The Magic School Bus Submarine is a fascinating vehicle that allows Ms. Frizzle and her students to explore the underwater world. Just like the other iterations of the Magic School Bus, this version is equipped with various scientific instruments and tools to enhance the learning experience. The submarine is designed to resemble a traditional school bus, complete with its iconic yellow color and whimsical decorations. However, it is no ordinary bus. With the push of a button, the submarine transforms, revealing its true purpose as an underwater exploration vessel.
“ ESPECIALLY a MENA queer lead,” she emphasized.
We can sit here and argue the merits of right for the role vs auto cast because of ethnicity but let s also not pretend that the quality provided by minority actors is less than the quality of their peers, continued the voice behind Guel s stoic half-brother, Lauda Neill. May there come a day where the ambiguous nature of remote recording allowances is foregone and opportunities are provided to actors and directors alike to make the best possible products, he ultimately declared.
With the push of a button, the submarine transforms, revealing its true purpose as an underwater exploration vessel. Inside the Magic School Bus Submarine, students find themselves surrounded by a state-of-the-art control panel consisting of buttons, screens, and levers. Each seat is equipped with a seatbelt and a built-in personal computer, allowing students to actively participate in the various educational and scientific activities during their journey.
Western Voice Actors Accuse Crunchyroll Of Bigotry For Casting White Actress As Suletta In English Dub Of ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury’
In current year, it has become a taboo of the highest order among the West to have a voice actor play a character outside of their own race, gender, and sexuality, even if such qualities only apply to said character within one’s own head canon – as proven for the umpteenth time by the recent outrage surrounding the English dub casting for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury.
Suletta (Kara Ichinose) enters the fight against the Dawn of Fold in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (2023), Bandai Namco Filmworks
This latest round of neoliberal whining kicked off on when the series’ Western licensee, Crunchyroll, unveiled the casting for the series’ main protagonists, Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran.
Miorine (Lynn) throws herself on top of Suletta (Kana Ichinose) to protect her in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Episode 2 “Cursed Mobile Suit” (2022), Bandai Namco Filmworks
Taking to Twitter February 1st, the anime streaming service announced that thanks to the work of their in-house production studio, the former heroine would be portrayed by Jill Harris (Charlotte Pudding in One Piece) and the latter by Natalie Van Sistine (Yor Forger in Spy X Family).
Source: Crunchyroll Twitter
Thanks to her darker complexion and the now infamous ‘marriage’ proposal scene between her and Miorine in the series’ first episode, identity politics-focused Witch from Mercury fans have come to believe that Suletta is ‘coded’ – i.e. when overt stereotypes are used to portray a character’s identity rather than it being confirmed by the author – as both Middle Eastern/North African and queer.
However, it should be noted that these personal reads are just that, as the series has shown Suletta to be neither. Rather, her dark skin is the result of being raised on Merucry in close proximity to the Sun, and the aforementioned moment between her and Miorine is actually a matter of the latter rejecting her arranged marriage.
Suletta (Kana Ichinose) is surprised by Miorine’s ‘marriage proposal’ in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Episode 1 “The Witch and the Bride” (2022), Bandai Namco Filmworks
Regardless of reality, shortly after Crunchyroll made their announcement, some of Harris’ colleagues in the anime voice acting industry responded to the casting news by expressing immense frustration over what they believed to be the white- and straight- washing of Suletta’s character.
“It pains me to write this on a day that should be filled with nothing but celebration and admiration toward my peers,” opened a rant from Harris’ fellow Witch From Mercury voice actor Nazeeh H. Tarsha. ” To feel as though there is a corporate flyer with a risk assessment eval stating how much one can get away with before receiving an inordinate amount of backlash.”
Archive Link Nazeeh Tarsha via Twitter
“We can sit here and argue the merits of ‘right for the role’ vs ‘auto cast because of ethnicity’ but let’s also not pretend that the quality provided by minority actors is less than the quality of their peers,” continued the voice behind Guel’s stoic half-brother, Lauda Neill. “Inclusion gives us the ability to tell the stories of our backgrounds.”
Archive Link Nazeeh Tarsha via Twitter
“Even if it is a cookie cutter project where race ultimately could be neglected, character coding still exists,” he argued. “Therefore bringing forth racial relatability to minority consumers. Unfortunately, the more obscure the minority, the easier it is to sweep under the rug. Sad but true.”
