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PJT tour group tears 4Kids a new one at Studio Pierrot visit

For example, on the replacement of the original scoring, Studio Pierrot is told that this is necessary and they usually agree on the change with the trust that "the best music comes from America". They proceeded to cite popular U.S. artists. Of course, unlike in Japan were top artist and top composers are involved anime works, only the bottom of the barrel talent is involved with U.S. dubs (only speaking about original scores and music, NOT our excellent voice actors).

As for other blatant changes, they were assured by 4Kids that these changes were necessary for U.S. broadcasting standards (they assumed 4Kids knew best).

Under no uncertain terms, we stated that continued involvement with 4Kids would only lead to "Financial Ruin" with said properties. No matter what excuses 4Kids or their supporters might say about their changes and edits, the proof is in the pudding...dismal ratings. To quote Aka-San after leaving the studio, "4Kids is going to wonder why Studio Pierrot won't return their calls anymore".

Had to figure someone would use this as an excuse to dub bash and piss on US talent, there's always one, just surprised it found its way in the first reply. I completely disagree of course, as is obvious to any who follow the dub world, but that's another matter.

Keonyn wrote:

Had to figure someone would use this as an excuse to dub bash and piss on US talent, there's always one, just surprised it found its way in the first reply. I completely disagree of course, as is obvious to any who follow the dub world, but that's another matter.

If you can dispute my comments with facts and sources, feel free to do so. Otherwise you might want to think twice before succumbing to reactionary and inflammatory knee-jerk rhetoric.

to fxg97873: My friend Eric Svee was on that tour! I know he enjoyed himself, but didn't tell me that much about the visit to Studio Pierrot. He brought back a lot of photos that I'll eventually have loaded up to a website.

The problem comes from the fact that judging acting is somewhat subjective, and as a result, will lead people who will argue on both sides of the fence.

I do think actors do get crapped on by the fans. Fans judge without thinking of all the factors that go into the making of the production and make statements of ignorance. Actors don't typically get to chose the role they are in, and most are trying to do the best they can. There is a reason why voice acting is sometimes called the lowest form of acting. Sure, there are some bad actors in the bunch as well. But should you be blaming them, or the director who hired the bad actor? Might I also suggest to you that an actor might do a line (or role for that matter) that would be perfect in such a way that the fans would love him, but if the director doesn't like it, it's gone?

Think about it the next time you pick on the actors. Yes, some things can be poorly acted, but if the entire dub as a whole is a sham (which 4kids One Piece is), it's probably not because of the actors at that point.

Pretty much the whole week we had FujiTV and NihonTV following us around with their cameras.

fxg97873 wrote:

Pretty much the whole week we had FujiTV and NihonTV following us around with their cameras.

That's quite a sight. So what was that like? Personally, I don't think I'd be too crazy about being followed around with cameras while I was on vacation and it came across with something of a sideshow angle.

It was pretty damn funny to watch though and it's certainly one of the most unique souvenirs you could have. Anybody have the re-translated version?

Ahh, how cute.

Busted!

Like many people, I am glad that 4Kids problems have been addressed, but I also agree that they won't have much impact. As long as the international language is still money, I don't see 4Kids going away any time soon.

Godaistudios wrote:

The problem comes from the fact that judging acting is somewhat subjective, and as a result, will lead people who will argue on both sides of the fence. I do think actors do get crapped on by the fans. Fans judge without thinking of all the factors that go into the making of the production and make statements of ignorance. Actors don't typically get to chose the role they are in, and most are trying to do the best they can. There is a reason why voice acting is sometimes called the lowest form of acting. Sure, there are some bad actors in the bunch as well. But should you be blaming them, or the director who hired the bad actor? Might I also suggest to you that an actor might do a line (or role for that matter) that would be perfect in such a way that the fans would love him, but if the director doesn't like it, it's gone? Think about it the next time you pick on the actors. Yes, some things can be poorly acted, but if the entire dub as a whole is a sham (which 4kids One Piece is), it's probably not because of the actors at that point.

I don't agree that I'm actually picking on the actors. In anime, the American voice actors appear to be folks with other careers that took the job as a part-time gig. At least, that's what I've read and seen in on-disc interviews. That doesn't mean they're bad people; it just means they probably have other interests and talents that may not directly tie in with voice acting.

Still, I agree with you that other folks in the chain can have a detrimental affect on the quality of the voice acting. Obviously the voice actors have to take what they can get and at some point every volume had to be signed-off by someone who was not a voice actor. If they allowed crap to be recorded it's not always the voice actor's fault.

However, I've had plenty of time to get a feel for what Japanese and American voice actors are capable of over the years and so far it appears to me that the Japanese voice actors simply have more range, better inflection, and a more natural delivery.*

Does that mean they're better people? Not really, it's just that I happen to enjoy watching in both English and Japanese (with English subtitles) and on many occasions I've let the disc start in English only to find that the voice acting is so unnatural that it's actually distracting.


*Except when 'laughing'.

As long as the international language is still money, I don't see 4Kids going away any time soon.

...then infringe upon the sacred artistic purity of their half-hour toy commercials.