In a blend of One Missed Call and Battle Royale, The Future Diary sets up a battle between twelve chosen people, with the last man standing becoming God. While it is a very outrageous premise, the original airing (and streaming) of the show proved it to be very popular with anime fans. At Anime Expo 2013, Funimation showed a special preview of the first four episodes of the English language dub of the show, giving the audience a taste of what to expect.
Yukiteru Amano, the lead character, is voiced by Josh Grelle. Though he didn’t always capture Yuki, one thing he got right was the character’s arrogance. However, when Yuki was whiny or scared, Grelle’s acting style was a little off the mark and didn’t sit too well with the audience. As the episodes passed however, Grelle seemed to become more comfortable and in-line with his character.
One of the more anticipated roles for many fans is Yuno Gasai, who is voiced by Brina Palencia. Right off the bat, many have doubted this casting decision because her voice doesn’t seem to necessarily capture the moe/psycho tones that the character is known for. By the end of episode one however, she completely won over the audience. While many of Yuno’s over-the-top actions can be hit or miss, the more subtle moments are what really chill to the bone.
The true fan favorite of the show, Mineme Uryu, is voiced by Emily Neves. Her character is one that simply steals the show in every scene she’s in, and Neves captures that perfectly. She understands how much energy she needs to bring to voicing Mineme and she does not disappoint. Her voice also gives a certain sense of cunning, which is great for what happens in the series.
The rest of the supporting cast was also well chosen, each voice fitting the character. Funimation has a good track record with dubs, and this one looks like it will be well received. The Future Diary is definitely one that is worth checking out once it has been released.
The Future Diary Part One is set to be released on Blu-Ray/DVD in the US on August 13, 2013.