Anime: Subtitle, Dubbed, or don't care

United States
December 24, 2006 6:05pm CST
I just wanted to get an idea on how everyone feels about this topic as when I was younger I preferred watching my anime in dubs as at the time the shows dialogue were, IMO, closer to the original script and didn't make dumb references that were clearly not related to the show. But now I'm mostly watch my shows in subtitle as most of the shows acting is not on par with their Japanese counterparts especially after seeing DBZ with the new voice actors and the scripts they used. Thank god I saw the old subtitle video or else I may have quit watching that show. So what do you have to say?
8 responses
madgirl
@madgirl (210)
• India
25 Dec 06
English and Japanese are not my first language. However, I prefer watching subtitles because I just feel that the voice acting for the anime sounds far better. Additionally, I can't help but feel that its possible that something may get lost in the translation in the dialogues. One exception for me was GITS: SAC. I liked the English version as much as the Jap. In fact, Kusanagi sounds far better in the English acting (in my opinion :P)
1 person likes this
madgirl
@madgirl (210)
• India
25 Dec 06
Oh and another thing - no offense to anyone but Kagome sounded really annoying when she screamed 'Inuyasha!!!!' in the animax dubbed versions :P
jackf501
@jackf501 (853)
• Malaysia
25 Dec 06
im not really mind watching subtitle or dubbed...but in japanese the anime was full of emotions than the dubbed one..
1 person likes this
azstraph
@azstraph (82)
• United States
25 Dec 06
Another reason why I like subtitles since the Japanese actors do portray more emotions with their characters while some US actors are like stick figures with their acting.
misskatonic
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
25 Dec 06
It depends on the anime and the VA cast. Older anime or anime put out by low budget American companies with ameteur VAs and sloppy translation, I prefer the subtitles. Like for Rune Soldier Louis, Magic Academy, Sailor Moon, etc. For newer anime with the big budgets - Cowboy Bebop, Trinity Blood, FMA, etc - I prefer the dubs. It's easier for me to follow and for the impact of the dialogue to sink in if I'm hearing it in my own language. As long as the VAs are good and the translation has been done well, I'd rather watch things dubbed. The only exception is High School anime, because so much relies on language puns and culture puns that need to be explained, and they just fall flat in English.
1 person likes this
konzen
@konzen (271)
• Philippines
27 Dec 06
It is easier to understand and follow dubbed animes and I prefer it as long as the quality is great. But if it is crappy I'd rather have the subtitles, they sound better but it kinda hard to watch if you're always looking down on the screen.
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moto47
@moto47 (555)
• Indonesia
25 Dec 06
well, i prefer the subbed ones cause I think it's original (the dubber) and though it's dubbed, I stil can't listen to English since that's not my daily language
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Altema
@Altema (10)
• United States
26 Dec 06
Dubbing burns my ears. I used to hate people who were so vehemetly against listening to dubs, but after listening to dubs other than Cowboybebop and FLCL, I don't blame them. Some voices fit, but the ones that don't totally destroy my enjoyment. The most recent example of a bad voice is Lacus' from Gundam Seed. In the anime she sounds like a stern 16 year old, but the english voice sounds like a 8 year old. I'm just glad I had the option to switch audio.
1 person likes this
menaku
@menaku (25)
• Philippines
25 Dec 06
im not fond of reading subtitles so i'll go with the dubbing
donjuandan
@donjuandan (19)
• Canada
25 Dec 06
they're all lame, I prefer it in my own native language, screw subtitles, screw dubs.