoyable when it focuses on episodic capers rather than the overarching plot.
Intro [0:00]
The podcast episode begins with a disclaimer about potentially unsuitable language and content, as well as spoilers for the entirety of "Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited." The hosts introduce themselves and briefly joke about canceling each other before diving into the topic of the day: the English dub of the anime series. A quick summary of the show is provided: Daisuke Kambe, a wealthy detective, is assigned to the Modern Crimes Unit and partnered with Haru Kato, who disapproves of Daisuke's methods. They must work together to solve mysteries, including a cold case involving Daisuke's family.
ADR Staff and General Thoughts [6:17]
The hosts introduce the ADR staff, including ADR director Clifford Chapin and scriptwriters Jeremy Kratz and Madeleine Morris. They discuss their previous works and the challenges of confirming staff information. Jet shares his thoughts on the directing and writing, praising the banter between characters but noting the inconsistent accents. Gigi expresses her initial expectations for a more juvenile anime and comments on the show's outrageous plot. Stephanie appreciates the attention to detail in the dub, particularly the use of Arabic in the first episode.
Show Production and Overall Impression [18:39]
The hosts discuss the show's production, noting its delayed release due to the pandemic. They agree that the show is more enjoyable when it focuses on episodic capers rather than the overarching plot. Stephanie praises Clifford Chapin's directing and the writing by Jeremy Kratz and Madeleine Morris. She also appreciates the attention to detail in the dub, particularly the use of Arabic in the first episode.
Kambe Family Performances [30:52]
The hosts discuss the performances of the actors voicing the Kambe family members: Jeremy Inman as Shigemaru Kambe, Brian Mathis as Jiro Hattari, and Linda Leonard as Kikuko Kambe. Andrew notes Linda Leonard's ability to portray both a sweet grandmother and an evil mastermind. Jet praises Linda Leonard's performance as Granny Kambe, noting her ability to sound like a kind old lady and a ruthless mastermind. Stephanie appreciates Jeremy Inman's portrayal of Shigemaru Kambe, noting the subtle hints of Hatori's mannerisms in his performance.
First Division Performances [56:04]
The hosts discuss the performances of Christopher Sabat as Katsuhiro Takei and Jordan Dash Cruz as Rio Hoshino. Stephanie praises Christopher Sabat's ability to portray both the leadership and authority of Takei, as well as his mental breakdown in the second half of the series. She also appreciates Jordan Dash Cruz's portrayal of Hoshino, noting his youthful energy and character progression. Jet notes that Jordan's dynamic with Kato was pretty interesting.
Modern Crimes Unit Performances [1:15:55]
The hosts discuss the performances of the actors voicing the members of the Modern Crimes Unit: David Matranga as Teppei Yumoto, Aaron Roberts as Shinnosuke Kamei, Lucy Christian as Mahoro Saeki, Ben Phillips as Yukihiro Kiyomizu, and Kent Williams as Chosuke Nakamoto. Jet praises Kent Williams' portrayal of Nakamoto, noting his exhausted old man tone and his willingness to do whatever it takes to get things done. Stephanie appreciates Ben Phillips' portrayal of Kiyomizu, noting the contrast between his current happy-go-lucky demeanor and his more serious demeanor in the flashbacks.
Daisuke Kambe and Haru Kato Performances [1:58:57]
The hosts discuss the performances of Adam Rowe as Daisuke Kambe and Rico Fajardo as Haru Kato. Gigi notes that Adam Rowe's dry delivery matched the tone of the character well, especially after realizing that Kambe is a total dumbass. Jet praises Rico Fajardo's portrayal of Kato, noting his ability to sound like he always wanted to do the right thing. Stephanie appreciates Rico Fajardo's portrayal of Kato, noting his strong sense of justice and his ability to encapsulate the character's multiple facets.
Final Thoughts [2:28:12]
The hosts share their final thoughts on the "Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited" dub. Jet concludes that the dub is solid and the show is a perfectly adequate buddy cop story. Gigi says that the dub was a breath of fresh air and that it made her want to go watch Case Closed. Andrew says that the show is good but not great and that the dub is definitely worth a watch. Stephanie concludes that the dub is very solid and that the dynamic banter between Daisuke and Kato is the highlight of the show.