Dear Shala,

Newtype Magazine is a mammoth task, and has taxed our infrastructure severely. However, it is still very much a part of our lives here. Now, we can't anticipate a possible publication date for, at the moment, the project is moving like a glacier down the earthen groove of business planning, which includes negotiations with the Japanese publishers of Newtype, Kadokawa, a financial viability assessment, meetings with various business partners, etc. The Akadot staff is certainly excited about the endeavor and waits with bated breath - just as fans the continent over must be doing as well considering the amount of mail we've received about it - for the green light to shine. At which time we will charge at break neck speed toward a publication date.

As a bonus, here's the cover of the Newtype mock-up issue we developed for Kadokawa. Thanks again for your patience.

Sincerely,

Luis Reyes

Editor, Akadot

I'm doing a presentation on Subtitles vs Dubbing for my journalism class and I was wondering where you came up with the DDD [Die Dubbers Die] and the RRR [Reading's Really Rong]. [Editor's note: referring to the Top Ten Daytime Talk Show Anime Subjects] However, I know they can't be real and therefore would like your perspective on the whole subtitles vs. dubs.

Dear Jennifer,

The heated Sub v. Dub debate will probably continue until anime no longer uses language to express its meaning. Unfortunately, something most people fail to realize is there is little difference between an original Japanese language soundtrack with English subtitles and an English language dub.

A common argument supporting subtitles is a more accurate translation compared to a dub script. On occasion, dub scripts may have completely different dialogue from the original for no apparent reason. For the most part, however, an English dub will reflect the original script just as accurately (or inaccurately) as the subtitles. Without extensive liner notes and a fair knowledge of Japanese, subtitles will communicate little more information than a dub-over, and with that fair knowledge of Japanese you're crossing into the territory where you don't need subtitles anyway.

Two recent releases illustrate clearly the unfair bias dubs often receive. Blood: The Last Vampire boasts a script originally written in English for three-quarters of the film. Nevertheless, at convention screenings, from the first English words spoken, groans can be heard from irate fans complaining about a dub. Similarly, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust was originally written entirely in English, yet hardline DDD members demand a Japanese language soundtrack with the DVD release. In Japan, Vampire Hunter D was released in English with Japanese subtitles.

I personally prefer subtitles to dubs because the Japanese dubbing process of group recording is usually more conducive to natural sounding acting, but I have heard plenty of high-quality English language dubs overcoming the obstacle of one actor recording at a time.

Sincerely,

Tim Law

Editor, Akadot

Thank you all for your letters. Akadot encourages discourse, so please continue sending your letters in: editor@akadot.com.