Some of my favorite Anime English Dubs of all time
In many circles, there are many who make the common argument that dubs are always inferior and that there is no such thing as a good, or at least passable, dub. However, that is an argument I refuse never believe. Since day one of my Anime fandom, I've experienced dubs I found to be much better than what I've heard so many people say. Everybody has their own preferences over which dub is great and which one isn't, but I am of the firm belief that the idea of dubs being automatically inferior is, at best, a false one.
I do not evaluate dubs how they compare to the Japanese version. I am not interested in the least in how the actors sound as opposed to their seiyuu counterparts. Nor am I so anal about having an ADR script sounding so slavishly accurate. I am more interested in how dubs flow as a whole on their own merits. This is not to say that I approve of dubbing jobs like the 4-Kids dubs or the Harmony Gold dubs of yesteryear. Still, there have been dubs that were blasted for various reasons that I feel are undeserved. Not that I haven't heard any bad dubs—on the contrary; but the argument that they should be avoided is not one I will ever believe.
That said, allow me to share my list of dubs which are among my favorites in no particular order. This is a personal list, and if there are titles you disagree with, keep in mind that I am entitled to my views as you are to yours. If I'm missing a title, I apologize, it's either because I haven't heard it yet, or didn't listen to enough of it. It's also possible that I might have liked it, but not to the point that I'd put it on my favorites. But it is very seldom that I've heard any truly horrid dubs.
If you want to read more detailed impressions of my choices, here is my blogspot on English Dubs: http://animeenglishdubreviews.blogspot.com/
I do not evaluate dubs how they compare to the Japanese version. I am not interested in the least in how the actors sound as opposed to their seiyuu counterparts. Nor am I so anal about having an ADR script sounding so slavishly accurate. I am more interested in how dubs flow as a whole on their own merits. This is not to say that I approve of dubbing jobs like the 4-Kids dubs or the Harmony Gold dubs of yesteryear. Still, there have been dubs that were blasted for various reasons that I feel are undeserved. Not that I haven't heard any bad dubs—on the contrary; but the argument that they should be avoided is not one I will ever believe.
That said, allow me to share my list of dubs which are among my favorites in no particular order. This is a personal list, and if there are titles you disagree with, keep in mind that I am entitled to my views as you are to yours. If I'm missing a title, I apologize, it's either because I haven't heard it yet, or didn't listen to enough of it. It's also possible that I might have liked it, but not to the point that I'd put it on my favorites. But it is very seldom that I've heard any truly horrid dubs.
If you want to read more detailed impressions of my choices, here is my blogspot on English Dubs: http://animeenglishdubreviews.blogspot.com/
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- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsMayumi TanakaKeiko YokozawaKotoe HatsuiA young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.This dub has taken quite a bit of undeserved flak from longtime fans of the original, mainly for casting the lead characters Pazu and Sheeta as teenagers rather than the pre-teens that their Japanese counterparts portray them as. That said, do James van der Beek and Anna Paquin spoil their roles OR the dub? Not at all. Both do fine jobs conveying their characters' emotions and expressions, although there are a couple of places where both miss lines. It's definitely not the worst I've heard though, and otherwise both are much better than they get credit for. Paquin's accent, inconsistent though it may be, adds a nice touch to Sheeta's character. Likewise, even if James' distinctively mature vocal tone takes some getting used to, he still provides enough enthusiasm to make up for that shortcoming.
Leads aside, the real stars of the dub are Cloris Leachman and Mark Hamill, both of who give the very best performances as Dola and Muska, respectively. Blessed with the best characters in the film to begin with, both nail their characters to a T and beyond and steal every scene they're in. The rest of the cast is no less entertaining, with Mandy Patinkin, Andy Dick, and Mike McShane all having a blast as Dola's three "boys", Richard Dysart as the kindly Uncle Pom, Tress MacNeille in a brief cameo as the wife of Pazu's boss, and multi-talented Jim Cummings as the military General.
What really makes "Castle"'s dub spectacular, though, is the glorious rescore provided by Joe Hisaishi, the man who wrote the original soundtrack. For this dub, Disney commissioned him to rework his sparse and electronic score into an extended arrangement for orchestra. The result is a deeply rich, full-sounding symphony that expands on the film in many ways, particularly in sequences such as the robot fight in the fortress and the climactic showdown in Laputa.
