Yo-Kai Watch (Season 2 premiers August 1st with 50 episodes)

[pppp]

 Watched ep 2. Same compliments from ep 1 go to this one too, in fact this one from what I could tell didn't ommit anything, the "embarassing bathroom incident" gag is there exactly as in the japanese version. Dizcrybe, this ep is much better pacingwise. Now that they got done establishing the setting and how things work, the show starts going more easy on the viewer, and again, it gets better as more subplots are introduced, starting witth today's ep, which introduces Manjimutt, one of the fan favorite Yo-Kais, voiced also by J.W. Terry, Whisper's VA.

Oh forgot, SSMB, tell me which Yo-Kai you've met yesterday:

Edited October 7, 2015 by pppp

[Nepenthe]

It's great that they're keeping the script as intact as possible. Had they kept the butler mispronunciation joke in there somehow I would've given them super extra credit, but so far what we have is excellent. I also like the few editions they added too, such as Whisper asking what we were all thinking in the sub: "What is wrong with this kid?!" I also smirked a bit at him calling Keita an ingrate. Good to know that Whisper's going to be a little bit more on the offense here. Jibanyan's introduction is still pretty funny too. I'm glad they kept the little cat puns and constant meows in his speech. It's really cheesy but still in Jibanyan's character. <3

However, I still gotta say it... I'm not that impressed with the actual acting. I think the voices they got are pretty damn great, particularly Jibanyan's, but I don't feel the enthusiasm and overacting that's pertinent for a children's show like this, particularly from Whisper. He's way too subdued from how energetic he's actually portrayed in Japanese. Really, compare just his personal introduction to Keita in the English version to how super-excited and fast he is in Japanese. It's two completely different performances, and while I don't think going a different direction was an inherently bad idea, I don't think the energy is even matching the animation. It's just off. Same with Jibanyan when he's getting hit by trucks; the screeches his actor pulled off made that shit sound painful versus disappointing. Granted, I imagine if you haven't immersed yourself in the acting style of the Japanese version beforehand this is still pretty good. But I wish they had kept that up for English audiences too.

But beggars can't be choosers. Hopefully once the show picks up and the game releases this franchise gets a nice little foothold in the West. Not entirely certain about it becoming the runaway success it is in Japan at this point, but I'm crossing my fingers!

[pppp]

It's great that they're keeping the script as intact as possible. Had they kept the butler mispronunciation joke in there somehow I would've given them super extra credit, but so far what we have is excellent. I also like the few editions they added too, such as Whisper asking what we were all thinking in the sub: "What is wrong with this kid?!" I also smirked a bit at him calling Keita an ingrate. Good to know that Whisper's going to be a little bit more on the offense here. Jibanyan's introduction is still pretty funny too. I'm glad they kept the little cat puns and constant meows in his speech. It's really cheesy but still in Jibanyan's character. <3

However, I still gotta say it... I'm not that impressed with the actual acting. I think the voices they got are pretty damn great, particularly Jibanyan's, but I don't feel the enthusiasm and overacting that's pertinent for a children's show like this, particularly from Whisper. He's way too subdued from how energetic he's actually portrayed in Japanese. Really, compare just his personal introduction to Keita in the English version to how super-excited and fast he is in Japanese. It's two completely different performances, and while I don't think going a different direction was an inherently bad idea, I don't think the energy is even matching the animation. It's just off. Same with Jibanyan when he's getting hit by trucks; the screeches his actor pulled off made that shit sound painful versus disappointing. Granted, I imagine if you haven't immersed yourself in the acting style of the Japanese version beforehand this is still pretty good. But I wish they had kept that up for English audiences too.

But beggars can't be choosers. Hopefully once the show picks up and the game releases this franchise gets a nice little foothold in the West. Not entirely certain about it becoming the runaway success it is in Japan at this point, but I'm crossing my fingers!

Hey Nepenthe, tell me which Yo-Kai you've met in episode 3:

As for what you said, maybe it'll get better over time when the actors are used to the roles.

