Your opinion dubbed and fan-subbed anime's? Options

[MrPrime]

In all honesty, some dub anime's can come off as great, but most of the time it comes out as crap. I've seen what happened to some decent shows when they were aired on CN and fox *Still has memories of the whole Escaflowne fiasco* . I don't see why they have to bastardize anime just to fit the bill...whatas your opinion on it?

[.Schala.]

I don't like dubbed anime, so I don't watch it. Granted, there are some really decent dubs out there (Howl's Moving Castle for example), but for the most part, I just watch the Japanese version and don't even bother watching the dub.

As for editing, that's always going to happen. They're going to edit anime all the time when it's being show on tv and aimed for American children rather than Japanese children. Just accept that we're a completely different culture, and that things that are considered okay over there, are not over here. If you want to complain and whine about it, you're wasting your time. Just watch the version you prefer, and stop whining.

Problem solved.

As for fansubs, sometimes I prefer them over the licensed subbed version because fansubbers will add in certain things that the licensed subs won't. But I've never said "I'd rather just keep the fansub instead of getting the official version.", except for one. And that's Kodocha. I bought the dvd the other day, and I must say I was really disappointed for numerous reasons, but that's a whole different story. So in this case, I do prefer the fansubs over the licensed version.

[alabaster]

We really don't need another sub/dub argument thread, do we?

[TeeTylerToe]

on this topic, I've been interested for a long time in finding out the real statistics, what percent of the anime consumers want sub, and what want dub. accurate, concrete numbers would be interesting.

[MrPrime]

Oop, another sub/dub argument wasn't what I was aiming for, just a friendly discussion and opinion and such!

Personally I would rather watch fansubs or raw japanese versions of anime. An example would be the DBZ movies. Ive only seen 3 of them * the ones that were released here* till a friend showed me some ones his brother got at a swapmeet. Much better then dub. And fansubs are always good to have....

[Hideki]

well, i say dub because i plan on being a VA after i graduate from college, so it's best to get to know the work i want to get into.

[.Schala.]

We really don't need another sub/dub argument thread, do we?

My whole point is, it shouldn't be an argument to begin with. If you like subs, watch the subbed version. If you like dubs, watch the dubbed version. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and preferences, so I never understood the big deal to begin with. I prefer subs. I know people who prefer dubs. Granted, I will think the dub of an anime we both like is terrible, but if we both like the same anime, who cares anyway.

I just think people need to stop arguing about it. Now that almost all anime dvds come with both options, no one should be complaining about it anymore. x_x I used to be super anti-dub actually, and would preach to friends who liked dubs, and tell them how much better the Japanese version is, but then I realized, it doesn't really matter, and it's just a waste of time.

[Rio Takeuchi]

well, i say dub because i plan on being a VA after i graduate from college, so it's best to get to know the work i want to get into.

Holy shit, I do too O_O Maybe I'll see you (IMG:/biggrin.gif)

As for the topic... yes.. dub. Because I hear some of my favorite voice actors and actresses in the dub that I obviously won't hear in the original japanese.

And honestly, sometimes I don't feel like reading the subs. Sometimes to get the full effect of a particular scene you need to be watching the characters and what's going on -- not reading the words at the bottom.

Although normally the dub is my preferance I guess it would depend on the series though. Yeah, there are some bad dubs. Really bad ones. And those are usually the ones that go on TV. But there are some good ones too (most on DVD), and I'm glad people realize that.

Yup and I agree with whoever said this: just watch the version you prefer and be done with it! (IMG:/smile.gif)

[Jimm]

mm I really could care less if it was dubbed or subbed, because to me, it's anime, and that's really all I care about lol.. Yea I never understood the dubs vs. subs war.

[Hideki]

well, it's not really a war. i couldn't really care less either. just sometimes, you get in the mood for something. like if it's been a tough day and are like "bah, i don't feel like reading" or if lisa ortiz or crispin are in the dub, or if you want to read subs because the original japanese is good.