Although not without its faults—aside from the leads, the script is noticeably chattier, with quite a bit of extra dialogue (although the pirates' dialogue is funny) and there was at least one alteration toward the end I could do without—"Castle" is still a much underrated dub which is both a lot of fun and certainly deserving of a second chance. It's also better than the JAL/Streamline dub from the '80s—although that version is more "faithful", it's practically lifeless and robotic, as if it was made by people who didn't know how to dub a film. - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsYôji MatsudaYuriko IshidaYûko TanakaOn a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami's curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.Like "Castle", this is a love it or hate it dub. There are people who think that this is one of the worst dubs ever made and should never be watched, while others think it's one of the best. As someone who is a genial fan of all the Disney-Ghibli dubs, I naturally fall into the latter category.
For the adaptation script, Neil Gaiman does an excellent job of maintaining the essence of the original while rewording each line to sound like natural-spoken English. If there are any liberties he takes, they are hardly out of disrespect to the original.
As with any of the Disney dubs, the cast is an interesting selection of big-name talent and traditional voice actors. Billy Crudup does an outstanding job as the main character Ashi-taka, embuing him with a stoic gravity and vulnerability. Minnie Driver's distinctively Irish-accented Lady Eboshi is cool, steely, and elegant in tone, while Gillian Anderson and even some of the more eccentrically cast roles such as Billy Bob Thornton as the monk Jigo, Jada Pinkett-Smith as Toki, and Claire Danes as the title character (despite a few missed lines) all turn in excellent performances. Keith David is the man who steals the show, though, in his minor cameo as the boar god Okkoto. He also narrates the opening.
All told, there really is no reason why this dub should be dismissed; it is a carefully produced, well-executed effort that holds up well even after repeated viewings. - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsHitoshi TakagiNoriko HidakaChika SakamotoWhen two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.And by that I mean both the FOX dub AND the Disney versions. Yes I know that both have their differences, but does that make one better than the other? In my honest opinion, no. The FOX version is a classic of its time, but Disney's version does no disservice. The only weakness of the latter version is the somewhat more gung-ho delivery of the opening song. In all fairness, it's not grating enough to take one out of the film.
That aside, both casts give excellent performances. Lisa Michelson and Cheryl Chase are lively and spirited as Satsuki and Mei, respectively, although one shouldn't write off Dakota and Elle Fanning's takes. Since both are sisters in real life, casting them in the lead roles is a fabulous choice, and it pays off very well. Actually, Elle outshines Dakota in many scenes—mainly because her role as Mei is the juicier of the two, but while her older sister's work in this film is a bit short of what she would bring to "Coraline", she still does a sound job overall.
Gregory Snegoff and Tim Daly play their scatterbrained but lovable father very well, while Alexandra Kenworthy and Lea Salonga are warm and comforting as their hospitalized mother. Pat Carroll is a very amusing choice for the role of Granny, especially if you're used to her as Ursula from "The Little Mermaid", as she is more recognizable than Natalie Core, but either way, it's a treat to her her in a Ghibli film. Frank Welker provides the voice for Totoro himself; ironically he doesn't have much dialogue. All he gets to do is roar thunderously, growl, and inhale deeply—and he isn't even in the picture for that long.
Fans will rage on for what will seem like eternity over which version is better, but I am of the very opinion that both are excellent dubs in their own right. Each puts their stamp on this classic film. - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsKirsten DunstMinami TakayamaRei SakumaA young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.This was Disney's first entry to the Studio Ghibli dubs, and, like the others mentioned, it's hotly debated. On one hand, there are hardcore fans who DESPISE this dub for whatever reason and beg for viewers to avoid it. On the other hand, there are already fans of Disney's version of "Kiki", including this writer.
For all the quibbles about the minor deviations from the script ("coffee" vs. "hot chocolate" and whether Jiji should or shouldn't talk at the end), there isn't anything wrong with "Kiki" as a whole. It's a splendidly cast and well acted production, with Kirsten Dunst doing a fine job in the title role. The dub is also noteable for being the last film that Phil Hartman worked on. He voices Kiki's black cat, Jiji, with a distinctively smarmier tone than his feminine counterpart, but it really is hard not to enjoy his comic timing and snarky one-liners. ("Smooth. VERY smooth. You DEFINITELY know how to make a good first impression," he chides Kiki after the latter almost gets into an accident.) Love or hate it, Hartman is the highlight of the show.
