Short Circuit's Journal: Neon Genesis Evangelion

Well, I just finished watching Neon Genesis Evangelion, in two marathon sessions. Damn, what a good series. As a matter of circumstance, I had to watch it in Japanese, with English subtitles. (I couldn't get the English channel to work.) I must say, it was interesting.

I can now recognize a few Japanese words and phrases: Yes, No, and "I mustn't Run Away". I can sometimes also recognize when a name is spoken with a specific kind of disrespect. (In most cases, that was translated as "idiot (name)", where (name) is usually Shinji.)

Also interesting is the difference in the way the Japanese word for Yes is translated into English, depending on how it's spoken. If it's spoken quickly and abruptly, it means "Yes, sir." If it's spoken slowly, it has the same meaning as "Yeah." If it's spoken with a speed somewhere in between, it means a simple "Yes", or possibly another affirmative, depending on the context.

As for "I mustn't run away," well, it's the most often repeated phrase in the

Heh...I'll have to watch anime that way more often.

Getting back to the series, my favorite episode has to be episode 25, the beginning of Instrumentality. That episode had me thinking hard the whole time. What fun!

I sortof watched End of Evangelion. It, too, was only in Japanese, but I couldn't get even the English subtitles to work. But I did skim through it.

Quite a show...

[LordBodak]

I haven't watched it in a few years, maybe I need to sit down and do so again. Always been the only anime to really interest me.

Welcome to the club!

[ggvaidya]

I saw NGE about a week ago, also in two sittings; from what I can tell, Japanese-with-English subtitles is the ONLY right way to watch it - the English dub (atleast on the version I saw) was pretty cruddy.

My favourite episode's #26 (the final one), except that both #24 (the one with Kaworu) and #19 (the one with Eva-01 and the alien with the toilet paper hands) kicked ass.

End of Eva. is a brainfuck, but *very* pretty! Suggest you watch it by yourself late at night - it's quite the experience.

cheers!

Subtitling vs. Dubbing

[SeanDuggan]

Japanese-with-English subtitles is the ONLY right way to watch it - the English dub (atleast on the version I saw) was pretty cruddy.

I think it's pretty truthful that original-audio-with-subtitles is the only way to watch something made in a different language. I suppose it's possible for dubbers to recapture the original emotions for the audio, but it's a rare thing.

But yeah, NGE is pretty darn cool, although you get the feeling that the maker wasn't sure what kind of movie he wanted to make. It moved f

Re:Subtitling vs. Dubbing

[Short Circuit]

I think it's pretty truthful that original-audio-with-subtitles is the only way to watch something made in a different language. I suppose it's possible for dubbers to recapture the original emotions for the audio, but it's a rare thing.

You should watch the English version of Excel Saga. The original voice actress for the main character damaged her vocal chords through her portrayal of Excel; they had to switch voice actresses halfway through.