Q&As// ADR Director, Charles Campbell

SPOnG: What bits of the original script are ripe for editing and changing for a Western audience? How do you manage to alter dialogue whilse maintaining the meaning, or is the idea to manipulate the Japanese script into its own meaning for Western viewers?

Charles Campbell: Before I get the script, it has already gone through the translation dept and an ADR writer. Any adaptations or significant changes have already been determined by that point. It doesn’t happen often (and hasn’t with any of my shows) but occasionally the Japanese let directors make more drastic changes. Ghost Stories comes to mind as an example.


SPOnG: The process of ADR is seen as controversial for many anime fans. How difficult is it to modify the script and better translate the material for a Western audience without receiving criticism for losing messages in the original production?

Charles Campbell: It’s always been my goal to stay as close as possible to the original while keeping the dialog interesting, entertaining, and character appropriate. If the scene is supposed to be funny and the joke doesn’t make any sense in English, then the writers and I do our best to get the same laugh out of the audience. Dialects and colloquialisms also can help add flavour to performances without changing the story.


SPOnG: What’s been the best thing about working as an ADR Director? Do you have any stories you’d like to share?

Charles Campbell: The best thing about directing is working in a creative environment with talented people who are enthused about their work. It’s a very positive and fun place to be. Travis Dean (James Links) and I had a lot of laughs and especially enjoyed recording ZOE. We’re both huge classic movie buffs. His character would be in some crazy situation and I could refer to a scene in a John Wayne movie like The Alamo, and Travis knew exactly what I meant. Kind of ironically, while we were recording ZOE Travis was working to help construct the set for Ron Howard’s remake of The Alamo.


SPOnG: Have you worked on any other videogame-related anime series or feature-length? What has been your favourite project to work on?

Charles Campbell: The video game titles I’ve worked on include Tekken: The Motion Picture, Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, Final Fantasy: Unlimited, Sakura Wars OVA, Suikoden: Demon Century, Blue Seed and Comic Party Revolution to name a few. Zone of the Enders is my favourite game-related show. My favourite show overall would have to be Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor, followed by Gatchaman, 009-1, and New Fist of the North Star.


SPOnG: Do you have any videogames that you’re looking forward to this year?

Charles Campbell: I can’t wait to get my hands on Command and Conquer: Tiberium Wars! I love war strategy games like C&C and Road Warrior-esque driving games like Carmageddon!


SPOnG: Thank you for your time.

Charles Campbell: Thank you and all the fans out there. I hope you enjoy our shows as much as we enjoy making them.

The Zone of Enders Complete Collection is available now.