The rest of the cast is well chosen, too, with the ubiquitous (and by that I mean she gets to play roles in just about EVERY Ghibli dub!) Tress MacNeille as the kindly baker Osono, Matthew Lawrence as the geeky but loveable Tombo, Janeane Garofolo as the wise-beyond-her-years painter Ursula, and Debbie Reynolds as the kindly Madame. All turn in effectively charming and wonderful performances that still hold up well to this day.
As with "Castle", "Kiki"'s dub has some noticeable changes in the music score. While the former was arguably improved by the richer, fuller-sounds of the orchestra, "Kiki"'s alterations consist of additional pieces of music provided by Paul Chihara, some of which is pleasant and inoffensive, but others out of place. (The thumping drum beat on the scene where Tombo takes Kiki for a ride on his bicycle provides a punchy, exuberant tone to the moment, although one wonders if it was necessary to quote "In the Hall of the Mountain King" when Kiki is attacked by crows.) Probably more significant are the replacing of the opening and ending songs by American-style numbers by Sydney Forest. While Chihara's incidental pieces are debatable, these new songs are bouncy and lively. Sure, they do make the film feel more "Americanized", but they are also very fitting to the film's tone. This is another one of my favorites. - DirectorYoshifumi KondôStarsYoko HonnaIssei TakahashiTakashi TachibanaA love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.This is another one of my top favorite Ghibli dubs. It does a great job of translating a potentially difficult story to audiences in America unfamiliar with the cultural differences the original provides. For instance, John Denver's song "Take me Home Country Roads" plays a significant part in the story--the focal point is the lead character Shizuku trying to translate it into Japanese. Naturally, that wouldn't make sense to American audiences, so scriptwriters Donald and Cindy Hewitt opt to have Shizuku write her own lyrics for the song (as an alma mater piece). The compromise may seem odd at first, but it works quite well and never feels contrived.
Anyone familiar with the "Kingdom Hearts" videogames will recognize the voices for the lead characters Shizuku and Seiji—they're played by Namine (Brittany Snow) and Riku (David Gallagher). Both do fine jobs with their roles, especially Brittany, who gets to sing midway through the film. As a surprise bonus, Snow's real-life best friend, Ashley Tisdale, plays Shizuku's best friend Yuko. Tisdale is mostly recognized for her work in the forgettable "High School Musical", but her work as Yuko exceeds that by far. The cast in general is very good, however, Elliot Gould as the kindly Mr. Nishi and Cary Elwes as the charismatic Baron steal the show. Both give the best performances in the show and are a joy to listen to. (It should also be noted that Elwes would reprise his role in "The Cat Returns", a weak film by Ghibli standards, but as well dubbed as the others.)
All in all, this one is for the heart (no pun intended). - StarsVic MignognaAaron DismukeRomi ParkWhen a failed alchemical ritual leaves brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric with severely damaged bodies, they begin searching for the one thing that can save them: the fabled philosopher's stone.I'll be honest. I've never really paid attention to much of FuniMation's dubbing as a whole. But "Fullmetal Alchemist" is a top-notch achievement, thanks to enthusiastic performances by everyone involved, a well written script, and for being an obvious labor of love throughout. Vic Mignogna has publicly declared that the lead character, Edward Elric, is one of his favorite roles, and the unrestrained, all-out enthusiasm he provides for him really shows. He is complimented by a young Aaron Dismuke as his younger brother, Alphonse (Al), who spends most of the time talking in a suit of armor. (Actually, Dismuke used a plastic bowl to give off the "armor" effect!) Other noteworthy performances include Caitlin Glass as the brothers' loyal mechanic Winry Rockbell, Travis Willingham as the no-nonsense officer Roy Mustang, and Laura Bailey as one of the sultry villainesses of the piece, the aptly named Lust. For all fifty-one episodes of this show, everyone gives their all and make this show all the more memorable. Chances are you may have heard this dub already, but it goes up in my list for obvious reasons.
