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Forum - View topicREVIEW: Danganronpa BD+DVD
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Fronzel
Posts: 1906 |
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For what it's worth the source material is no better. It's a lot longer so it doesn't feel as rushed and squashed but it has no greater depth. If pulpy spectacle is what it's all about it could stand to take itself less seriously.
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rizuchan
 Posts: 976 Location: Kansas |
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I happened to get into the game right before this came out so it was great timing!
I had heard somewhere that the anime was really good. I've only watched the first 3 episodes (the first story arc) but I was disappointed, and i'm usually very lenient on adaptations. It moved waaaay too fast. The investigation scene was the worst - an hour or so of game play is condensed in quick frames to sort of summarize it, which completely ruined any chance the viewer would have to figure out some of the case themselves. The trial was full of "remember when I talked to you about the thing" conversations that were never shown. So it completely fails as a mystery/crime story. Stylistically, though, the anime is on point, so if you're just looking for something with a unique style, Danganronpa does that well. I don't think I could recommend it as a replacement for the game, but maybe I'll change my mind if the other cases aren't cut so short. Also I was overall disappointed with the dub. It's not bad, but the game's dub was quite good and I just couldn't get used to new voices. Wish they could have used the same voice cast. And one more random point - anyone else having trouble playing this Blu-ray on the PC? I prefer doing so because I can force the subtitles on the dub (please stop disabling subs with the dub audio, Funi), but my Blu-ray drive can't play it. PS3 is fine with it though. I'm just trying to figure out if it's a DRM issue that might be fixed eventually or if I need to ask RightStuf for a replacement. |
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Snakebit1995
 Posts: 842 |
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I know they used a different cast for the Dub, which is odd because they had some people out there for BlazeBlue and Neptunia around that time. Perhaps they wanted to do their own take on one of the shows and this was the choice.
I know most people's complaint with the Anime is that the investigations are too short, but animating a kid standing in a few room looking at tiny things doesn't make for engaging images. It's fine in the game when you in control but in an Anime i don't think it would have worked as well. |
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ThatGuyWhoLikesThings
Posts: 1010 |
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I've talked about what a rushjob this adaptation is so I'll talk about some positives.
The OP and ED are nice. A few scenes are done justice. Dub's okay, even if it's different from the game (which also had an okay dub). I think that's about it. Honestly, the new anime series is something I'm looking forward to, as it doesn't have a source material to be faithful to. |
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FordXanakov
Posts: 15 |
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I watched this show as it was originally being simulcast and have checked out the dub on the Funimation streaming service. I checked this out on a whim and a had a fun time with it. My wife and friends I've shown it too enjoyed it too. I originally didn't even know it was based on a video game until I did some research after I saw the first episode. Having played the game since....the game is for sure the better experience. I'm thankful for the anime for introducing me to the game, but if you've already played the game, there's not much here for you. I'd still recommend the show without hesitation to people who haven't played it or heard of it though. The show doesn't function well at all as a murder mystery, hut I just enjoyed it as a campy turn-your-brain-off bizarre spectacle.
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DontmesswithKarma
Posts: 491 |
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it forever goes beyond me why people judge anime by its adaptation. Animators are creators, not copiers.... I thought that was self explanatory.... but obviously not
I understand the disappointment of a unfaithful anime. but give these guys breathing space! Lerche were forgiven for this adaptation in Japan. And what's the result? Musume, Assassination classroom, school live. series that are faithful as well as being it's own completely unique thing. They make ANIME, not ADAPTATIONS. This talk of studios MUST follow an original source is bullshit. Animation Colleges in my country dislike anime massively because of how much restrictions are placed on animators and directors when it comes to adapting. after hearing there opinion.... I honestly can't stand watching faithful anime knowing the restrictions placed upon them |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18210 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Bevins does talk a little bit about the reason for this in the audio commentary. If you already have the BD, I recommend checking it out.
