ryuganji: film news from japan

I was recently in Hawaii for a mate’s wedding but sadly missed out on seeing “The Simpsons” movie (I tagged along to see “Superbad” instead, which was the only one of the recent spate of Judd Apatow films to make me laugh out loud).

Anyway, this morning as I’m debating whether to use the typhoon as an excuse for ditching work, what should come on the wide shows but footage from a press conference announcing the Japanese voice cast for said Simpsons flick, to be released next year. I should probably just shut up and be happy that I’ll get to see it on the big screen here, but let’s hope there’ll also be a subtitled version because boy, they’ve really fucked up big time with this line-up.

Homer: singer, raconteur and top variety host Tokoro Joji (also had a role in Kurosawa Akira’s “Madadayo”)

Marge: singer, “Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss” star and top variety host WADA MOTHERLOVING AKIKO

Bart: half of Yoshimoto comedy duo variety show hosts “London Boots 1-go 2-go” Tamura Atsushi

Lisa: half-English ‘genki’ variety tarento Becky

The totally inappropriate selection of Wada for Marge is either the worst or best of the casting choices (depending on your mental health), and is especially mindblowing considering that the show has built up a loyal fanbase since screening on pay TV here since 1992 and already has an established cast of Japanese voice actors. Distributors 20th Century Fox explained that the switch was made in order to create “the ideal fun Japanese family”, but local aficionados are up in arms about what they see as a negligent and overly obvious bid for publicity. In fact, even high-profile voice actor Yamadera Koichi, whose filmography ranges from to “Anpanman” to “Full House” to “Ghost in the Shell”, felt moved to weigh in on the issue:

As a voice actor, I’m given the opportunity to be involved in a variety of animated works and films, and it’s something I’m very grateful for, but lately I get the feeling that the use of various celebrities and other famous people has become quite conspicuous. Well, at least I get to become acquainted with people I wouldn’t normally come into contact with, and that can be extremely stimulating, but there are times when I look at the casting and want to say “Isn’t this a bit too desperate?” Of course, it’s important to generate a buzz, and you can’t disregard the fact that it draws large audiences, but I’m also looking at it from the viewer’s perspective when I say that I wish [the producers] would think long and hard about whether they’re casting someone who’s perfect for a role.

Sometimes when a person is cast who’s not a voice actor, it makes you say “They’re so right for the part!” or “So this is the kind of performance you get from someone who doesn’t normally do voice acting!”, but the opposite case is more common still. It’s especially inexcusable when a long-running TV show is made into a movie, and the regular cast of voice actors is abruptly replaced. The feelings of the voice cast who’ve been doing it until then is one thing, but isn’t it really about a lack of consideration for the viewers who have supported the show all that time? I myself felt extremely angered by such a situation, which is why I chose to write about it here.

Even so, the use of celebrities was probably inevitable considering the current climate. As is the practice in many other countries, all the big U.S. animated films are localised for Japanese audiences, with the participation of an array of familiar faces from the small screen rather than genuine voice talent (usually a subtitled version is also on offer for those who prefer the real thing).

You could probably argue that the fault for this lies with Hollywood itself, which has reduced most of its animated output to a glorified celebrity circle-jerk by employing well-known actors and personalities largely for the audience they bring rather than an ability to disappear into a role and merge with a character. The ultimately futile outcry over “The Simpsons”‘ situation is a reminder that the exact same approach has also taken hold here in Japan, meaning professional voice actors (of which Japan has a particularly large pool, thanks to anime and the widespread use of dubbing on TV and in film) are often shunted out of their regular roles and/or passed over in favour of celebrities. (sources: Itai News, Wikipedia)