When Netflix announced they would have Neon Genesis Mission streaming in 2019, many fans were excited to be able to easily stream this anime classic. However, this was soon followed by rumors that the series would be re-released, which was eventually proven to be true. However, that left one big question: what happened to the original dub?
The first Neon Genesis Evangelion dub was made by a now-defunct company called ADV Films in the 90s, and the series was originally released on a 2-episode VHS tape. The first Evangelion dub received some critical acclaim for the performance and was welcomed at the time as a fitting translation, not a toned down or “childish” translation like many. anime series when it was brought to America. This version of the series went on to air on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim in 2005, expanding the series with a new world of fans. Some of the original voice cast was even preserved when Rebuild of Evangelion was released in the US, meaning those actors had more than ten years of experience with the characters. However, ADV went bankrupt in 2009 and the original dub ran out of print in 2011.
Evangelion Creator’s Anime Studio Requests New Voiceovers
When rumors of a new Netflix dub began to surface, fans wondered why they would bother remaking it. The rights to the original dub are in the dark due to the bankruptcy of ADV, making it very obscure to outside parties. Whether or not Netflix will be able to get it is unknown, so it’s possible they have no choice but to re-dub it. However, there is another side to all of this: Studio Khara, a studio that belongs to Hideaki Anno, the creator of Evangelion. The Netflix dub doesn’t just record the dialogue—Studio Khara retranslated the entire series’ script and used this new translation, which is said to be more literal and accurate than the old version. It shows that Anno and his studio are not satisfied with the original dub and want it to be remade. It is known that Studio Khara is responsible for the selection of English voice actors for the Netflix dub, a rare situation.
Given Studio Khara’s obvious feelings about the original dub, it’s no surprise that they seized the opportunity when Netflix bought the rights. This was an opportunity to take control of the English version of Evangelion and make it more like Japanese… but the end result was a script containing lots of dialogue that no native English speaker would use. If the rights to the original dub were given back to Studio Khara after the dissolution of ADV, it is likely that the original dub would never be released again, placing it in the same category as the theatrical versions of the studio. Star Wars movies. That means fans who want to experience the original dub, which many still consider superior, will have to buy older releases at high prices or be forced to switch to less legitimate means. to have it.
The situation is unfortunate because the original Neon Genesis Evangelion voice actors, who helped make the franchise what it is, deserve access to their own performances. Fan Neon Genesis Evangelion The first English dub can only hope that the original dub can be made available again one day, but sadly they shouldn’t hold their breath.
