I used to like the old but now that Viz is the new correct English dub I tend to stay away from the old dub. I guess one good thing about DIC and Cloverway it opened up the world of Sailor Moon and anime to English speaking fans.

I grew up watching the old Dic/Cloverway dub but started to hate it as soon as I was old enough to realize how problematic it was. I still cringe whenever people use references from it such as "scouts" or "Serena" or "negaverse". However, I LOVE the Viz dub!

The Viz dub keeps all the culture and Japanese names intact, doesn't have the "cousins with benefits" nonsense and constantly makes fun of Mamoru's ridiculous wardrobe. It's great.

The new dub also handled the episode where Makoto has a crush on Haruka way better than the original Japanese version. The Japanese version makes the girls seem weirdly against it (despite the fact that they have no issue with Haruka and Michiru's relationship) but the new Viz dub corrects anything that might be perceived as homophobic and the girls are just a little confused and/or worried that Mako is pursuing someone who is already taken. 

But we can still thank the old dub for making great memes!:

I also grew up on the old DiC/Cloverwave dub, but I haven't listened to them in such a long time that I've begun forgetting what most of the voices sound like...except for Luna and Pegasus, because the former spoke with a memorable accent, and the latter was so miscast that it was face-palm cringe worthy. I also haven't listened to the new Viz dub, so there isn't much of a point of comparison, but if I had to watch the old one vs the new one, then I'd definitely go with the new one, if only to see how it sounds with a more faithful script and new cast of actors.

I too grew up watching the old dub. If I really had to, I'd watch the original one (first 65ish episodes?) The Cloverway dub makes me want to hurt my ears.

Many of the VAs changed when the English dub switched from DiC to Cloverway for season 3. The DiC voices were pretty awful, but the new ones were even worse. They sounded so elderly and obnoxious. Don't even get me started on how uncomfortable it is to hear Pegasus with an old man's voice.

Season one was still pretty unbearable since Naru (dubbed Molly) was in EVERY EPISODE with that god awful accent that sounded like an exaggerated version of my grandmother from Brooklyn. Even as a kid, hearing it was like nails on a chalkboard. 

And I must be the only human who despises the "She is the One Named Sailor Moon" theme because that song is so nauseatingly catchy to the point that it has haunted my nightmares. "Moonlight Legend" is just so beautiful, why ruin it?

Ahhhh sorry for being a hater, I saw this thread and just couldn't resist. I still love the memes though...

I have seen clips of it, and liked what I saw even though it has its faults.
(I do like the Viz dub a little more...)

Usa-chan wrote:

Don't even get me started on how uncomfortable it is to hear Pegasus with an old man's voice.

Yes! Someone who understands my pain!

I was kinda young (12/13) when SuperS was airing on Toonami and I don't remember Pegasus's voice seeming to be too old...I'd have to watch that again. xD

I do have an appreciation for the old dub and I really loved the voices from the first two seasons for the main cast (some of the side characters, victims of the day and villains were...questionable....). For the longest time, it was the only version of Sailor Moon I had and I would watch my few VHS tapes over and over again (aka Sailor Moon R movie and the princess reveal eps from season 1). It's hard to watch the dub now a days mostly cause of the script itself and the lack of Japanese original soundtrack. While I absolutely adored some of the english songs and BGMs (the transformation music is pretty memorable), they don't hold a candle to the Japanese OST and BGM in my book.

I certainly don't hate it. Without it, Sailor Moon probably wouldn't have made it in North America. I think it would've missed its mark. It's just unfortunate it and CCS didn't do well enough to bring in a wave of magical girl series. The shonen/action/scifi anime seems to be what really hit it off in the market back then (remember old Toonami and Adult Swim?) and seems to still be the case for the most part these days.

Anyway...totally went off topic for a bit there. xD No I don't hate or dislike it due to nostalgia and fond memories of watching it with my sister and friends but I can't really watch it now cause of the dialogue. xD

I still have my old english dub VHS tapes since I have fond memories of being 5-8 years old, picking them out based on which one had the prettiest cover, watching them for hours and constantly turning the volume down because I thought the voices sounded weird, being perplexed by the lovey dovey cousins and also very uncomfortable every time the Amazon Trio looked into someone's dream mirror. Let's say the dub and I have a love-hate relationship. I've always loved the transformation music!