Just saw ep 3, and its again pretty great, the only thing I noticed being ommited was the old man pun with Manjimutt's original japanese name. Again, it's the only real course of action to take, japanese puns can't work in english. Hell, even the subber of the original japanese had to literally spell the joke out for us saying "an old man gag" just so we had a clue of what it meant.

Today is ep 4, the first attempt of the show at telling a heartfelt story, hope it goes well.

[Dizcrybe]

The way they pronounce it, though, it creates a new (?) pun in English.

Mangy mutt. Eh? Eh?

[pppp]

Hey SSMB, tell me whick Yo-Kai you've met yesterday:

My only complaint with this ep is how they changed the "You look fat" situation to be more about junk food being bad for you. It's not something worth getting miffed about, but the "fat" thing is funnier. I guess they didn't want to risk offending fat people or something. Aside from that it was great, everything else was kept exactly as it was, the Hungramps story is still really moving. Today's ep is where the show really starts stretching its legs comedywise. We'll get an over the top comedic reference(These will become a staple of the show), specifically of another Level-5 franchise, and let's just say Whisper's antics are really awesome in this one xD

Edited October 9, 2015 by pppp

[Klinsy]

So, I gotta say, I'm becoming a pretty big fan of this!

It has a unique blend of slice of life and monster of the week, the characters are pretty charming and the voice work is spectacular.

If I did have one complaint, I wish some stuff didn't happen off screen, like Nate befriending the Kappa, but other than that, it's super good.

[pppp]

So, I gotta say, I'm becoming a pretty big fan of this!

It has a unique blend of slice of life and monster of the week, the characters are pretty charming and the voice work is spectacular.

If I did have one complaint, I wish some stuff didn't happen off screen, like Nate befriending the Kappa, but other than that, it's super good.

Well WallKappa's befriending offscreen was for joke purposes. What did you think of Humgramps story in ep 4?

[Klinsy]

Hungrygramps is actually my second favorite Yo-Kai behind the obvious, his story was so touching.

[pppp]

Hungrygramps is actually my second favorite Yo-Kai behind the obvious, his story was so touching.

Oh you thought his story was touching? As I'm sure Nepenthe will agree, you ain't seen nothing yet, wait till ep 9 where they start separating the heart and the comedy into their own segments, with my favorite Yo-Kai being an advocate of family values:

And of course there's ep 25 xD

[Zaysho]

So, based on what I'm seeing on my TV schedule, was the daily showing just for the premiere and from here on it's weekly?

I'd say it's a bit of bummer, but then Disney'd burn through the show pretty quickly. Hope the ratings have been good to it this week, and it enjoys plenty success, though. I didn't expect to enjoy the show or even looking forward to watching it regularly.

Today's episode was hilarious,

especially the segment with Jibanyan moving in and almost getting himself and Whisper exorcised!

 

My only complaint with this ep is how they changed the "You look fat" situation to be more about junk food being bad for you. It's not something worth getting miffed about, but the "fat" thing is funnier. I guess they didn't want to risk offending fat people or something. Aside from that it was great, everything else was kept exactly as it was, the Hungramps story is still really moving. Today's ep is where the show really starts stretching its legs comedywise. We'll get an over the top comedic reference(These will become a staple of the show), specifically of another Level-5 franchise, and let's just say Whisper's antics are really awesome in this one xD

Yeah, the writing in that episode was a little awkward, and since you mention that the original joke was Nate commenting on Katie looking fat, now I understand why (I took "You look terrible" to be a way of saying she looks sick, but her subsequent reaction makes more sense--and it is funnier--if the line was kept as comment on her weight). Reminds me of a moment in the English dub of Dragon Ball Kai. In the uncut English dub, Freeza addresses the Namek Elder with "Hey, Fats," but Chris Sabat himself said they had to alter the line for the edited broadcast to "Well, sir." (which was actually the original line, but the uncut line was an ad lib Sabat liked enough to keep for the home release) for similar reasons. I think it's a lame reason, but hey, whatever gets the show to air with the fewest amount of issues.

