Well, it happened. I finally did it. I sampled the anime version of Fate/Stay Night. Granted, it was for research regarding the latest chapter of Ask Rachel Alucard. But yeah, I've seen the most popular version of FSN now. And here's my recommendation:
DO NOT WATCH THE ANIME VERSION. READ THE EFFING VISUAL NOVEL INSTEAD.
I mainly saw the anime clips to finally hear the official voices. I sampled both the English and Japanese dubs. Overall, they are . . . mediocre. Some voices, I like; I like Shirou's voices, I liked Kotomine's voices, (played by Jouji Nataka and Jamieson Price, no less!) I liked Archer's voices, I liked Gilgamesh's Japanese voice, (didn't sample his English voice.) However, I must give a shoutout. Saber's voice, in both English and Japanese, is. Ab. So. Lute. Ly. PER. FECT! Kate Higgins sounds exactly as I imagine Saber to sound in my head. Man, if every character sounded as good as her, this would rival a Bandai dub. Alas, it doesn't.
My first complaint, and the reason why I did this; Tohsaka's voice. Here, let's have Rachel start it off for me:
"For instance, yes, this Rin has the same voice that I do, yet . . . I find it extremely difficult to believe that a mortal as young as her would speak with the refined quality that I speak with; I would almost think that someone of her background and personality would be a little more brash sounding."
And now let me rephrase that in my own words:
Why. The hell. Does Tohsaka . . . sound like Mid-Atlantic genteel? WHY!? And remember, she has the same English voice AND the same Japanese voice as Rachel! They all sound identical! But it doesn't suit Tohsaka at all! I always imagined her sounding like a bratty teenaged girl during her "tsun" moments, and even when she was calm, I still never pictured her sounding that noble. And yet . . . FSN predates BB, so Rachel's voice was based off a complete and utter mis-cast in two languages . . . that sounds perfect for her! My head is imploding!
Oh, but that's not my only complaint. Sakura Matou . . . is forcing the moe a little too much in both dubs. Despite first appearances, she is not moe, damn you! I sure as Hell didn't picture her sounding like a moeblob during the climax (narrative climax, thank-you-very-much) of Heaven's Feel. Also, Lancer sounds really awkward in English. And Ilya sounds a little off, despite being voiced by the great Stephanie Sheh in English. (Wait, she also played a little German girl in Kurokami . . . STOP THE TYPECASTING!)
Though to be fair, the voice-acting is not as intolerable as Code Geass'. Oh, but that's not my only complaint for the anime!
-The animation is nothing special. The intros for the games look better. Though, to the anime's credit, the characters designs are almost as good as the originals.
-I figured out why everyone outside of Beast's lair hates Shirou so much; he is poorly characterized in the anime! He's literally nothing more than an incompetent idiot who thinks girls should be girly. NONE of his depth from the VN were evident from the clips I watched. FAIL!
-The tv series is based off the Fate route. Too bad I don't like the Fate route.
-The censorship. It was bound to happen, but it does remove some of the punch of the VN.
Okay, okay, the anime, based on what I saw, wasn't abysmal. Believe me, I've seen a lot worse, but I now know why my associates at Beast's lair have disowned the anime outside of the soundtrack. (The anime's soundtrack is really good; yay!)
Now, as for the jeer in today's entry? The anime of FSN was made by Studio DEEN. The only other anime of theirs I've seen were Fruits Basket (one of the shittiest tv shows in existence), and Axis Powers Hetalia, an alright show, but man, is it weird. Unfortunately, there is nothing in their track record that would score higher than a 6 out of 10. Now then, join with me.
(deep breath)
DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!
MENDOZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
(Oops! Wrong reference.)