Btw if you go back and listen to the scenes where Rini Chibiusa talks to pegasus, it sounds like he could be her father. 

If I remember correctly wasn't the dub voice for Pegasus the same actor as Rubeus? Or am I thinking of another character? 

According to IMDB, Pegasus's original English VA was Robert Bockstael and Rob Tinkler voiced Rubeus. So guess not XD

Pegasus voice actor also voiced Prince Diamond/Demande.

Omg the original dub.



Babes, that was my jam. Now, I was LUCKY in that when I moved from Canada to the USA it was in that awkward period where they had dubbed and aired the whole first season but only part of season 2 - just the Doom Tree Arc and like five to ten episodes of Rini's arc - and that was it, so when I say 'the original dub' I mean just season one and the half of season two that came out and aired before 1997. Cloverway dub? -- Man, I remember telling my friends about sailor moon when we moved and only being able to show them the VHS tapes of the DiC episodes my granny taped from the TV for us ((which she labeled "Silver Moon", bahaha, and totally took all the time to hand write the episode titles (to the best of her ability, lol "Sirina" "Tuxedo Moon" etc.))) and singing along to the songs and being able to quote episodes (("Me? Serena? The Moon Princess? This is WAY past weird.")) and having all these great times and discovering the Pocket Mixx manga and getting even more into things BUT THEN I MOVED TO TENNESSEE AND GOT CARTOON NETWORK AND TOONAMI WAS AIRING CLOVERWAY DUB AND I 

I'm just glad I had years to be hooked on it and build this entire universe and hours of play and so many good memories from the DiC and Pocket Mixx before they did... that to it. 

I couldn't make it through one episode with the new Serena's voice. TO THIS DAY I cannot - I mean?? who thought it was a good idea to change OCTAVES in a SINGLE SENTENCE? Oy. So, yeah, my friends finally seeing it air on TV was a very OH NO IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY moment for me.


The DiC dub was problematic. But for me, at 5 years old, living in a Canadian suburb in the 90's, the problematic stuff didn't really sink in. I adored the funny insults ("Go bleach your roots, creep!" I had no idea what that meant for another 5-7 years after hearing and repeating that) and the way they interacted with each other was very similar to how my siblings interact and that MOONLIGHT ROMANCE. =D   Yeey. 

ANYWAY so I am all aboard the dislike train for Cloverway dub. I could not watch any of those episodes. But DiC dub will always hold a special, rose-colored glasses hall-of-fame position with me XD

Swan Cat wrote:

Pegasus voice actor also voiced Prince Diamond/Demande.

I think I just had a part of my mind blown. Also, why is this giving me the urge to write a fanfic where Diamond and Helios are related (...well, beside the white hair part)?

YES! THE ORIGINAL DUB SUCKED! I admit, I never grew up with the series. But after seeing the Japanese version and Viz's new dub, along with clips of the old dub, I can wholeheartedly say that the original English dub was really bad. Seriously, Molly/Naru sounds like she's drowning half the time, Luna had an old granny voice that was really unfitting, and Serena's third voice was just really grating. Also, Rini's first English voice made her sound WAY too bratty and annoying. I don't know why the dubbers thought making Serena sound like she's trying too hard to swallow a whole raw fish was a good idea, but it clearly wasn't.

Viz's new dub not only makes the characters actually sound their age, but the acting is much more subdued and never goes too over-the-top or cheesy or anything of the like.

It's good for nostalgia and not much else.

I tried rewatching it and while I did enjoy the first 10 or so episodes for what they were once they changed Serena's voice actresses from someone who talked like a normal teenage girl (Tracey Moore) into a valley girl ditz who can't speak like a normal human being (Terri Hawkes) I was done. And I know it got even worse when they replaced Serena a SECOND time with an even worse voice actress. 

Also the replacement music is....meh. I liked the transformation music but the rest of it was pretty bland.

I completely agree re: Serena's voice going downhill!!