Archive Link Nazeeh Tarsha via Twitter
Concluding his thoughts, Tarsha asserted, “I have a duty to my peers to use my platform. To speak for those whose voices go unheard.”
“May there come a day where the ambiguous nature of remote recording allowances is foregone and opportunities are provided to actors and directors alike to make the best possible products,” he ultimately declared.
Archive Link Nazeeh Tarsha via Twitter
Similarly, the English-language voice of Mirko in My Hero Academia, Anairis Quiñones, found it “ very disappointing that, despite all the resources publicly available to find diverse talent, minority voice actors still cannot have the opportunity to represent themselves for a (extremely rare/groundbreaking!!) minority lead in anime. ”
“ ESPECIALLY a MENA queer lead,” she emphasized.
Archive Link Anairis Quiñones via Twitter
“Pretty lame that CR’s strong preference for local talent affects authentic representation in a major role,” Quiñones passive-aggressively sniped. “Casting a wide pool for the biggest anime show of the year and not a MENA queer lead in a major franchise says a lot.”
Archive Link Anairis Quiñones. via Twitter
As of writing, Hill is still set to voice Suletta when the English dub of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury premieres on Crunchyroll on February 5th.
Suletta (Kana Ichinose) suits up in her new school uniform in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Episode 2 “Cursed Mobile Suit” (2022), Bandai Namco Filmworks
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Archive Link Nazeeh Tarsha via Twitter
One of the most exciting features of the Magic School Bus Submarine is its ability to shrink in size. With this capability, the bus can enter tiny underwater spaces that would otherwise be inaccessible. This feature enables the students to observe and study marine creatures up close, providing an unparalleled educational experience. The Magic School Bus Submarine is also equipped with a periscope that extends above the water's surface. This allows the students to observe the surrounding environment and any potential hazards or creatures from a safe distance. Additionally, the submarine is outfitted with various cameras and equipment to capture high-definition images and videos, documenting their underwater exploration. Throughout their journey, Ms. Frizzle guides her students through a series of interactive lessons, answering their questions and encouraging curiosity. The submarine's advanced technology allows for real-time communication and data sharing with the school or other educational institutions, fostering collaboration and learning beyond the confines of the submarine. Overall, the Magic School Bus Submarine offers a unique and immersive educational experience for students, combining the wonders of underwater exploration with scientific discovery. Through this magical vehicle, Ms. Frizzle and her students continue to ignite a love for science and instill a sense of adventure in young minds..
Reviews for "Dive into the Unknown: A Magic School Bus Submarine Expedition"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch the "Magic School Bus Submarine" episode with my kids, as they are big fans of the original series. However, I was quite disappointed with this particular episode. The story felt disjointed and lacked the educational value that is usually found in the series. The submarine scenes were confusing and hard to follow, and the characters didn't seem to be as engaging as they usually are. Overall, it was a letdown and didn't live up to the standards we had come to expect from the "Magic School Bus" series.
2. John - 1 star - I found the "Magic School Bus Submarine" episode to be very boring and uninteresting. The concept of exploring the ocean depths in a submarine had a lot of potential, but it was not utilized effectively in this episode. The animation was lackluster, and the plot seemed to drag on without any clear direction. I couldn't connect with the characters, and their interactions felt forced. My kids also lost interest halfway through the episode. I would not recommend this particular installment of the "Magic School Bus" series.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - As a longtime fan of the "Magic School Bus" series, I was disappointed with the "Submarine" episode. The underwater adventure lacked the excitement and educational elements that made the original series so enjoyable. The plot felt scattered and rushed, and the scientific explanations were not as clear and concise as in other episodes. Additionally, the animation in the submarine scenes was not up to par with previous episodes. Overall, it was a lackluster addition to the series that failed to capture my attention or educate me in the same way the previous episodes did.
4. Alex - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to watching the "Magic School Bus Submarine" episode with my niece, but we both found it underwhelming. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution fell flat. The episode lacked the usual humor and educational value that we have come to love from the series. The dialogue felt forced, and the characters' actions were not consistent with their established personalities. The underwater visuals were also not as captivating as we had hoped. Overall, it was a forgettable episode that didn't meet our expectations.