[Dragon Girl]

Generally, I only watch subbed anime. I really can't stand dubs unless they are really well done. (For example: Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, .hack//sign, Digimon). If the only way to watch a show is to watch dubbed, then I'll live. ^^

[K0DAMA]

I like dubbed anime.

I really doo.
I would choose to watch a dubbed anime over a subbed anime anyday, mostly because uh, those WORDS are getting in my way to putting my eyes were they should be going. I also like raw anime (haha I'm multilingual (IMG:/tongue.gif) ), but since I do understand english a little better than japanese, I'd rather it be in english...


..it's too bad few dubbers invest in finding a good suitable voice for anime characters. Some of the characters sound like they've put on a few pounds or aged ten years or smoked ten years when they're imported and dubbed in the the american market.. >>;; oh well.

[Rio Takeuchi]

I like dubbed anime.

I really doo.
I would choose to watch a dubbed anime over a subbed anime anyday, mostly because uh, those WORDS are getting in my way to putting my eyes were they should be going. I also like raw anime (haha I'm multilingual (IMG:/tongue.gif) ), but since I do understand english a little better than japanese, I'd rather it be in english...

I think you're my best friend ^_~

~Resume..

[mockary]

I like dubbed. Subbed is okay, but I'd rather pay attention to the anime then read every word they are saying. I mean isn't that what the difference between an anime and a manga is? One you watch and one you read. (IMG:/laugh.gif)

[otaku_san]

I'm fairly apathetic towards this whole sub dub thing. If it's there and I can understand it, then that's all that matters.

[Killy]

I don't like anime on american television at all. I just stick to fansubbed or raw. Even then, alot of raw/subbed stuff suck pretty bad.

[Aresef]

It depends if the dub is any good or not.

[Allogagan]

I really don't care either way since now a days with DVD u can have both the sub and dub versions on the same disk. But when I am watching it for the first time I perfer the dub so I can understand what they are saying w/o reading yellow words at the bottom of the screen, but if the DVD does also contain the original Japanese (most do it seems now) I do watch that also with the subtitles. I even sometimes for fun watch it in English with the Subtitles on just to compare what the Japanese translates as vs what they actually say in English knowing that sometimes they won't match. But when there is no lip flap they tend to try to keep to the original as much as possible now.

[MrPrime]

I really don't care either way since now a days with DVD u can have both the sub and dub versions on the same disk. But when I am watching it for the first time I perfer the dub so I can understand what they are saying w/o reading yellow words at the bottom of the screen, but if the DVD does also contain the original Japanese (most do it seems now) I do watch that also with the subtitles. I even sometimes for fun watch it in English with the Subtitles on just to compare what the Japanese translates as vs what they actually say in English knowing that sometimes they won't match. But when there is no lip flap they tend to try to keep to the original as much as possible now.

That is true. I know there were some well done dubbed anime, Howl's Moving Castle for one, Voltron and Robotech if you want to get old school, Dragon Ball, and .hack//SIGN are also good. But then theres HORRID dubbing that I just can't stand, which is why I try to get fan-subbed.....

[Killy]

[quote="Allogagan"]I really don't care either way since now a days with DVD u can have both the sub and dub versions on the same disk. But when I am watching it for the first time I perfer the dub so I can understand what they are saying w/o reading yellow words at the bottom of the screen, but if the DVD does also contain the original Japanese (most do it seems now) I do watch that also with the subtitles. I even sometimes for fun watch it in English with the Subtitles on just to compare what the Japanese translates as vs what they actually say in English knowing that sometimes they won't match. But when there is no lip flap they tend to try to keep to the original as much as possible now.[/quote

Rave (master) had no subtitles or Japanese.

[Gremlich]

While I prefer to watch subbed anime, I do not really begrudge lovers of dubbed works. I do, however, advocate watching any particular anime at least once in the native language with the subtitles on (except for some HK's, they can be painful). If nothing else, to see if anything is missing.

