Omni Productions
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Omni Productions Ltd. was a Hong Kong–based dubbing company owned by Ina Chow and her husband, film dubber Rik Thomas.[refs 1] It was a successor to Ted Thomas's dubbing group Axis International; according to Omni voice actor and writer Martin Pachy, "when Ted decided to move on, Rik took over the team".[4] Omni notably produced dubs for most of the Godzilla films in the 1990s and 2000s, as attested by former employees, but the company's lack of onscreen credit in these or any other tokusatsu films makes identifying its full body of work uncertain. Outside of the Godzilla series, Omni's work included English dubs for the 1987–1989 Japanese Transformers shows, anime that aired on Asian-based channels such as Animax,[2] and some of Jackie Chan's movies.[5] Studios used by Omni included converted apartment rooms; Shanghai Studio in Kowloon;[1] Clear Water Bay Film Studio; 108, named after its location on 108 Boundary Street[3]; and a studio in Mong Kok.[6]
Around 2005, Chow and Thomas sold the company to dubber Victor Lee and retired to Penang, Malaysia.[2][3] It was active as recently as December 2022.[7]
Films dubbed
Note: Years listed are the approximate dates of the dubs' completion.
- Godzilla vs. Mothra (1994-1995)[8][note 1]
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1994-1995)[note 1]
- Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1997)[10][note 2]
- Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1997)[10][note 2]
- Rebirth of Mothra (1997)[10][note 2]
- Rebirth of Mothra 2 (1997)[12][10][note 2]
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1998) ["repairs"][11]
- Rebirth of Mothra 3 (1998-2000)[8]
- Godzilla 2000: Millennium (2000)[8]
- Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000-2003)[note 3]
- Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001-2003)[note 4]
- Godzilla Final Wars (2004)[2]
Other possible work
Rik Thomas is heard in numerous Toho tokusatsu dubs recorded between the 1980s and 2000s which have not been definitively linked to Omni Productions: Magnitude 7.9 (1980), Gunhed (1989), Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon (1994), Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002), and Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003). Longtime Omni employee Andrea Kwan also appears in the dubs for Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, as well as the Tsuburaya Productions series Ultraman Max (2005-2006); Kwan's LinkedIn page does not mention her dubbing for any other company.[13]
One hypothesis, that all of Thomas' work since the dissolution of Axis International in the 1980s was performed through Omni, is complicated by the testimony of fellow voice actor Dick Nieskens, who briefly worked for Thomas beginning in fall 1988. In a 2017 interview, Nieskens claimed that he "never" dubbed at Omni and was instead employed by a company run by Thomas called "Chasen Company." Nieskens also suggested that the only way he could have been involved with Omni is if Thomas and Chasen subcontracted the company, apparently unaware that Omni was owned by Thomas. However, Nieskens does state that Thomas formed Chasen with his wife, referring to Ina Chow, who was "the main business driver and the facilitator of local production resources and staff".[14] This corresponds with information known about Omni Productions. Whether Chasen was an early name for Omni or a separate company altogether is unknown, though a script for episode 16 of Transformers: The Headmasters shows that the Omni name was solidified by March 28, 1992.[9] This could indicate that any of Thomas's work after this date was made through Omni.
To date, no other mention of Chasen from Hong Kong–based voice actors has been found. Actor Mike Abbott once recalled that he was contacted by Rik Thomas in October 1987, explaining that Thomas "owned and operated a movie dubbing company" without stating a name. Thomas told Abbott about an Indonesian movie producer looking for a lead villain in their film,[15] which lines up with what Nieskens mentioned about Thomas: that by the late 1980s, he was working mainly with Philippine and Indonesian action movies.[14]
In 2000, Brian Culver reported on a Usenet message board that, according to correspondence between Steve Ryfle and Omni contacts including voice actor Craig Allen, "[A]ll the Heisei Godzilla films since GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH were dubbed by Omni Productions... It's in dispute as to whether Omni dubbed BIOLLANTE or any earlier Japanese films... A spokesperson for Omni claims the company has been dubbing Godzilla films since the 1970's; [Allen] can't verify this because it was before he worked there".[8] In a previous comment on the board, Culver claimed to know that Toho changed the Hong Kong dubbing group they employed at some point between the 1980s and the mid-1990s.[16]
In 2023, voice actor Simon Broad was interviewed by Brett Homenick, providing information about his time at Omni Productions. Broad mentions both Rik Thomas and Ina Chow in relation to Omni, referring to the company when discussing both individuals. He claims that Toho was one of Thomas' clients. Another statement made by Broad, possibly exaggerative, was that "anything you see out of Japan was dubbed with Rik and Omni."[3] Craig Allen also seemed to believe that Toho was a client of Thomas;[1] Additionally, Allen mentioned that Thomas and Chow were secretive about who their clients were, apparently concerned over their clients being stolen by other businesses.[17] Broad left Omni around 1994-95 because Thomas wanted exclusivity over his dubbers, explaining, "Towards the end, he got really kind of insistent that we only work for him." Broad also mentions a rivalry between Thomas' Omni Productions and Annie Mather's Studio Lip Sync, reducing the likelihood that Thomas was dubbing for other companies by the time his own was established.[3]
When asked which company dubbed Godzilla vs. Biollante, Broad stated, "I'm pretty sure it was Omni but not 200% sure".[3] Other voice actors known to have worked for Omni include Chris Hilton, Warren Rooke, Pierre Tremblay, and John Culkin, all of whom can be heard in at least one of the English dubs for the Godzilla films from 1989-92. Hilton is also mentioned by Dick Nieskens as voicing main roles at Chasen Company and directing dubs if Rik Thomas was absent.[14] These dubbers appear to have left Omni by October 1995.[1][18]
Although the majority of the Millennium era Godzilla films are confirmed to have had their English dubs produced by Omni Productions, no direct sources have been found that link the company to Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo SOS. Possible evidence that Omni produced these dubs comes from Craig Allen and Andrea Kwan: neither mentions working for other dubbing companies on their LinkedIn profiles. Additionally, Omni is the only dubbing company that Allen stated he worked for in his interview with Brett Homenick; however, Allen's work on the Millennium era films was not brought up.[1] Another potential link comes from Darren Pleavin. Pleavin mentioned that his brother, Shawn, had been working for Omni prior to his return to Canada by 2004.[2] Shawn Pleavin can be heard in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.
