I'm not going to lie and say your wrong, I'm sure they do use famous people's voices just to draw a crowd but it's not the famous person's voice that keeps an audience but it does often give the character more of an appeal. Think of it this way, you've got yourself a script and a basic outline of how you'd like your characters and how you want them portrayed but you don't know who you want to voice the character, the only solution is to find who to voice them. Famous people are used more often than not because they are already known for what they can do. Example: You want a character that is really sarcastic and can make some hilarious sound effects, would you rather start looking for less known people or not waste any time and just pick some one famous?
I love how thoroughly you looked at this just from reading what some one said about Howls Moving Castle. I personally only watch dubbed movies if they have been recommended to me. I'm sure you've already taken what I've said into consideration. I just wanted to piece my opinion. Glad I read it
Yes, I'm sorry about my grammer, considering all the work I had to do at University it is still a weak point for me. I'll get editing.
Not being that heavily involved with Transformers I didn't know about the voice debate, but it raises an interesting point about who they were aiming at, the old fans or the new.
My point about Depp was that Burton seems to automatically try and have the same actors over and over...he wasn't trying to use a Hollywood name he was trying to do the same thing he does in every film, like a safe bet. It's what I meant about it not being any reason it was Depp apart from the fact Depp is known for being in Burton films.
I dunno, I do feel that Princess Mononoke was pretty star-studded and was definitely a point that caught my eye (this was a couple year before I seriously got into anime). Also keep in mind that this was a Disney-backed Miramax thing from the '90s and before the North American anime industry still had a long way to go to where it is today (which also happened to be back before Miramax had gone insane).
Aside from voice acting big names like Keith David, John DiMaggio and Tara Strong (though I only knew Keith David at the time 'cause he was in Gargoyles and stuff), the main cast included Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gillian Anderson and Billy Bob flippin' Thornton.
I do agree with you that star-power in anime isn't likely to become a big issue in the next while, but I will have to attest for myself that star power did help influence my interest in checking out that one movie which then led to a whole slew of other things . . . so hey, y'know.
Pickle of the Year (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/07/08 | Reply
First off, I think this is definitely one of the better pieces to show up in Fan Words, and I thought you brought up some really interesting points; I particularly liked that line about how Lithgow as a person enhanced the humor of his character.
But I think your main argument isn't quite so valid; as popular as anime has become, it's still such a niche thing that I highly doubt Hollywood actors will ever be nearly as pervasive in anime dubs as they are/were in Disney films. Christian Bale, for example, seemed to be chosen not because he would draw in casual moviegoers, but because anime fans were more likely to recognize and like him than the average Joe. (Howl was released pre-Batman, so the only people who would have known Bale at the time were comic book fans or the more hardcore movie geeks.) Which is still using a star's name to draw people in, but I don't consider Bale or a lot of other actors in Ghibli dubs to be "Hollywood actors" in the typical sense. And Ghibli dubs are managed mostly by Pixar people, IIRC, and Pixar doesn't much rely on big name actors/voices to draw crowds.
Also, I think your example of Burton using Depp in the Corpse Bride just for his name might not be entirely fair; yes, I'm sure a lot of people watched that movie just for him, but I get the sense that Burton chose Depp simply because he always chooses Depp. Burton was casting Depp in his movies even before he became super famous, after all, so I get the sense that he used Depp and Carter in Corpse Bride simply because he likes to cast them in his films and not so much because he was worried about drawing audiences.
Again, you brought up some interesting points, but I don't personally believe that this will ever be much of an issue for anime.
If there's one thing I can always depend upon, it's that whenever you submit written work it'll always be interesting. This one is no exception.
I think you're right, that Aladdin was the first Disney movie to start the "big name" trend (under Robin Williams was also Gilbert Gottfried and DJ's boyfriend from Full House). But yeah, star power is definitely becoming a larger and larger part of big-budget voice work.
I remember a couple voice actors from a previous convention were talking about it with the Transformers movie when it was coming out. While they felt it was admirable to get Peter Cullen to reprise his role as Optimus Prime, they also felt that - since many of them had been doing voices for the newer Transformers anime - it might be more beneficial to use the current voices of Megatron and the like as kids of TODAY would then be able to stay in touch with this new movie. Something like that (though to be fair, Peter Cullen is a whole different kind of star power, so . . .).
My only real concern with this work was that I had to clean up a lot of your grammar, especially at the beginning. C'mon now, I know you're of a far higher quality than that - edit, girl, edit!
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/06/08 | Reply
I say big names aren't necessary. Picking an actor to match the character is more important, but in the world of film, big names are often used as a means to draw and audience and their money, like if it's got a list of A-grade celebrities in it, it must be good.
