Axis International

Axis International was a dubbing studio based in Hong Kong which specialized in dubbing Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong films. Most of these were from Toho, Shaw Brothers, Golden Harvest, And various smaller companies. They are notable for being the very first professional dubbing studio in Hong Kong. Notable works include Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Gyaos, The Big Boss Godzilla Vs. Hedorah, Fist Of Fury, Godzilla Vs. Gigan, Godzilla Vs. Megalon, Hanuman And The Seven Ultramen, And Space Firebird 2772.

Background
Axis International was founded by former British Naval Intelligence officer and sports commentator Ted Thomas. In the late 1950s, After a couple years of working in broadcasting, Ted was commissioned by Run Run Shaw too help dub films from his company, Shaw Brothers, into English. Ted enjoyed his experience working on Shaw Brothers’ films, Which would make him later open his own dubbing company in the early 1960s.

In the early 1960s, East-asian companies realized they could make more money out of their films if they exported it overseas with an English dub. Axis International was the first and the cheapest, Making them the go-to dubbing company for several major and small film companies. Most writing sessions would begin by a company calling up and commissioning a film to be dubbed. Then, A translator (usually Ron Oliphant) would record what scene needed to be dubbed and would count the syllables and pauses for what was needed to lip sync in the scene, Which would become the basis for the English script.

The dubbers themselves were only required to know how to do two things, have fast reactions and a unique voice with good inflections, With actual acting part of it being seen as additional. Most dubbing sessions would begin by bringing in male and female broadcasters from RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong), Their spouses, or actors who had applied via a newspaper advertisement that asked for help. Microphones and tape for the film to be recorded on would be set up by engineers, and the films would be recorded in “loops”, which were small lengths of tape ranging from around thirty seconds to a minute. Because of the tight schedule, Axis usually didn’t have time to re-record a loop or even review it, as it might halt production on another dub they had to finish. Most dubbing sessions would take around 12 to 20 hours in total, With dubbers working from around 6 PM to midnight. With this schedule, Around six or seven films could be finished in a month.

After the dubbing sessions were complete, The dubbed reel would be sent over to whichever company had commissioned the dub. The company would then pay back about 9,000 HKD and the dubbed film would be copied so it could be shipped to the distributor that had bought the rights to that film in whichever country the company was based in. The dubs would also be used in export prints with subtitles for that country's main language, But a general reason for why they would typically use the English dub instead of the original audio is unknown. Even though English dubs had been made by Axis and BHG, There would be instances where the English dub would be reworked entirely by another company if they thought the dub wasn't good. Most of these dubs would use the original Axis/BHG dub as a basis for the script, But would make subtle changes, add new actors, and occasionally make different cuts of the film. Even though this would be a semi-common practice in America during the 60s and early 70s, English dubs by Axis and BHG would see an influx in the mid-late 1970s and 80s, As American companies would begin to realize that using the export dub would be far cheaper than making a completely new one.

Axis International had many locations throughout the years, With them either being in Kowloon's walled city, Small houses on the edge of town, Or a flat with the living room made into a studio and the bedrooms being the projector rooms. However, It wouldn't be until the mid-late 70s until Axis had a designated recording studio. In the mid-late 1970s, Shaw Brothers had commissioned Axis specifically to dub their films and the films they distributed into English. At the same time, The casting process started to become more professional. Interviews for dubbing would be held at Shaw House with Ron Oliphant seeing what a new intern could do and if they met the requirements.

By the early 1980s, Axis had been losing traction due to other dubbing companies being more successful and more professional in the eyes of companies, which caused Axis to be considered obsolete. This, combined with the dwindling number of actors, caused the company to go defunct in 1982.

Anime Films

 * Space Firebird 2772 (1980)

Live-Action Films

 * The Secret of the Telegian (1960)
 * Matango (1963)
 * Atragon (1963)
 * Dogora (1964)
 * Gamera vs. Barugon (1966)
 * The War of the Gargantuas (1966)
 * Ninjascope (The Magic World of Ninjas) (1967)
 * Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967)
 * Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell (1968)
 * Genocide (1968)
 * Crimson Bat, the Blind Swordswoman (1969)
 * Trapped, the Crimson Bat (1969)
 * Watch Out, Crimson Bat (1969)
 * Space Amoeba (1970)
 * Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
 * The Big Boss (1971)
 * Lake of Dracula (1971)
 * Battle of Okinawa (1971)
 * Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
 * Fist of Fury (1972)
 * Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
 * Professional Killers: Assassins Quarry (1973)
 * Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen (1974)
 * Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders (1975)
 * Outlaw Cop (1976)
 * Mars Men (1976)
 * Fist of Fury 2 (1977)
 * Five Deadly Venoms (1978)
 * Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin (1978)
 * Death Duel of Kung Fu (1979)
 * Dance of Death (1979)
 * Gamera, Super Monster (1980)
 * Deathquake (1980)

Talent Pool
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Voice Actors

 * Angel Chapman
 * Andy Chworosky
 * Barry Haigh (Director, Voice Actor) (†)
 * Caroline Levy
 * Chris Hilton (†)
 * George Montgomery
 * Harvey Gamecock
 * Ian Wilson (†)
 * Jack Murphy
 * Jack Moore
 * John Wallace (†)
 * Linda Masson
 * Lynne Wilson (†)
 * Mandy Cooke
 * Michael Kaye
 * Nick Kendall
 * Ron Oliphant (†)
 * Rick Thomas (†)
 * Peter Boczar
 * Saul Lockhart
 * Simon Broad
 * Ted Thomas (Director, Voice Actor) (†)
 * Warren Rooke

† deceased * }}