England's Voice Actor and 2 Seconds of America

[americanheroal.livejournal.com]

So Scott Freeman landed the role of Arthur Kirkland. This is Scott's first major roll and has been working as a background voice actor for a while with Funimation.

Youtube and FB is buzzing with comments and opinions and so it's our turn. What do you think of the English voice for England? (Or "Bri'en" as America seems to call him)

By the way, if you enjoy watching Hetalia online then I suggest you get the DVDs. It chalk full of extras including interviews with the Japanese voice actors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR6gyYMUESE

Comments

[sorryicantstay.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if anyone was going to put this up. I love England's VA. America seems great too, but need more then that to judge. I will buy the dvd's!

[fix-chan.livejournal.com]

. . .please tell me this is sarcasm *the angry British person has arrived*

[oresame.livejournal.com]

As much as I love that scene, I think it wasn't the best clip to showcase England's dub voice. _{(Because you know, he was being incredibly dorky but we love him anyways.)} I'm reserving complete judgment for both after I hear other clips, but I like them both actually.

But, ngl, I laughed harder at this than at the original version.

I'm definitely going to try and grab the DVDs, heehee~

[vampire-scooby.livejournal.com]

England sounds like he should have a Meowth with him

I don't like America's voice...at all. I know we only heard a few seconds...but I just didn't think it fit.

England sounds...more like they're going for 'Gay' then 'British'. But it might have just been the clip..I mean, it was a goofy clip~

I may or may not grab the DVD's...it depends on the rest of the voice actors.

[caohime.livejournal.com]

" England sounds...more like they're going for 'Gay' then 'British'. "

Um, well...x'D I'll respond using video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdtd3vt2lWU&NR=1

[clarex-ama.livejournal.com]

Argh, it's so annoying that I can't watch the clip because of the country I'm in OTL Any other places to watch it? Any other youtube videos perhaps not from Funimation? >

[vampire-scooby.livejournal.com]

You can download it here: http://www.mediafire.com/?jmjytjanlld

[djpokki.livejournal.com]

lol.

[americanheroal.livejournal.com]

I just died at how America said 'Bri'en' dropping the T. Thats so a southern thing, but it's what we do.
So maybe he'll incorporate different aspects of the American language? Or he'll just go in and read his lines. XD

[undone-reading.livejournal.com]

I don't really like England's voice, but I can't give a decent reason why, so I don't feel that I have the right to complain.

I like America's voice though. Listen to him soften and drop those consonants.
That's how we do.

[kurachu.livejournal.com]

i had flashbacks to 4kids Bakura. if i saw another clip with Scott Freeman who is Gordon Freeman's brother, i would be able to make a better judgment. this clip doesn't show his acting ability.

[wefasappleblood.livejournal.com]

I think I'd prefer Bakura over this voice...

[technoranma.livejournal.com]

"Seriously you're nutburgers, what am I to do with you OHHAHWHAHAHWHAHWWW XD"

[choffeegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm stuck between happy that England's voice is somewhat decent, yet I miss the old voice at the same time. still, good job with Scott Freeman. I wonder if I can get a hold of his email address?

pleased with America's voice, although not that they made him call England 'Britain', cause he's not Britain, he's England. afterall, he does have his brothers (and sister, if the rumour of Ireland is correct), Britain is all 4 countries united together.

[chiisana00.livejournal.com]

Maybe someone shall inform Funimation about that? They really should fix that even though England represents entire UK for the meetings? =/

We want "England" TTATT

[blulious.livejournal.com]

I'm buying this. Nothing is stopping me. I love it. 8Db

[chiisana00.livejournal.com]

I hardly approve dub anime. But this one is win. The voice gives me a rather another "feeling" from Japanese version.

I can only say that this made me laugh so hard |D The original version is CUTE to me, this one is just funny xD

And yes, I don't approve "Britain" ._. I want "England" back TTATT They're not going to say "U ESS AY" in the dub, I hope? =A=

[kh2anese.livejournal.com]

I LOVE England's dub. I just LOVE IT. And the English dub for some reason made this series way funnier for me. When i originally saw this scene, I was like PFFT. Dubbed, I had tears in my eyes from laughing. FUNimation, you guys are winning so far. (cept for China, not so much win.)

And AMERICA. Two seconds and I love him so much.

WAT

[ruizu1990.livejournal.com]

I'm rather neutral about this one.
I think he sounds too campy, but ehhh. This is meant to be poking fun at national stereotypes, after all.
As for the Britain thing, I've noticed that many Americans have a habit of referring to the English as "Brits", but they don't call the Scots, Welsh or Irish that.
I do like America though ^^

I'll still buy (and watch) dub. I'm pretty easygoing when it comes to voiceovers in anime.

Who is this Scott Freeman bloke anyway?

Re: WAT

[in0the0clouds.livejournal.com]

As for the Britain thing, I've noticed that many Americans have a habit of referring to the English as "Brits", but they don't call the Scots, Welsh or Irish that.

Hmm. You know, you're right. I wonder why that is?

[binnin.livejournal.com]

Awww I approve! You go, England. America's voice is growing on me, though I have to give my input--he sounds like a Michigander--that's how we talk, with the not-quite-adding-a-consonant-but-just-barely-hinting. :)

And I'll be getting the DVDs--just as soon as I find the ever-fabled money-tree.

