Back again with another video essay about English dubs of Detective Conan, this time focusing on the localization (or lack thereof) of Heiji's Osaka dialect in English dubs so far. How will Studio Nano's new English dub (available on Netflix and Crunchyroll in South and North America, Australia, and the UK) handle Heiji?
VPR: shaky cam, blurs, motion transitions, letterboxing and pillarboxing
Sources:
Song: "Kimi to Koi no Mama de Owarenai Itsumo Yume no Mama ja Irarenai (Instrumental)" by Mai Kuraki (Detective Conan's 59th ending theme, included with the Detective Conan edition CD for the song, which also comes bundled with a DVD featuring the textless ED)
Detective Conan Episodes 48-49, 54, 58, 118, 189, 277, 968; File 115; Movie 21 (The Crimson Love Letter); OVA 6
CinePacks Free Scribble FX Sample Pack: https://cinepacks.store/collections/free-packs/products/free-scribble-fx-sample-pack
Video transcript under the cut:
Every once in a while, Detective Conan draws attention to the way its characters speak. Tequila's accent, for example, serves as a tell that he's from the Kansai region of Japan, and interestingly, FUNimation's English dub localized this:
[Clips from Episode 54, FUNimation dub]
Tequila: Relay the message to Gin, too, if you don't mind.
Tequila: What noise? Oh, it's just some kid. Dropped a bunch of change.
Conan: I think he was from the east coast.
Megure: How do you know where he's from?
Conan: Not even a minute before the explosion, I heard him talking in a Boston or maybe a New York accent. I was right outside...
I say “interestingly” because another character from the Kansai region of Japan, Heiji Hattori, does not have his accent localized in FUNimation's English dub. He speaks in exactly the same accent as the Tokyo characters, and references to his dialect are removed:
[Clip from Episode 58, FUNimation dub]
Kogoro: This punk's been giving me grief all night! If he can dish it out, he can take it!
[Clip from Episode 58, Japanese]
Kogoro: Don't you mock me with your fancy Kansai dialect!
[Clip from Episode 58, FUNimation dub]
Heiji: Don't give me that little kid crap, Kudo! I know it's you!
[Clip from Episode 58, Japanese]
Heiji: Your fake Kansai dialect was pathetic!
And don't get me wrong. I love Kevin M. Connolly's portrayal of Heiji—you could argue that his performance is a big part of why I ever really started editing AMVs. The altered dialogue in Episode 58 is charming. Kogoro's line is full of the naturalistic scripting that makes FUNimation's dub so strong; Heiji's line is sweet. He's beyond convinced that Conan is Shinichi, despite having met only once before, because Shinichi can't help but be himself around Heiji, and they just click.
But as I see it, Heiji's accent is also an integral part of his character. It's a source of pride for him, and removing it even destroys entire plotlines, such as in OVA 6, where Heiji is unable to replicate a Tokyo accent.
[Clip from OVA 6]
Heiji: Have ya prepared the money?
Conan: No, not like that. “Have you prepared the money?”
Heiji: Isn't that what I'm saying?
So, it's always struck me as a bit odd that, of the five different English dub Heijis I've heard, seemingly none of them speak in a different accent than Shinichi:
[Clip from Episode 49, Voiceovers Unlimited Dub]
Heiji: Your deductions were always a step above mine. I guess you win.
Shinichi: Huh? There's no such thing as winning or losing.
[Clip from Episode 118, FUNimation Dub]
Heiji: What do you mean? I just wanted you to visit.
Conan: You expect me to believe that? You're up to something.
Heiji: No, I swear! No business involved. This is just for fun.
[Conan gasps]
[Clip from Movie 21, Bang Zoom! Entertainment Dub]
Heiji: Here. You dropped these.
Conan: Thanks.
Heiji: Did you know that Nichiuri TV was gonna be bombed? Is that why you brought that thing?
Conan: No, of course not.
[Clip from Episode 968, Macias Group Dub]
Heiji: So that means... that now it's our turn to bat.
Conan: Yeah, it's time to do whatever it takes, right?
Heiji: [laughs] You got that right!
[Clip from Episode 189, G Entertainment Dub]
Heiji: I was shot in the stomach, too. We have got things in common.
Conan: I'm asking you again... what is so important you had to come all this way, and with flowers, Hattori?