- StarsNoriko HidakaNathan ParsonsJames Arnold TaylorA teen acrobat of mysterious origins and a young inventor find themselves entangled in a sinister plot that involves the fate of the world.This is another one of my all-time favorite dubs, and one of the most underrated. No, I'm not talking about the Streamline version from several years ago, but the newer version released by the now defunct ADV studios. Recorded at Austin's similarly defunct Monster Island Studios, a lot of serious thought and effort went into the making of this dub, and its mysterious and baffling that it never gets the credit it deserves. What really makes it special are the casting of actual children in the roles of the young protagonists, Nathan Parsons as the young inventor Jean, Margaret Cassidy as the sprightly Marie, and of course, Meg Bauman as Nadia herself. For inexperienced youngsters, all three do excellent jobs... although it does take a while to get accustomed to Jean's sometimes inconsistent French accent (considering the nation of the character, though, it's more than justified). These starlets are joined by a similarly enjoyable adult supporting cast, including Sarah Richardson, Martin Blacker, and Corey Gagne as the series' comical characters, the Grandis Gang, Ev Lunning Jr. as the mysterious Captain Nemo, Jennifer Stuart as the British-accented Electra, and David Jones as the foreboding, misanthropic villain Gargoyle. Also worthy of note is the use of accents for each character. Critics have dismissed the dub for this approach, as there are times when they do falter, but considering that this is a series set in Europe, providing neutral accents would be a mistake. If anything, I feel it adds flavor to the richly in-depth cast of characters, particularly on the Nautilus, where the crew are individuals from around the world. All in all, this is a much overlooked dub that seriously deserves a second look. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you do so... provided you skip episodes 23-29 and 32-34.
- StarsTakeshi KusaoYumi TômaKappei YamaguchiA group of medieval adventurers must participate in a war against dark forces in the land of Lodoss.This choice may come across as a surprise to readers; after all this is a dub from the '90s, a time when English tracks were, at best, subpar. That said, "Record of Lodoss War" is a dub that I stand behind even after all this time. Particularly noteworthy is the voice acting debut of Lisa Ortiz as the series' most memorable character, the mystical high-elf Deedlit. Although better known as Lina Inverse from "Slayers" (more on that later), her first role is still a very solid, enjoyable performance, and one of my favorites from her ever. Actually, most of the cast members in this dub that were first timers as well. In particular, Ed Paul, who plays mild-mannered priest Etoh, had his career in voiceovers jumpstarted on account of his participation in this dub. Most of my other favorite voices include Al Muscari (Slayn), Greg Wolfe (Ghim), Simone Grant (Karla/Leylia), John Knox (Ashram), and Bruce Winant (Wagnard). The man responsible for bringing these talents in is none other than Bill Timoney, who not only served as the voice director for the first eight episodes, but also voices the hero, Parn (and I will admit that I still do love his performance in this show to this day). It's not perfect: there are a couple of stiff-sounding moments, occasional dialogue that sounds awkward and/or unsynched, and a couple of minor character voices that could stand to be better. On the whole, however, it's one of the better dubs from the mid '90s and even holds up well on its own turf. And it's superior to the more problematic and inconsistent "Chronicles of the Heroic Knight".
- CreatorRui AraizumiHajime KanzakaStarsMegumi HayashibaraYasunori MatsumotoLisa OrtizThe adventures of a teenage sorceress and her companions as they quest for gold and glory (especially gold).(Actually, this extends to all five seasons.)
As mentioned, Lisa Ortiz got her big break as the sassy heroine of this comedy fantasy series, self-proclaimed sorcery genius Lina Inverse. Her performance is spot-on, conveying the character's nature to a tee and beyond. She is joined by Eric Stuart as the more thick-headed but loyal knight Gourry, and the chemistry between them is spot-on hilarious. Veronica Taylor and Crispin Freeman also deserve mention for their work as Amelia and Zelgadis. Both characters are initially voiced by inferior counterparts in the first 13 episodes, but once these two performers take over, it's all uphill from there. All four provide their characters with an infectious exuberance that really makes the series a joy to watch. While there are a couple of less-than-stellar voices in the minor cast (particularly Stacia Crawford's Syphiel) and a few moments of delivery that sound off, this is otherwise a favorite of mine. As a bonus, after Central Park Media went under, Funimation went above and beyond the call of duty to get Lisa, Crispin, Veronica, and Crispin to reprise their roles for the next two seasons they licensed. It's always great to have consistency. - StarsVeronica TaylorMegan HollingsheadDick RodsteinTV series that tells the every-day stories of a group of teenagers in high-school, focusing on their romances and personal problems.Veronica Taylor may claim that Ash is her favorite role, but I personally think her greatest performance ever is as the lead character Yukino Miyazawa in this alternatingly funny and heartwarming comedy-romance series. As the story progresses, the character undergoes a lot of development, from her initially selfish and egocentric appearances in the first episodes to a genuinely caring young woman in the last. Taylor conveys all of Yukino's facets beautifully, to the point where it's hard to imagine anyone else doing any better. Actually, the rest of the cast is excellent as well, with Lisa Ortiz turning in a powerful performance as the bratty but sympathetic Tsubasa Shibahime, Liam O'Brien as the flamboyant, smarmy Hideaki Asaba, and two very memorable turns from Oliver Wyman (Yukino's father) and Ed Paul (Takefumi Tonami in the final arc). I will admit that there are times when the script loses some of the cultural humor in the translation, but that's such a petty price to pay for everything else it offers.
