TLDR;
This Dub Talk podcast celebrates its 300th episode by revisiting and reviewing the English dub of the first season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012), covering both "Phantom Blood" and "Battle Tendency" arcs. The hosts discuss the ADR direction, script writing, voice acting performances, and their overall enjoyment of the dub, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.
- The podcast celebrates its 300th episode by reviewing JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Season 1 dub.
- They discuss ADR direction, script writing, and voice acting, praising Patrick Seitz as Dio and Ben Diskin as Joseph.
- The hosts analyze "Phantom Blood" and "Battle Tendency," noting the dub's unique qualities and cultural impact.
Intro [0:00]
The Dub Talk podcast starts with a content warning for language, spoilers, and opinions. The hosts express gratitude for reaching 300 episodes and thank listeners for their support over almost 10 years. They then transition into introducing the topic of today's show.
Introduction [1:13]
Stephanie introduces the hosts: Megan, Jet, and Lack the Watcher. They joke about typical JoJo's Bizarre Adventure tropes, including animal deaths, before announcing that they will be discussing the English dub of the first season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure in honor of their 300th episode. They mention previous milestone episodes covered Free Iwatobi Swim Club and Prison School.
ADR Staff and Narrator [8:58]
The hosts discuss the ADR staff, including directors Kevin McMullen and Patrick Seitz, and script writers Edward Murray, Michael McConnohie, Patrick Seitz, and Tony Oliver. They also discuss David Vincent, the narrator for the entire franchise, highlighting his other roles such as Gilgamesh in Fate Zero and Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen. The conversation shifts to Tony Oliver's role, starting as a writer and later becoming the director from Stardust Crusaders onward.
Directing and Writing Discussion [13:04]
The hosts discuss the directing and writing styles of the first season, noting the differences between "Phantom Blood" and "Battle Tendency." "Phantom Blood" has more proper, late 19th-century English dialogue, while "Battle Tendency" is more like an American comic book or an '80s movie. They also touch on the use of accents in the dub, which they find adds flavor but is inconsistent among actors.
David Vincent as Narrator [21:46]
The hosts discuss David Vincent's role as the narrator, praising his energy and iconic status within the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise. They compare his narration style to that of a baseball commentator and mention his other voice acting roles. They also note that the test dub originally had Dave Mallow as the narrator.
Phantom Blood Characters [29:09]
The hosts transition to discussing the characters of "Phantom Blood," providing a brief summary of the arc. The main characters discussed are Jonathan Joestar, Dio Brando, Robert E.O. Speedwagon, Will A. Zeppeli, and Erina Pendleton. They list the voice actors for each character and some of their notable roles.
Erina Pendleton and Speedwagon [36:33]
The hosts discuss Erina Pendleton and Speedwagon, noting their continued presence in "Battle Tendency" as older versions of themselves. They praise Michelle Ruff's portrayal of Erina and Keith Silverstein's performance as Speedwagon, highlighting his role as the exposition fairy.
Will A. Zeppeli [44:04]
The hosts discuss Will A. Zeppeli, Jonathan's mentor, describing him as a "roadside Dandy." They talk about Zeppeli's role in teaching Jonathan Hamon and Joe Akman's performance. They also mention the interesting fact that Araki wanted Zeppeli to feel like a younger mentor, contrasting with typical older mentor figures in manga.
Dio and Jonathan [53:27]
The hosts discuss Patrick Seitz as Dio Brando and Johnny Yong Bosch as Jonathan Joestar. They praise Seitz's performance as Dio, noting how he embodies the character's evil and charisma. They also discuss Bosch's portrayal of Jonathan, acknowledging the accent issues but praising his sincerity and commitment to the role.
Johnny Yong Bosch as Jonathan [1:01:30]
The hosts continue discussing Johnny Yong Bosch's performance as Jonathan, highlighting his sincerity and ability to portray Jonathan's gentlemanly nature. They mention a story about meeting Bosch at a convention and his interest in playing Johnny Joestar in a potential "Steel Ball Run" adaptation.
Phantom Blood Overall [1:10:46]
The hosts give their overall thoughts on "Phantom Blood," praising the effort put into the dub and the 19th-century England aesthetic. They discuss the contentious nature of "Phantom Blood" among fans and the influence of a video suggesting skipping the first two parts of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Battle Tendency Characters [1:17:05]
The hosts transition to discussing "Battle Tendency," providing a quick synopsis. They list the main characters: Cars, ACDC, Wamuu, Rudol von Stroheim, Lisa Lisa, Caesar Zeppeli, and Joseph Joestar. They then introduce the voice actors for each character.
Smokey Brown and Stroheim [1:24:07]
The hosts discuss Robbie Daymond's casting as Smokey Brown, acknowledging the problematic nature of the casting choice. They then move on to discuss Dave Mallow as Straizo and Dan Woren as Rudol von Stroheim, noting the Terminator-like aspects of Stroheim's character.
Pillar Men [1:26:54]
The hosts discuss the Pillar Men, starting with Wamuu, voiced by George C. Cole (Paul St. Peter), praising his noble warrior portrayal. They then discuss Chris J. Alex as ACDC, highlighting his over-the-top emotional outbursts.
Cars [1:34:24]
The hosts discuss Cars, voiced by Will Barrett (John Deita), noting his status as the biggest [ __ ] in the series. They discuss the convoluted final battle with Cars and Deita's performance.
Stroheim and Caesar [1:40:57]
The hosts discuss Stroheim's accent and Dan Warren's performance, with mixed opinions. They then move on to Caesar Zeppeli, voiced by Bryce Papenbrook, acknowledging the accent issues but praising his overall performance and chemistry with Ben Diskin as Joseph.
Lisa Lisa [1:54:17]
The hosts discuss Lisa Lisa, voiced by Wendy Lee, praising her portrayal as a mentor figure. They discuss her backstory and the controversial decision to have her lose the fight against Cars.
Joseph Joestar [2:01:22]
The hosts discuss Ben Diskin as Joseph Joestar, praising his chaotic energy and understanding of the character. They share stories about Diskin and his previous roles, including Number One from Codename: Kids Next Door.
Ben Diskin as Joseph [2:06:39]
The hosts continue praising Ben Diskin's performance as Joseph, highlighting his ability to balance comedy and drama. They discuss iconic Joseph moments and lines, and share personal anecdotes about Diskin's other roles.
Final Thoughts [2:16:07]
The hosts share their final thoughts on the first season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure dub. They praise the love and effort put into the dub, the actors' ability to embrace the campiness of the show, and the overall solid quality of the dub. They encourage viewers to watch the series and support the franchise.
Outro [2:25:35]
The hosts provide information on where to watch JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and promote their social media channels, Patreon, and Ko-fi. They thank their patrons and Gabrielle Pinelli for the theme song. They also promote the social media channels of the other hosts and thank listeners for their support.