Here's a pretty good comparison:


I have no idea why Tracey Moore didn't stay on but it's a shame because the other two are pretty well recognized due to the greater number of episodes they were in and uh... I guess their unique style... I get the feeling Linda Ballantyne was trying to mimic Terri's style, (or was told to) which somehow makes it even worse >.>.
"Oooooh DEHriennnn!" ugh...

I actually really loved the dub music though! I thought the rock elements made the fight scenes energized in a way that the original never did. The MIDI effect/instrument used for Luna's bkg music was also fitting in that it always reminded me that she's still pretty mysterious, even 20 or so episodes in. But sure, some of the other day-to-day school scene musak wasn't particularly impressive ^^;;.

Anyways, despite the drawbacks I don't dislike it over all. I probably just can't because I grew up on it though :p.

Diagnosed wrote:

I completely agree re: Serena's voice going downhill!!

Here's a pretty good comparison:


I have no idea why Tracey Moore didn't stay on but it's a shame because the other two are pretty well recognized due to the greater number of episodes they were in and uh... I guess their unique style... I get the feeling Linda Ballantyne was trying to mimic Terri's style, (or was told to) which somehow makes it even worse >.>.
"Oooooh DEHriennnn!" ugh...

I actually really loved the dub music though! I thought the rock elements made the fight scenes energized in a way that the original never did. The MIDI effect/instrument used for Luna's bkg music was also fitting in that it always reminded me that she's still pretty mysterious, even 20 or so episodes in. But sure, some of the other day-to-day school scene musak wasn't particularly impressive ^^;;.

Anyways, despite the drawbacks I don't dislike it over all. I probably just can't because I grew up on it though :p.

I never did get the love for the DiC music or why some people preferred it over the original Japanese. Even purist seem to like My Only Love over Mabaroshi no Ginzuishou and I'm like nah dawg My Only Love is okay as a 90s pop ballad but Mabaroshi no Ginzuishou actually fit the scene.  To each his own.

There was an interesting voice comparison video  on Youtube and while Linda's Serena is horrid (and yes I do remember an interview where she was told to imitate Terri) her Serenity was pretty good! She talked normal.  

If Tracey Moore had stayed longer she probably would have been my favorite, as is, Stephanie Sheh is the best by default.

I appreciate that the DiC and Cloverway dubs introduced me to Sailor Moon, but they're such poor quality that I only "like" the amusement that can come from the bad dialogue, questionable music, CGI-transitions-that-aren't-even-needed, and censorship choices... My nostalgia hasn't been strong enough to tolerate re-watching more than a clip or two.

I honestly thought I'd be able to re-watch the dub of my childhood for nostalgia's sake but... it's really, really terrible XD Like, unwatchable terrible. So, when I want to watch it now I watch the sub, but I do have to say, I feel like hate is a strong word! The dub will always have a dorky spot in my heart, even if I cringe when I watch it now, lol.

SushiRoll wrote:

I never did get the love for the DiC music or why some people preferred it over the original Japanese. Even purist seem to like My Only Love over Mabaroshi no Ginzuishou and I'm like nah dawg My Only Love is okay as a 90s pop ballad but Mabaroshi no Ginzuishou actually fit the scene.  To each his own.

I can understand loving it and appreciating it, but i never got why people actually preferred it either. I guess for some its hard to get into that jazzy, japanese 90s feel of it. But for real. Maboroshi no Ginzuishou is such a great song. My Only Love was 12 year old me's jam tho. xD

I can never truly hate it-it's what got me into sailor moon, after all-but I've found it cringy and laughable during certain scenes. I noticed that season 1 wasn't that bad, though it certainly dated itself with all the cheesy 90s one-liners (that I still somehow enjoy.) But the following seasons-especially S-really got content cut. And let us never forget that Haruka and Michiru were cousins for this. The name changes into something more western was annoying, too.

But nostalgia glasses keep me from hating it. If I'd discovered the old dub now, however-no doubt I would.

I personally adore it. The DiC dub I mean. Clovereay not so much. For its time, it was pretty good. 
I actually highly dislike the Viz dub. Everyone in my honest opinion sounds way to Flat and emotionless. I've had that problem with most dubbing companies, the only one I thought did a wonderful job was ADV. 
It isn't just the nostalgia either it is amazingly how annoying I find the dailouge in the ViZ dub. My family is full if thespians, I'm not into mediocre performances.