- StarsVeronica TaylorMamiko NotoJamie McGonnigalKazuto is a fourteen year old boy who meets a strange girl named Narue who says that she is an alien.One of the latter day Central Media Park dubs is also one of their finest. Thanks to terrific direction from Tom Wayland and excellent performances from everyone involved, this dub succeeds as being a "direct hit to your heart" and beyond. Veronica Taylor, Jamie McGonnigal, Jimmy Zoppi, Rachel Lillis, and Carol Jacobanis are all superb in their roles. Even so, the real star of the show is Michelle Knotz as the series' most interesting character, Hajime Yagi, a self-proclaimed UFO expert who has a gradual change of heart midway through the show. Knotz received the role by way of winning a contest at the New York Anime Festival, and since then she has gone on to have a career in voicing characters in "Pokemon", but Yagi is the role I'll always remember her for. She is fantastic in the part.
- CreatorHajime YatateStarsAyako KawasumiBob BuchholzBridget HoffmanThe adventures of an outlaw crew of an advanced starship.Robert Wicks voices Gene Starwind, a sort-of Han Solo type of character with the same swaggering, reckless nature and brash overconfidence in this entertaining dub from AniMaze inc. Wendee Lee's sultry Twilight Suzuka and Lenore Zann as the explosively tempramental (but hilarious) Aisha ClanClan also excel, but the standout of the dub is Brianne Sidall as Jim Hawken. She sounds so convincing as a young boy that I couldn't believe that it was a woman doing the voice all along. That's how seamless her performance is.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsYasuo YamadaEiko MasuyamaKiyoshi KobayashiA dashing thief, his gang of desperadoes and an intrepid cop struggle to free a princess from an evil count, and learn the secret of a treasure that she holds part of the key to.I haven't seen Streamline's dub, but I really do love AniMaze's revamp. My only quibble is that the scriptwriters shoehorn too much profanity into what should be a lighthearted, fun tale for everyone. Nonetheless, it's a zesty dub to listen to; David Hayter (yes, Solid Snake) is unrecognizable as the charismatic thief Lupin, and Doughary Grant is a hoot as the persistent Zenigata, stealing every scene he's in. Kirk Thornton is an amusingly pompous and menacing Count Cagliostro, while Ruby Marlowe turns in an effective performance as the lonesome heroine Clarisse. All in all, it's great fun.
- DirectorKatsuhiro ÔtomoStarsMitsuo IwataNozomu SasakiMami KoyamaA secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.I will be honest. I'm not a fan of this movie by any means, and I was pretty disgusted by its initial dub distributed by Streamline. However, the AniMaze dub is something else. It is a much more coherent, better written effort with arguably better voice acting than its more laughable and obnoxious counterpart. Johnny Yong Bosch has a blast playing the cocky Kaneda (he seems to get typecast to play every heroic role, but whatever), while Joshua Seth effectively makes Tetsuo a needy, insecure, struggling, and later on psychopathic anti-hero. Wendee Lee is also very good as Kei, as are James Lyon as the stern Colonel. My only quibble is that the dialogue doesn't always sync up: this is one of the few animated films to have the words match the Japanese mouth movements perfectly, but otherwise, a big improvement over the original dub and the only way I'll ever sit through this film.
- CreatorKeiko NobumotoStarsSarah HauserDarren PleavinKenta MiyakeIn a post-apocalyptic future where humans live in domed cities surrounded by wasteland, wolves are assumed to be two hundred years extinct.It's funny that I should follow up "Akira" with a dub that also features Johnny and Joshua in leading roles, but that's what Wolf's Rain is. It is without question a fabulous dub, and I regret it has taken me so long to see it. Crispin Freeman, as usual, turns in a fabulous performance as the bitter but secretly soft-hearted Tsuge, and Kari Wahlgren is very memorable as a nosy scientist. I can't think of anything bad to say about this one.
