Voice Acting Discussion

[Lex]

So I rewatched AC yesterday and for the first time since I bought the DVD back in 2006 or whatever, I watched it in English (got ACC in the post yesterday).

I've tried to watch the English dub a few times, but I always change it back to Japanese right around the time the three sephiteers appear on the screen. Because I think their VA's are fucking shocking.

However, I discovered that I actually really liked a few of the VA's. Of note:

Steve Burton shocked me. I don't know if I was expecting it to be shitty because people complain about Cloud's character in AC, but he really brought a more cheerful dimension to the character (later in the movie). I found his voice so appropriate.

Rachel Leigh Cook was a lot softer than I would want Tifa's to be (and than the JP VA's), but I think she did an impressive job. I don't think I'd feel shitty if they changed her VA for the remake, but I wouldn't mind if it was her again.

Steve Blum as Vincent. Kind of goes without saying because I thought he was well voiced in Dirge too.

Nobody else really stood out to me. I think Mena Suvari is a terrible Aerith, and would for sure prefer Andrea Bowen.

Also as a side note yesterday is the first time I've ever watched the Episode Denzel OVA and it hit me right in the feels. I've read the novella before but something about the way it's animated is really cool. Doesn't get enough praise.

 

[ForceStealer]

You only just got ACC? Was this your first time watching it?

 

[Shademp]

I have only watched the English dub twice. It is a mixed bag ranging from terrible to decent to very good, ergo why it is so difficult and jading for me to watch. I have had the Japanese version play in the background on my computer countless times though.

I approve of most English voice actors in the Compilation though. I'd very much like to see them return for the remake, but I'd also want reassurance that they get proper direction for every scene.

 

[Lex]

You only just got ACC? Was this your first time watching it?

Oh no no no. I've seen it a thousand times, I just never owned the thing . It's the only FFVII related thing I didn't day-one buy, and that's because at the time I had no way to play blu-rays. Also I already had the Advent Children DVD so it truly felt like wasted money since there was no collectors edition or anything here. The only plus I would get from owning it is... well owning it, and having easy access to switch between English and Japanese voice acting. And since my desire to watch it with the English VA's is less than zero...

I have only watched the English dub twice. It is a mixed bag ranging from terrible to decent to very good, ergo why it is so difficult and jading for me to watch. I have had the Japanese version play in the background on my computer countless times though.

I approve of most English voice actors in the Compilation though. I'd very much like to see them return for the remake, but I'd also want reassurance that they get proper direction for every scene.

This is one thing I find weird. I have no problem with the English voice acting in Crisis Core or Dirge, but I think the English voice acting in AC is terrible. It's like they focused too hard on getting big names, and some of them were just terrible VA's even if they were well known actors.

 

[Tennyo]

So glad there's someone else who likes Steve Burton as Cloud. He gets a lot of hate. I know he may not be the best actor in the world but I like his voice. I think it fits Cloud.

 

[Joe]

I think what bothers me most is that the voices for Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz are really appealing to me, but the execution and direction is god awful.

Personally I quite like ACC's voice cast otherwise but if I were to change anybody it would be Yuffie. She just didn't seem to stand out.

 

[Lex]

I was really listening to his voice and thinking "this dude could do a fantastic job with the remake". I thought it fit Cloud too, to my own surprise. I HAVE watched it English one time before, but I was so taken aback with some of the voices I resolved never to do it again. It doesn't help that a friend made me a copy of a super early release version of AC (I think it may even have been pre-release) when I was in high school and I watched it like a hundred times with subs before the English version was even a thing.

EDIT: I hated all three "remnant" voices. Hated. Loz's had some good moments during the fight with Tifa, but the rest was utter garbage.

 

[Shademp]

Some of Yuffie's lines in Advent Children could sound better, but I think her voice itself is perfect and I liked her in in KHII and Dirge of Cerberus. If Mae Whitman doesn't voice Yuffie in the remake I will most likely be disappointed.

 

[Tetsujin]

Personally I quite like ACC's voice cast otherwise but if I were to change anybody it would be Yuffie. She just didn't seem to stand out.

They *did* change Yuffie's voice actually.

 

[ForceStealer]

Another unsung hero of ACComplete is Marlene. The original Marlene was okay, but the new one in Complete is phenomenal.

 

[Lex]

So they did, I just looked that up. Mae Whitman for KHII and DoC and Christy Carlson Romano for AC and KHI. Mae Whitman is better

EDIT: Force, I agree that ACC EN Marlene is better than AC EN Marlene, but nothing matches JP.

LAIFUSTREAMU, NANE-MO... or whatever she says. I can't deal with the movie not starting like that XD.

 

[Shademp]

They *did* change Yuffie's voice actually.

...Holy crap you appear to be right. o___O

At least according to imdb, Yuffie's English VA in Advent Children is Christy Carlson Romano. I need to look into multiple sources now.

