what do you think of dubbing?

[termyt]

I'm always good for two cents, so here's mine:

First of all, even the elitists out there should realize one thing: With out dubbing anime would still be just a niche market. We can enjoy a much wider selection of anime because of dubs. This is true for the Japanese as well. American money is fueling a lot of new anime.

I remember the truly bad dubs of the 80’s and early 90’s and believe me, we’ve come a long way. Most of the dubs, especially by the bigger studios like ADV and Bandai, are much better and remain fairly true to the originals now. If you don’t believe that can be true, try reading the subtitles and listening to the dub at the same time. The Macek hack job is a thing of the past. So don’t be ashamed of liking a worthy dub.

There are still some issues, I cringed at Saint Tail as well, and there are still a few bad voice actors (or perhaps bad directors asking voice actors to stretch their voices beyond their limits – and what’s with the bad French accents in ADV’s new dub of Nadia?) out there, but I’ll leave you with one last thing, there are bad voice actors in Japan as well, but most of our ears are too well tuned to English to recognize bad Japanese acting.

Oh, and I think I'd really like to visit you some day AngelSakura, your location sounds like a wonderful place to be indeed.

[noeleon]

i feel that most of the time dubbing ruins the anime.
but cowboy bebop is an exsample of great dubbing.

[elmode1337]

you heard eds english voice? where i want my ears to bleed too.

[Namu]

Now, I don't think dubbing is all that bad, it's how alot of us gotten into anime. I personally like the dubbed version of Cowboy Bebop over the subbed. But that's just me.

On the other hand, dubbing can be a bad thing. I personally hate the voices used for the Angelic Layer dub. I also hate all dubs done by 4Kids. (Love the shows, just hate how they dubbed them.)

[MasterDias]

I usually don't mind dubs.

I can usually tolerate subpar voice actors. Hacked-up scenes and altered dialogue really get on my nerves however, although I will put up with it if it is the only way available to watch that specific anime...

[Neosevangel]

I usually don't mind dubs. I just think some could be done a lot better. However I will say there are some horriable dubs such as Cardcaptors(barf!) I'm sorry I shouldn't say it that way but they edited out almost half of the series!

[Shao Feng-Li]

I can't stand SK dubbings. Mostly, who wants to read subtitles? they're distracting. Besides Kenshin sounds like a real girl in the not dubbed version. *Crange.*

This is all a matter of personal taste. but ithink everyone agrees that Shaman king is horrible.

[Vyse]

I can't stand SK dubbings. Mostly, who wants to read subtitles? they're distracting. Besides Kenshin sounds like a real girl in the not dubbed version. *Crange.*

He sounds like a girl because they got a woman to voice him

Thats actually very common in Japan, which is one reason why I prefer the dub, though it would've been nice if they had included the "Oro's"

[Gypsy]

*Ahem* Just a small reminder to those who get passionate about this subject ... it all comes down to personal preference. Ease up on the "snobby elitist" digs, and I don't want to see anything along the lines of "people who watch dubs are stupid." I haven't, but I still don't want to see it. That being said ....

I agree with Zilch, because, being my kid brother, he just repeated what I've been telling him all along. *pats Zilche's head* For myself, it really comes down to what I started watching first. However, I have noticed that I am switching to the subtitles more and more lately. Why?

1. Contrary to Volt's Law of It's Physically Impossible to Read and Watch at the Same Time - I can, and others have mentioned they can as well. I miss nothing when I'm reading the subtitles. It's almost like I'm looking at the entire screen rather than focusing on just the words. We still luv ya though, Volt.

2. Many times (not always!) the voice acting is better and more fitting to the character. Some of the stunts the original VA's can pull off with their voices is hilarious! Besides, I like listening to people speak Japanese. I find it a very pretty and fluid language.

3. Again, it all depends on which I start watching first. Since I watch many fansubs before they come to the US, I, naturally prefer the subbed version. When I buy the DVDs when they come here, the English dubs sound very unnatural to me, regardless of the quality. Also ... I'm such a pathetic anime fan that I've watched most the anime (that I'm interested in watching) that's been released here. That means checking out fansubs, which leads to preferring the subtitled version. Make sense?

I do really like and prefer dubs in some cases, though. Princess Nine was one of the best dubs I've ever seen. Cowboy Bebop was good (I just want to fit in with the crowd and repeat what everyone else was saying ). Ranma 1/2 also has a talented crew.

There. That was my personal preference. I guess you could call it the "half & half" viewing choice.

[Whitephoenix]

Well, if it weren't for made-for-TV dubs, I wouldn't even know what anime is.
So I guess it's OK if you're just getting into it, but I've been a fan for quite a while now, and have become more attached to reading subtitles, but if I know from my sources that the dub is pretty decent, I'd watch it as well.