As Justin explained in a Hey, Answerman! a week or two ago, that isn't likely to happen anytime soon. Funi is operating under restrictions from the licensor on that. |
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FireballDragon
 Posts: 683 |
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YES. Thank you. A lot of people have been saying that Monokuma's English voice was awful in this, but I wholeheartedly disagree. He kinda sounds like an evil Meowth! ...Well, eviler. [EDIT: Reference to a typo removed because it has now been corrected. - Key] |
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GlassesMan
Posts: 217 |
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I liked the adaptation, but I agree that some of the characters were annoying. Byakuya, for instance. Also, reviews like this remind me that I need to watch a youtube walkthrough for Danganronpa 2.
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DigitalScratch
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I have to say that I greatly prefer the Funi's dub of the anime over the dub of the game, with the exception of Amanda Celine Miller's Junko, Keith Silverstein's Mondo, and Lucien Dodge's Hifumi. And I did find the accent Celeste had in the game version endearing.
Not that the game's dub was awful (it was pretty average given that most of the VAs were newbies), but there were definitely mediocre performances here and there. That, and I appreciated that Funi actually kept the SHSL titles and Genocider's name. For why the VAs are different....Is it possible that Funi dubbed the anime before the official cast of the game was released and just weren't privy to that information? Bryce was with them for Attack on Titan and luckily enough he just happened to be Naegi as well. So they dubbed the anime when he was with them as that would have been the best way to save both time and money for both parties. That's just a theory- I don't know how complicated casting can get. |
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SquadmemberRitsu
 Posts: 1391 |
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The one thing I don't like about the dub is the fact that it's not consistent with the game. Like, at all. Which is disappointing considering how ridiculously consistent the Hyperdimension Neptunia dub was despite being done in house at Funimation. Bryce Papenbrook is back and some of the VAs have a similar sort of vocal quality to their Bang Zoom counterparts. But that's where the similarities end. What cues they took from the Japanese when they cast the characters, the way the actors play the characters and even the way they handle liberal script writing is different.
If what I'm hearing about the dub being done before the game had even been released in the west is true, I wouldn't be surprised. This is quite obviously a completely different interpretation done from the ground up with no regard to the game. And it's an interpretation I'm not nearly as big a fan of. I actually really liked what Brian Beacock did with Monokuma in the games. In comparison Greg Ayres just felt like a stiff, pale imitation of the Japanese performance. I'd say he's definitely the weakest link in the dub which is a shame because he's a big part of what makes Danganronpa what it is. On top of that, I found the liberal scriptwriting to be a bit obnoxious. The way the localisation team handled the black comedy in the game had me laughing way harder. Bottom line, if you're like me and waited to see this show dubbed because you played the game in English, you're probably going to end up disappointed if you're expecting any sort of consistency beyond Bryce Papenbrook and a few casting choices where both Funimation and NIS happened to have a similar vision as to what a character should sound like in English. |
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FireballDragon
Posts: 683 |
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Also, this might be something of an unpopular opinion, but I was absolutely RELIEVED that they kept the last-name basis between the characters like in the original. It drove me up the wall how they changed it in the game's dub.
Also, it was a nice touch having Chris Sabat play Oowada, since he also voices Zoro, and Oowada's Japanese VA, Kazuya Nakai, plays both of them as well! I wanted them to do that in the game's dub, but I guess there was some sort of contractual conflict. Still, it was a very nice touch. |
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Stocko
 Posts: 4 |
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The anime was waaay to rushed. 13 episodes was such a small amount for a 20 hour plus visual novel. I am a massive fan of Bang Zoom's dubbing of the characters in the game. I was massively let down when I heard only Bryce was reprising his role.