Known employees
Listed in alphabetical order.
Directors
- Andrea Kwan[2]
- Candice Moore[2]
- Colin Shevloff[5]
- Craig Allen[19][20]
- Darren Pleavin[2]
- Ina Chow[1][2][3]
- Victor Lee[2]
Writers
Voice actors
- Alice Beaver Clapham[7]
- Andrea Kwan[1][6]
- Candice Moore[3][22]
- Chris Hilton[3]
- Claudia Thompson[23]
- Colin Shevloff[5]
- Craig Allen[1]
- Darren Pleavin[2]
- Dave Bridges[6][2]
- Dave Ross[2]
- David MC[24]
- Emily Woo Zeller[25][26]
- Gemma McClean[1]
- Gloria Ansell[27]
- Henry Coombs[1]
- John Culkin[3]
- John Purnell[28]
- Leslie Tang[29]
- Mark Greenberg[30][31]
- Martin Pachy[1][32]
- Michael Harley[33]
- Michael C. Pizzuto[34]
- Mike Quinn[3]
- Mitchel Wallace[35]
- Pierre Tremblay[3]
- Rachel L. Jacobs[36]
- Rex Ellis[a]
- Richard Magarey[37][38]
- Rik Thomas[1]
- Russell Wait[3][39]
- Ryan Szmidt[12]
- Sarah Hauser[27]
- Sharon Szmidt[1][12]
- Shawn Pleavin[2]
- Simon Broad[3]
- Stuart Onslow Smith[b]
- Sue Brooks[b]
- Tom Warden[40]
- Victor Lee[2]
- Warren Rooke[1][3]
- Warwick Evans[3]
Alterations
Toho had minimal contact with Omni Productions after commissioning each dub. As voice actor Craig Allen explained:
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I will plead guilty to charges of lack of familiarity of with the story of each film. All the English script-writer gets is a translation of the Japanese; there's no briefing on the background or history of the stories, or anything like that. So sometimes he doesn't fully comprehend what's supposed to be happening, and sometimes we have to make last-minute changes to the script in the studio...I know we sometimes get the details wrong.[10]
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As a result, there are numerous moments throughout Omni Productions' dubs where names and dialogue are significantly altered.
Godzilla vs. Mothra
- When Mothra uses her scales against Godzilla, in the Japanese dialogue, Takuya Fujito says "Mothra's reflecting Godzilla's beam," to which the Cosmos reply, "That's Mothra's final attack." In the English dub, Takuya says "It looks like he's been brought under control," with the Cosmos responding, "Yes he has! Mothra is winning!"
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
- Rodan is referred to as "Radon," his Japanese name, despite the character's correct English name being used in the end credits. This alteration was carried over from the initial dubbed version, produced by an unidentified Hong Kong company.
- BabyGodzilla is said to be a "Godzillasaur" rather than a Godzillasaurus.
- Kazuma's conversation with Azusa when he enters the room with BabyGodzilla's enclosure with his Pteranodon Robot is changed. Originally, when he enters the room, Aoki calls Azusa "Miss Ah" (あちゃん A-chan), and Azusa asks why he called her that. Kazuma explains "Your name is Azusa, I'll call you Miss Ah," and Azusa responds with "Our relationship is not that close." In the dub, however, Kazuma says "Hey, babe!" Azusa asks "What is that?," referring to the Pteranodon Robot, and Kazuma responds with "This is my new limousine." Azusa then says "And you can cut out the babe business!," and Kazuma apologizes.
- In the film's ending, instead of telling Miki to use the plant's music to make BabyGodzilla understand that he must go home with Godzilla, Azusa tells Miki to use her telepathy to make Godzilla understand that he must take BabyGodzilla away with him.