Heiji: [laughs] I guess I can't fool you, huh?
There's yet another English dub available now, from Studio Nano, and while Heiji is absent from every episode released thus far, when he does show up, I'm hopeful that he'll speak in a different accent than the Tokyo characters. For the first time ever in an English Detective Conan dub!
Because one very encouraging thing about Nano's work is the emphasis from cast members that Apphia Yu, the dub's director, is a huge Detective Conan fan. Mauricio Ortiz-Segura, Shinichi's Nano VA, describes Yu as a “walking Conan encyclopedia” in a Tweet, and Molly Zhang, Conan's Nano VA, states in a stream:
Molly Zhang: And thing is, the director, Ayu, Apphia Yu, she is a Detective Conan master. Like, she is an OG fan, and she knows how much this means to people watching it. And so, she's made sure that we respect the material as much as we can. Like, truly, OG fans, you are not gonna find a better director for this dub. I know a lot of OG fans don't even care about the dub, but if you do care about the dub, you will not find a better ship captain than Apphia. She's so, so, so, so great.
Further, Zhang later adds:
Molly Zhang: So, I know the director of the show, Ayu, really likes Heiji. So, I'm hoping we can dub her favorite arc.
So, a big Detective Conan and Heiji fan as the dub's director? Heiji having a dubbed “Osaka” accent seems very promising! I can't wait to see what Nano does.
Conan: It's a dialect of Japanese. You know, there are also dialects in the U.S., too, right? Like the Southern drawl.
Jodie: Oh, yes, there are.
Conan: Heh...
Heiji: Osaka-ben is authentically Japanese.
Diehard FUNimation English Dub Fan Watches Studio Nano's New Detective Conan English Dub
Hi, I made a Tumblr video essay. VPR: flashing from about 0:22 to 0:30, quick cuts, split screens
The short of it is that the new-new-new English dub for Detective Conan, with a wholly different voice cast from FUNimation (well, mostly), the movies and specials dubbed by Bang Zoom! Entertainment, and the episodes dubbed by Macias Group on Tubi, is maybe a little rough for the first couple of episodes. But it gets better and better, and I think it deserves support.
While only Episodes 1, 2, 128, 129, 176-178, and 230-231 of Studio Nano's dub are available for streaming right now on Netflix and Crunchyroll (in Australia, South and North America, and the UK), I'm definitely hoping for more. Please watch if you can! (Sub also available!)
More English dub thoughts (largely about FUNimation's):
#funimation-english-dub-script Tag
A Loose Translation But Fun Production
FUNimation's English Dub versus Bang Zoom! Entertainment's English Dub
FUNimation's Name Changes
Naturalistic Scripting
Officer Tome in Countdown to Heaven
The Over-Localization is a Shame
Unethical to Like an Anime Dub That Makes Dialogue Changes?
How I got FUNimation's English dub in HD (76/123 episodes mixed so far!):
Mixing an Old Anime Dub with HD Footage
Transcript for video under the cut:
Why watch something originally in a language you don't understand dubbed in a language you do understand?
One reason, of course, is that dubs are more accessible, allowing many foreign viewers to enjoy the content without subtitles. But as someone who watches dubs with subs, that's not why I watch dub. I watch dub because I appreciate the effort to make the dialogue really work, and sound natural, in a language that I know.
FUNimation's English dub of Case Closed became my favorite way to watch the series, even after watching in Japanese first and disliking the dub's localized name changes, because FUNi's scripts are so lively, smooth, and full of character.
Take this short example from Episode 1:
Megure: All right... I'll give you and Rachel the benefit of the doubt and assume you didn't go nuts. That leaves us five.
A more literal translation of the scene looks like this:
Megure: So, temporarily taking you and Ran-kun out of the picture, there were five passengers total.
The FUNimation dub contains all the important information—that Megure's narrowing down the suspect list to five because he doesn't believe that Shinichi or Ran could be the killer—but it does so in a way that's much more fun than the literal translation. I could buy someone really saying this.
How does the new Studio Nano English dub for Detective Conan stack up?
Well...
Megure: All right. If we leave you and Ran out, that'd leave five others. Does that sound correct?
It's definitely less stiff than the more literal translation! But even with Mark Stoddard reprising his role as Megure, it lacks that FUNimation charm.