I suggest this because, as a linguist myself (not Japanese, but German and slavics), in order to understand a given society and why they behave on the world stage as they do, I find it better to gain an appreciation of that society (whatever era) by reading print and watching movies and like media in the native language. For myself, this also has the added effect of broadening my worldview. As an example, nuance things like random sounds intended as affirmatives or negatives sometimes don't make it over to the dub versions. I believe that exclusively watching a dub version renders an anime as being just another cartoon and not necessarily the product of another culture.(except for that Esperanto movie with William Shatner, gag!)

I thought "Howl's" was superbly done, despite my preference for subbed anime.(Kudos to the Otakon staff!!!!). The next time I watch it, it will be in Japanese with sub-titles, however. Watching anime in either mode perpetuates the medium and Asian cultures (this latter in particular, don't forget). So, have at it. (In retrospect, an earlier post I made regarding this issue was ill-considered. Thanx Jim)

Hopefully, this doesn't come across as being too slanted against dubbed. That is not my intent. You are welcome to your preference (I have mine)

[Hinano]

Original japanese like yay!
Its easier to make amvs from raw eps than subbed ones (IMG:/tongue.gif)

[Neokage]

It all depends. Honestly, japanese voice acting is often better. However if I have a few beers while watching I sure don't feel like reading.

[Mekou]

I think a lot of people jump on dubs and think that ALL of them are bad when that's not really true. For some shows I prefer the dubbed version because I feel the english voices work better with it.

While I agree that a lot of the subs that they put on TV these days are horiffic, a couple years ago they weren't so bad. At least IMO. And a lot of the decent dubs are ones that they DON'T put on TV. So then a lot of people think that all dubs are awful because they only see the awful ones on TV.

Nothing annoys me more than people who constantly bash dubs and yet have NEVER even heard the english version of the show they're bashing. At least listen to it first before you decide you hate it, you know? Sometimes I get the feeling that people automatically think english = terrible because it's not the original. What would happen if the orignal WAS english? =P

In a nutshell, I really couldn't care less about which version I'm watching. If I don't like it, then I'll just switch to the other one or just not watch it at all. =)

[Moonwave]

If I have the time to sit down and actually pay attention, I prefer subs. I just like the exposure to a new language.

But if I have an anime in just for background noise (like when I'm getting ready to go to bed), I'll use the dub. It's easier to follow in English while half my mind is somewhere else.....

[TeeTylerToe]

to me the voices make a differance. I'm not sure why, but princess mononoke with the dub offends me. billy bob thorton... I don't like his take on the preist.

neon genesis evangelion. I don't like the tack taken by any of the actors (voice). especially asuka.

trigun... I actually like the dub better. the voice acting on lots of the lesser parts is distracting, but the writng (I'm not multilingual, I know a very little japanese) makes it a better experiance. the sub is a little too liberal. also the voice acting is very different. the japanese vash sounds like a salaryman. the oamerican vahsh sounds like a cartoon character. I feel it works.

99.999999% of the time I'm a sub man.

the amercan dubbers really destroy the experiance for me. the reading is transparent for me.

it might also be because when I'm thinking. in my head, it's just a conversation. my imagination is a continual one sided conversation. when I read the sbs. it's like a one sided conversation.

I guess the Japanese really conveys the appropriate emotions... or it's just pretty.

the sub and the japanese... music (because I can't really understand the language) is a fun experiance.

the ham fisted american dubs? unbearable pain.

[yagami_raiko]

Well, to be honest I don't like dubbed anime. It sounds silly to me 'coz most of the voice actors or actrees who did the dubbing weren't good at all :x . I prefer the fan-subbed ones (IMG:/biggrin.gif) .

[Starre]

You do realize that there are other options besides Dubs and Fansubs, right? Legal. Subs. They exist.

I personally like both, but sometimes I prefer the dub because hearing someone say something in a language you understand (or at least the one you understand better out of two you understand, since I'm learning Japanese) conveys emotion better than hearing someone say something in a language you don't understand as well and reading a subtitle. It's like IMing.

