Auto's Anime Reviews: English Dubbed Log Horizon Episodes 1-13

Howdy, every! Auto here with another review, this time on the English dubbed episodes of Log Horizon. Specifically 1-13 since the first DVD release is just the first half of the season and the other half does not come out till January next year. And I binged watch them online, if that says anything. I realized I forgot to post this review on my blog after putting it on DeviantArt for the fangroup I am in who were wondering how the dub was like and posting it now. Like my small review of the first four episodes of the English dubbed episodes on DeviantArt for same fan group, I am planning to keep this review short and as spoiler free as possible… Okay, short maybe not, but I will try to keep this as spoiler free as possible. Mostly because if this studio doing the English dub gets Log Horizon on a major television network or streaming line, well, I will not be surprised if the Log Horizon fanbase easily goes up with just the English dubbed version.

Now, with reading what I wrote above, I will flat out say Log Horizon’s English dub is one of the best English dubs I seen in a long time. Not the best in history, but it still was a great surprise for someone who usually watches on subtitled anime like myself. However, if you a fan of the subtitle anime, this dub is not straight out translation, which is part of the reason I been seeing other people give this dub bad review without really going deeper. There’s a reason there is a 3-4 episode watch rule a lot of reviewers use before sometimes even putting a first impression on anything for a reason. For any fan of the Japanese dub Log Horizon, the English dub gives you one hell of an uncanny valley(that area where something seems similar, but is off and gives you a creepy feeling, which the horror genre uses a lot) when you watch the first episode: the tone is different, characters’ traits are different, and you can tell the pacing of the first episode(an issue many experienced anime watchers noticed)is rushing a lot more than in the subtitled version because of the changes.

Is this bad? Usually, that would be a yes. However, with Log Horizon, it’s the opposite. It’s actually because the English dub actually focuses on the source material more than the Japanese dub is the reason for the uncanny valley. It’s not a direct translation of the original anime as I mentioned, but a proper adaptation of the light novel in anime form. And the studio did this on purpose to mess with the subtitle watchers’ heads. Even dub watchers or new anime watchers will get this uncanny vibe, but it actually works to bring the tone the original Japanese dub was missing for the first few episode. That missing tone gave the Japanese version a more light hearted feel compared to the light novel. The English dub allows the watcher to jump into the first part of Log Horizon’s story that the Japanese dub failed to hit on the mark. A mistake of the Japanese dub that made it felt the first few episodes of a small adventure before we ended up getting into the meat that is Log Horizon. Though, still a slow start up, the English dub uses this to help build up the coming events compared to the original.

This first part of the Log Horizon story, which I will slightly spoil, is where everyone is trying to find what they are going to do. You see how the characters are desperately trying to find what the hell they are suppose to do any means whatsoever just to relieve the fear and stress their new found situation has put them in. Be it clinging to other people to keep your sanity, thinking their reality is still the game, or killing other players just to keep the mind numbing boredom away, we have a better building up of the morals questions various characters of the side and main cast being challenged with and forcing these characters to think hard of their situation and trying to find solutions to the ever growing problems they are facing. Even with the English dub avoiding the same questions of the old world as the Japanese dub that was in the light novel, the English dub managed to give us the unsteady feelings the characters and light novel had, hence we are actually put right in their shoes instead of watching their adventures before getting to the good stuff.

Another issue I see other reviewers are complaining about is the fact several character’s traits and personalities seemed to change in the English dub. Now, yes, this is the case, but before you simply deny these versions, you might want to see what light novel readers who watched the Japanese dub with subtitles say about the anime. The English dubbing studio listened to the light novel readers, hence characters like Naotsugu seem to changed a lot in the English dub, but in fact, he’s now closer to his light novel character traits than the Japanese version. Other characters like Nyanta and Maryelle also seem very different, but they actually still match their actual personalities set in the light novel even though the voice acting using a different route compared to the Japanese dub to get it across. In fact, Nyanta’s voice acting is quite brilliant as it still allows his “cool cat gentlemen” personality to show even though he’s not saying “nya” all the time like in the Japanese version and allows for a better connection with the American audience with this version of a gentlemen. This new voice acting is actually purposely planned for later parts Nyanta deals with to allow better connection to him with the English speaking audience.  The new witty dialogue added with the story also helps bring these characters to life and give more depth to theses characters as well, giving a deeper sense of connection with the many character’s of Log Horizon. Extra bits of character development are even sneak into the English dub as well, hence adding goodies to this version of Log Horizon. The reason for all these changes to go closer to the light novel is due to the dubbed anime is coming out before the light novel in the USA and will be a driver to bring new people into the Log Horizon light novel series outside those who watch the subtitled version or read the light novels and manga online.

