Spoiler for Ep 8-9 English Dub Review:
THE HOT
[+++++] Episodes 8 and 9 reminded me exactly why Jad Saxton and Jamie Marchi are top tier. Jad is my co-MVP with Jamie for Episode 8, while Jamie is my co-MVP with Michelle Rojas for Episode 9. It seems to me that they are really enjoying what they are doing.
Jad's Chika is as close to Anju Inami's Chika as it can get. Besides that cheerful perky voice, both delivered on Chika's emotional moments in Episode 8 and her awesome moments in Episode 9 (a second year telling off three freaking third years).
I took Jamie's emotional performance with Michelle in Episode 8 as a sign of good things to come. And BOY they did deliver in Episode 9. Jamie and Michelle went all out and delivered Mari's super emotional moments and Kanan's tranquil fury and sadness.
[++++=] Sarah Wiedenheft, as always, shows us how Moe Moe is done in English with Ruby. Megan Shipman's ZURA's can't be beat. Morgan Berry's Yohane is kind of on and off lately, but still good overall.
[++++=] BEHOLD, FALLEN ANGEL PHOENIX HOLD!
[+++==] For some reason, freshman Dia sounds A LOT like Morgan Berry's Yohane. Maybe it's just me not getting used to Morgan Garrett with a high pitch.
[+++==] Jeannie Tirado and Apphia Yu have been pretty consistent at voicing Riko and You. Expect them, especially Apphia, to be put to the test in the next episodes.
THE NOT
[++===] NO PIGII. Sarah just blurts out a "Weeeehhh?"
[+====] "It was not a request," is so meh. "IS THAT CLEAR?!" works better, but I don't think it fits Chika's character.
Episode Scores: 4.5/5 for both Episodes 8 and 9
Overall Score: 4/5. The Sunshine English dub is as good as it gets right now. It's not perfect, but I would recommend this for people who just started out with Anime in general and cannot read English subtitles fast enough yet to comprehend the Japanese dubs.
By this point, I like everyone now, though Jeannie and Apphia have been kind of underwhelming as of late, but they are pretty consistent at voicing their characters, so they get a pass.
If given enough roles, Michelle Rojas has the potential to be the go-to English voice actress for tough, deep-voiced, Erza Scarlet-like characters, at par with names like Colleen Clinkenbeard or Shelley Calene-Black.
Anyways, who do you pick as Chika's mom in the English dub: Hillary Haag, Tia Ballard, Wendee Lee, or anyone else?