SystemMalfunction
Otakuite++ | Posted 12/17/08 | Reply
I'm not going to lie and say your wrong, I'm sure they do use famous people's voices just to draw a crowd but it's not the famous person's voice that keeps an audience but it does often give the character more of an appeal. Think of it this way, you've got yourself a script and a basic outline of how you'd like your characters and how you want them portrayed but you don't know who you want to voice the character, the only solution is to find who to voice them. Famous people are used more often than not because they are already known for what they can do. Example: You want a character that is really sarcastic and can make some hilarious sound effects, would you rather start looking for less known people or not waste any time and just pick some one famous?
I love how thoroughly you looked at this just from reading what some one said about Howls Moving Castle. I personally only watch dubbed movies if they have been recommended to me. I'm sure you've already taken what I've said into consideration. I just wanted to piece my opinion. Glad I read it
Calaya
Team | Posted 06/08/08 | Reply
@SomeGuy:
Yes, I'm sorry about my grammer, considering all the work I had to do at University it is still a weak point for me. I'll get editing.
Not being that heavily involved with Transformers I didn't know about the voice debate, but it raises an interesting point about who they were aiming at, the old fans or the new.
Calaya
Team | Posted 06/08/08 | Reply
@bellpickle:
My point about Depp was that Burton seems to automatically try and have the same actors over and over...he wasn't trying to use a Hollywood name he was trying to do the same thing he does in every film, like a safe bet. It's what I meant about it not being any reason it was Depp apart from the fact Depp is known for being in Burton films.
SomeGuy
Canadian Liaison (Team) | Posted 06/07/08 | Reply
@bellpickle:
I dunno, I do feel that Princess Mononoke was pretty star-studded and was definitely a point that caught my eye (this was a couple year before I seriously got into anime). Also keep in mind that this was a Disney-backed Miramax thing from the '90s and before the North American anime industry still had a long way to go to where it is today (which also happened to be back before Miramax had gone insane).
Aside from voice acting big names like Keith David, John DiMaggio and Tara Strong (though I only knew Keith David at the time 'cause he was in Gargoyles and stuff), the main cast included Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gillian Anderson and Billy Bob flippin' Thornton.
I do agree with you that star-power in anime isn't likely to become a big issue in the next while, but I will have to attest for myself that star power did help influence my interest in checking out that one movie which then led to a whole slew of other things . . . so hey, y'know.
bellpickle
Pickle of the Year (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/07/08 | Reply
First off, I think this is definitely one of the better pieces to show up in Fan Words, and I thought you brought up some really interesting points; I particularly liked that line about how Lithgow as a person enhanced the humor of his character.
But I think your main argument isn't quite so valid; as popular as anime has become, it's still such a niche thing that I highly doubt Hollywood actors will ever be nearly as pervasive in anime dubs as they are/were in Disney films. Christian Bale, for example, seemed to be chosen not because he would draw in casual moviegoers, but because anime fans were more likely to recognize and like him than the average Joe. (Howl was released pre-Batman, so the only people who would have known Bale at the time were comic book fans or the more hardcore movie geeks.) Which is still using a star's name to draw people in, but I don't consider Bale or a lot of other actors in Ghibli dubs to be "Hollywood actors" in the typical sense. And Ghibli dubs are managed mostly by Pixar people, IIRC, and Pixar doesn't much rely on big name actors/voices to draw crowds.
Also, I think your example of Burton using Depp in the Corpse Bride just for his name might not be entirely fair; yes, I'm sure a lot of people watched that movie just for him, but I get the sense that Burton chose Depp simply because he always chooses Depp. Burton was casting Depp in his movies even before he became super famous, after all, so I get the sense that he used Depp and Carter in Corpse Bride simply because he likes to cast them in his films and not so much because he was worried about drawing audiences.
Again, you brought up some interesting points, but I don't personally believe that this will ever be much of an issue for anime.
SomeGuy
Canadian Liaison (Team) | Posted 06/06/08 | Reply
If there's one thing I can always depend upon, it's that whenever you submit written work it'll always be interesting. This one is no exception.
I think you're right, that Aladdin was the first Disney movie to start the "big name" trend (under Robin Williams was also Gilbert Gottfried and DJ's boyfriend from Full House). But yeah, star power is definitely becoming a larger and larger part of big-budget voice work.
I remember a couple voice actors from a previous convention were talking about it with the Transformers movie when it was coming out. While they felt it was admirable to get Peter Cullen to reprise his role as Optimus Prime, they also felt that - since many of them had been doing voices for the newer Transformers anime - it might be more beneficial to use the current voices of Megatron and the like as kids of TODAY would then be able to stay in touch with this new movie. Something like that (though to be fair, Peter Cullen is a whole different kind of star power, so . . .).
My only real concern with this work was that I had to clean up a lot of your grammar, especially at the beginning. C'mon now, I know you're of a far higher quality than that - edit, girl, edit!
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/06/08 | Reply
I say big names aren't necessary. Picking an actor to match the character is more important, but in the world of film, big names are often used as a means to draw and audience and their money, like if it's got a list of A-grade celebrities in it, it must be good.
Bazinga!