Frontier Enterprises
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dubbing, Voice acting |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Founder | William Ross |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | English dubs of Japanese films, television series, anime, and video games |
was a Tokyo-based enterprise specializing in converting Japanese films and media into English through dubbing. Collaborating with prominent studios like Toho International, Toei Animation, and Shochiku Company, Frontier supplied English-language versions intended for international distribution.
Along with New York's Titra Studios, Rome's Associated Recording Artists, and Hong Kong's Axis and Omni Productions, Frontier stood as a trailblazer in the realm of English dubbing.
History
Established in 1964 by William Ross, a Korean War veteran originally from Cincinnati, Frontier rose as other Tokyo dubbing companies ceased operations. Ross entered the dubbing field in 1959 following a recommendation from Japanese actor So Yamamura and quickly showcased his leadership by taking charge on his very first day.
Frontier produced English dubs for over 500 live-action and animated movies and television programs, collaborating with all major studios. Ross fulfilled multiple roles including dialogue writer, dubbing director, and voice performer, while his wife was responsible for most of the English script adaptations.
Facing a shortage of professional actors, Ross sourced native English speakers residing in Tokyo from various professions—such as businessmen, students, and musicians—providing them with comprehensive training before recording sessions. Despite these challenges, Frontier upheld high standards through auditions and meticulous preparation.
The company is particularly recognized for its English dubs of early Godzilla titles like Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (also known as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster), Son of Godzilla, and Destroy All Monsters. Nevertheless, American International Pictures opted to commission separate dubs from Titra Studios in New York, likely due to concerns over quality. As a result, Frontier’s versions are often referred to as "International dubs" and were predominantly distributed within the UK and other English-speaking European regions. These editions frequently appear on modern DVD and Blu-Ray releases.
During the 1970s, Toho transitioned its Godzilla dubbing work to Hong Kong’s Axis International and Omni Productions. Despite this shift, Frontier continued to receive projects such as dubbing The Mystery of Mamo for JAL inflight entertainment. From the late 1970s into the 1980s, Frontier concentrated on Japanese animated features, many of which were released on VHS by Celebrity Home Entertainment under their "Just For Kids" brand.
By the 1990s, Frontier shifted its focus predominantly to voice acting within the video game industry—a specialization it maintained until Ross retired and the company ultimately closed in 2000.
Television series
- The Samurai (1962–1965)
- Phantom Agents (1964–1966)
Films
- The Hidden Fortress (1958)
- Yojimbo (1961)
- Sanjuro (1962)
- The Last War (1961)
- The Lost World of Sinbad (1963)
- Attack Squadron (1963)
- Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)
- The War of the Gargantuas (1966)
- Gappa: The Triphibian Monster (1967)
- The Killing Bottle (1967)
- Son of Godzilla (1967)
- Booted Babe, Busted Boss (1968)
- Destroy All Monsters (1968)
- Battle of the Japan Sea (1969)
- The Bullet Train (1975)
- Legend of Dinosaurs & Monster Birds (1977)
- Princess from the Moon (1987)
Television Series
- Phantaman (1967–1968)
- Choppy & the Princess (1967–1968)
Motion Pictures
- The Little Prince & the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963)
- The Mystery of Mamo (1978)
- Cyborg 009: The Legend of the Super Galaxy (1980)
- Voltus 5 (1980) (compilation film)
- Space Warrior Baldios (1981)
- Swan Lake (1981)
- Aladdin & the Wonderful Lamp (1982)
- Arcadia of My Youth (1982)
- The Dagger of Kamui (1985)
Video Games
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (1989)
- Dynasty Warriors 2 (2000)
- WinBack: Covert Operations (2000)
Voice Actors
The following voice talents were regularly cast in Frontier's dubbing projects:
- Jasmine Ann Allen
- Lanny Broyles
- Bill Calhoun
- Walter Carroll
- Tom Clark
- Nanny Cullucci
- Debora Davidson
- Jerry Davidson
- Deborah DeSnoo
- Robert Dunham †
- Ken Frankel
- Barry Gjerde
- Tracy Gleason
- Will Gluck
- Peter von Gomm
- Lenne Hardt
- Cliff Harrington †
- Dean Harrington
- Michelle Hart
- Ruth Hollyman
- Don Johnson
- James Keating
- Eric Kelso
- Don Knode †
- Steve Knode
- Patricia Kobayashi
- Avi Landau
- Nancy Link
- Clay Lowrey
- Paul Lucas
- Mary Malone
- Jeff Manning
- Jack Marquardt
- Corey Marshall
- Lindsay Martell
- Leighton McClure
- Scott McCulloch †
- Jim McGill
- Brian Michel
- Burr Middleton
- Didi Moore
- Michael Naishtut
- Richard Nieskens
- Brian Pardus
- Sam Peterson
- Don Pomes
- Frank Rogers
* William Ross † * Judith Sackheim * Maya Sackheim * Carrie Sakai * Akasha Scholen * Adam Simons * Justine Simons * Gerri Sorrells * Greg Starr * Rumiko Varnes * Bud Widom † * Dick Wieand * Lisle Wilkerson * Craig Williams * Toby Williams * Mike Worman * Carole Wyand * Donna Zucatti * Joseph Zucatti * Dan Coughlin
† denotes deceased individuals