In fact,the characters and how they are perceived are not the only changes. The dub is more of a proper translation of the light novel compared to the Japanese anime. The Japanese anime did a lot of references to it’s spin-offs and fan related projects as parts of it is actually fan made, hence for anime only watcher, it really threw some people for a loop with areas in the anime making no sense until you read the spin-off material like Honey Moon Logs and such like I did. There is still a few shout outs in the English version, but much of these have been toned down greatly and serve more as an awesome treat for really big fans looking for said Easter eggs than hindering the story. The confusing references have also been removed and replaced with dialogue that is actually more understandable to the point I will not be surprised if the Japanese fans get the English version subtitle for hardcore light novel fans and confused fans as it basically runs the whole first 13 episodes very cleanly storytelling wise compared to the original Japanese dub and even the derp moments in animation and voice acting are very minor compared to what I was expecting, almost to the point it is just the same issues the Japanese version has due to same animation. In fact, once you past the first few episodes, there is almost no animation mistakes outside what the anime already had from the Japanese dub.

Hence where I get to the actual storytelling of the English dub. Even though both use the same animation, the English dub does a whole lot better getting the story across compared to the original Japanese anime. This is pretty damn impressive considering they managed to do this with only minor editing and good voice acting. With the tone better established in the beginning, the later parts parts of Log Horizon has more impact and even deeper meaning from the original Japanese dub. Heck, even by episode two, I was getting goosebumps with uneasy air and anxiety the characters were having and the feeling of being lost and alone like when I read the light novel. Some of the lines in the English dub almost match the online translation of Log Horizon to a T to the point it’s scary and it works a whole lot better than them just doing the translated dub of the Japanese anime. The English dub used the source material to help build a better anime that makes it actually just as good as an anime as the Japanese version. Hence making them both compliment each other instead of one being glaringly better than the other like many dubs usually do and the DVD sets coming out a worth a lot more as you get two good versions of Log Horizon. In fact, I am wanting the second half of the season to be leaked early online even though I am planning to buy the whole first season of Log Horizon on DVD(watched the English dub episodes online out of curiosity of what I was getting). They had to split the first season into two DVD collections and it is so unfair! They had to stop right on one of the good cliffhangers of Log Horizon and its driving me nuts. If an anime dub is able to get me wanting more, especially on a cliffhanger like this, then it’s really good! Especially with just introducing one of my most beloved characters of the series and his voice acting is freaking perfect. Sorry, let that nerdgasm slip.

So, my final verdict for the first half of season 1 of the English dub Log Horizon? Again, it is one of the best anime dubs I have seen in a long while, but it will also be one awesome jumping off point for dub only watchers and hardcore anime fans alike into the Log Horizon series. Light novel fans also got their original characterizations back even if more suited to the English speakers, so it’s an almost overall win for everyone with this dub. The dub is even still mostly family friendly with no fanservice and minor cussing, which makes it actually pretty enjoyable for a lot of people. Yes, there is some cussing, but it is mostly all in the beginning where it’s actually understandable compared to other dubs I watched where they swear like sailors the whole series. Even the characters who keep it up actually use it sparingly  and its done at the proper times instead of them just swearing all the time. In fact, I can wholeheartedly recommend this to teenagers with no problems with watching all 13 episodes and seeing its still quite damn family friendly. Though, knowing how the USA is, they might not see it that way. However. I highly recommend buying the DVD of Log Horizon if you love the anime or you want a good anime to watch over and over again to always find something new you might of missed the first time around watching it… Though, if you are like me and like to binge watch good anime and hate being left hanging on a damn good cliffhanger, I recommend holding off on buying both DVD sets till the other half of Season 1 comes out. I have pre-ordered my DVD set and planning to pre-order the other set soon as I am not passing up having both the English dub and Japanese dub with English subtitles in my hands. Well, hope this was helpful, Auto out!