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August 16, 2006"Tales of Phantasia" dub (and "Kamichu!" love)
So, I got the greenlight to talk about my latest directing project--the four-episode "Tales of Phantasia" OVA. It's based on the 1995 Super Famicom game of the same name (which has since been revamped for sundry consoles, including the March 2006 Game Boy Advance release), itself just one entry in the much larger "Tales" series of games.
The series assumes at least a passing familiarity with the characters and events of the game, and will be a richer viewing experience for those who are so versed, but it stands up as compelling fantasy fare for even the uninitiated. Also, at the risk of making it sound didactic, I think the show raises some thoughtful questions about the nature of man, and the nature of conflict.
This was my first time directing a fantasy piece, which was certainly a different experience than the fan-service-tastic "Girls Bravo" and the sweet slice-o'-lifer "Kamichu!". My cast was a nice mix of folks I've worked with before, folks whom I've never worked with but whose awesome reputations preceeded them, and folks who were just plain new to me.
In addition to adapting/directing the "Tales of Phantasia" dub, I was given the opportunity to voice Dhaos, the show's main antagonist (who's floating to the left). Interestingly enough, the seiyu for Dhaos was Toshiyuki Morikawa--the same man who is voicing Isshin Kurosaki in the original Japanese release of "Bleach". I know this phenomenon of landing multiple roles by the same Japanese VA has happened to some of my friends, but to my knowledge it's a first for me.
In totally unrelatd news, "Kamichu!" volume 2 has hit the stores (so go shopping, yo'). In his review, Chris Beveridge of AnimeOnDVD.com had some kind things to say about the English dub:
"...it's also why I'm simply wowed by the performances in the English adaptation as well. I generally enjoy New Generation Pictures' dubs more than most others but I think this is one of their strongest ones since the release of Koi Kaze and that I consider a sort of pinnacle in their library of works because of how difficult the content was to work with. Similar to that, the adaptation, writing and performances here are all very enjoyable and really match well to my perceptions of what the characters voices should be in English."
Posted by patrick at 02:51 PM | Comments (8)
August 14, 2006
My foray into the world of YouTube...
Okay, so I'm not sure why I didn't think of this until just now, but I uploaded my anime VO demo video onto YouTube. The QuickTime version on my site is of better overall quality, but if you're possessed of a sluggish connection and don't mind sacrificing video quality for expedience, knock yourself out.
Posted by patrick at 08:26 PM | Comments (1)
August 10, 2006
Otakon and "Paradise Kiss"...
I had an awesome time at Otakon last weekend. The attendees were pleasant and receptive, the staffers were helpful to a fault, and the other guests (some of whom I already knew from previous cons, but some of whom were new to me) were a great bunch of folks with whom to spend a weekend.
Otakon also marked the first time I was able to mention a recent bit of casting. Look to the photo below for clues...
Yes...voicing Yukari will be my greatest challenge ever...
I've been cast as Joji "George" Koizumi in the upcoming English dub of "Paradise Kiss," directed by the excellent Stephanie Sheh (a veritable VO juggernaut)!
Posted by patrick at 01:44 AM | Comments (5)
August 02, 2006
Multiple-choice questions rock!
A multiple-choice question, in honor of Otakon (and my bygone days as a high-school English teacher):
1. Patrick Seitz is getting picked up by the LAX shuttle van in just over seven hours from now. Before that happens, he should:
A) Get enough sleep
B) Do laundry
C) Pack his suitcase
D) Eat either a late dinner or early breakfast
E) Take a shower
F) All of the above
E) All of the above excapt for A), since he procrastinated
Apropos of nothing, here's a review of the first volume of "Kamichu!".
Overall, it's a very positive write-up. They do take me to task a little bit for not holding my dub to a tighter level of lip-flap fidelity, which is deserved (and which I'd like to think I handled a little more adroitly in the subsequent three volumes, by and large, but time will tell).
Posted by patrick at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)
August 01, 2006
An e-mail interview about "Bleach"...
Here's the link to an e-mail interview I did with John of BleachExtreme.net.
It's spoileriffic, so you might not want to read it unless you're all caught up on the manga and/or fan-subs, or indeed just don't give a damn about knowing what's going to happen way down the line.
Posted by patrick at 02:58 AM | Comments (2)