Edited October 10, 2015 by Zaysho
For some reason my quote got removed, so I'm re-adding it.

[Mania Pipe]

I haven't seen the dub yet aside from that little trailer promo. How has it been handling at the moment?

[pppp]

I haven't seen the dub yet aside from that little trailer promo. How has it been handling at the moment?

So far it's been great. They had to ommit some puns that can't work in english but aside from that everything is pretty damn good. We even have translated songs:

Also subscribe to the official channel that video comes from, cause the recaps are Youtube only:

 

[BlueTidalGamer]

My curiosity of the Yo-Kai Watch brand started the same way as probably most western audiences did when hearing it was destroying Pokemon in Japan. Hearing something like that I had to take a look to see what the fuss was about. After taking a look at the game it's got my attention from what I've seen. Then I heard about the anime series being the reason the franchise became a mega hit so I decided to give in and check out the show for when the dub came about.

 

I came into this show thinking it'll probably be another generic kids anime trying to be Pokemon (an anime I can't stand) like so many others have done before. 5 episodes in now and I'm pleasantly surprised how wrong I was. This show is absolutely nothing like Pokemon and thank god it isn't cause it's a hell of a lot better. Put spice of life, comedy and monster of the week in a blender and you pretty much get his show. The show is not only charming but the comedy is why I'm sticking with it cause it's always had moments that get me laughing several times. There is no overarching plot like other anime of it's type which may be a make or brake for some which I wouldn't be surprised about. But for what this show is trying to do it really works thanks to charming characters that Level 5 is always good at and hilarious situations. 

 

I gotta give credit to the English localisation here with this one as well. Actually translating the original Japanese openings and endings and editing out pretty much nothing so far is something you don't get very much with dubbed kids anime. Gera Gera Po is now forever stuck in my head! So glad they went with that and not the generic song from one of the early preview trailers.

 

I'm really surprised that I'm enjoying this show. I'll be sure to look into the game a lot more now and I really hope this becomes a decent hit with the kids outside of Japan. It's a fresh take on the typical collect all the monsters type of anime that I can appreciate.  

Edited October 10, 2015 by BlueTidalGamer

[pppp]

My curiosity of the Yo-Kai Watch brand started the same way as probably most western audiences did when hearing it was destroying Pokemon in Japan. Hearing something like that I had to take a look to see what the fuss was about. After taking a look at the game it's got my attention from what I've seen. Then I heard about the anime series being the reason the franchise became a mega hit so I decided to give in and check out the show for when the dub came about.

 

I came into this show thinking it'll probably be another generic kids anime trying to be Pokemon (an anime I can't stand) like so many others have done before. 5 episodes in now and I'm pleasantly surprised how wrong I was. This show is absolutely nothing like Pokemon and thank god it isn't cause it's a hell of a lot better. Put spice of life, comedy and monster of the week in a blender and you pretty much get his show. The show is not only charming but the comedy is why I'm sticking with it cause it's always had moments that get me laughing several times. There is no overarching plot like other anime of it's type which may be a make or brake for some which I wouldn't be surprised about. But for what this show is trying to do it really works thanks to charming characters that Level 5 is always good at and hilarious situations. 

 

I gotta give credit to the English localisation here with this one as well. Actually translating the original Japanese openings and endings and editing out pretty much nothing so far is something you don't get very much with dubbed kids anime. Gera Gera Po is now forever stuck in my head! So glad they went with that and not the generic song from one of the early preview trailers.

 

I'm really surprised that I'm enjoying this show. I'll be sure to look into the game a lot more now and I really hope this becomes a decent hit with the kids outside of Japan. It's a fresh take on the typical collect all the monsters type of anime that I can appreciate.  

