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March 24, 2005A little something-something about "Koi Kaze"...
With school, work, and last week's birthday, I haven't had a chance to say anything about "Koi Kaze" yet, the first volume of which has been out for a few weeks now. I'll keep this brief, as it's too damn hard to wax eloquent about much of anything at 6:30 in the morning that doesn't have to do directly with one's bed, the crisp, cool sheets therein, or sweet unconsciousness in general.
It's been heartening to track the positive feedback (i.e. here, here and here) that the "Koi Kaze" has garnered thus far--especially since some of the online buzz indicated that people were girding their loins to pass judgment on it, sight unseen. Granted, an anime series about a brother who falls in love with his significantly younger blood-sister veers into decidedly taboo waters, but what irked me was folks' willingness to write it off based solely on that aspect.
Does "Oedipus Rex" condone or celebrate patricide, regicide or incest? Of course not, but it's still damn fine theater. To write it off solely because it includes mention of verboten acts would be to throw out the dramatic baby with the bathwater. What does one do with Shakespeare, then, in such a toothless, knee-jerk world? What about "Chinatown," or "The Arabian Nights"? "The Decameron"? "Lolita"? "Maus"?
The list, as they say, goes on and on.
It all comes down to how a topic is handled, not what topic is handled.
"Koi Kaze" is some of the most challenging VO work I've had the pleasure of doing, and when I compare it thematically to the other work I've done, it occupies a category unto itself. I finished recording the last of Koshiro's lines recently, and although I'm glad that the second and third volumes are headed towards general release, I'm a little sad to have ended my journey with him.
If you're looking for an anime title in which character grapple with real-life problems in a very real-life way, I highly recommend it.
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You know, now that it's been announced that I'm directing the English dub of "Girls Bravo," I don't have to be so evasive in my blog as to why I haven't updated in weeks and weeks. Instead of saying, "Yeah, I've been busy these days," I can come right out and say, "Yeah, I've been busy these days...and it's all thanks to working on 'Girls Bravo'!"
That said, "Yeah, I've been busy these days...and it's actually had nothing to do with 'Girls Bravo'."
But give it a few weeks, man. I'll be singing a different tune then--the "Girls Bravo" intro song, specifically. It's catchy as all hell.
Posted by patrick at March 24, 2005 02:13 PM
CommentsWow...KoiKaze?? And you've got the leading part, no less. Kyoko and Jason and I were watching that for a while. It was pleaseant in a slow-paced unthreatening way. I think it's one we'll pick up again, especially since the new season (starting in April) looks rather weak.
In the vein of your post, I wonder how much of a kick Shakespeare would have gotten from the scene featuring Koushiro in the bathroom...you know the one, where he's sniffing the panties, and a bit later he's frantically enjoying rosy...
Posted by: Mad Monarch Voards at August 25, 2005 02:05 PM
I know the scene well. I seem to recall nailing that loop in a single take, thankfully enough. That one, and the infamous "Is it wrong to think about your little sister while you masturbate?" line. I recited it, held my tongue for a moment or two to make sure we got a clean take, and then cracked the hell up.
Posted by: Patrick at August 25, 2005 02:05 PM
The first time I saw Koi Kaze was with the original Japanese VAs, and English subtitles. XD I didn't think that it would ever be liscensed, considering the content, but the English dub was amazing. XD Good work, man. I had actually anticipated the dub to be a flop, as a lot of anime dubs these days are (One Piece, anyone..?), but it was perfectly done. It's nice to see that there are still good VAs around.. :P
Posted by: H. at May 19, 2006 04:35 PM
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