I have a confession to make...

[Haibane Shadsie]

*Stands around, looking sad, waiting to be pelted by rotten tomatoes and other kinds of fruit*

I like dubs.

There! I said it!

Okay, so most of the anime I've seen is dubbed. Darn American television and the lack of subtitles! Most of the anime I own/seen I have seen either in only dub or only sub. Like... I wanted to purchase the dub of "Petshop of Horrors" because a friend of mine who had seen both thought that Count D's dub voice was a hoot - the place I my tapes from had them only in sub.

I have only recently bought a DVD player... so most of my stuff is on VHS, and by necessity, either-or.

My favorite anime (besides Haibane Renmei), I've seen only in dub... Trigun. I feel weird about this, but most of those who have seen both assure me that it's a good dub. I bought the tape series this way because I first saw the anime in video rentals, and I just fell in love with Vash's English voice. I have met people online who cannot stand it, however...

I have heard little snatches of the Japanese voices... I have a Trigun soundtrack with Rem's song in Japanese (pretty, but I think the English translation and voice are just as pretty)... and I've heard a wav. clip of Japanese Vash singing the Genocide Song (just as funny in either language!)... But, from what little I have heard, I probably (will) prefer the dub. - if nothing more than the fact that the Trigun world is supposed to be English-speaking and it just seems more "natural" to the world for them to be speaking English, though it's an anime.

Odd duck, aren't I?

I felt extremely weird about an experience with Cowboy Bebop... I've seen the series on televsion, dubbed, of course... then my online boyfriend sent me a subtitled version of the movie. I found myself preffering certain voices over others in the diffrent languages. Spike seems equally good in both languages (though, I think I liked his Japanese better), Ed is fun in both languages.. .but Jet and Faye... I FAR prefer the English voices! I got a little berated for this observation when I posted it on another board (Like, "how could you like Faye and Jet's voices better in English? Jet's English voice makes him sound ugly!)... I think both voices in English have more expression... Jet is a former gritty cop - he sounds more like it in English than in Japanese... and Faye sounds more like the diva she is in English.

Since getting a DVD player and seeing the first DVD of Haibane Renmei, I like that anime either way. I think Pioneer did a great dub of it. I think I might prefer the sub just a little bit more because the characters really are supposed to be speaking Japanese (Japanese speaking world, unlike Trigun and Bebop), but the voices seem to me to be very true to their Japanese counterparts. Rekki's might even be improved... her dub voice is really good. Rakka's reminds me somehow a bit of dub Rei in Evangelion, so I like to read her subtitles and hear her in Japanese... but overall, it's a great dub.


Hmmm... some things I do really prefer to see in sub, though... One of the stupid reasons why I no longer watch Inuyasha on Cartoon Network - even though I haven't seen any of it subtitled... I decided that the English voices just got on my nerves too much. I bought a little Shippo keychain at Anime Expo this year... a little talking keychain, after seeing IY keychains bought by friends... even judgeing from the little recorded catch-phrases in Japanese they shout... I decided I liked the Japanese IY way better and that the dub just... got on my nerves! I haven't even SEEN it in Japanese.. this is just from the voices from those stupid keychains!


And, I have fansubbed Azumanga Daioh. I FEAR what dubbers are going to do to it, given all these Japanese and Japanese-to-English (given that the cast is studying English ) jokes... I mean... I don't see how a dub can accurately account for some of the stuff in there. Official subtitles, yes, if translators don't mess it up, but dub.. um... it would be weird.

I like some things subbed, some things dubbed... and... I generally do like dubs, because that way, I can hear things in my native language, and I tend to like to draw and do such things when watching anime... subtitles prevent me from doing that because I have to keep my eyes totally glued to the screen all the time... and it inturpts the flow of the animation to me...

I just hope no one here considers me an inferior anime fan because I don't mind dubs. I've been kinda made to feel as such elsewhere.