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
- Destoroyah is called "Destroyer."
- Meru Ozawa tells Miki Saegusa that she is a paleontologist, while in the Japanese dialogue, she says her American ESP school "dragged us to a lot of dinosaur sites."
- Sho Kuroki's line "Our budget for next year is zero yen. Then again, there might not be a next year." is replaced with "Let's go freeze that overgrown lizard. This is gonna make my day."
- When Kenkichi suggests allowing Godzilla and Destoroyah to fight each other in the Japanese dialogue, Commander Aso shoots down his idea and Kunitomo tells him that he'd better be sure of his plan before he feels comfortable risking people's lives. This prompts Kenkichi to berate both of them. In the English dub, Aso calls his plan preposterous but Kunitomo says, "Maybe it's not so preposterous. Maybe he's got something there." Despite this, Kenkichi still impertinently tells them that they must put this plan into motion, with Kunitomo now suddenly having a change of emotion when he asks, "Yes, but how are we going to get them to fight each other?"
Rebirth of Mothra
- Mothra Leo is referred to as female. Garugaru is referred to as "Gagaru," while Moll is called "Mona."
Rebirth of Mothra 2
- Ghogo and Dagahra are referred to as "Gorgo" and "Dagarla," respectively. These spellings are also used for the characters in the end credits of the English version, and as such may have reflected Toho's intended English names at the time before their official names were trademarked.
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
- A man wishes mobilizing JSDF soldiers good luck. A woman next to him then sarcastically exclaims "Yes, good luck everyone! You're going to die!" In the original Japanese dialogue, the man speaks Mandarin (加油, 士兵大哥! Jiāyóu shìbīng dàgē, lit. Add oil, soldiers!), and the woman merely translates his speech into Japanese.
- When King Ghidorah is accidentally struck by a D-03 Missile intended for Godzilla, Lieutenant Miyashita strangely shouts "Got it!” in the English dub, rather than an expletive equivalent to "Shit!" or "Fuck!" as in the original Japanese dialogue.
Videos
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Trivia
- According to Mike Schlesinger, who supervised the U.S. release of Godzilla 2000: Millennium, TriStar Pictures was provided with Omni Productions' English dub of the film, but he felt it was so bad it was unusable and opted instead to completely re-dub the film with different actors. Omni Productions' dub has never been released in any format.
- When TriStar began including the original Japanese audio tracks with their DVD releases, the English subtitles they included were usually just taken directly from Omni Productions' dubs, often referred to as "dubtitles" by fans, rather than using actual translations of the Japanese audio. This can become obvious when characters speak English in the films, while the subtitles feature different dialogue than what is said onscreen, or when subtitles are included for lines of dialogue that only appear in the dubs. Sony later corrected this for some of their later Blu-ray releases of the films, including all-new translations of the Japanese audio.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 In 2021, Craig Allen claimed Martin Pachy "did all [Omni's] Toho scripts and the other big contract jobs,"[1] and in 2025, Pachy claimed, "I wrote the dubbing scripts for Godzilla vs Mothra, Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla and a few others ... It would have been around 1994 or 1995 I think."[4] By that period, Rik Thomas's dubbing group had become known as Omni Productions, as evidenced by a script for episode 16 of Transformers: The Headmasters, dated to March 28, 1992, and attributed to Omni Productions Ltd.[9] In a 2023 interview, Simon Broad stated that Toho was one of Rik Thomas' clients, adding, "That’s how, of course, we got to do some of the Godzilla films." He jokingly referred to both Godzilla vs. Mothra and vs. Mechagodzilla II and recalled working on the films, only doubting if Omni dubbed vs. Biollante. Broad mentioned Thomas in relation to Omni and that "[Thomas] had his own company, and he had his own clients." He also claimed that "anything" from Japan was dubbed by Omni Productions. Thomas apparently had a rivalry with Annie Mather, who ran Studio Lip Sync around the same time, and Broad specified that "[Thomas] was Omni".[3]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 In 1998, voice actor Craig Allen mistakenly asserted that Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and vs. Mothra, which were then newly-released in the U.S. by TriStar, were among the films he had worked on with Omni Productions in the fall of 1997. However, he later clarified that "my collegue [sic] is pretty convinced that the four G films we dubbed last fall are *not* included in the two releases TriStar is advertising".[11] From Allen's descriptions of the characters he dubbed, it can be assumed that he was referring to vs. SpaceGodzilla and vs. Destoroyah, as well as Rebirth of Mothra and Rebirth of Mothra 2, which he believed to be Godzilla films.
- ↑ Omni is named in Martin Pachy's script for this dub.
- ↑ Omni is named in Martin Pachy's script for this dub.
- ↑ Heard in the original English dub of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, as evidenced by surviving English dubbed audio in the 1995 Indian release; the majority of Ellis' performance was retained for the 1998 "repaired" dub, with the exception of one re-recorded line.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Heard in the English dub of Godzilla vs. Mothra
- Grouped references
References
This is a list of references for Omni Productions. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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