The history of the Evangelion dub is a tale of two distinct eras. The original 1990s release by ADV Films defined the franchise for a generation. Decades later, Netflix re-dubbed the entire series, sparking fierce debate across the anime community. The Original ADV Films Dub (1996)
While the TV series was in limbo, the Rebuild of Evangelion film series continued. For the first three films, produced the English dubs, retaining the iconic voices of Spike Spencer, Tiffany Grant, and Allison Keith, while recasting the rest with their in-house talent like Brina Palencia as Rei and J. Michael Tatum as Kaji. Funimation's dubs were widely praised as high-quality modern productions, arguably some of the company's best work. Neon Genesis Evangelion -Dub-
: Directed by Amanda Winn-Lee and Matt Greenfield, the ADV dub prioritized character personality. Spike Spencer’s Shinji was deeply whiny and anxious, perfectly encapsulating a traumatized 14-year-old. Tiffany Grant’s performance as Asuka Langley Soryu became legendary, characterized by aggressive, highly localized outbursts. The history of the Evangelion dub is a
Furthermore, due to music licensing issues, Netflix removed the iconic "Fly Me to the Moon" ending themes, replacing them with a melancholic instrumental track, which altered the atmosphere of the credits for long-time viewers. The Rebuild of Evangelion Dubs (Funimation vs. Amazon) The Original ADV Films Dub (1996) While the
Bartley matched the Japanese voice actress (Megumi Hayashibara) almost perfectly, opting for a flat, entirely detached monotone. The Controversies
If you want to experience the historical, high-octane passion that defined the western anime boom of the late 90s and early 2000s, tracking down the legacy ADV dub is well worth the effort. It possesses a chaotic, lightning-in-a-bottle energy that matches the show's deconstructive nature.
The English localization of Neon Genesis Evangelion has gone through two major iterations, each with its own distinct flavor and fan base. 1. The Original ADV Films Dub (1990s)