[shooraijin]

Well, then I'm not a fan either, because I invariably prefer dubs except if they stink (there are some that I have experienced), and certainly my "anime-naive" friends do as well. It's just easier to watch, even though I know some Japanese.

[MillyFan]

LOL, I totally agree. I've only seen Trigun in the dub for financial reasons (I don't agree with bootlegging and I can't afford the DVD set), I want to see the sub sometime-but I think the whole sub/dub debate is overblown.

Some animes are fit much better by dubbing, others by subtitles, and most good animes are fine either way

[Azier the Swordsman]

It doesn't really matter what language you watch it in as long as you enjoy it. I'm a sub fan, but I personally believe the English voices for Cowboy Bebop were much better in the dub than the sub. But I generally stick to subs mainly because I'm learning the language. I hope to learn one language a year, Japanese is at the very top of my list.

[Spiritsword]

I find myself spending too much time trying to read the subtitles--I feel like I'm not taking in the full beauty or impact of the animation, when I watch subtitled anime. However, some dubs are just very poorly done. In these cases I will gladly watch the subtitled version. But if I find a dub that is well done, I tend to watch it rather than the subtitled version. So you're not weird, Shadsie (not in that respect, at least... ).

[Haibane Shadsie]

Um, color me lazy on the language learning thing...

I took three years of Spanish in high school with the intent to become fluent. That faded after high school with the college credits I needed to get the degree I wanted... And... it was hard... a lot of study. I think I do want to eventually (when I have money and time) to take more Spanish classes and to try to learn it. It's a beautiful language and very practical for me in the part of the country in which I live. So... in language learning, I'd have to put Japanese aside to make Spanish my first "I wanna learn it" foriegn language. It's just a LOT more practical for me... and I live around/know native speakers... so, yeah. I encounter native speakers of Spanish nearly every day... extremely rarely encounter any native speakers of Japanese. As much as I love anime and manga, I'd have to have a more pratical reason for wanting to learn it before tackling the challenge of Spanish.

I like putting little Spanish things in my webcomic, though... stuff that I know/remember... I figure that it's kind of like how manga and anime artists like to put random English in with the main Japanese just because they think it's cool... I'm like that with Spanish... main body English... throw in a little Spanish.

[Technomancer]

I'm a purist I'm afraid, so it's subs all the way. I don't even notice the subtitles anymore unless they're badly done; it just sort of goes right ot my brain. Then again, I'm also a very fast reader so that probably makes a difference, and I also like watching a lot of foreign cinema.

Honestly though, I've usually found the English voice acting to be sub-par in many series.

[Azier the Swordsman]

Um, color me lazy on the language learning thing...

I took three years of Spanish in high school with the intent to become fluent. That faded after high school with the college credits I needed to get the degree I wanted... And... it was hard... a lot of study. I think I do want to eventually (when I have money and time) to take more Spanish classes and to try to learn it. It's a beautiful language and very practical for me in the part of the country in which I live. So... in language learning, I'd have to put Japanese aside to make Spanish my first "I wanna learn it" foriegn language. It's just a LOT more practical for me... and I live around/know native speakers... so, yeah. I encounter native speakers of Spanish nearly every day... extremely rarely encounter any native speakers of Japanese. As much as I love anime and manga, I'd have to have a more pratical reason for wanting to learn it before tackling the challenge of Spanish.

I like putting little Spanish things in my webcomic, though... stuff that I know/remember... I figure that it's kind of like how manga and anime artists like to put random English in with the main Japanese just because they think it's cool... I'm like that with Spanish... main body English... throw in a little Spanish.

Try this website: http://www.pimsleurapproach.com

I can say from experience that their courses are very good. If you have the money, you could literally learn Spanish in about three months. I'm using this program for learning my Japanese, I finished the trial version and have just ordered my first full course, and I can't wait to get started. If you order the trial to start out with (a mere $20), you can get a discount on the first full course. (Each full course is about $275;$200 with a discount) I would say give it a shot.

