In 2019, Netflix acquired the global streaming rights to Evangelion and made the controversial decision to re-dub the entire series with a brand-new cast. Under the direction of VSI Los Angeles, took over as Shinji, with Stephanie Sheh as Asuka and Carrie Keranen as Misato.
But the most significant loss in the ADV dub—and one that haunts the release to this day—is the theme song. The rights to Frank Sinatra’s "Fly Me to the Moon" were prohibitively expensive for the English home video releases. As a result, the iconic ending theme was replaced with a variety of instrumental tracks. For purists, this was a dealbreaker; the song’s melancholy hopefulness is intrinsically linked to the show’s emotional resonance. Watching Evangelion without "Fly Me to the Moon" is, for many, like watching Star Wars without the opening crawl. Neon Genesis Evangelion -Dub-
Equally iconic was Tiffany Grant as Asuka Langley Soryu. Grant, a fluent German speaker, infused Asuka with a fiery arrogance and a vulnerable core. Her catchphrase, "Anta baka?" ("Are you stupid?"), became a staple of anime vernacular. Grant’s performance is often cited as one of the greatest achievements in dubbing history, perfectly capturing Asuka’s manic defense mechanisms. In 2019, Netflix acquired the global streaming rights
You want a script that tracks directly with the original Japanese dialogue, cleaner audio production, and a Shinji who sounds like he is actually on antidepressants. The rights to Frank Sinatra’s "Fly Me to
If you have never seen Evangelion , watch the first three episodes on Netflix (VSI dub). It is the text as the author intended. If the story grips you, buy the GKIDS Blu-ray and rewatch your favorite scenes with the ADV dub. You will be watching two different masterpieces layered over the same haunting animation.
Furthermore, the secondary characters suffer. Gendo sounds less like a master manipulator and more like a low-rent Batman villain. And the children (Toji, Kensuke, Hikari) sound like they wandered in from a Pokémon dub.