Episode 12 – The many sides of voice-over radio

Well, that’s it for the season. Illusionary Mecha Soldier Phantom. It was an intense journey to get here, but seeing Shirayuri’s final performance in all its passionately performed glory practically makes the whole thing worthwhile. It’s an incredible climax that Mecha Anime fans will be talking about this for years to come.

Oh, and the season finale of The many sides of voice-over radio was okay too, I think.

I don’t know if I expected much from dealing with Yasumi’s acting issues at the end, given all the back and forth in the last few episodes. The best feedback viewers ever got from her came from Ringo, who told Yasumi not to try so hard. While I liked the anime’s relaxed approach to characterization, resting on your laurels isn’t such a great idea when trying to build drama that involves a person’s efforts and abilities. So Yasumi eventually works her way up to her breaking point when she asks Yuhi for help, which theoretically solidifies the bond between the duo even further and gives her the edge she needs.

It turns out that Yuhi’s advice for dubbing is the same as it was for prison: just assert yourself as strongly as you can against the biggest, most imposing others in the yard—er, recording studio. It’s… a slightly more dramatized version of the “Act Heavy!” advice, which seems to be all Yasumi has gotten so far, and it’s still not the most convincing material that Voice Actor radio At this point, it all gives the impression that the original material was written by someone who enjoys and appreciates the performance of voice actors, but has little understanding or inclination to learn about the actual craft. This robs the series of more technical or detailed aspects that could have been applied to make it stand out.

Fortunately, the voice actresses present understand the task of dubbing. However the advice got her there, Yasumi’s outstanding performance as Shirayuri, making it in a single (re)take, is strong. Seeing the shot in this behind-the-scenes context helps convey the appreciation for the voice actors that this series is technically built upon. It is a big, dramatic moment from a Mecha Anime that is technically contextless, but which genre-savvy audiences will know all too well. Presented with no music or sound effects and only the bare minimum of early animation panels, the whole scene is nonetheless carried by the voice actresses rooting for each other – with just a dash of allegory from their real-life situation to spice things up. It’s the confidence in the medium and the appeal of the whole concept of this show that makes you want to see it throughout its entire runtime.

It’s a great midpoint to this finale that just about gets it over the line. Yasumi’s narration of the episode’s impact opens up the possibility of future storylines, even if the conclusion remains that the best acting advice she could have gotten was really to “try harder.” If this whole exercise had been approached from the perspective of an avid fan, that would explain the lack of technical craft and off-putting focus on fan emotions that makes up two-thirds of the show. As with the other stronger episodes, this final entry is a window into a version of the series that I might have found more engaging, not to mention better arranged to work with the anime’s basic production values. Perhaps it really would have always been better as a straight radio show.

Almost the entire second half of the episode revolves around the combined focus of this radio show in the universe and the sweet and sour relationship between Yasumi and Yuhi that defined this series. Right to exist. I’m not sure what level of irony we’re at when an anime that sold itself on obvious yuri-bait ends with Yasumi calling out obvious yuri-bait. This is the kind of thing that makes me wonder if Voice Actor radio I never intended to get close to this element (aside from Yuhi’s constant compliments on Yasumi’s bust size), but I don’t know if I should be worried about finding out. A few more gestures towards future characters are introduced in this extended coda, but it still feels like a perfectly acceptable place to end the story: Yasumi and Yuhi giving each other sardonic compliments through clenched teeth while kicking each other in the shins under the table. The anime is good at this, and it’s good at using voice acting, but man, it could have been so much better if it could have used anything else it had.

Evaluation:

The many sides of voice-over radio is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Chris’s many facets include anime reviews, rhythm games, and buying too many Transformers toys. He posts about all of this and more on his Þjórsárdenor he occasionally goes into the matter in more depth in his blog.

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