Overall, as stated before, it's a matter of preference.

[Rev. Doc]

Dubbing Rocks!!!! (Just looking for an excuse to use that smiley). Subs are good too. And since most DVDs have both on them it really doesn't matter. I remember back in the days of VHS (little tape things we could use to record on back in the old days) one could still choose between dubbed or subtitled format. But we really complained because the subtitled tapes were always more expensive. I'm really surprised this issue is still discussed.

[MasterDias]

I can't stand SK dubbings. Mostly, who wants to read subtitles? they're distracting. Besides Kenshin sounds like a real girl in the not dubbed version. *Crange.*

This is all a matter of personal taste. but ithink everyone agrees that Shaman king is horrible.

I actually didn't mind the English Shaman King voice actors as much as some people did. Although they didn't have to give certain characters accents...

I'm sure that the Japanese SK voice actors are light-years ahead of their English counterparts however.

[true_noir_chloe]

I watch both. Sometimes the subs are best, sometimes the dubs are best. It just depends on who the voice actor is. Like Azumanga Daioh. I can't, I tell you I CAN"T, watch it in English. Little Chiyo-chan just isn't the same. T__T

Anyways, I am in agreement 100% with what Gypsy wrote. And, it saves me typing all the info she already placed. Just go back one page and read Gypsy's and that's how I feel. Except for patting Zilch on the head. I don't want to do that. 0_o

And, I thought Volt was a fellow patron of Foreign films. How do you watch those if you can't watch the movie and read the subtitles at the same time? LOL you know I'm kidding with you, right Volt?

Anyways, going to bed and I'm not sure why I wrote on this thread.

[mechana2015]

I really do not have a preference for either type as I have seen both excellent Subtitling and Dubbing, as well as some obscenely bad subbing and/or dubbing. Frankly I will watch some series both ways if I have the time and enjoy it both times.
For Example: I watched the Dub of Cowboy Bebop the Movie first and highly enjoyed it. I then watched it in Subs, and yet again enjoyed it just as much, thanks to the spirited dialogue.

[Kisa]

I think, if done right, it is good! You can understand it and enjoy it without having to read and miss the beautiful artwork, and I love to see what voices, if suited, they put with the characters. ^^ Like Fruits Basket was dubbed very well I think. ^^

[elmode1337]

yea i agree, some dubbings are ok but RK dubbing is awfulllllll makes me wanna cry

[Vyse]

yea i agree, some dubbings are ok but RK dubbing is awfulllllll makes me wanna cry

I love and prefer RK's dub, I just wish they had added in the Oro's, thats my only complaint about it.

[Psycho Ann]

Heh, the problem with RK with me is... I can't stand to see Kenshin with a man's voice (and the name changes) O_o;;; Too used to the original.... >_< Same thing with Goku/Gohan, Quatre, Kurama, and whoever else. Interestingly, Sanosuke has the best dubs in two languages so far. The Indonesian dub for RK is HORRIBLE, save for Sano. And Sano is the one of the best dubbed in the english ver. as well.

[awsam007]

Right now I'm watching One Piece, but the subtitles are so bad that Luffy's name is Spelled Ruff. Makes you want to yell at the t.v., anyway I still enjoy watching it especially since it lisenced by 4kids (I can only imagine how they will change it)

FYI, in Japanese the "L" and "R" sounds are the same, so there's no "correct" way to spell Luffy/Ruffy.

As far as dubbing goes, I have to agree with Volt, unless you have some sort of device which changes the laws of physics or a 2 inch monitor it's simply not possible to read at the same time as watching the animation. I'm not saying you are missing a lot, but for however long you are reading (can be half a sec, 5 secs whatever) you are not watching, no matter what you may think. Obviously some of us can read much faster than others, which is why many like subs. I prefer dubs because it's animation after all, so I'd rather be able to watch it rather than read it. To me, "reading art" is more suited to things like manga so if I want to read I'll pick that up rather than spend the money on the anime. There seems to be so many that hate dubs that it makes me wonder if maybe the dubs were really bad in the old days because frankly nowadays I find that the major anime distributors (ADV, Bandai, Viz) do a fine job. I haven't seen many anime that I stopped watching because of the dub.

Dubs I like:
CB
Trigun
Vandread
Maison Ikkoku
Nadesico

Dubs I thought bit the big one:
Crest of the Stars/Banner of the Stars
Kenshin OVAs
WHR (especially Robin herself)

[harina]

I hatehatehate dubbing >___< Especially when they do it in my language (Finnish, for example Pokémon and Digimon that come on TV. And Ginga! You can't imagine.) or Swedish (for example, Sailor Moon..). But because I'm not Japanise, in some cases dubs may make the movie easier (than with subtitles) to understand.
And yeah, it depends also on the voice actors, but mostly I prefer subs.