EDIT: Yup, it checks out.

 

[ForceStealer]

Yes, Shademp. Yuffie absolutely has two voices. Mae Whitman and Christy Carlson Romano. I actually thought Romano did a good job, but there's nothing wrong with Whitman. Yuffie was just annoying in DC.

@Lex, maybe, but English Marlene impersonating Barret is flawless and I won't trade it for the Japanese one.

 

[Tennyo]

Yeah, it's really hard to tell the different between Yuffie's voice actresses. Thy sound a lot alike.

The only voice that I found to be overly grating to the point where I can't stand it was Aerith. I'm sure Mena Suvari is a nice person and all but she needs to be replaced.

I'm also a tiny but unsure about Rufus. I mean it wasn't awful but I was never quite sure if I liked it, either.

 

[Shademp]

I'm also a tiny but unsure about Rufus. I mean it wasn't awful but I was never quite sure if I liked it, either.

In a way that's appropriate, because we are supposed to be not sure if we like and/or trust Rufus. WHERE DO WE HAVE HIM

 

[ForceStealer]

Yeah, Aerith was the only one that actively bothered me too. I don't even really mind Steve Staley as Kadaj, I liked him in Star Ocean III also
I never really thought about Rufus one way or the other. I guess that's a good thing. But I didn't think "Perfect!" or anything. He nailed the "good son would have known," at least.

Reeve and Zack are both perfect.

 

[Shademp]

I listened to Japanese Reeve and English Reeve back to back recently. It amazes me how they are perfect counterparts to one another. They almost sound like the same guy, except in different languages. Always a joy to listen to either of them.

Zack's voice actor carries Crisis Core, especially in the English game. If not for Zack's English VA that game would have a way worse reputation.

 

[Tetsujin]

Voice acting in the entire compilation is a mixed bag imo.

I like Cloud's voice but he's had his share of bad line readings imo =P
I always cringe when he asks Vincent "What do you mean by intruder?" because he says it in the most monotone and bored way a human being could possibly read a line.

I think the ones that seem the most consistently decent are Quinton Flynn as Reno, Steve Blum as Vincent and Rick Gomez as Zack. Also the dude who voiced Reeve, he's got a nice voice.

 

[Lex]

Yeah Reeve's voice is awesome. It also helps that DoC's interpretation of him is quite an attractive dude.

 

[Pixel]

Rachel Lea Cook's voice suits the character, but her voice acting is sometimes terrible. She is awful in that Star Wars game she did. She wasnt too great in Dissidia either.

They need a better voice director who can run lines with inexperienced VAs, or has an ear for good voice acting at the very least.

 

[ForceStealer]

I like her fight noises, lol. Itou's are kinda screechy, not a huge fan of those.

 

[Joe]

Can you imagine if they made it a 'faithful' remake and left the whole thing unvoiced?

 

[Splintered]

You're going to have to excuse me, I've only watched the English dub long ago and I can't find my copy of AC/C, I almost always prefer fantranslations.

I think Cloud's and Tifa's VA's are fine for the most part, just not something I expected their voices to be. For Tifa she's pretty okay but I always thought they could get a better one, but she works well. I actually think Cloud's is okay, but he voices a very specific Cloud and he could totally work with better voice director.

I remember hating Barret's and Cid's. It's hard to tell because Barret's voices lines were very one note in terms of character, and it's impossible to tell how he will perform in the more dramatic moments. I'm very protective of Barret tbh, and I will cut someone if they fuck up his moments.

Looking at clips from Cid's from Dirge, I dunno. It wasn't that bad from what I remember, but still not much of a fan.


Aerith keeps changing voice actors. Honestly Mandy Moore was the best but Andrea Bowen is pretty good too. I have never met a single person who thought Mena Suarvi was any good, it was an autrocity, which sucks because KH II was truer to Aerith's real character than KHI.

I don't remember Yuffies or Red's, which is good. It means there was nothing glaring terrible.

Steve Blum as Vincent is a given, it's Steve Blum. Jameson Price does Reeve, and I've always been a fan of him, he's always been fantastic, and he's been in a lot.

 

[SomethingWithTheR]

Yeah, the voice acting in the English version of the compilations were mostly a mixed bag. Pretty bland performances throughout. They have good voices for the characters with some exceptions like Cid (that accent doesn't suit him at all), but they need a better voice directing team, and maybe the option to tweak the script whenever they need to, they could be much better.

The best ones are ACC Marlene, Mae Whitman's Yuffie, Steve Blum's Vincent, Quinton Flynn's Reno, Rick Gomez as Zack and of course Jamieson Price as Reeve (Price is usually the best performance in just about....everything he's in haha The guy is a really good actor). And, I have a soft spot for Greg Ellis as Cait Sith. haha Though, even a few of those still aren't the best that they could be.

 

[CameoAmalthea]

Who should voice the voices inside Cloud's head?