Supernatural was a big enough hit to warrant a spin-off animated series, but I have to it, I didn't recognize that Dean Winchester was actually being voiced by a different actor. Supernatural: The Anime was kind of a spin-off, and kind of a reboot. The series took a lot from the original show, and over the course of one 22-episode season, the show explored many of the adventures of Sam and Dean Winchester from seasons 1 and 2 of the live-action series.

In addition, they also recruited Jared Padalacki to reprise his role as Sam Winchester, and the series plays out with both characters sounding authentically like they are the same people from the original show. However, after revisiting this show nearly 15 years after it was released, I finally figured out that Dean Winchester is being voiced by a totally different actor. Well, at least he's mostly being played by a different actor.

Andrew Farrar Voiced Dean Winchester For Most Of The Supernatural Anime (Jensen Ackles Did The Rest)

Dean Has Been Replaced In The Anime Spin-Off

As mentioned above, Sam and Dean Winchester have a 22-episode run in Supernatural: The Anime. Several episodes are direct recreations of similar stories from the series, while others introduce new narratives and plots, and the order of events is largely moved around. However, across all the episodes, there is one episode where neither Sam nor Dean appear, and the two episodes that conclude the series, "All Hell Breaks Loose," Parts 1 and 2, see Jensen Ackles return.

Aside from that, 19 episodes of the show have another actor take his place. Andrew Farrar was cast to deliver Dean's lines, and take on the role of being Jared Padalecki's brother in the animated version. This change could have been jarring, but fortunately, the show handles it well, and the end product is extremely compelling, full of heart, and plenty of fun. While it's not a perfect replica of the original series, it does have the same core elements, and Farrar's performance goes a long way to ensuring the spin-off didn't miss a beat on what was already proving to be an immensely popular TV show.

What Andrew Farrar Sounds Like As Dean Winchester Compared To Jensen Ackles

There Is A Striking Similarity Between Both Voices For Dean Winchester

Andrew Farrar could have come into Supernatural: The Anime and chosen to deliver a very different voice that set him apart. After all, the show was developed with a Japanese audience in mind, and released in other countries with new actors tackling the roles of Sam and Dean in local languages. However, Farrar clearly had some degree of respect and appreciation for what came before, which led to him employing a similar-sounding voice to play the part of Dean Winchester.

Jensen Ackles doesn't use his natural voice for the part of Dean, instead using a deeper, more gruff voice that appears a little rough around the edges and makes Dean sound like a smooth, yet dangerous individual. When examining the character, this is perfect, because that is largely who Dean is. So, with Farrar opting to play the part with similar deep tones, and some rough around the edges, it made the character equally charming and dangerous. And when there was a changeover in the final episodes of Supernatural spin-off, it didn't feel like a complete change and departure from the episodes that played out before it.

How The Supernatural Anime Compares To The Original Show

Despite The Enormous Pressure, The Anime Holds Up Well

Supernatural is already a quirky show that leans into making every episode stand out and deliver unique developments. The show also has a lot of heart, thanks to the wonderful connection that exists between the lead actors, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. These elements combined made for a series that is easy and fun to rewatch, and thoroughly exciting. However, in adapting the series over to an anime format, there were some things that changed more than others. Beyond Dean's actor being replaced, the show had a much faster pace, working through two seasons' worth of content in 22 episodes, but it also took a step back at times, delivering episodes that provide more context, or less focus on the Winchesters.

For that reason, the anime reboot can be a breath of fresh air at times, taking the story to entirely new places and adding important context that never made it into the live show. But, it's also important to understand that this series was made at a time when a lot of American IPs were taking on collaborations with Studio Madhouse, which led to several Marvel anime's being made by the same studio. It was kind of a trendy show that fit into the period of time when it was made. And ultimately, while nothing can entirely match the original shows' magic, Supernatural: The Anime did a good job of trying to recapture it.

Should You Bother Watching The Supernatural Anime?

While It Is An Animated Reboot, There Are Some Key Differences

This important question is certainly one that has different answers for different people. As fun as the show is, and as much as it makes an effort to reignite the spark that came from the first two seasons of Supernatural, anime is not for everyone. The fact that these characters are now cartoons, and the intensity and grit are replaced with animated monsters and stories can be jarring. If anime is for you, then it might make sense to watch it. If you want more backstory sprinkled into some of the best moments of the show's first two seasons in anime form, this could work.

The fact that Jensen Ackles is missing, even if the actor replacing him sounds so similar, is a big hurdle to overcome.

However, there is no guarantee that fans of anime or even superfans of Supernatural are going to fall in love with this series. The fact that Jensen Ackles is missing, even if the actor replacing him sounds so similar, is a big hurdle to overcome. Not because Andrew Farrar doesn't do an incredible job, but the chemistry between Jensen and Jared is on a different level. And for a lot of people, that is the most appealing part of the entire show. Supernatural would never have made it to 15 seasons with fans begging for more without them, and the absence may be subtle, but it's still there in the anime.