I LOVE the 80's Canadian Astro!!!!

[AprilSeven]

OH NO, now I feel like a real turkey!! I'm sorry jayrath!!!!! I wasn't actually thinking of you in particular -- really just the voices of Astro and Uran. To my ears (and that's just me) I prefer to hear a child speaking for a child-character. You guys can't help what Tezuka and co. decided they wanted.

My reaction was to the difference it made to me, watching the story, and "getting absorbed in it." The American Uran (again, to my ear) sounds "older" than Astro. But the American production was certainly totally professional. For that matter I also think the Japanese Astros (all version's of anime) sound too "squeeky." Maybe I just happened to grow up around boys with deep voices, so that's what I prefer? I dunno! But I am sorry -- typing/e-mail commentary isn't always the most sensitive way to communicate (especially when in a rush, as I often am), and I definitely could have been kinder in my choice of words.

It's really a treasure to have you here on this forum, Jayrath.

- yes!

- straighten up and fly right April!

[Strange Wings]

I am honestly speechless. If I never accomplish anything else in my life, I'm proud that all of us were able to help you in such a small way. You and your family have my sincere love.

You all helped me (and still you do) in a huge way. Thank you so much for your sympathy.
Thanks to your effort I'm able to enjoy the series all anew each time I watch it.

[Laughing Dragon]

Ugh. I hate that they wussed up his theme song.

The American '60's version is the best!

[cybotron]

The 60,s version was beamed out of Canada on CKLW windsor Ontario. That's where I saw it as a child. They did not carry the color episodes you speak of here!

[Fauna]

Ugh. I hate that they wussed up his theme song.

*pops in and explains Jay wrote the theme and we were this close to everyone making amends*


On an unrelated note, I got word back from Global Edmonton, basically telling me that they won't tell me whether or not they have their masters of the Canadian dub. They referred me to Global Saskatoon, and since my parents worked there and knew this, the master tapes were broadcast Betas that were erased and reused when Astro concluded his run in the mid-nineties.

So...if anyone wants the Canadian dub, check every domestic recording tape used in Canada from 1984-1995.

[Astro Forever]

I can't tell for the Canadian version, but I can for the French one (from France, not Quebec).

It's the same dubbing/cuts when it comes to the episodes themselves. The opening and closing credits as well as the voices in the games and teasers are different though. You also had multiple choices answers in the game, we didn't.

In fact, it's so similar that the half boxset that was sold here was exactly the same as the one released in France, except that the episodes were put back in the French order for us while for some reason they were put back in the Japanese order for the boxset release in French.

As for the English version, I am somewhat in the same situation as Strange Wings, having discovered Astroboy again in a difficult time in my life. It really was a joy to discover the episodes as they were supposed to be instead of the awfully mangled episodes we got in French. English isn't my first language and I have never watched any other cartoon in English so to me it sounded just fine.

[ASTROBUDDY]

The Canadian dub is more entertaining, I feel because the Canadians followed the lead of the 1960s U.S. version and added more humor! What has become the official dub (since it was coordinated by Tezuka Pro. & NTV and is the only one available on home video) was a straight forward translation of the original Japanese version with few, but mostly cultural changes made. For ex. Temma (Boynton)'s assistant goes from Ms. Honda to Ms. Ford. (I believe this is one of those few times when a Honda was traded in for a Ford! Ouch!) And while I have not heard all the different voices of the Canadian dub, I believe Pat Kugler's voice has a close approximation to the sound of the original Atom voice actress, Mari Shimizu! (When the original Japanese version was dubbed the Americans tried for a deeper voice for Astro Boy in that Fred Ladd's direction to Billie Lou Watt was for her to have, as he put it, "more balls" in her interpretation!) [The fact that a young male child was used in the Canadian version is neither here nor there because when listening to the voice can anyone who was not told really honestly know the difference between an adult female voice and that of a minor male voice!)

I

[AprilSeven]

[The fact that a young male child was used in the Canadian version is neither here nor there because when listening to the voice can anyone who was not told really honestly know the difference between an adult female voice and that of a minor male voice!)

I

Sorry, beg to differ on that point -- it's one reason there is a huge musical debate over the use of boy trebles only or boys and girls voices mixed. The female voice (young or adult) has a different timbre -- almost "elf-like," whereas boys voices are high pitched, but with a smoothness to the sound that hints of the deeper voice to come.

Billie Lou's portrayal of Astro was more "gutsy" than the characterization in the 80's version. The actor's can't help the way the series was scripted, the personality of the hero in the English 80's version cast him more as a suffering little boy (brave but suffering).

The Canadian dub is the exact same animation, but Astro's "angst" isn't apparent -- he's very matter-of-fact (more like Billie Lou's 60's Astro). The boy voice actor made the concept of a stoic child robot even more convincing to me.

For me -- having a pretty rough childhood, and holding Astro as someone who pushed adversity aside -- I cherish his "stronger" persona (it got me through many a miserable moment!). What I've learned here is that our little hero works in all kinds of different ways -- so there's no "best" -- only a "best fit" for each of us. Once again -- an "open-source" character!

- Just call me Mr. Flexible!

[ASTROBUDDY]

[QUOTE=ASTROBUDDY;104464] [The fact that a young male child was used in the Canadian version is neither here nor there because when listening to the voice can anyone who was not told really honestly know the difference between an adult female voice and that of a minor male voice!) I

Sorry, beg to differ on that point -- it's one reason there is a huge musical debate over the use of boy trebles only or boys and girls voices mixed. The female voice (young or adult) has a different timbre -- almost "elf-like," whereas boys voices are high pitched, but with a smoothness to the sound that hints of the deeper voice to come. Billie Lou's portrayal of Astro was more "gutsy" than the characterization in the 80's version. The actor's can't help the way the series was scripted, the personality of the hero in the English 80's version cast him more as a suffering little boy (brave but suffering). The Canadian dub is the exact same animation, but Astro's "angst" isn't apparent -- he's very matter-of-fact (more like Billie Lou's 60's Astro). The boy voice actor made the concept of a stoic child robot even more convincing to me. For me -- having a pretty rough childhood, and holding Astro as someone who pushed adversity aside -- I cherish his "stronger" persona (it got me through many a miserable moment!). What I've learned here is that our little hero works in all kinds of different ways -- so there's no "best" -- only a "best fit" for each of us. Once again -- an "open-source" character! - Just call me Mr. Flexible![/QUOTE]

Hi, AprilSeven (or shall I say "Mr. Flexible"!)! I stand by what I said, but I concede that maybe a trained ear could tell the difference! I will agree with you on the "best fit" angle! I will also agree if you mean the 80s version was more melodramatic in its presentation than the earlier version! The Canadian dub downplays the "melodrama" using "the same animation"! That is why it is slightly more entertaining to watch! One of the reasons the 1980s Astroboy was a hard sell in the U.S.A. was because it was thought to be too much of a downer because in almost every other episode someone dies! The Canadian dub removed most of that!
I will not comment on the rest of what you said because I do not really know you, but I will say this! When Dr. Tezuka created "Atom" he wanted to show a world to Japanese children that would bring hope to their lives of a better future! I think he would be proud that his creation did that for you!

I

[jayrath]

[QUOTE=Laughing Dragon;104450]Ugh. I hate that they wussed up his theme song.

*pops in and explains Jay wrote the theme and we were this close to everyone making amends*
QUOTE]

I wrote it with Becky. She deserves half the credit - or blame. But again, Tezuka and Company approved.