TLDR;
The Dub Talk podcast reviews the English dub of "Shadows House," praising its direction, writing, casting, and performances. The hosts discuss the characters, voice actors, and the overall quality of the dub, highlighting its ability to capture the gothic horror and fairy tale aspects of the series. They also touch on the relationships between the shadow masters and their living dolls, as well as the themes of identity, loyalty, and rebellion.
- The direction and scriptwriting are strong, with careful attention to differentiating characters voiced by the same actor.
- The voice acting is excellent, with standout performances from Danny Chambers, Emmi Lo, Christopher Smith, and Jordan Cruz.
- The dub captures the gothic horror and fairy tale elements of the series, creating an unsettling and immersive experience.
Intro [0:00]
The podcast episode begins with a comedic skit featuring Mr. Roots, a substitute teacher, who lays down three absurd rules for the class. The skit transitions into the introduction of the podcast, "Dub Talk House," where the hosts, Stephanie, Megan, and Patrick, introduce the topic of the day: a review of the English dub of the anime series "Shadows House." Stephanie humorously explains how YouTubers are made, setting a lighthearted tone for the discussion.
Shadow's House Summary [1:07]
The hosts provide a brief summary of "Shadows House," describing its setting in a grandiose mansion inhabited by the Shadows family and their living doll attendants. The story follows Emilico, a cheerful living doll, as she serves her mistress, Kate, and uncovers dark secrets within the house. The series blends gothic horror with elements of fairy tales, creating an unsettling atmosphere. The hosts express their intention to discuss the series from top to bottom, including casting, performances, and overall thoughts on the English dub.
ADR Staff [4:11]
The podcast introduces the ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) staff for "Shadows House," including ADR director Caitlin Glass, assistant directors Sean Gann and Emmi Lo, scriptwriters Jessica Cavanaugh and Emily Neves, and ADR song director and lyric adapter Don M. Bennett. The hosts note that this is a Funimation dub, despite the show being produced by Aniplex. They express their excitement about the directing and writing, particularly how the team handled the challenge of actors playing both a Shadow and their Doll.
Directing and Writing [6:58]
The hosts discuss the directing and writing of the dub, praising the team's ability to differentiate the voices of the Shadows and their living dolls, even when played by the same actor. They appreciate the care taken to ensure each character has their own distinct personality, which is crucial to the plot. The hosts also commend Don Bennett's adaptation of the cleaning song and the writing's ability to create a timeless, old-world feel without being tied to a specific country.
Nobles on the Third Floor [15:00]
The podcast shifts its focus to the nobles on the third floor of Shadows House, including Lord Grandfather, Dorothy, Ryan, Joseph, and Sophie. The hosts describe each noble's personality and discuss the voice actors behind them: Bruce Elliott as Lord Grandfather, Vanessa De Silvio as Dorothy, Jason Liebrecht as Ryan, Brent Mukai as Joseph, and Alex Moore as Sophie. They analyze the performances, highlighting the creepiness of Lord Grandfather and the hammy, villainous portrayals of the nobles.
Mia, Rosemary and Barbie [30:09]
The hosts discuss the characters of Mia, Rosemary, and Barbie, along with their shadow masters Sarah, Mary Rose, and Barbara, respectively. These characters are voiced by Emily Fajardo (Mia and Sarah), Michelle Lee (Rosemary and Mary Rose), and Elizabeth Maxwell (Barbie and Barbara). The hosts analyze the stark contrasts in personality between the shadows and their living dolls, and the performances of the voice actors in portraying these differences.
Edward and his Henchmen [52:39]
The podcast discusses the characters of Edward, Eileen, and Gerald, the antagonists of the season. Edward is voiced by Christopher Smith, Eileen by Anastasia Munoz, and Gerald by Corey Phillips. The hosts praise Christopher Smith's performance as Edward, describing him as diabolical and over-the-top, while also fitting into the show's world. They also commend Anastasia Munoz for channeling Edward's voice through her character.
Lou and Rum [1:06:13]
The hosts discuss the characters of Lou and Rum, along with their shadow masters Louise and Shirley, respectively. Lou and Louise are voiced by Marissa Duran, while Rum and Shirley are voiced by Risa Mei. The hosts analyze the contrasting personalities of Lou and Louise, with Louise being energetic and self-absorbed, and Lou being quiet and indecisive. They also discuss the tragic fate of Rum and Shirley, who fail the debut.
Ricky and Sean [1:24:05]
The podcast discusses the characters of Ricky and Sean, along with their shadow masters Patrick and John, respectively. Ricky and Patrick are voiced by Adam McArthur, while Sean and John are voiced by Jordan Cruz. The hosts analyze the performances, highlighting the initial insufferableness of Ricky and Patrick, and the contrasting personalities of Sean and John, with John being a himbo and Sean being more reserved.
Emilico and Kate [1:50:51]
The hosts discuss the main characters, Emilico and Kate, voiced by Dani Chambers and Emmi Lo, respectively. Emilico is described as a ball of sunshine, while Kate is more reserved and curious. The hosts praise the performances of both actresses, highlighting the genuine earnestness of Dani Chambers as Emilico and the calm, methodical nature of Emmi Lo as Kate. They also discuss the strong bond between the two characters.
Final Thoughts [2:01:57]
In their final thoughts, the hosts express their overall positive opinions of the "Shadows House" dub. They praise the strong cast, direction, and writing, and recommend the show to viewers. They also discuss the upcoming second season and the manga adaptation. The hosts then promote their social media channels and Patreon, and conclude the episode with personal recommendations and farewells.