[Bobtheduck]

Where I am it is probably more "practical" to learn spanish than where you are (but I'm not sure, I haven't spent that much time in Arizona... And don't know how close to the border you are, so I'm just rambling now...)

Ok, it's probably EQUALLY relevent for me to learn spanish here (except for my immediate neighborhood around the university, more Latinos that Caucasians...In this immediate neighborhood, more asians than Caucasians) and also where I grew up (same deal, only almost no asians) I didn't want to take a "normal" language, so I took french... Big mistake... I sorta started picking up on little words in "Sailormoon" and I found that Japanese was just so much more interesting... So I tried to learn some by myself, but I didn't get very far... I'm finally taking a proper class and I plan on having it mastered before I eventually move to Japan...

You took spanish for 3 years and still don't understand it? People in my Japanese class are having conversations after only 1 semester... Of course, high school language classes have been notoriously bad, but most people in Japanese class have a better motivation: Money... Learning Japanese is great for big business because anything large scale is going to require a tango with the other big ecomic powers...

As for subs/dubs? I like some dubs, but eventually I want to get to the point where i'll watch them all raw... In fact, to practive my Japanese, I'm going to do that starting when I get my box set of nadesico DVD's (yes, they're legit 6 disc I checked)

[andyroo]

Up with dubs down with subs! Actually, I like both, but I like subs a bit more, yet I've grown up on dubs. I agree that dubs are easier watch since you're not having to keep up with the sub-titles. Spike sounds just too cool with the Japanese VA.

Hey Bob and Shadsie, have you guys heard of "How to Learn any Language" by Barry Farber? I don't know if this book is still in print, but suspect it is since it was published in '91. It gives you many methods on self teaching yourself any language. It also has a short overview of almost every language.

[Bobtheduck]

[quote="Technomancer"]I'm a purist I'm afraid, so it's subs all the way. I don't even notice the subtitles anymore unless they're badly done]

I can't watch OLD subtitles... The white ones on the black and white screens... Austin Powers 3 made fun of them, it's great...

When subs are done right, I don't even realize I'm reading it...

[Mr. Rogers]

i like dubs as long as they don't sound really bad. subs are cool too cause you can hear the people in japanese. but sometimes it is hard to look down and read then look back at the pic, so dubs are a little easier to watch. either one is good with me.

[LorentzForce]

i like subs as well. they may annoy you for taking few pixels worth of drawings (if your player sucks) but in all i say the advantages are better than the disadvantages.

go subs!

(sweet! it's raining outside, it's a thunderstorm! sweeeeeet)

[Orange Kitten]

... then my online boyfriend....

Dude, I'll give you way more props for admitting to that than liking dubs.


I always automatically watch the Japanese version first (if I have the option) and then will watch the English version just to see how the English actors adapted the characters. Some Good, Some bad.

Faye Valentine is my favorite female character and all the english actors in C.B. are great, all except Faye. Her Japanese voice far more fits the character, imo.

I thought English Vash did an EXCELLENT job. So did Wolfwood, however, Meryle just ruined it.

[ShiroiHikari]

I almost always prefer subs. I read fast enough that it's not like reading for me, and I don't miss much of the show. I like listening to them speak Japanese and trying to figure out what words mean what, etc.

Some of the dubs lately have been decent though. So I'll watch them on TV, because it's free.

[Archan]

First off, Hi Haibane Shadsie!

Actually, I prefer Dubs myself, but for kind of a different reason.
Usually Dubbed anime is greatly edited and softened for Western Television which for me is an added plus being I am, after all Christian. An example of what I'm talking about is Outlaw Star. When Melfina interfaces with the ship, she's pretty much naked inside that little tube. However when CTN aired it, she was covered up every single shot (Alas, the magic of Copositing). Tenchi Muyo is another example, the two main girls always fighting over Tenchi, they show off their nudity wwwaaaayyyyy too much, but just like Outlaw Star, CTN covered them up as well. Another example is the whole DBZ saga...oh you'd be surprised at exactly just how much nudity is in there as well. But CTN edited it all out before they aired it as well.

