Can AnimEigo Arrest Dub Animosity?

Dubs in general have always been a contentious issue and, to be honest, AnimEigo's track record with dubs has not exactly been exemplary. So, when Robert Woodhead incited fans to watch the new YOU'RE UNDER ARREST dub before the sub, this was a bold challenge indeed. Since this reviewer already owns the entire original Japanese TAIHO SHICHAUZO discs, there seemed little point to this approach -- after all, I already know what the original voice actors sound like. Nevertheless, I must concede that, at least with me, Mr. Woodhead "won" his challenge: The YOU'RE UNDER ARREST dub is definitely one of the higher quality dubs out there.
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST (TAIHO SHICHAUZO) is a four-part OAV series of original stories based on the manga series of the same name by Fujishima Kosuke of AA! MEGAMISAMA fame. In fact, the TAIHO SHICHAUZO manga is actually Fujishima's first series (AA! MEGAMISAMA is his second). As premises go, TAIHO's is pretty straightforward: Kobayakawa Miyuki and Tsujimoto Natsumi are two Tokyo policewomen on traffic patrol duty; the stories revolve around their experiences and misadventures both on and off the job. Two other characters round out the cast: Nakajima Ken is a "stud" motorcycle officer with romantic inclinations toward Miyuki while Yoriko is a nosy dispatcher who seems to be constantly trying to bring Miyuki and Nakajima together.
Obviously, there is an automatic tendency to compare this to AA! MEGAMISAMA, but this kind of comparison is unfair to TAIHO. The initial reaction often is to see the romantic subtext between Miyuki and Ken and to treat the two as if they were Belldandy and Keiichi. But, TAIHO is not a romantic series, and to view it as such is only to invite disappointment. TAIHO has no goddesses or magic or wishes coming true. But, like A!MG, this is another title which focuses on the relationship and interplay of two characters. Only the pair is not Miyuki and Ken, it is Miyuki and Natsumi.
As this is a character-driven series, the plots are light and simple. Even File 3 "Koi no Highway Star" (to be released by AnimEigo as "Love's Highway Star"), which zeros in on Miyuki and Ken, rarely ventures far from the levity of any of the first three A!MG OAVs. Plot merely serves as a vehicle to explore the friendship of the reserved, mechanical whiz Miyuki and the spontaneous, impulsive Natsumi. Nor is this a "cop show" by Western standards; viewers seeking the latest edition of "girls with guns" should look elsewhere.
But, for those who can appreciate a good character story, TAIHO is a real treat. Nakajima Atsuko, best known for her work in the RANMA movies and OAVs, provides excellent character designs that accentuate the characters while remaining true to Fujishima's manga versions from the later volumes. The technical quality of the animation cannot be overstated. Fine details, such as reflections off of water, window panes, and even headlight lamps, add to the visual dazzle of this beautiful series.
Mr. Woodhead's gamble lies in the idea that the first voice heard in accompaniment with an animated character is typically "imprinted" as the "correct" voice. In attempting to get fans to watch the dub first, he hopes that they will weigh the dub voices on their own merits without any pre-conceived prejudices in favor of the Japanese originals. As mentioned at the outset, this was not possible for this reviewer. However, I was still able to appreciate both the acting and the choice of actors that went into producing this superb dub.
Both English actors for the two principals, Jo Ann Luzzatto and Tamara Burnham, give a fine effort. Natsumi is played off as an "Everywoman" youth, and it is not a bad approach to her character. Unfortunately, Burnham's take on the character has been mischaracterized as "Valley Girl," an unfair description which has led to malformed prejudices against a good job. Luzzatto's Miyuki may be a bit too restrained though, as her voice quality sometimes deteriorates when Miyuki gets excited or agitated. When this happens, the character "falls out" of the voice and she sometimes sounds like Burnham, making for some interesting sounding arguments between the two. Ken and Yoriko's actors also do a commendable job, but something about Pamela Weidner's voice just does not seem to fit exactly with the gossipy but likable busybody that is Yoriko.
The dub production values are comparable to TAIHO's own. AnimEigo's dub script is closer to their sub script than comparable efforts from other companies. And, more importantly, unlike with BUBBLEGUM CRISIS, the YOU'RE UNDER ARREST vocals are left intact. This decision alone makes YOU'RE UNDER ARREST that much better. It preserves the original OP and ED, both of which are duets by the original voice actors: Hiramatsu Akiko and Tamagawa Sakiko.
At last, AnimEigo has produced a dub that can stand side by side with its lineup of high quality subtitles. And while the purist in me will probably always prefer Akiko's Miyuki to Luzzatto's, the dub itself is a pleasant viewing experience in its own right, sufficiently transparent at times to cause me to forget that I was watching a dub. If this is what the future holds for the upcoming A!MG dub, then it, like ARREST, deserves a fair shot.

	Kobayakawa Miyuki		Jo Ann Luzzatto
	Tsujimoto Natsumi		Tamara Burnham
	Captain		Dave Underwood
	Nikaido Yoriko		Pamela Weidner
	Nakajima Ken		Mark Matney
	Oshoo (The Fox)		Mike Way

--Roderick "Agitator" Lee