James Arnold Taylor and potential anime roles

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nisar j

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When it comes to English voice acting in Japanese anime, I usually find them from plan out bad (like Pokemon) to very good (Miyazaki's films dubbed by Disney). However, I think there is a voice actor that have some great potential for anime voice acting for English dubs, James Arnold Taylor. Now, for those who don't know who that guy is, he is well-known for voice acting role of Obi-wan Kenobi in the 3D TV series Star Wars: the Clone Wars as well Tidus from the video game Final Fantasy X (where the later I consider to be the best of Mr. Taylor's voice acting). Now, the reason why I think James Arnold Taylor should have more anime roles is because he puts a lot of emphasis into the character when acting out the voice of the character.

But sadly, I found the reality that the reason why James Arnold Taylor have limited anime roles is due to legal reasons. From a PM in youtube, he said he is a meraber of Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA and most of the anime industry is "non-union." But when I discussed about why the anime industry is mostly "non-union", I found out that there are some union voice actors who had anime voice acting roles (i.e. Crispin Freeman and possibly Johnny Yong Bosch), so I don't think James Arnold Taylor being in a actors union is the reason why his anime roles are very small.

Still, I believe James Arnold Taylor have great potential for anime voice acting. So I'd ask you this, do you think James Arnold Taylor should spend most of his voice acting talent for anime. If so, what characters in anime (whether if the anime isn't licensed yet or was released subbed in the U.S.) should James Arnold Taylor voice?

If anyone ask me, I have a lot of detailed ideas in a video that I made.
 
Well, where is your opinion? Basically the anime I'm referring to is the Japanese anime, not the western cartoons. But I have to admit, some of my ideas is a bit impossible (particularly for To Aru Majutsu no Index) unless the licensor is Viz Media or Disney (I lost all hopes on Bandai Entertainment since they screwed up on Hayate the Corabat Butler! for dubbing).
 
I think he, and many other voice actors out there could voice in anime just as much as any medium they're in. But, yeah, like you said, it's because most anime are non-union is because we don't see people like Tara Strong or Scott Menville in anime or games too (...the latter especially for Tales of Symphonia...didn't reprise because of this). If it's union like, say a Sony dub of a anime film or a Miyazaki movie, then yeah, you'll definitely see people like him there somewhere whether it's an extra or supporting character.

That aside, I've always thought he'd make an awesome Luffy. But, of course that won't happen. Since, well...the FUNi dub's on and stuff.
 
Were you the one that posted at my Youtube video? But anyways, it is kinda sad that some of the good voice actors happen to be in a union like James Arnold Taylor. However, not all good voice actors are from unions. For example, Jessica Boone is most likely not in a union (mainly because her anime voice career is in Texas), yet I consider her voice acting of Chiyo-chan from Azumanga Daioh to be great (which is why I think she should voice Komoe-sensei from To Aru Majutsu no Index). But then, there are some union voice actors who preformed anime voice roles (Crispin Freeman is an example and probably Johnny Yong Bosch and Yuri Lowenthal). Apparently my idea of having James Arnold Taylor and Monica Rial to voice Touma and Index respectfully from To Aru Majutsu no Index is quite legally impossible (not only they work in different states, but Californian law makes it virtually impossible to have union and non-union voice actors working together, that is a bit justified though).

As for Tara Strong, I think like James Arnold Taylor, she should have more anime roles, but this is mostly based on their own decisions. I can see some of the tsundere inside of her voice acting, but haven't act those out yet. Have her voice Nagi (Hayate the Corabat Butler!), Mikoto (To Aru Majutsu no Index), Taiga (Toradora!), and Yuuhi (Akane-iro Ni Somaru Saka) and you basically have the English dub equivalent to Rie Kugimiya (and so far there isn't one, mostly because voice actors in the United States are less typecasted).
 
There's also the fact that post-lay work (dubbing) is quite a bit harder than pre-lay (animated to the voice), and yet pays peanuts compared to it. If his plate is full with pre-lay work, why would he feel the need to expend his energy for a dub? Not that I'd be against it, but that's how it seems to go.
 
I am not sure what are you talking about. When you mean "pre-lay" do you mean that they do the voice acting then the animation and vice versa with "post-lay"? I know James Arnold Taylor and he can do the "post-lay" work as much as "pre-lay" work?

