If you’ve spent any time in the anime community, you know the "sub vs. dub" war is basically eternal. People get heated. They’ll argue for hours about whether a translation captures the original "soul" of the Japanese performance. But honestly? When it comes to the Re Zero english cast, the conversation changes. You aren't just looking at a group of actors reading lines; you're looking at a crew that had to handle some of the most emotionally draining, scream-heavy, and psychologically taxing scripts in modern fantasy.
Subaru Natsuki is a mess. We know this. He’s loud, he’s cringe-inducing, and he dies—a lot. Capturing that specific brand of pathetic-yet-determined energy requires more than just a good voice. It requires an actor willing to sound genuinely ugly.
Sean Chiplock and the Weight of Subaru
Sean Chiplock didn’t just voice Subaru; he lived in that guy’s skin for years. If you listen to the early episodes of season one, Subaru sounds like your typical, overconfident isekai protagonist. He’s cracking jokes. He thinks he’s the main character of a game. But as the "Return by Death" mechanic starts shredding his sanity, Chiplock’s performance shifts. It gets raspy. It gets desperate.
The "From Zero" episode is usually what people point to. It’s a massive monologue. You have Subaru basically listing every single reason why he hates himself, and Chiplock delivers it with a raw, shaky vulnerability that makes you want to look away. It’s uncomfortable. That’s why it works. Most actors might try to keep a "heroic" timber even when crying, but Chiplock embraces the snot-nosed, gasping reality of a mental breakdown.
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He’s been vocal on social media and in interviews about the toll these sessions take. Imagine screaming at the top of your lungs for four hours because your character is being eaten by invisible providence or frozen solid. It’s physical labor.
Kayli Mills as Emilia: Finding the Balance
Then you have Emilia. She’s the heart of the show, but she’s also a character that could easily become a "damsel" trope if played incorrectly. Kayli Mills brings a specific kind of "sheltered but trying" energy to the role. In the Re Zero english cast, Mills has the difficult task of sounding both regal and completely socially inept.
Emilia is a half-elf who has been shunned her whole life. She doesn't know how to talk to people. In the English dub, Mills uses a softer, more melodic tone that contrasts sharply with the chaos surrounding her. But when season two hits—specifically the "Trial" arc—she has to pivot. We see Emilia’s past. We see her trauma. Mills handles the transition from "perfect ice princess" to "terrified child" with incredible nuance. It’s not just about sounding cute; it’s about sounding like someone who is slowly breaking under the weight of a kingdom’s expectations.
The Power of the Supporting Cast
You can't talk about this show without mentioning Rem. Brianna Knickerbocker’s performance as Rem is arguably one of the most popular in modern dubbing history. She has this "soft-spoken lethality." Rem is a maid who will literally bash your head in with a morning star while speaking in the most polite, honorific-heavy tone possible. Knickerbocker nails that duality. When Rem gives her famous confession to Subaru, the performance is so earnest it actually hurts.
And then there's the villains.
- Todd Haberkorn as Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti: This is legendary. Haberkorn is known for playing "cool" characters (like Natsu in Fairy Tail), but as Petelgeuse, he goes full tilt into insanity. He’s biting his fingers, he’s screeching about "Sloth," and his voice is doing gymnastics.
- Kira Buckland as Beatrice: "I suppose." The catchphrase of the century. Buckland manages to make a centuries-old spirit living in a library sound simultaneously bored, arrogant, and desperately lonely.
- Ray Chase as Roswaal L. Mathers: Chase uses this strange, rhythmic cadence—almost like a circus ringmaster—that makes every word Roswaal says feel like a lie. It’s creepy. It’s supposed to be.
Directing the Chaos
Bang Zoom! Entertainment handled the production, and a lot of the credit for the cohesion of the Re Zero english cast goes to the ADR directors. It isn't just about the voices; it's about the timing. In a show where characters often have long, philosophical debates in the middle of a bloodbath, the pacing of the English script has to be perfect.
The localization team had to deal with complex world-building terms and "archaic" speech patterns without making them sound like a bad Renaissance fair. They managed to keep the emotional stakes high while ensuring the dialogue felt natural to an English-speaking ear.
Why People Actually Care About This Dub
Usually, hardcore fans stick to the original Japanese VAs—Rie Takahashi and Yusuke Kobayashi are icons for a reason. However, the Re:Zero dub is one of the few where the English cast is considered a "top-tier" alternative.
Why? Because the show is character-driven. It’s not about the fights; it’s about the conversations. If the English voices didn't land the emotional beats, the show would fall apart. When Subaru is sitting in a field of flowers talking to a witch, you need to feel his confusion. When Otto (voiced by Zach Aguilar) finally calls Subaru a friend, it needs to feel earned. The English cast delivers those small, human moments just as well as the big, explosive ones.
The Surprising Nuance of Season 2 and Beyond
Season two introduced characters like Echidna. Anjali Kunapaneni took on the role of the Witch of Greed and had to balance "charming mentor" with "terrifying sociopath." It’s a tightrope walk. You want to like her, but you’re also pretty sure she’s using you as a lab rat. The way Kunapaneni plays with the tea party scenes—shifting from playful to cold in a single sentence—is masterclass level.
Even the minor roles matter. Think about Garfiel Tinsel. Zeno Robinson brings this aggressive, "kid with something to prove" energy that perfectly matches Garfiel’s internal struggle. He sounds like a teenager who is trying to be a man, which is exactly what the character is.
What This Means for Future Seasons
With more of the story yet to be animated, the pressure on the Re Zero english cast only increases. The "Arc 5" and "Arc 6" storylines (from the Light Novels) are even more intense. We’re talking about massive battles, more psychological torture, and character growth that requires the actors to constantly evolve.
The fans who follow the dub are fiercely loyal because the actors are fiercely loyal to the characters. You often see Sean Chiplock or Brianna Knickerbocker at conventions talking about the deep lore of the series. They aren't just clocking in; they're invested.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Newcomers
If you haven’t watched the dub yet, or if you’re curious about how to get the most out of the Re:Zero experience, here’s how to approach it:
- Watch the Director’s Cut: If you’re starting for the first time, look for the Director’s Cut of Season 1. It cleans up some of the pacing and includes the English dub. It's the most polished version of the story.
- Listen for the "Small" Choices: Pay attention to how the actors change their pitch based on Subaru's "saves." Every time he resets, the cast has to recalibrate their relationship with him, and the subtle differences in their performances are fascinating.
- Follow the Actors: Many members of the cast, like Sean Chiplock and Kayli Mills, are very active in the community. They often share "behind the scenes" tidbits about how they approached specific, difficult scenes.
- Don't Skip the OVA Episodes: Both "Memory Snow" and "The Frozen Bond" are dubbed. "The Frozen Bond" is especially important for Emilia's backstory and shows off Kayli Mills’ range before the main events of Season 2.
The Re Zero english cast has proven that dubbing isn't a secondary experience. It’s a different lens through which to view a masterpiece of dark fantasy. Whether it's the screeching madness of a cult leader or the quiet sobbing of a broken boy, these actors have put everything they have into these roles. It's messy, it's loud, and it's absolutely brilliant.