It's really hard to not make snap judgements about a new dub for a show that's been around for 20 years. Maybe I'm getting picker about my dubs in my old age, or maybe its all the history I have with this title, but so far I'm .... skeptical of the new Macross dub.

Don't get me wrong, it's high quality work. This dub is still a quantum leap from the dub of old. It really has to be a challenge for ADV to recast roles that are hard set in the minds of many Otaku, and I think they hit many of the VAs right on the money. Most of the bridge crew and even Roy is a good fit... but the two leads...

I loved Vic Mignogna as Kurz Webber in Full Metal Panic, I'm just not sure how he fits as Hikaru Ichijo. That might just be a result of my memories of the Robotech version ... but the voice seems out of sync with the character, I keep thinking of a tall blonde dude ala Kurz (which he is IRL incidentally). I'm really not sure about Misa, one minute I think Monica Rial fits perfectly, the next she says something too shrilly and I'm jarred to reality.

Now granted, I just watched one episode and I usually give a show more time before passing judgment. I just did not have that kind of time last night. In a show of 36 episodes they have a lot of room to grow. As we know from history, this show has a lot of character development... they will get that chance. I also have yet to hear Mari Iijima at length, Minmay only has 2 lines in the first episode. I'm waiting for that as well.

The 5.1 mix is pretty wild for such an old show ... though I think there may be too much echo on the bridge of the Macross. Although it is more realistic, it's distracting.

I'll listen to a few more episodes and then will pass a non-snap judgement. At that point I'll decide if this will become my definitive set or if I'll stick to my AnimEgo version.