Viz Media, the anime localization super-giant responsible for bringing both Bleach and Naruto to North America, will continue its cultural conquest of the western continent by releasing Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva in North American markets.
The film takes place between the events of Professor Layton and the Last Specter (due out this fall) and Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, and should be available at your local otaku shelter "later this year." The 2009 animated film featuring everyone's favorite top-hat professor had previously undergone westernization for its 2010 release in the UK, however Viz Media's adaptation will be the first version available in the US and Canada for those weary of importing.
The film has been such a success in Japan and abroad that Layton developer Level 5 has already commissioned a sequel, however there has been no mention of localization for that adventure so far.
@gatotsu911 The movie was already dubbed for its UK release.
The voice of Professor Layton stayed the same, the voice of Luke did not. I'm not sure if the voice of Flora changed or not, as she's only in one scene early on.
The voice of Luke changing may be attributed to Luke being younger in most of the movie than the existing games. The fourth and fifth games, which haven't been localized yet, are also set earlier than the existing games.
@isotrex Game to anim--what? Have you ever even played the Layton games? There's anime cutscenes in there. If anything, this movie was an like an extended cutscene. ...kinda like final fantasy x.
I saw this movie before and I was kind of dissapointed by it. It was okay at the beginning and had a cool premise but by the end its gets really absurd. It's the same way with all of the Layton games, too, actually.
So why bother re-dubbing it? Licensing issues, I guess, but it still seems kind of pointless. They could just release it in the US as is. Unless the current dubbed was widely hated or something. I just wouldn't want them having NONE of the original voices. If they had ALL of the original voices, then that'd be a good re-dub and I'd have no complaints.
