I had the opportunity to sit down with Mary Claypool, the ADR writer behind the iconic anime film Ghost in the Shell. During our conversation, she broke down what ADR really is, how the dubbing process works behind the scenes, and what it takes to faithfully adapt anime for English-speaking audiences.

Mary shared how adapting dialogue for a film like Ghost in the Shell isn’t just about translating words — it’s about timing, mouth movements, cultural nuance, and preserving the meaning and tone of the original performance. She also talked about how the film became a major landmark for the Western anime community, influencing not only fans but filmmakers and the broader sci-fi genre.

We also explored the challenges of working with classic material during a time when the anime industry in the U.S. was still developing, and how the localization process has evolved since then. Learning about the historical context behind the English adaptation of Ghost in the Shell was incredible, and it gave us a deeper appreciation for everyone who works in ADR, dubbing, and translation to bring anime to new audiences around the world.

Huge respect to Mary and the entire localization community — their work continues to shape how anime is experienced internationally.