How's it going my gumdrops? As I scrolled down the page of a sub-forum last week, a poster was griping about Yuri Lowenthal always being casted in Anime. For those, who don't know about Yuri Lowenthal, he has quite an extensive resume.
Yuri Lowenthal is a voice actor, who mostly voices Japanese animation and video games; He is mostly known for voicing Japanese characters in English dubs. I cannot deny feeling somewhat envious of Yuri's accomplishments.
He is a married man and a published author, who is fluent in French, Japanese, German, and English. Even though I never wanted to learn French, it's as if the man is really successful and has at least 1 of my dream jobs (being a published author).
Yuri Lowenthal is best known for voicing Pip Bernadotte in the Hellsing Ultimate OVA's, Suzaku Kururugi in Code Geass, Hiroki Rokujo in Tokko, the bratty, Emo character, Sasuke Uchiha from the Naruto and Boruto franchises, Gurren Lagann's Simon, Noein's Yuu, and Bleach's Keigo Asano. This is only naming a few roles.
Throughout the last decade or so, Yuri Lowenthal has voiced a plethora of characters. Even though I despise the character he voices (Sasuke Uchiha) in Naruto and Boruto, Yuri Lowenthal is able to show Sasuke's anger and resentment towards his double agent, older brother, Itachi.
Speaking of voicing characters, have you ever watched the Shojo Horror Action Anime, Vampire Knight in English?
Years before ever building It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns and OMG Anna! What's Going On?!, I have ALWAYS said, that Vampire Knight NEEDS a re-dub. The English dub is not exactly terrible. However, the voice acting sounds cartoonishly generic. If I could, I would GLADLY take the position of being a casting director specifically for voicing characters in English.
Many fans love to nit pick how characters are voiced in Japanese animation (Anime). There are fans, who will only watch Anime in English subtitles because they HATE the English dubs and vice versa. Depending on a series, I will watch it in English subtitles, dubbed, or both in English and Japanese. I am not that nit picky about how I watch Anime.
Lately, I have been watching Anime more in English dub because I don't feel like reading English subtitles, while characters speak in Japanese. Also, sometimes the characters and the scripts sound better dubbed in English. It really all depends on the situation at the time.
Those who have been my readers and subscribers on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns and have been following me on Google Plus for the last 2-3 years, may recall, that I published a Cartoon Sunday blog about Shojo Anime, that need re-dubs.
Cartoon Sunday: Shojo Anime That Need Re-Dubs
More than anything, I would LOVE to see Vampire Knight be re-dubbed. The English dub sounds incredibly generic for the main characters.
The voice actors for Kaname Kuran, Yuki Cross, and Zero Kiryu (which are the 3 main characters in the series) are unconvincing as characters and lack charisma.
I really wished, that Crispin Freeman was casted as Kaname, Johnny Yong Bosch or Yuri Lowenthal as Zero, and Laura Bailey as Yuki in Vampire Knight. Crispin Freeman has probably voiced just as many characters, if not more than Yuri Lowenthal.
In the Hellsing franchise, Crispin Freeman voices the vampire Alucard. Considering all the characters he has voiced over the last 2 decades or so, Crispin has the charisma to play dark yet seductive roles. He would be best suited to voice Vampire Knight's Kaname Kuran.
In the Naruto franchise, Crispin Freeman voices Itachi Uchiha. Itachi is Sasuke's older brother. The characters used to have a brotherly love for each other.
That was until Itachi convinced Sasuke into believing, that he massacred their ENTIRE clan. After torturing Sasuke with his Mangekyou Sharingan Eyes by Itachi showing him images of how he killed their parents and other family members, Sasuke hated him since that day.
Naruto: Sasuke Vs Itachi {English Dub} (2005)
Already having knowledge about both those characters and who voiced them, I believe Crispin and Yuri would be a perfect match for Kaname Kuran and Zero Kiryu in Vampire Knight. If you have ever watched Vampire Knight, you already know that Zero is a very bitter and resentful Level E Vampire.
Zero is jealous of Yuki's feelings for Kaname. Zero also hates the fact, that Shizuka killed his parents and turned he and his evil twin into vampires. This is in addition to his hatred for vampires and watching the way Day Class Students lust after the Vampire Night Class. All of this really infuriates Zero.
Vampire Knight: Zero Vs Inchiru {English Dub} (2008)
If Yuri Lowenthal could not be re-casted as the role of Zero Kiryu, my next choice would be Bleach's Johnny Yong Bosch. In Bleach, Johnny plays the protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki (another angry character) and in Code Geass, he plays Lelouch. I find it fascinating, that Johnny and Yuri played in both Bleach and Code Geass together.
Both voice actors have played melodramatic, "anti-hero," and villainous roles with a God Complex. Therefore, I believe either Johnny, or Yuri could play Zero and his evil twin brother, Ichiru in Vampire Knight.
I really would've loved for Laura Bailey to have been casted as Yuki Cross in Vampire Knight, but she was casted as the character, Maria. Since Laura has voiced multiple characters on several shows in the past, she could've and should've (in my opinion) voiced Yuki as well as Maria.
Now, who could voice Hanabusa Aidou?
Recently, I discovered that Bryce Papenbrook voiced Hanabusa Aidou. He is best known for voicing the protagonist, Rin Okumura in Blue Exorcist and JoJo's Bizare Adventure: Battle Tendency's Caesar Zeppeli.
Discovering that Papenbrook not only voiced Hanabusa Aidou or "Idol Senpai," but also has ton of fans, who HATE his voice acting, was something I would've never expected!
I don't exactly hate Bryce Papenbrook as a voice actor. I enjoyed listening to him voice Rin and Caesar. Although, his voice did not suit Aidou. After learning that Bryce Papenbrook voiced Hanabusa Aidou, I feel disappointed. He did not exactly fit the role.
Vampire Knight: Kaname Kuran & Hanabusa Aidou {English Dub} (2008)
Bryce Papenbrook voicing Hanabusa Aidou made the character seem bratty. At least, that was my impression after watching the English dub of Vampire Knight.
Granted, Aidou is a trust fund brat for a vampire but Papenbrook voicing Aidou made the character seem really bratty and juvenile.
Who could've been a better voice actor for Hanabusa Aidou?
How about Brad Swaile? Are there any objections to Brad Swaile voicing Hanabusa Aidou, if Vampire Knight was ever re-dubbed?
If you have no idea who Brad Swaile is, he is best known for voicing Death Note's Light Yagami and Rock from Black Lagoon. Swaile has the ability to play evil, cunning, and submissive roles.
On the other hand, I am really liking Brandon McInnis as Finral Roulacase in Black Clover. Finral is that flirtatious Don Juan, who gets his face slapped. Aidou has that in common with Finral. Aidou loves flirting with the Day Class Students and Kaname loves bitch slapping him, whenever he attacks Yuki.
Hanabusa is a character, that knows when to be evil, antagonistic, flirtatious, and charming, and knows when to be submissive to Kaname Kuran. Brad Swaile or Brandon McInnis would be my choices for voicing "Idol Senpai" in Vampire Knight.
Now, who could voice Akatsuki Kain?
Even though Akatsuki is in love with Ruka, he is more of an apathetic vampire. Either Devil May Cry's Reuben Langdon, or JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Matthew Mercer could voice Akatsuki Kain.
So, what are your thoughts? If Vampire Knight was ever re-dubbed, would you choose some other voice actors, that were not mentioned in today's blog?
Thank you my gumdrops! Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, +1 on Google Plus, and leave your feedback in the comments section below!
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