[panegryst]

I almost always prefer subs + Jap language track. Some things you just have to hear in English, though, like some of Kenshin's lines in 'Trust & Betrayal' and Shinji's "I mustn't run away! I mustn't run away! I mustn't run away!"

[Roland-shin]

I agree with panegryst.
the best way is subs+original language but some lines need to be heard in English...

[Lunis]

I kind of get offended when people talk about dubs in such a negative way! It's the only anime I watch!! I don't have enough money for the subtitled DVD's, and even if I did, why would I get them? I already can watch the show IN MY OWN LANGUAGE!!! I thank dubbers very much. So they may mess some of them up a bit. At least it's better than spending gazillions of dollars on DVD's where you miss most of the action because you are busy reading the stupid subtitles! And in my opinion I say the English voices are BETTER than the Japanese ones!! For an example, I think DBZ was sooo much better dubbed. The voices AND the quality is MUCH better. It makes me so mad when people talk badly about dubbing with the, "It's not from Japan! They mess it up so much just because it's in ENGLISH!!" crud. You think they did a horrible job on just about every anime that comes out in America!! WHAT EVER, people!! *storms off*

[Psycho Ann]

To each their own. I really didn't want to dig more into this, but I'm a sucker for defending my opinions--repeatedly. Ignore me, I'm mostly just repeating myself...

1. We're not dissing people who watch dubs and/or that dubs are always the bad choice for everyone. For those that watch/prefer dubs aren't 'lower' than whoever calls them selves elitists for watching the original (I use the term 'purist' for myself, it's more accurate in where I stand. I don't see myself superior, I'm just obessive in having everything as close to it's original). I grew up on dubs in Indo, same goes to the people here. Don't think that those that prefer subs are dissing those who prefer dubs.

2. This is probably because I haven't slept all night and it's 7 a.m. now, but I found myself slightly miffed that reading subtitles implies that you miss more and is a waste of money for the DVDs. Maybe it's a mix of practice and preferance, but I repeat that I miss *nothing* when reading subtitles. It's gotten to a point where I see the action and the words are read through my peripheral vision perfectly fine. I actually understand the plot more because I can "see" what the characters are talking about where sometimes without subs you tend to miss things especially terms in long technical explanations. I'm a visual person, and many people who prefer subs are the same as well, we get along well, some cases even better. (boy am I going to be dog piled for that)

3. Dubs in most cases *do* mess it up. Badly. The Card Captor Sakura fans can tell you this--worse case of anime butchering I've seen yet. And no, this is not a problem exclusive to US (Indonesia HAS to be one of the top worse dubbing producers for anime IN THE UNIVERSE. Imagine Tamahome of Fushigi Yuugi with Popeye's voice--no, I'm not kidding). I'm speaking as a purist, so I don't know of anyone else, but anything out of it's original language is bound to decrease in quality one way or another. If something is in english, please keep it in english... same goes with japanese, french, etc. So I won't be quick to label the pro-subbers biased just because anime is dubbed into *english*.

4. Country of origin is a factor. I'm Asian, naturally anything Asian would suck to me if it isn't Asian anymore. DBZ is a good example--the only thing good, in my opinion, about the US dub is the video quality, and only that. The US dub totally tore off any feel to the original, it's almost like a whole new anime that me, being a purist+Asian, can never accept because it's like 'Friends' with japanese drama voices, music, and humor (I can write a whole book of ranting with this--so I'll stop here). Same goes with anime like Rurouni Kenshin. Kenshin's seiyuu grasped his original pesonality *perfectly*, and the whole jap cast naturally sound japanese while the dubs--well, again, picture The Justice League spouting japanese jokes/phrases... There's probably only one character that I prefer the dub voice over the original, and that's Chibi Trunks. If you hear both, you'll know what I mean.

5. Wrong names in subs are usually because of being subbed according to another language. My OP episodes back in Indo have the names "Rufi" (Luffy--yes, this is the correct way to spell it. The mangaka graciously wrote Luffy's name in roman letters a dozen times in the wanted posters), "Sunkist"(Sanji. Frankly I have no idea how they got this... I should check the chinese name for Sanji some time), "Liar Bu" (Usopp. 'Uso' is lie, and the 'pp' is pronouced close to 'bu/pu'), and whatever other atrocities. Are the subbers deaf? No, these illegal subbers just translated from chinese subs into english. But still, I rather face these awful translations as long as I don't have to rip my ears off listening to the Indonesian dub.

6. I forgot what I'm going to say since I'm so tired. But yeah, anything original is obviously going to be the optimal version. 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force' in any other language would just sound wrong, don't the ATHF fans agree? Disney knows this extremely well since they make extra sure that the voices doing their main chars in other languages sound and talk as close as possible to the original.

