Which companies do the best translations?

[rocklobster]

Meaning which companies do the best dubs and subtitles? I say Disney, FUNimation, and Bandai.

[beau99]

FUNimation's had the best dubs in recent memory.

[Lynx]

i'd have to vote bandai, because of cowboy bebop

[GrubbTheFragger]

i say ADV but other than that it varies alot cuz even ADV can do horrid dubs (aka FFU).
but i think i'll say Bandai (cuz of GITS:SOC)and then Disney cuz they did a good job with Howls moveing castle

[Mangafanatic]

Just as a general comment, I'm more than happy to see a discussion of the best translating companies. However, I'd like to ask that we keep all discussion of the WORST translation companies out of this. Mention of Sailor Moon or One Piece are not going to be allowed.

[Tommy]

However, I'd like to ask that we keep all discussion of the WORST translation companies out of this. Mention of Sailor Moon or One Piece are not going to be allowed.

I was just about to make one of the funniest comments before you posted that.

No fun.

[Joshua Christopher]

I always loved the Stramline ones. >8D

Actually, I like Animaze, but they're not around anymore.

[Arnobius]

With anime, I tend to prefer the ADV ones now that they're taking it seriously and not doing things like the overlays they did with Nadesico and the original Evangelion DVDs. AnimeWorks have done some good things as well. Pioneer/Geneon tended to whitewash things far too much, especially in the dubs.

My least favorite is AnimEigo... someone once described them as "legal fansubbers" based on their (lack of) quality.

Disney did some quality subtitle translations as of late, but they do make some changes since some Japanese elements might be considered problematic for western values

[RedMage]

With anime, I tend to prefer the ADV ones now that they're taking it seriously and not doing things like the overlays they did with Nadesico and the original Evangelion DVDs.

Overlays? Please elaborate.

[Joshua Christopher]

Overlays? Please elaborate.

Not to discuss NGE, but in one episode a bunch of kanji keeps flashing on the screen, and in the ADV video, instead of putting a subtitle on it, they overlayed it with some really cheap-looking english text. Kinda ruined the moment (the "Hallelujah" scene for those who wondered).

[Arnobius]

Overlays? Please elaborate.

on these series, there were signs written in Japanese. Instead of using subtitles or supertitles (subtitle type text appearing over the Japanese signs) the anime was itself edited so the signs and computer readouts appeared in English instead. For purists (like me), it was infuriating. The subbed VHS of both series had the unedited animation, but the DVDs had the edited version.

I understand the Platinum NGE restored it to the original, but Nadesico still has the terrible edits in place, and we could use a platinum version of that

I am SO glad ADV changed before they started Excel Saga

[RedMage]

on these series, there were signs written in Japanese. Instead of using subtitles or supertitles (subtitle type text appearing over the Japanese signs) the anime was itself edited so the signs and computer readouts appeared in English instead. For purists (like me), it was infuriating.

Oh, that. Didn't bother me in Nadesico really. Bothers me more when they try to sub or supertitle every bit of Japanese text on the screen and end up covering most of the picture. Haven't seen the overlayed NGE.

[Arnobius]

Oh, that. Didn't bother me in Nadesico really. Bothers me more when they try to sub or supertitle every bit of Japanese text on the screen and end up covering most of the picture. Haven't seen the overlayed NGE.

if you've seen the first 2 or 3 volumes of NGE before they redid them you have. Pretty much anywhere you saw English on the screen not in subs was an overlay

[RedMage]

if you've seen the first 2 or 3 volumes of NGE before they redid them you have. Pretty much anywhere you saw English on the screen not in subs was an overlay

I've only seen NGE on Adult Swim.

[Arnobius]

I've only seen NGE on Adult Swim.

Well, I only use my TV for DVDs so I haven't seen AS.

Out of curiousity, what did they rate that for TV?

[Joshua Christopher]

Well, I only use my TV for DVDs so I haven't seen AS.

Out of curiousity, what did they rate that for TV?

Different episodes have different ratings. Most are TV-14, but a few got TV-MAs. (You can guess which ones.)

[Shao Feng-Li]

(Thank you Osaka! The One Piece thing is getting old!)

Funimation and Disney seem to be the best right now. Samurai 7 and the Miyazaki films. Gold.

What's FFU?

[aule1701]

i have to say its by show some times geneon does some good work ROD the tv hellsing (both directed by talison jaffey spelled wrong) last exile and such but then few kinda stunk funmation been doing great work latey but man dbz is horrible dubbed so it depends on who is directing and translating

[Nate]

What's FFU?

Final Fantasy Unlimited. Though it sucked in Japanese too, so...a bad dub is the least of its problems.

[mitsuki lover]

Viz,Funimation,Bandai and ADV are all good.

[creed4]

Viz, Funimation, ADV, I got planets from Bandai and it seems good

[Allegro]

ADV Films generally has overlays that I'm used to. Though it's hard to figure out which companies have the best translation unless I was fluent in Japanese, as well as have the time to nitpick over certain details.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I own a bit from each Viz, Bandai, Geneon (has that even been mentioned yet?!), ADV, Dinsey, AnimeWorks, AnimeEgo, Manga, and Sync-Point. I'd say they are all pretty good. I just remember that a few of Disney's dub titles bugged me a bit. Watching The Cat Returns in Japanese w/subs, I was pointing out incorrect translations to it :/ Were sort of close, but not really. Another company that bugs me is the fact that Viz doesn't even translate and add the lyrics to the op/end songs! :/ Although in the movies if you watch the orginal, the kanji is still there for the lyrics.

[creed4]

I own a bit from each Viz, Bandai, Geneon (has that even been mentioned yet?!), ADV, Dinsey, AnimeWorks, AnimeEgo, Manga, and Sync-Point. I'd say they are all pretty good. I just remember that a few of Disney's dub titles bugged me a bit. Watching The Cat Returns in Japanese w/subs, I was pointing out incorrect translations to it :/ Were sort of close, but not really. Another company that bugs me is the fact that Viz doesn't even translate and add the lyrics to the op/end songs! :/ Although in the movies if you watch the orginal, the kanji is still there for the lyrics.

I know that annoys me to, I like to understand what I'm listening to

[Tommy]

Wasn`t there JUST a thread on this?

[Tenshi no Ai]

Wasn`t there JUST a thread on this?

...not for a very long time.