Why the FLCL Dub Matters

Purchase FLCL: https://www.rightstufanime.com/FLCL-Blu-ray-Complete-Series-Hyb-Anime-Classics

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Other than being one of our favourite animated works, the English dub of FLCL itself has a lot of very admirable qualities. Its production demonstrates a great deal of dedication and understanding from the staff, while its execution was top-notch and reflected the self-aware nature of the show itself. However, it’s easy to only look at what went into this dub and assume that this exact creative process is absolutely requisite for any English adaptation of any anime. And yeah, naturally I do wish that more dubs would adopt this same level of rigour (though unfortunately that simply isn’t always possible due to schedule and budget issues). But that isn’t really why we wanted to make this video. The most we can ask of an anime dub is to “tell” the specific story its adapting, meaning the team behind that dub needs to get on that story’s wavelength. The fact that a dub team was able to get on the wavelength of a show as esoteric and deceiving as FLCL is something worth celebrating, as is acknowledging the hard work that made it possible. In light of the series returning to television, we wanted to pay tribute to the talent that brought the series to Western television back in 2003 but honestly not even this video (which already creeps toward the 20 minute mark) can do it justice. Please make sure to check out all the interviews listed below to learn more details about the dub’s production as well as the careers of the staff involved. Furthermore, a lot of info regarding the original production of FLCL was taken directly from the commentary track on the Western BD release, so make sure to purchase that if you want to hear Kazuya Tsurumaki’s full comments.

Sources + Further Reading/Listening/Viewing:
FLCL Director’s Commentary
Anime Tourist Interview with the ADR Staff: https://web.archive.org/web/20040305000511/http://www.anime-tourist.com/article.php?sid=34
ANN Marc Handler Interview: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2002-02-20
Handler’s Personal Website: http://marchandler.com
Chris Niosi interviews Stephanie Sheh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npdhdyw3Q4M
Interview with Barbara Goodson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0rX-sKBD6o
Anime World Order interviews Marc Handler: https://www.awopodcast.com/2006/10/anime-world-order-show-37-interview.html
Shannon Muir interviews Marc Handler: https://shannonmuir.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/marc-handler-interview/
LootCrate interviews Cowboy Bebop dub staff: https://shannonmuir.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/marc-handler-interview/
Interview with Maki Terashima-Furuta regarding FLCL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_xsa5y3M48
Sample of original FLCL booklet: http://lithe-apathy.com/lithe2/portfolio/files/FLCL_DVD_samples.pdf
Crispin Freeman interviews Stephanie Sheh: http://www.voiceactingmastery.com/vam-109-interview-with-stephanie-sheh-part-1
VO Buzz Weekly interviews Kari Wahlgren: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHiKxrs31tA

Additional Footage:
His and Her Circumstances
Sailor Moon R The Movie
A Silent Voice
your name.
Lu Over the Wall
Lupin III Part 1
Doraemon
Lupin III The Castle of Cagliostro
Ashita no Joe
Initial D
Neon Genesis Evangelion
A.I.C.O. -Incarnation-
FLCL 2 & 3 Behind the Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bdiICLSfVo
Power Rangers
Daicon IV
The End of Evangelion
Aim for the Top! Gunbuster
Blade Runner Black Out 2022
Dragon Ball Super
Eureka Seven
One-Punch Man
The Lion King
Voltron
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Code Geass – Lelouch of the Rebellion
Steamboy
Naruto
Metropolis
Cowboy Bebop
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Steins;Gate
BECK Mongolian Chop Squad
Aggretsuko
Samurai Champloo
Fullmetal Alchemist
Dragon Ball Kai
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III – The Advent
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society
Space Dandy
FLCL Progressive
FLCL Alternative
FLCL 2 & 3 Voice Actors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmU5imPFf9o

Music by The Pillows:
Stalker
Nightmare
Instant Music
Carnival
Funny Bunny
Bran-new Lovesong
Hybrid Rainbow
Sad Sad Kiddie
One Life
Runner’s High
Blues Drive Monster
Patricia
Last Dinosaur
I think I can
Little Busters
Star Overhead

Additional Music:
Yukino Miyazawa V – Shiro Sagisu

Narrated and co-written by Eric Dorcean
Edited and co-written by Abhi Kapoor

Follow us on Twitter:
Eric (@MrAJCosplay)
Abhi (@RBKapoor1)