Bottomline: the best is to learn fluent Japanese and rent cheap raw anime videos instead. Problem solved. ;P

[Yojimbo]

Well I usually like dubbed over sub unless it's atrociously bad. I'd much rather focus on what's happening then trying to read something. Even though I read very fast it's still taking my focus away for that one second.

[true_noir_chloe]

Here, here, Psycho Ann. ^___^ Some of us, who enjoy foreign films, just prefer something from another country to be kept in its original form. I guess I'm a purist in that as well. And, its actually helping me understand Japanese. And, like you I find reading the subs something I can do very quickly with my peripheral vision. It happens when you watch a lot of subs. Please don't think we look down on dubbers.

Some dubs are done very well and I know my friend, who has dyslexia has to watch the dubs. She just can't read the subtitles fast enough. So, I'm glad that the dubs are getting better. She also understands Japanese quite well, so if the dubs are bad she'll watch it in Japanese and catch most of what they're saying.

So, I wish people would just accept that people prefer different things and neither one is wrong or better than the other - its a matter of preference.

[Lochaber Axe]

I have an idea for those that don't want to waste their anime time reading the subtitles: Press stop, read, press play, now repeat. Do this over and over until satisfied with your anime viewing.

EDIT: And no I am not trying to be offensive, but that is a way you can do it. Mostly with time, you will be able to both watch and read at the same time like what Ann said. I can do both at the same time with my FMA fansubs.

Also that was for comedic affect, I like some dubs, but prefer subs in many anime. I am not looking down on dubbers, I understand your points exactly, but I am also a purist. Hearing bugs bunny in Spanish was just atrocious.

[Lunis]

Okay, I'm sorry. I was venting a lot of my anger out on subbing, which I don't really have a problem with. But to me there's just something about hearing it in English that makes me happy. There are only a handful of English voices that get on my nerves. The one that comes off the top of my head is Marik (Yu-Gi-Oh!). Blech. I bet I would like him a lot better if he wasn't so annoying. I understand where you're comming from Ann. So I'm just going to reiterate the common phrase, "To each their own." It's okay if people think the dubbing was bad, and it's okay if they don't like it that way. The real thing that got me mad was how many people complain nonstop about dubbing. I got a message for ya' people. If you don't like it, DON'T WATCH IT!! There are soooo many threads here about hating dubbing. Do you know what it does to people like me? It makes me feel bad about watching those "horrible/kiddy/ruined" shows and anime in general. I feel so discouraged! Okay I'm getting mad again just thinking about it. I thought, "To each their own," meant that everyone likes something different, and that people shouldn't criticize!! But I guess it only works one way.

So could the people who don't like it just lay off on the "Dubbing Hate Fest" threads?!

Okay, I think I need anger management. No offence to those of you who don't like dubbing, but don't complain about it all the time. *pant pant* I better go before I get out of control and burn this thread down. o_O (JK)

[Spazztik]

Personally I think that dub is better. I like listening to anime in my own language, and reading the subtitles takes away from actually watching the animation, or whatever the subtitles show/movie is. The only problem I have with dubbing is that it is one of the reasons it takes so long for anime to get to the U.S.

[Kawaiikneko]

No offense to dub lovers, but personally I just love the subs better. I can read subs very fast so not getting the animation isn't a problem for me. More often then naught, I can't stand dubs. I get very attached to the Japanese voices. Watching Inuyasha dubbed almost makes my cry. Really *pathetic, yes* If I haven't seent the Japanese version for awhile, I can usually adjust. Like with Last Exile. I watched all that in fansubs and just recently I saw it on Anime Unleashed. It took me a couple episodes to get used to the English voices, especially Deeo, but after awhile it was okay. I can't remember whose voice I liked, but Deeo really took some getting used to.

What bugs me most in dubs is the lack of honorifics, correct pronunciations and timing. Everytime in Inuyasha they say Kilala (yes I know the L R thing... just when they say it in Japanese it sounds alot more like kirara or even kiara) Na-RAK-u, Ka-GO-me, ect. it just kills a little part of me inside. Oh and Soul Stealer Iron Reaver? I think thats it... wow what a mouthful Also in my opinion Kagome's voice actor can't well... act. Sorry, she screams with almost no emotion. At least not compared to the Japanese actor. I often notice that they change the script a little to match up the English words to the character's lips resulting in a weird tempo and rate of speach. Sometimes its like normal people talk and sometimes its like they're dragging it out. As a side note, sometimes scripts are translated to be very "Americanized"

As for Kenshin's voice.... I love his oros an personally I think his origianl voice gives him a little more character than his super macho, superman american voice even before I watched subs at all, Kenshin's voice sorta bothered me at time. It gets all heroish sometime and it just doesn't sound real