It's not even just that. The comedy gets even better(Check out that status I sent you) and being Level-5 we'll get alot of heartfelt stuff(For now I'll just say we will learn why Amy said that to Jibanyan in ep 25 and it is....sniff)

[ElectricAngel]

I saw snippets of the Yo-Kai Watch English dub and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. This is exactly how a dub should be handled these days. Everything is completely uncensored with original opening and ending themes in tact and the casting for the characters is spot on. It's quite rare to see such effort put into an English dub these days. Most companies don't bother dubbing the songs and just use the same 2 or 3 well known voice actors. 

I think I might get into this show, actually. I watched a few of the first episodes in Japanese and I found it pretty fun but didn't bother following, mostly because it was a little hard finding the episodes for download. But yeah, it's great to see a dub actually surpass my expectations for once. I hear they're also doing deals for merchandise as well? Hopefully it'll be a hit with kids. 

[pppp]

I saw snippets of the Yo-Kai Watch English dub and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. This is exactly how a dub should be handled these days. Everything is completely uncensored with original opening and ending themes in tact and the casting for the characters is spot on. It's quite rare to see such effort put into an English dub these days. Most companies don't bother dubbing the songs and just use the same 2 or 3 well known voice actors.

Well that's because Level-5 themselves are doing the dub. Akihiro Hino(Creator of Yo-Kai and their other franchises) himself approved the dub.

They opened their US branch for those purposes:

http://www.level5.co.jp/abby/

[pppp]

So the official channel has a new thing going on: Meet the Yo-Kai, here's Whisper:

 

[Dizcrybe]

I just came away from episode 6. Holy hell, the things this dub's getting away with.

[pppp]

I just came away from episode 6. Holy hell, the things this dub's getting away with.

So is the pacing better to you now?

Also you have no idea. Wait till episode 23 where we have such unsubtle sexual overtones that I'm still wondering how they're gonna get that past the censors.

[Dizcrybe]

So is the pacing better to you now?

It's nowhere near as frantic, at least.

[Jovahexeon Jax Joranvexeon]

Finally got around to seeing episode 5 of the dub and oh man, did they ever preserve quite the roster of what's come to be some if my all-time favorite gags in the anime series! I daresay some things I got were even better transmitted comedy for me in dub than the original!

[pppp]

So after 6 eps the dub has been getting considerable praise, so one of the writers was interviewed:

http://snapthirty.com/2015/10/13/interview-on-yo-kai-watch-with-david-h-steinberg/

I particularly like how the team themselves say they themselves are fans:

Do you have anything you’d like to say to fans of Yo-kai Watch who will be tuning in to watch the dub on Disney XD?

We are big fans of the series, too. Our job is to make it accessible to people who’ve never seen the original anime but to keep it as close to the original as possible. We want to satisfy the fans who fell in love with the show in Japan and don’t want to see it anything changed, but we also want to make it accessible to new fans who can come to the show and see what an amazingly rich, and funny, world the show has to offer.

[Dizcrybe]

And speaking of episode 6, how bout that softcore porn Nate and the guys were watching that completely slipped by Disney XD's radar?

I cannot believe that got past. it just boggles my mind as to how that was allowed to air on a children's channel.

[pppp]

And speaking of episode 6, how bout that softcore porn Nate and the guys were watching that completely slipped by Disney XD's radar?

I cannot believe that got past. it just boggles my mind as to how that was allowed to air on a children's channel.

Dizcrybe, if i showed you what happens in ep 23 you would go bonkers xD

[pppp]

Hey everybody, time to learn how to talk like Komasan:

OK so ep 7 is yet another demonstration of how Level-5 Abby got this in the bag. This dub can't go wrong, everything is being done with plenty of care and respect for the original vision. As for what I was curious, they did softened the blow by decreasing the size, but yeah, everything else is still there, the music, him drooling, it's all there, it's still incredibly obvious what's going on here(Go to 1:50 if it doesn't take you):

Aside from that Komasan is my favorite Yo-Kai, so I'm also happy to see how great his english voice is. His japanese country accent got translated into the typical american southern accent, much like in Ni no Kuni where Drippy's Osaka accent was replaced with a welsh accent. The english equivalent of the original. The jokes and characters are the same, they're just speaking english.

Great job again and keep it coming Level-5.