But still, James Arnold Taylor being in two labor unions shouldn't be a good reason why his anime roles are limited. I did mention some union voice actors who did have a significant nuraber of anime roles. Maybe SAG/AFTRA have virtually little to no interests with anime dubbing?
 
That's exactly it, and while they can both be done by many people, so many VAs have commented on how difficult matching their voices to something on-screen is compared to acting without that restriction. I believe Josh Seth once commented that his bit role's two lines in the Spongebob movie paid more than at least an episode's salary on Digimon, if not more.
 
I personally prefer dubs since I can better connect with the characters more, but I don't mind subbed. What made me lose faith with Bandai Entertainment is that they screwed up trying to get Hayate the Corabat Butler dub but end up releasing subbed in ridiculously expensive price. One of the major criticisms of dubs is that the voice actors don't put enough emphasis to the character (along with the issue of bowdlerization). I did came across really bad dubs in the past (i.e. the current Pokemon dub cast), but there are some that are quite good (i.e. Azumanga Daioh, many of Miyazaki's films, and Elfen Lied).

What I like about James Arnold Taylor is that he puts emphasis into the character as well as his great flexibility. Many anime voice actors tend to be typecasted or "pigeonholed," which limits their flexibility. There are English VA who worked in anime roles that are pigeonholed (i.e. Yuri Lowenthal and Spike Spencer), but not as much as much when compared to the Japanese seiyuus. He does have the great potential for anime. The problem being is that the anime licensors can't afford to meet up with the union standarRAB. Not only that, anime isn't as mainstream as Hollywood, so it can be quite difficult.

I mean, James Arnold Taylor is so talented and good that if he manages to get a major anime role ever since Animatrix, it would greatly bring back faith towarRAB English dubbing of anime in the United States.
 
I have no idea how Shinji Ikari is similiar to Rolo Lamperouch. Or Sasuke Uchiha similar to Simon. Or whatever Yuri plays in Huntik. Typecast is being forced by the director, not vice-versa.



The majority of American viewers will hate or love dubs regardless of the quality nowadays. That is the sad fact.
 
Put it this way, James Arnold Taylor's voice acting is so good that anime would become as mainstream as Hollywood. The question is how anime voice acting studios can afford this voice actor.
 
Huh? When did the public lose faith in American dubs? Are you implying that bad dubs are the reason anime isn't as accessible on TV any more than it was a few years ago?

I'm really confused by this thread. What does James arnold Taylor have to do with the success of a dub?
 
This is mostly my opinion that James Arnold Taylor should get more anime voice acting roles.

In regarRAB to quality of dubs, this is more of your personal taste. For example, I found the English dub of the current Pokemon series to suck but others may find it to be good.

I'm mostly saying that the anime industry isn't as mainstream as Hollywood. Although I do admit, it is growing popularity.

But still, James Arnold Taylor have something that some anime dub voice actors doesn't, the flexibility of voice acting and the emphasis of the character.

Again, this is my personal opinion, you can express your criticisms, but don't flame me for my opinions.
 
Why do you keep referring to a Pokemon dub? Is that really the pinnacle of quality you listen to? Because your opinion is clearly biased on crap, then. Listen to the good stuff like most stuff from non-Bang Zoom L.A.
 
I never said stuff from Bang Zoom is bad or vice versa. I do find some dubs from Funimation to be good (like the dub cast from the movie Origin: Spirits of the Past). I'd come across bad voice acting before, but I consider the plot to be great (i.e. didn't really like Grant George's voice acting of Keiichi from Higurashi: When They Cry, but I did find the series to be interesting, the rest of the cast if okay). But I could say that 4KiRAB is a big nightmare.

Back on topic, you should really listen to his voice acting samples of James Arnold Taylor, you'd be amazed how flexible his voice acting is. Although I do admit, it probably isn't possible legally, but still.

And can you at least suggest more anime roles for those who wish to see James Arnold Taylor do some voice acting in anime?
 
No, I'm arguing your views that most anime dubbers aren't flexible. To even be a good dubber, you have to have extensive cold-reading skills and a sense of timing to match flaps while still keeping a quality amount of emotion. Much, much harder in practice.

Second, most of voice-work is based on the director, and the remaining is the actor being competent enough to follow it.

Now considering he's in LA, the most anime work he'll probably see is Gundam-related, and that's only if it's not a TV series. There's just less and less stuff not being licensed by FUNImation or Media Blasters that's available in the near future.
 
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