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

[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~~~)

[mythril.livejournal.com]

LOL that would be sooo funny! :D

(I actually reckon the guy who did Balthier's voiceover from FFXII (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fbmYp5Vztc&feature=related) (Gideon Emery) would've been a good choice...if they wanted a posh accent anyways. *shrug*)

[haro.livejournal.com]

But isn't Hetalia supposed to be about stereotypes? In that case, I think it makes sense that they went for a more stereotypical accent as opposed to something regional like that.

[mythril.livejournal.com]

Hmm that is a good point...I have to agree with you there, albeit reluctantly. It would just be my own personal taste if they went for an accent that was not the usual stereotype. I expect I'll probably get used to it given time anyway.

[ekazoo.livejournal.com]

Yeah as Haro said, Hetalia is about stereotypes and the stereotypical English accent is a posh one such as the one in the dub.

You're right; no one really speaks like that here, but since when are stereotypes accurate? XD

Saying this, it would be absolutely class if England spoke with a Geordie accent. Him saying "Howay man America!" would make my life complete.

[mythril.livejournal.com]

OMG Geordie accent would be class! "Alreet America, man!" :D

[ekazoo.livejournal.com]

... LOL I actually really want this now XD Oh my god, can you imagine him speaking like that when he's drunk? Or as we say up here, mortal? It would be comedy gold!

[mythril.livejournal.com]

Me too! Has someone written anything like this yet? It needs to be done, dammit! I can just picture poor America's face whilst England rants at him about the revolution in unintelligible geordie. XD