Starchild wrote:

Everyone in my honest opinion sounds way to Flat and emotionless.

I'm kinda mixed on the Viz dub. It's not baaaad but it's not great either and because of what you described above. As the seasons go on, I do find that the main cast really grow into their roles better but Ami, Rei, Mako and Minako sort of suffer from being flat. Chibiusa's VA is good and I think comparable to Stephanie Beard (I always liked her Chibiusa from the Cloverway dub). Stephanie Sheh as Usagi gets much better over time. I think she actually gives a couple of really good emotional performances in some of the more fillery episodes!

I am, however, not really a fan of the Umino voice whatsoever.

THOUGHT IRONICALLY ENOUGH, to me, the Viz VA's in Sailor MooN Crystal actually have more character and personality than the original Japanese VAs.

Hmmm, I'll be honest, I only liked the first to second season of the original old dub (because Nostilgia )and I really liked the old music because it was always my opinion that music wise: 90s NA dub music was really good in conveying some things better than the Japanese originals.  But that's only for certain songs. 

But I grew up with the Original dub. (time stamp and to date myself: I was 6yrs old when I first saw it and then 11/12 when it aired on toonami.)  So, it and the music has a special place and I loved the first dub VA of 'Serena' but I absolutely despised the replacement.  It always sounded like she had a cold or needed something to clear her sinuses to me.  I just never got on board with her voice (or Amy's Va at times.)

Overall?  I'm split, but mostly I prefer Viz's dub now. I think the voices match the characters better. (though I'm never over Umino's new Va. It's...weird.. to me.)


Music wise: I like both the Japanese and English music. I think Moon Princess ED and the other ED before it were better than replaying the Opening Theme like the old dub did.   (to be fair, all shows did that in NA tvshows anyway. They hardly had different ending themes.)

Ktenshi wrote:

But I grew up with the Original dub. (time stamp and to date myself: I was 6yrs old when I first saw it and then 11/12 when it aired on toonami.)

The gap wasn’t that long though? It came to the US in 95 and was on Toonami by 98

 

Ktenshi wrote:

So, it and the music has a special place and I loved the first dub VA of 'Serena' but I absolutely despised the replacement.  

Well she has two replacements.

Ktenshi wrote:

It always sounded like she had a cold or needed something to clear her sinuses to me.  I just never got on board with her voice (or Amy's Va at times.)

I think the one you’re talking about was Serena #3

Good ole Linda Ballantyne. Poor woman was just probably doing as the director told and was like "do your best to imitate the old but not." :/

Spoiler:

  It seemed longer because as a child, things are quickly forgotten and it was only by chance that I saw it.  It does seem that long because of it.   Now, in retrospect, it isn't overall, but that's how it was. By the time I was 11/12, I had nearly completely forgotten Sailor Moon was even a thing. ( I was hugely into Storm from Marvel and other things.)

 I'm talking about Seasons One-Two Vas.  For a short while, her first VA was replaced for a few episodes because she was on maternity leave.   I could not distinguish between her original VA and the one that replaced her for a few eps.  (This was Tracey Moore and Terri Hawkes. They were the first two Dub voices for 'Serena' and I could not tell the difference. It helps that they were good friends, so they know how to emulate the other.)

 I was talking about Season Three-Four Va- the one from Cloverway after DiC closed. (I don't see why this is a nickpick but ok.) I couldn't remember how to spell her name properly while writing it.  (Thanks for the name Brit, but yeah Linda was...special.)

 Yeah, I'm talking about Linda.  (but I wasn't crazy bout Amy's VA either in Season Three.)

Sorry if that wasn't too clear.

I used to like the DIC and Cloverway Dub back when I was a little girl, but then as I got older I start to dislike it because of the censorship and horrible voice acting that it had. As for the Viz Media English Dub, I love it very much because it is faithful to the Original Japanese version and the voice acting is so much better too. So yeah the Viz Media Dub of Sailor Moon is my favorite Sailor Moon English Dub and I will always love it too.