[artemis-elric.livejournal.com]

As a fellow Michigander, I think the idea of Alfred sounding like one is awesome. c:

[technoranma.livejournal.com]

Lol I think I'm the only one who prefers "Britain". I always thought he should be called that instead of England or UK.

[ekazoo.livejournal.com]

The reason I don't like it is because Scotland and Wales are countries in their own right :/ In the manga he only acts like a stereotypical English person, not Scottish or Welsh as well. Sure some stereotypes cross over (bad food, alcohol etc) but... the way Scottish/Welsh people act compared to English is quite different lol.

[jessicamee.livejournal.com]

Will the DVD have the Japanese version too? Cuz then I'll probably get it.

[ekazoo.livejournal.com]

Funimation always put the original japanese version with subtitles on their DVDs I think :)

[ekazoo.livejournal.com]

ngl, I wish they had used England instead of Britain because the whole UK/Britain/England thing isn't interchangeable really :/ Even though Igirisu does mean U.K/britain, there are separate katakana words for Scotland and Wales. Even the official merchandise seems to switch between UK/England/Britain all the time... but they always use the Union Jack D: YEAH it's a big mess, but he'll always be just England to me. Oh and, they call him Britain and yet they are using an ENGLISH accent? British accents don't exist because the other parts of Britain have completely different accents lol.

I do however LOVE his voice to pieces XD I'm English and yeah it's not an accurate accent, but it's a stereotypical accent and that's what Hetalia is all about. I am so glad that they made him sound camp. So glad.

America's voice sounds perfect so far :O And it sounds nothing like Vic tbh :/ I can't wait to hear all the America/England scenes in English! *-*

[haro.livejournal.com]

To someone not from the UK, generally the stereotypes that comes to mind when someone says 'British' are 'English' ones. It's the predominant culture associated with the UK amongst non-Brits for the most part. Say Scottish and they'll imagine kilts for example, but if you say Britain, the first thing to come to mind for a lot of non-Brits (and certainly Americans) is generally going to be London, Big Ben, etc. So since the series is about international stereotypes, even when calling him Britain, it kind of makes sense that they'd go for an English accent. And as you said above, England the character is definitely a stereotype of an Englishman, not a Scotsman or a Welshman.

[ataraxiansmile.livejournal.com]

I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. I don't think the scene they chose was the best, but... eh.

[azureobsidian.livejournal.com]

FLYING MINT BUNNY! The dub is made of hilarious crack.

I'm not entirely pleased, but I'm not horribly disappointed either. Some campy accent fail, but I like the voice, even if I would have liked it a little deeper among other things. And I really like what I hear of America. They couldn't fail his accent, but they could have made it unspeakably annoying.

The dialogue changes are growing on me (the subs seem to remain faithful, which is more important to me). Especially having seen and read the series a few times, this will be something different. Gonna admit I thought this scene was funnier than the original.

[mythril.livejournal.com]

I'm probably going to be in the minority here, but...I don't really like England's VA. It just sounds like what everyone does when they try and put on an English accent. I so wish they'd gone for a more regional accent - a Northern one (Yorkshire accent is just yummy) or maybe even East End London or something. So fed up with people assuming we all sound like Hugh Grant or summat...end of rant.

America's VA sounds pretty ok though.

[americanheroal.livejournal.com]

David Bechkam. Why couldn't they just hire David Beckham?
(KIDDING~~~)

[helisse.livejournal.com]

America's voice is OK. England's NOT - at least for me. Mostly because he's accent is not "English" enough. Yes, I'm aware that there's no such thing like one British accent but many of them, but still. It could have been better. I remember Tao Ren from the Shaman King have posh accent and it sounded pretty good for my non-native ears.

I also do not like the 'Britain' thing. Sure, I know that what's written in the Japanese manga but strips very clearly suggest that it's about England. I mean - it was England who defeated the Armada, got conquered by the Normans and such. (Plus, I understand how people from Wales and Scotland may feel about it. Remember that in Europe such notions like 'nation' and 'country'/'state' are two different things. We are touchy about this. All those wars, anyone?)

[helisse.livejournal.com]

sorry for all those mistakes. It's 2.30 a.m. where I live... orz

[wefasappleblood.livejournal.com]

I like America's voice, but I can't stand England's. It's somewhat painful to hear. I kind of want to kick something small and cute after hearing it. Maybe it's because I always thought England would sound like an angry Arthur Weasley.

I know they're going for the LOL and all, and I was OK with the other characters so far because aside from the freaky accents they sounded not far off from the Japanese VAs, or at least somewhat close to what I'd expect for those characters. England just sounds like, I dunno, what I'd expect the Robot Unicorn Attack unicorn to sound like. Kind of really do not want.

[saramon.livejournal.com]

BRB LOL'ING FOREVER AT THE FLYING MINT BUNNY

NO KIDDING GUYS I SERIOUSLY ALMOST DIED WHEN HE SAID THAT

AND NUTBURGERS

THAT IS THE GAYEST THING IN THE WORLD
I THINK SCOTT FREEMAN HAS BEEN SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON THE KINK MEME

[haro.livejournal.com]

WELL TO BE FAIR HE'S PRETTY DAMN GAY IN CANON.

XD

[kanami-yuuta.livejournal.com]

XD ENGLAND IS STEWIE FROM FAMILY GUY AND THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT

[liete.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, that was my thought, as well.