- DirectorYoshiaki KawajiriStarsAndrew PhilpotJohn Rafter LeePamela AdlonA legendary dhampir competes with a motley family of bounty hunters to return a young woman, who has been seemingly abducted by a vampire, to her family.Jack Fletcher is a "go-to" person for mixing traditional voice actors with Anime voiceovers, as his top-notch efforts for "Kiki", "Mononoke", and "Castle", respectively all prove, and this is no exception. Actually, "Bloodlust" may not be properly called a dub at all, as this serves as the film's native language track. Nonetheless, it's an effectively cast and well acted affair, with strong production values and careful attention to lip-synching. Andrew Philpot's considerably deadpan turn as the title character is hardly a detriment, as it gives the character a very stoic, emotionally distant quality that works in favor of his personality. John DiMaggio gets to have multiple roles, but the two actors who steal the show are John Rafter Lee as the sultry, smooth Meier Link and Mike McShane as D's chatty, wisecracking left hand. The latter gets all the best lines, particularly the last that ends the movie: "You're not so bad after all. You just DRESS bad." If you were put off by the dub of the original, fear not: this is a better effort all around.
- DirectorMamoru HosodaStarsRiisa NakaTakuya IshidaMitsutaka ItakuraA high-school girl named Makoto acquires the power to travel back in time, and decides to use it for her own personal benefits. Little does she know that she is affecting the lives of others just as much as she is her own.Ocean Studio dubs are often hit and miss, but this is one of their finest efforts. Mainly due to Emily Hirsh's beyond amazing performance of the film's lead character, Makoto. Ingeniously, she is roughly the character's age, which lends her performance an authenticity that adds an intangible tone of infectiousness. She laughs, pouts, screams, cries, and exerts her way through the movie with a tone that is so natural that one cannot help but love her. Likewise, Andrew Francis turns in one of his finest performances ever as her best friend/secret admirer Chiaki. I honestly didn't realize it was him until the credits rolled. That's a testament to how great a dub can be. Well produced and acted all around.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsSumi ShimamotoMahito TsujimuraHisako KyôdaWarrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.Although near the bottom tier of my list, "Nausicaa" is still an excellent dub; compared to the abysmal edit of "Warriors of the Wind" (which Disney didn't even do), this is a competently produced, well-scripted, solidly performed effort that doesn't omit even one second. Alison Lohman does a fine job as Nausicaa, even though she does falter in places, while Patrick Stewart takes the spotlight as Lord Yupa. Uma Thurman, Chris Sarandon, Edward James Olmos, and Tress MacNeille all turn in good performances as well. Mark Hamill even gets to have a cameo role as the Pejite Mayor, although I personally think his Muska is much better. Only Shia LaBeouf's stiff-sounding Asbel serves as the weak link, although he does improve in his later scenes. (Even then, a lesser performance in a Ghibli dub is still better than 99.9% of the worst dubs around.)
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsDaveigh ChaseSuzanne PleshetteMiyu IrinoDuring her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.I know some of you may be surprised why I have this so low on my list. It's not that I dislike this dub; on the contrary. But I don't think it should be considered the "ONLY" Ghibli dub to ever watch, as I think all of the Disney produced dub tracks are perfectly fine. Even so, aside from Daveigh Chase's sometimes shrilly Chihiro, this is a very solid effort all around, with Suzanne Pleshette stealing the show as the witch Yubaba and her more simplistic sister Zeniba. David Ogden Stiers, Susan Egan, and John Ratzenberger all turn in solid work as well. To be fair, there are some places where the script does take some liberties, but never out of disrespect to the original. Major kudos to John Lasseter for persuading Disney to release the rest of Miyazaki's work stateside, starting with this film.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsChieko BaishôTakuya KimuraTatsuya GashûinWhen an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.Two words: Billy Crystal. As great as this dub is, Crystal's performance as the fussy fire demon Calcifer is what really puts it over the top. Like Hartman in "Kiki", he gets all the best lines in the picture and owns every scene he's in with style. Christian Bale is mostly effective as Howl, although it is curious that he decides to give his character a neutral accent instead of his natural British one—this is, after all, a British fantasy. That said, there really isn't anything to fault about this dub at all. Like all the others on this list, it is a top-quality, well made effort that cements Miyazaki's belief that subtitles are not a necessity to enjoy the rich visuals of this man's work.