Blissful Ignorance

As at least of some you may know, ?Bleach? is currently one of the most popular non-licensed anime, if not THE most popular. So popular that it is surprising that is has not been licensed (particularly since the manga actually has been licensed.)

Assuming it is only a manner of time before it is licensed and an English version is dubbed, who do you think should the voice for who?

As for my own thoughts, I am not sure who I would have voice Rukia. However, I was first somewhat leaning towards Tiffany Grant, but now I think Lisa Ann Beley would be better.

As for Ichigo, somehow I think Scott McNeil would fit.

To help get my mind going, I saw other roles that the Japanese cast did and connected to English VA's who have done roles that I have seen.

Granted this system was just to give me ideas. Some individuals of the Japanese cast have not done works I am familiar with. Also sometimes, the English "alternate" of a Japanese actor doesn't fit, for instance, both Lex Lang and Vic Mignogna have done the same roles as Shinichiro Miki (Crim of ?.hack? and Kurz Webber of ?Full Metal Panic,? respectively), but I can't see either of them fitting the role of as the "Manager."

For Inoue Orihime, I think Sandy Fox should do well (both her and Yuki Matsoka voiced Mireille in ?.hack?)

As for Shiba Kuukaku, I think I would pick Donna Rawlins since it seems pretty close to her role as BT on ?.hack,? but Saffron Henderson would be a big contender. (Akiko Hiramatsu voiced BT and Bloodberry on ?Saber Marionette J.? Although I have not seen the English version of Bloodberry, I do enjoy Saffron in other roles.)

Saffron may be a good pick for Jinta Hanakari (voiced by Takako Honda) since she does bratty little boys so well (although I prefer her as chicks).

Although, it is a bit clich? switching genders, I think Vic Mignogna may have a chance doing a good job doing voice for Hitsugaya Toushiro since he seems to be doing a good job for Ed in ?Full Metal Alchemist? even though Romi Paku did both Japanese voices.

For the human version of Satsuki Yukino, Lia Sargent may do a good job. Both her and Satsuki Yukino voiced Milly Thompson in ?Trigun.? However, I think Wendy Tomson a.k.a. Tricia Dickson would be better since her performance as Nenene Sumiregawa on ?R.O.D.? better parallels Yukino's character, plus I would rather see a new upstart actor.

That's all I can think of now. I am sure some of you have other ideas (perhaps even better) for these roles as well as for the other characters.

So, who would you pick do voices in an English dub of ?Bleach??

I personally wouldn't pick lisa ann beley for rukia. I just can't here relena's voice coming out of rukia's mouth. I think that Willow Johnson (Yukari ; Escaflowne), might actually work.

As for Ichigo, i can't think of anyone. I've grown rather attached to Ichigo's japanese voice.

I think either Brian Drummond or Paul Dobson (Dobson over Drummond though)as Sado.

Actually, I could hear Scott McNeil as Renji instead of Ichigo.

Then again im not a big buff on voice actors.

Actually at Gaia, we decided Scott was best for Kyouraku Shunsui

Hi there, my friend, cannot get enough of bleach, he's got the sound track, the episodes, its crazy, I have never heard of it, and I am told it is THE most popular anime out there and IS on the way over here to the states. I got a lot on my hands to go into the whole thing, so I was wondering if someone could give me the 411 on this thing, like, what's their mission, the story, that kind of stuff, all I know is that is has something to do with hunting ghosts.

Scott McNeil would be HORRIBLE for Ichigo. Think about all the roles he's done; cocky bastard, semi-badass. His voice doesn't have the right ... "pitch", mind you I'm obsessed over the Japanese voice actor for Ichigo because of his tone of voice and just the way he sings, screams, shouts, speaks, and even pronounces 'Rukia' ... very sexy.

I'm not sure there is anyone good enough for Ichigo, english voice actor wise.

The voice actor who did Edward in FullMetal Alchemist just literally BUTCHERED the poor kid, seriously. It had me, and quite a few others, cringing! Horribly done. They could've picked WAY better for Edward. Edward's a kid, sure, but he doesn't have THAT annoying of a voice. Romi Paku played him amazingly! Kudos to her; her voice for Edward was right on the spot. The rest of the cast for FMA was horribly selected, too; all a bunch of amateurs, I think. Le sigh.

Nevertheless this isn't about Edward or FMA. It's about Bleach.

I think I'll be happy with the cast as long as they choose some cast members who are experienced in voice acting and can act out the emotions great, give the anime, AND characters, some more depth then the amateurs can. As long as they don't pick some young female who sounds like she's TEN for Rukia. As long as they don't pick some young guy who sounds like he's FIVE for Ichigo ... I'll be one happy fangirl.

To me, it is all based on whether the voice actor can perform the emotions and make me feel and see that the voice is actually apart of the character. Other times ... more then half actually ... the voice actors come off as sounding too phoney for the characters, which then just ruins it for me.

*snuggles the raw versions of animes with love*


Sorry for all the bashing, but wow ... dubs are HORRIBLY done these days. I'm rather amazed at the dub cast that was used for the movies such as Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in The Sky. Now THAT cast is amazing for dub; all of them. Screw the fact that they're celebrities! Brilliantly done.

Yes, Billy Crystal rocked my socks. And I completely agree with you Leia about Ichigo's voice, and about the way that he says Rukia, he almost elongates the u sound so its more like "Roookia" muy awesome. And the way that Shunsui says Nanao is amazing. I love those two.

And if the FMA dubbing made you cringe dont watch the english version of naruto. I haven't heard the japanese version of naruto because im poor and now everything is liscensed, but i kno that it isnt that great. I haven't seen the FMA with japanese voices b/c once again i'm poor and everything is liscensed.
Also, watch out for Steamboy... I love Anna Paquin but not with a bad british accent as a boy.

Ok i'm done bashing. Now Criticgundam if you still want to know the general summary there are a few sites i could send you to or i could just tell you, but i dont want to repeat what you might already know.

I will cry the day that Bleach hits the states cuz that means no more free downloading of bleach *sniffle*

ok so now that there are dubbed versions of bleach episodes, i can say that im overall happy with the voices.

they aren't perfect but their pretty good. However Renji's voice is a huge disappointment. I can't stand it, it dosn't suit him at all.

anyway, those are my opinions, what about everyone else's?

I think the biggest disappointment of the dubs is Rukia's voice. Even when she's doing her 'fake school voice' she doesn't even seem to change her pitch. I think it would have helped if she watched the jap one first.

And I agree with whoever said the jap actor for Ichigo says 'rukia' in a sexy voice. I turn into a puddle of goo and wish that were my name.