#queer dubs

[marsbarsthereal]

Y'all can keep complaining about the lack of queer representation in anime, and the fact that when there is, it's usually censored. I mean, it breaks my heart to see that in 2022, a certain studio felt the need to cover up a kiss scene with a very convenient shot of a sword (Requiem of the Rose King, I'm looking at you!) Hell, I'm all for demanding more from these studios. It took us a while to get to Yuri On Ice where we had a gay relationship at the forefront (which, might I add, also had a kiss scene that was censored, a choice made outside of the creator's hands), and only about 5 years ago did Bloom Into You get adapted, plus Given shortly after that. Yeah, it's taken way too long for progressive anime to enter the limelight. Sure, there are a few wonderful queer series out there today (ex. Stranger by the Shore & Sasaki and Miyano) but when another series takes a step back from where we are, it's disappointing to say the least. That doesn't mean we should give up hope though. I believe it's important that we're grateful for what we have, and remember that anime won't always spell it out for us (cough cough SK8: the Infinity cough cough), and that's something we're unfortunately going to have to live with. Have hope, my friends. And if you're looking for a pick me up, a David Wald dub is always the way to go!

[marsbarsthereal]

Watch the Given Dub.

Why, you ask? Well, it's simple.

The director is voice actor and Rainbow Overlord himself, David Wald. He's directed the dubs for Vanitas no Carte, LOVE STAGE!!, Bloom Into You, Kase-san and Morning Glories, The Stranger by the Shore, and more. Do I even have to explain why these dubs are splendid? Given was no less, in the right hands.

The casting was spectacular. In my opinion, there aren't really any glaring differences in the main cast's voices. Plus, the English VAs add their own sort of flair to the characters, making it more enjoyable to watch.

Almost all of the team (including the cast!) is queer. If you don't believe me, take it from the director himself: David's tweet.

Lastly, what seals the deal: the fact that this show means so much to literally all of the cast & crew. For many of the VAs and crew members, it's been a dream for them to be apart of an all queer team, and also to be in a show like Given, that's already such a beautiful and important anime. Yung-I Chang (Haruki Nakayama) said in his video, "Please know that every one of us was hungry for this show, ever since it first came out in Japan. We really put our everything into this production, and I hope you love it as much as we do."

This is all to say, please, please, please, watch the Given dub. As someone who's been a fan for years now, this dub means so much to me, as it's created by people who cherish the show just as much as all of us fans do. They love it for what it is, a heartwarming queer story.