Funi's dub had its ups and downs for the characters - I HATED: Hufumi - Lucien nailed the character's 'nerdyness' and his 'hero' voice changes. Tyson uses an you could say 'generic' geek voice, that comes off as annoying and hard to listen to. Hiro - Hiro is my favourite character voiced by one of my favorite VA's (Kaiji Tang). Bevins goes for the 'stoner' 'dude' character, which I understand, but I could not stand him. Kaiji's take on Hiro was amazing, capturing his naive personality, making him my favorite character. Junko - One word 'annoying' he punky personality is unbearable, cutsey one hurts my ears. He 'normal' speaking voice is ok. But Junko's personalities were portrayed excellently in the game. I disliked: Monokuma - I'm not saying Greg did a bad job, I did get use to this voice by the end of the series, but Brian's performance as Monokuma is so memorable to me. As I despised Monokuma's Japanese voice, too high pitched and annoying. Brian's take on Monokuma was great, Greg was just alright for me. Also you can't beat Brian's Monokuma laugh. Mondo - Sabat sounded too old for the role and having the 'sound like Vegeta' curse spoiler[(Although the 'over 9000' line was funny as hell)] Keith did a stand up job with the character and was much better performed. Toko/Syo (Jack) - I think after Miller's/Fitzgerald's performance in AE I love these VA's too much. I liked the stuttering in Toko's voice and I love Syo's laugh in the games and the overall performance I found better. Moiser does well doing both roles, but it just didn't click with me. Syo sounds a lot like Kurokuma for AE. Indifferent: Leon - Justin surprised me with this one, I had no idea it was him, as similar to Sabat, he has a 'Sounds like Raditz' curse. But I did not hear that until he started shouting. Both VA's did a great job. Kyoko - I have a slight love for the game dub, but I like both performances. Celeste - I actually prefer the accent in the game, as she is trying to act as a different person under a another persona. But both actors fit Celes's personality. Bayakua - Grelle actually edges out Justin in this regard, although he improves in the preceding games. But Grelle puts on a great performance. Chihiro, Taka, Hina, Sakuya were all performed well by both VA's. The only Funi VA i preferred was Rachel's Sakura. Although I did like Gee's performance, Rachel's tone and pitch fit the character more, rather than sounding like Frieza. I REALLY hope Bang Zoom picks up the rights for the recently announce DR anime. Or Funimation contact the original VA's, because I don't think I can handle Hiro without Kaiji, also spoiler[if Monaca is the new Junko I want Christina to voice her][/spoiler] |
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championferret
 Posts: 765 |
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I'm continually surprised that there were people that actually liked this, because I'm still disappointed in it. Whether you're just it as an adaptation or a standalone series, it just....isn't good. As an adaptation it's frustrating and overly streamlined (this wasn't the right amount of episodes for this material) but as a standalone anime viewed on its own even without comparing it to the game I think it's honestly worse. It's a badly paced, crappily animated mess that doesn't even try.
I actually wish Lerche -had- tried to deviate from the source material because the extent to which it aped the game is ridiculous for a TV show. Even going as far as showing the evidence coming up (much of which is only revealed at the last minute, giving the audience no chance at figuring anything out for themselves) and actual gameplay mechanics in anime form...it was just pure laziness, really. It's pretty much just a big commercial for the game that spoils the game itself, and I kind of feel a little bad for anyone who watched it before playing the game because the main twists just don't pack anywhere near as much punch as in the game, since the anime basically just rushes from plot point to plot point, and there's little to no emotional connection to any of the characters due to the greatly reduced screen time they all get, so these twists don't really do much at all in terms of emotional consequence. I dunno, I really like Dangan Ronpa because it's so much more than 'wacky kids killing each other', but when you streamline and dumb it down to a Lerche anime all you're left with is 'wacky kids killing each other'. I feel like Lerche just didn't quite grasp what made the game good. (But really, I can't stress enough how poor the animation is. The characters barely deviate from their game sprites as it is but even for Lerche this seemed half-assed. I was really looking forward to seeing my favourite characters move..too bad no one even really -moves- at all, I feel like even the static game sprites were more 'animated' than the lifeless movement in this.) |
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TarsTarkas
 Posts: 5839 Location: Virginia, United States |
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Got this for Christmas. I was interested based on the review. Some points on the review were true, but didn't bother me.
What did bother me was the ending. With the background story of the rest of the world not making much sense, the ending only made things worse. Yeah, I got that hope beat despair, but it is the characters I care about. So on that note, the ending for this series, is just one big cliffhanger, which will probably never be addressed in anime form. The lack of a payoff for watching this show is a major detriment. |
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