So, is the Studio Nano dub worth a watch? For Episodes 1 and 2, which were dubbed so excellently by FUNimation, it's hard for me to say yes, even with some strong performances from the cast:
[Clip from Episode 1, with Christopher Guerrero as Agasa]
Agasa: You gotta promise not to tell anyone! This has gotta stay between the two of us!
[Clip from Episode 1, with Mauricio Ortiz-Segura as Shinichi]
Shinichi: [squeals] 'Cause nothing beats the exhilaration of catching the bad guys in real time! [chuckles]
[Clip from Episode 1, with Megan Shipman as Ran]
Ran: It's fine if you go around flirting with girls, but you've at least gotta pick a favorite, okay?
[Clip from Episode 2, with Molly Zhang as Conan]
Conan: I'm Conan Edogawa, and I just transferred in! Hello there! [chuckles]
Conan (thinking): I seriously have to go back to grade school again?
Generally, the Studio Nano scripts here just don't speak to me the way FUNimation's do. But of the nine Studio Nano dub episodes available at the time of this video, I feel like the writing only gets better and better.
Circling back to the start, why watch dubs, especially if you like subtitles? Well, personally, I want to experience something I don't get by watching the original. And Studio Nano delivers on that front. I didn't fully appreciate Conan and Ai's banter and sass in these episodes until I watched Nano's dub:
[Clip from Episode 129, Studio Nano dub]
Ai: The Black Organization is hunting me, which puts you in a sticky situation. I'm a dangerous person to have around. Are you sure you want me nearby?
Conan: No.
[Clip from Episode 129, Japanese]
Ai: I am an extremely dangerous, loathsome person to have around you. There's no reason to keep me near you.
Conan: You idiot.
[Clip from Episode 177, Studio Nano dub]
Ai: Even a detective as good as you can't figure who the killer is with only one clue.
Conan: And what if I have two clues?
Ai: Ah?
Conan: After the chandelier fell, and before the lights came back on, something landed on me. This handkerchief.
Ai: Yeah, so? What good is that? The killer didn't happen to write their full name on it, did they?
[Clip from Episode 177, Japanese]
Ai: Even you wouldn't be able to figure out who the killer is with just that.
Conan: What if there are two? After the chandelier fell and before the lights came back on, something fell from above. This handkerchief.
Ai: So what? It's not like the name of the killer is written on it.
[Clip from Episode 177, Studio Nano dub]
Conan: All right, then, fine! Why don't you try and find a way to escape from that place yourself? In the meantime, I'll go and figure out which of the seven is Pisco!
Ai: You say that like it's so simple. Why didn't I think of that?
[Clip from Episode 177, Japanese]
Conan: Then why don't you find a way to get out of there yourself? In the meantime, I'll go and figure out who out of the seven is Pisco.
Ai: You say find a way to escape like it's so simple…
Just like with FUNi, all the important info is included in the Nano dub, but it feels more natural. I love Conan and Ai's dynamic in a way that the more literal translations didn't convey to me.
And Studio Nano doesn't just shine with scenes that make me smile. Dramatic moments can also have fantastic scripts:
[Clip from Episode 177, Studio Nano dub]
Ai: Just shut up! Listen to what I'm saying now! This is important. Because after this conversation, I'm never going to be able to talk to you again.
[Clip from Episode 177, Japanese]
Ai: No, just shut up and listen! Never again… Never are we going to exchange words ever again.
And as heard there with Alexis Tipton's Ai, Nano's cast delivers. Colleen Clinkenbeard, Ran's FUNi VA, kills it as Vermouth, Molly Zhang balances “cute” and “serious” Conan wonderfully, and Macy Anne Johnson pours so much emotion into her portrayal of Akemi, just to name a few.
[Clip from Episode 178, with Colleen Clinkenbeard as Vermouth]
Vermouth: And that's after I went out of my way to give him the handkerchief before the police questioned him. He deserved to die.
[Clip from Episode 230, with Colleen Clinkenbeard as Vermouth]
Vermouth: A secret makes a woman a woman. Don't you see? A woman is at her most beautiful when she has secrets to keep.
[Clip from Episode 176, with Molly Zhang as Conan]
Conan: Uh-huh! But it's okay, we're looking for them together. Let's go, Hana!
Conan (deeper voice): Hey, what's the deal with you? You aren't acting like yourself. You're the one who said you wanted to tag along, aren't you?
