Brief Summary
This episode of Dub Talk discusses the English dub of Mamoru Hosoda's film "Wolf Children." The hosts share their personal histories with the film, discuss the director and scriptwriter, and analyze the voice acting performances of the main and supporting characters. They praise the naturalistic dialogue and the emotional depth of the dub, while also touching on themes of family, growing up, and societal expectations.
- The dub was directed by Mike McFarland and written by Patrick Seitz, who also worked on the English dub of "Summer Wars."
- The hosts analyze the voice acting performances, particularly praising Colleen Clinkenbeard's portrayal of Hana, the mother.
- The episode explores the film's themes of family, growing up, and societal expectations.
Intro
The podcast episode begins with a warning that the content may not be suitable for younger audiences due to mature themes. The hosts then introduce the episode as a discussion about wolves, transitioning into the main topic: the anime film "Wolf Children."
Introduction to Wolf Children
The hosts introduce themselves and the topic of the episode: Mamoru Hosoda's "Wolf Children." They provide a brief premise of the film, which centers on Hana, a college student who falls in love with a Wolfman and raises their two half-wolf children, Yuki and Ame, after his death. The hosts mention that the episode will focus on the English dub of the film.
Personal Backstories with the Film
The hosts share their personal experiences with "Wolf Children." One host saw it during its initial release with subtitles and later watched the dub at a convention. Another host had never seen a Hosoda film dubbed in English before this one, except for a heavily edited version of a Digimon movie. The third host received the film as a Valentine's Day gift and watched it with his family, finding parallels between raising children and raising wolf children. They discuss Hosoda's focus on family dynamics in his films, possibly influenced by his own life.
Director and Scriptwriter
The hosts discuss the director and scriptwriter of the English dub: Mike McFarland and Patrick Seitz, respectively. Both have worked on numerous anime dubs, including "Summer Wars" and "The Boy and the Beast," also directed by Mamoru Hosoda. The Japanese side specifically requested them for "Wolf Children" due to their excellent work on "Summer Wars."
Impressions of the Direction and Writing
The hosts share their opinions on the direction and writing of the dub. One host notes that "Wolf Children" is a different animal from "Summer Wars," being quieter and more contemplative. They praise the grounded dialogue and the ability to convey emotion even in surreal moments. The script captures both everyday chatter and heartfelt moments, while the direction allows the scenery and music to speak for themselves.
Side Characters: Shohei and Grandma Nira
The hosts discuss two supporting characters: Shohei Fujii, a classmate of Yuki, voiced by Jason La Brecht, and Grandma Nira, an elderly woman who helps Hana on the farm, voiced by Jerry Russell. They praise both actors' performances, with La Brecht capturing Shohei's friendly and energetic nature, and Russell embodying the quintessential grumpy old man with a soft spot. Jerry Russell passed away a couple of years before, and the dub is dedicated to his memory.
Wolf Daddy
The hosts discuss the Wolfman, Hana's partner, who is never named in the movie but is voiced by David Matranga. They joke about his attractiveness and discuss Matranga's performance, noting that he doesn't use a stereotypical werewolf voice. They appreciate that he sounds like a normal guy who turns into a wolf.
The Wolf Children: Yuki and Ame
The hosts discuss the voice actors for Yuki and Ame at different ages. Laura Woodhull and Jade Saxton voiced young and teen Yuki, respectively, while Alison Viktorin and Micah Solusod voiced young and teen Ame. They praise Woodhull's energetic performance as young Yuki and Saxton's ability to portray Yuki's transformation and emotional depth as she grows older. They also discuss Viktorin's portrayal of young Ame's timidity and Solusod's performance as teen Ame, though one host finds his voice less believable.
Hana: The Mother
The hosts discuss Hana, the mother, and her voice actress, Colleen Clinkenbeard. They praise Clinkenbeard's performance, calling it flawless and essential to the dub's success. They note that Hana goes through the most character development in the film and that Clinkenbeard captures her dedication, sweetness, and loyalty. They also discuss Hana's coping mechanisms, such as smiling to mask her troubles, and how Clinkenbeard conveys the sense of respect the writers have for mothers through this character.
Mother Appreciation and Outro
The hosts share words of appreciation for their own mothers. They then provide information on where to watch "Wolf Children," noting that it is streaming on Funimation. They also share their social media handles and recommend a song about werewolves. Finally, one of the hosts shares a story about seeing Mamoru Hosoda at a screening of "Wolf Children" and witnessing someone ask him if he was a furry. The episode ends with a clue about the next summer movie they will be discussing.