Another thing is the overall language, certain words are replaced with softer American counterparts so angry Parents wont sue networks (they are cartoons after all).

Hence why I always advise Christian newbies to the world of anime to always look at the American dubb being it's alot easier to swallow.

However there are exceptions, certain Anime (Blood, Ninja Scroll, Golden Boy) are notably for Adult and Mature viewers so editing and language alterations would be a moot point. Same goes for anime such as Medabots or Sonic X, they're primarily children orientated so eidting and alterations would once again be a moot point.

Fun fact though, ever wonder why An English Dub and English subtitles never really say the same thing? Answer, english subs are (For the most) direct translations of what the character dialogue is. However the english dub needs to be altered so it can be properly lip sync'd.

God bless,
Archan

[inkhana]

Used to, I had a hard time with subs (I was busy watching the art...^^), so I didn't like them. I'm more used to them now; I spend less time staring at the pics and working in my sketchbook so I don't have to rely on the voices...LOL

[Haibane Shadsie]

Yeah, I like both. I'm good with dubs if they aren't heavily edited. I mean.. I've known people who are basically "ALL DUBS SHOULD DIE!", you know? Makes me wonder if I am WRONG somehow for watching what I can get free on TV (I am not rich) and if I am WRONG for actually liking the English voices on some characters. I just don't want to be thought of as an inferior anime fan because I don't mind dubs half the time.

You know, I've only seen a little bit of Tenchi Muyo... and the little bit I saw was in Spanish! I saw it playing in the local Spanish-language station and would tune in. I could understand quite a bit of what they were saying, too. That was fun, watching anime in Spanish.

You know, I remember in my Spanish classes watching "Flinstone Kids" (an American-made cartoon), dubbed into Spanish for absorbtion/practice... Fred and Barney are dubbed as "Pedro" and "Pablo", literally translated back to English: "Peter" and "Paul". I just thought that would be an interesting thing to share.

[The Silence]

While I, for the most part, prefer subs, there are some animes i like much better dubbed, one of them being Trigun for example. After watching both the sub and dub of Inu-yasha I think the only thing that kept me from watching the dub is that the english voice actors for ranma and inuyahsa were the same, which irked me to no avail....

[Straylight]

I prefer subs in most instaces, except a few anime movies, where the English dub is really good.

Even then though, as a Brit the American accents make the anime sound American, which it most definatly is not.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I do not recall the unedited DBZ having a lot of nudity... unless you are talking about the original Dragon Ball?

[Bobtheduck]

DB, a good deal of DBZ, and DBGT... Goku, Gohan, and krillin were naked a lot as kids... There wasn't very much female nudity, but it did happen occasionally... (such as one of the early eps of DB)

Besides the nudity, there was a lot of sexual humor: Groping, leering, peeping, magazines, comments... It was pretty consistant...

[Shao Feng-Li]

First off, Hi Haibane Shadsie!

Actually, I prefer Dubs myself, but for kind of a different reason.
Usually Dubbed anime is greatly edited and softened for Western Television which for me is an added plus being I am, after all Christian. An example of what I'm talking about is Outlaw Star. When Melfina interfaces with the ship, she's pretty much naked inside that little tube. However when CTN aired it, she was covered up every single shot (Alas, the magic of Copositing). Tenchi Muyo is another example, the two main girls always fighting over Tenchi, they show off their nudity wwwaaaayyyyy too much, but just like Outlaw Star, CTN covered them up as well. Another example is the whole DBZ saga...oh you'd be surprised at exactly just how much nudity is in there as well. But CTN edited it all out before they aired it as well.

Another thing is the overall language, certain words are replaced with softer American counterparts so angry Parents wont sue networks (they are cartoons after all).

Hence why I always advise Christian newbies to the world of anime to always look at the American dubb being it's alot easier to swallow.

