-dub- — Neon Genesis Evangelion

Two decades later, with the Netflix redub (and subsequent re-redub of the redub) dominating conversation, how does the original “Dubaji” hold up? Is it pure nostalgia, or is there still a current running through it?

If you want precision and fidelity , watch the Japanese with subtitles or the newer VSI/Netflix dub (which is cleaner but sterile). Neon Genesis Evangelion -Dub-

Yes and no.

Let’s not pretend it’s perfect. The ADV dub is loose . Localizers in the 90s took wild liberties. Kaworu’s famous “I love you” to Shinji becomes “I like you,” subtly changing the romantic subtext to platonic ambiguity. The translators also consistently missed the nuance of “Ikari” (anger/fury) as a surname. Two decades later, with the Netflix redub (and

B+ (Cult Classic Status) Final Grade for Nostalgia: A Yes and no

Spike Spencer’s Shinji isn't the "correct" Shinji. Tiffany Grant’s Asuka isn't the "correct" Asuka. But they are my Shinji and Asuka. In a series about the subjective nature of human connection (the Hedgehog’s Dilemma), maybe that’s the point.

You cannot discuss the original dub without mentioning the ending. Every episode of the ADV release closed with Claire Littley’s ethereal cover of “Fly Me to the Moon.” It provided a melancholic, jazzy comedown after the psychological horror. Netflix stripped this (due to licensing), and the absence is felt. The original dub lives and dies by that 60-second outro.