[Clip from Episode 231, with Molly Zhang as Conan]
Conan: Don't run away, Ai. Not from this. Not from your destiny. Don't you dare run away.
[Clip from Episode 128, with Macy Anne Johnson as Akemi]
Akemi: Thank you, but... I have to disappoint you, Conan.
[Clip from Episode 129, with Macy Anne Johnson as Akemi]
Akemi: Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, Shiho. I'm more worried about you. Quit making drugs. There's so much more to life than a laboratory. Go make yourself a lover or two. I'm perfectly fine, I promise.
No, Studio Nano's dub isn't FUNimation's. (Even if returning voice actors can make it feel that way!) But not being FUNi doesn't mean it's not worth supporting. There's heart here, and a bit of that same FUNi flavor that made its dub so lovable.
Detective Conan is something of a comfort for me. And Studio Nano, just like FUNi, can feel so very cozy.
[Clip from Episode 129, Studio Nano dub]
Conan: I really appreciate all your help. Bye!
Janitor: Of course. Have a good day!
I participated in a 5-hour MMV IC (Iron Chef, a timed challenge)! And was just gonna leave it there, but I got so attached to the idea that I then spent 27-ish more hours on the video. Whoops?
What I actually accomplished in the 5 hours can be found here, and I also made a variant with Japanese dialogue, found here. The song is "Prelude 12/21" by AFI, which can be listened to in full here, and the MMV can also be viewed on YouTube, in full 1080p and with optional subtitles, here. A playlist of other IC videos can also be found here!
I combined footage from my Detektiv Conan Blu-ray with audio from my Case Closed FUNimation DVD and made an HD English dub clip compilation for Episodes 57-58, "The Holmes Freak Murder Case."
So, Ending 72 of Detective Conan got me thinking about lip flap:
What do I mean by that? Well, in some circles of the AMV-making world, it's maybe viewed as a "sin" to leave lip flaps unedited when there are no audible words. You either cut out the movements entirely, or you sync up the movements to match the lyrics of the song. Lip flap is distracting and immersion breaking.
Yet... this Detective Conan ending—mixing anime and music just like an AMV!—has lots of lip flap. Characters are talking and living and spouting out conversations, and there's no effort at all to hide or remove that. In fact, this sequence was deliberately animated that way.
And it's far from the only Detective Conan example in this vein. Which brings me to my next thought: early episodes of Detective Conan include instances of montages or characters otherwise moving their mouths without sound, but the FUNimation English dub seemingly found this so uncomfortable that words were added in:
Sometimes, I really love this choice! Conan's voice fading into Shinichi's in Episode 39 is one of my all-time favorite moments in the dub. Similarly, Conan's added little "but"s in Episode 32 are adorable.
But I feel like the montage in Episode 37 is weakened by the added dialogue because we didn't need any words to understand the story, and while Episode 42 might be argued to be more compelling and "show don't tell" without Conan's narration, we do miss a fair amount of information from that narration.
Overall, though, I think the changes indicate a cultural difference. Lip flap without audible words is fine for Japanese audiences, but overseas, it's seen as awkward and jarring.
So, is it a "sin" to include unedited lip flap in your AMVs? Well, it probably depends on who you ask!
But personally, my mindset has changed to not at all. I think there are moments where the indication of words can be quite powerful, just like in Detective Conan Ending 72 or the montage in Episode 37. While I mostly try to remove or sync lip flap in my own AMVs, there are also definitely times where I leave it. What's wrong with showing that there was a conversation?
That said... I gotta come clean. One of my first reactions to Ending 72 was to almost cringe at all the lip flap! But then I thought about it some more. While I'm rather inexperienced with making MMVs (Manga Music Videos), ever since I started, I've been a fan of leaving the speech bubbles unedited, text and all—despite the fact that this, similarly, seems to be somewhat of a "sin." I liked providing context, I liked that there were creative things you could do with the dialogue... and hey, is that really so different from leaving in some lip flap from time to time?
In the end, AMV editing is very subjective. Everyone has their own preferences and styles that speak to them, and that's part of what makes the art form so beautiful to me. But Ending 72 made me step back and reconsider some of the "rules" that I'd drilled into my head. Maybe what I've become so used to seeing as a "flaw" can actually be quite powerful in its own right!