I also watch some shows edited for TV because there is some violence that they cut, and I don't like violence. I'm not some "OMGZ CLEEN UP TEH TEEVEE!!! 1!11!!!!1!!11!" type person and I respect people's rights to watch movies like Hostel, I just personally am squeemish and I enjoy having the chance to watch shows with an interesting storyline without having to see things I don't like.

[xMeimi]

Subtitled all the way!
You get all of the original music/voices/no out takes.
Sometimes the dubs are okay (like Cowboy bebop!)
but I much prefere stuff in it's original format.
And when I watch anime in japanese, I learn stuff!
Yatta!
SO i'm for subtitles all the way.

[BakaKitty]

The whole debate... really hasn't ever meant a thing to me. :wink:

I personally default to the subbed versions, but I also live at home, where my mom is not very good at reading subtitles with any speed so prefers the dubs. So whenever we watch anime as a family, it's usually the dubbed version, unless they're no other choice (hello there, Tokyo Godfathers). But it really depends on a lot of different factors. If I hear that, say, Paku Romi or Shinichirou Miki, is in the dub, I will gravitate towards that dub like nobody's business. Similarly, someone like Crispin Freeman, Victoria Harwood, Johnny Yong Bosch, or Mona Marshall can make me lust after the English version. Like for the guests this year, I fangirl Steve Blum just as much as I do Tomokazu Seki.

I'm not usually "not in the mood for subtitles," but that's because I am a horrible speed-reader and take like two seconds while taking in everything else on the screen. So I can't actually identify with the people who say the subtitles keep them from looking at the main action. :wink: That's never been a problem, and I'm glad.

Sometimes it's just nice to hear familiar words. Still, the Japanese helps with my language skills, and I have this thing about really, really enjoying hearing other languages anyway. Hearing the original sentences, the inflection, the way it's said and just the way the words and sentences and speeches sound... mmm.

Now, dub quality also has something to do with it. But so does sub. Personally, my copy of the Trigun series has sucky subtitles, and I like the dubbing anyway, so that's the way I watch it. I don't like the over-Americanized versions of things (like One Piece--taking all the smoking, blood, and killing out of it? Sorry, when Zolo pulls out his swords and slices up every guy on deck, "you knocked them all out!" is not gonna cut it), but that's more the stupid writing than the voice acting. I much prefer the Kenshin sub to the dub (what was up with that voice change?). But then, I can do Lain either way, I can do Yami no Matsuei either way... I much prefer the Japanese version of Petshop of Horrors, mostly due to D's voice, but I like everybody else's English voices and I like some of Leon's lines in the English a LOT. And most of my friends agree that the only thing worse than the Angel Sanctuary dub voices are the original Japanese ones. (IMG:/laugh.gif)

This whole ramble was meant to say: really, give it a try. You may find you like the English dub voices. You may find the subtitles you can find are made of suck. You may find that even a bad dub can be hilarious because there's nothing funnier than Crispin Freeman as Rosiel, or hearing Muraki somehow turn even gayer than before. The sub/dub??? war is not a war to me, it is a rather pointless squabble that I can shake my head at, and occasionally point and laugh.

(Now don't get me started on English versions of anime songs... *shudder* RONIN WAAAARIORS! *THUNDERCRASH!*)

[joymason]

I prefer the original japanese audio track to the english for one reason: I hear English all day, every day, and I adore the sound of the Japanese language, it's almost musical. Also, I am trying to learn Japanese for my carreer and exposure to spoken word helps me hammer in conversation structure and word meanings.

I remember back in "the day", over a decade ago, where some dubs really were painful to listen to, because some companies didn't put worth into their actors, they'd call in Dan from accounting if they had to. I think today's Dubbing has come a long way and I love seeing these voice actors who really appreciate the series and the art. I'll watch dubs as well if I need to (if a friend doesn't want to read subtitles, if it's on TV), but usualy I choose the Japanese track.

I really love the carreer voice actors, heck, one of my buddies is one, and I do think he could probably take me if I said bad things about him and his craft. ;p