However there are exceptions, certain Anime (Blood, Ninja Scroll, Golden Boy) are notably for Adult and Mature viewers so editing and language alterations would be a moot point. Same goes for anime such as Medabots or Sonic X, they're primarily children orientated so eidting and alterations would once again be a moot point.

Fun fact though, ever wonder why An English Dub and English subtitles never really say the same thing? Answer, english subs are (For the most) direct translations of what the character dialogue is. However the english dub needs to be altered so it can be properly lip sync'd.

God bless,
Archan

ooh reallly good piont, heck your resons are the same as mine... dubs are better. besides i love hiei and vegeta's voices in the dub version of YYH and DBZ. personally i can t stand to see cussing in a cartoon... actually christians shouldnt stand it at all.... that goes for nudity and other stuff as well.... so i say dubs are better

[Shao Feng-Li]

DB, a good deal of DBZ, and DBGT... Goku, Gohan, and krillin were naked a lot as kids... There wasn't very much female nudity, but it did happen occasionally... (such as one of the early eps of DB)

Besides the nudity, there was a lot of sexual humor: Groping, leering, peeping, magazines, comments... It was pretty consistant...

db wouldnt have been so bad if it werent for Roshi most of the time. man that guy makes me sick

[That Dude]

I don't really care that much which one I watch as long as it's good...I prefer dubs a bit more though because it makes it easier to watch. I'll watch subs though...I don't care that much which version I watch. But I have to say Escaflowne has HORRIBLE English subs.. (I think that I watched the Chinese version with English subs though...)

[Tet-chan]

The dubbed for Cowboy Bebop is pretty good...
I watch raw anime since i can understand japanese

[BishounenCookie]

Sorry to revive another dead one. But I just felt so compelled to say what is on my mind.

First off, I prefer dubs as well. Why? Because I have bad eyes. Yep, that's pretty much it. Dubs are not always crappy like people think. Most dubs are at least tolerable. Some dubs are really good. Examples would be probably Lain or Trigun. Trigun has got to be [arguably] the best dub ever. The english dubbed track is nearly identical to the japanese one in terms of dynamics and such. If you watch an episode of Trigun, and then watch the same episode in the opposite language, side by side, you will notice the same dynamics in the actors' voices, the same inflections, etc. Vash's voice was particularly outstanding in this way. It really makes you *feel* like you're watching it in Japanese, except that you can understand it.

[vinci]

I usually watch either Japanese or English-subbed. I rarely watched dubbed, because some of the things they say are totally different from what it really was in Japanese. I'm taking Japanese in school right now partly because of anime ^^ I have no problem in reading the subtitles and admiring the graphics fully at the same time, so it works for me. it's different for everyone though ^^

[MsShinobu]

There are some anime that I swear sound MUCH better then the original language. Take Big O for example, David Lucas (this guy goes by a couple different names ~.~) and the voice actor for Dorothy I enjoyed SO much better then the Japanese ones.

[That Dude]

Sorry to revive another dead one. But I just felt so compelled to say what is on my mind.

First off, I prefer dubs as well. Why? Because I have bad eyes. Yep, that's pretty much it. Dubs are not always crappy like people think. Most dubs are at least tolerable. Some dubs are really good. Examples would be probably Lain or Trigun. Trigun has got to be [arguably] the best dub ever. The english dubbed track is nearly identical to the japanese one in terms of dynamics and such. If you watch an episode of Trigun, and then watch the same episode in the opposite language, side by side, you will notice the same dynamics in the actors' voices, the same inflections, etc. Vash's voice was particularly outstanding in this way. It really makes you *feel* like you're watching it in Japanese, except that you can understand it.

=============================================

Yeah the dubs in Trigun sound almost exactly like the subs and they both are great...I've only seen the dubbed version of Lain but it fit perfectly. Nadesico has great dubs also (except who-ever did Admiral Munitaki's voice...It's painful!)