Just curious, when watching Anime, do you prefer watching dubbing(a different actor voicing the language you prefer) or Subtitles(script on bottom of the screen)? Myself, I prefer Subtitles as they tend to keep the context of the story closer to the original Japanese, whereas dubbing "North Americanizes" the dialogue.
2007-01-08 03:16:03 · 15 answers · asked by Tinalera 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Comics & Animation
Such a touchy subject among Otaku. A few years ago, the answer would have been overwhelmingly Subbed over Dubbed as the quality of English speaking voice actors were horrid. Lately, however it's changed a whole lot as they're starting to hire better and more experienced voice actors for the job.
I still prefer subs with the original soundtrack versus an English dub. Take for example the Initial D series. When it was released in the US on DVD they included both the original and an English ST. The English was HORRIBLE as they laid hip-hop tracks and replaced dialogue with heavy slang.
2007-01-08 03:21:15 · answer #1 · answered by Paul H 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Subbed, too much is lost in the inflection, intonation, and the flow of the voices. Plus with the dubbed you kinda zone out and miss some things you don't when you have to watch the screen all the time. I've watched Bleach subbed and dubbed and the dubbed versions fall far short in their impact. Just as someone said above Kon's voice is pretty bad in the dubbed version completely misses the character. The subbed episodes just seem right I never thought I would say it but the do.
2007-01-08 17:32:52 · answer #2 · answered by tracysw100 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's always better with subtitles. The original thing is just irreplaceable and when you talk about anime even more, it is not just the text, but the mood, intonation and all the effort that the Seiyuu puts to create the character.
That is what makes the difference, no dubbing is going to reproduce that no matter how good is the voice. Besides, most of the cultural aspect and the slang is lost with the dubbing.
2007-01-08 06:20:40 · answer #3 · answered by Soma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is simple and doesn't require me to think before writting it : subbed.
Why ? Because the seiyuu ( Japanese voice ) are real professionnal and really get into the characters and also they sing. And after watching anime in *** with Eng or French subs for 5 years I can't think of anything else than subbed version.
I watch for intance the episode 7 of Bleach in English. I wanted to see Kon would turn out and I laughed. Laughed not because it was funny but because it was stupid. The American Dubbed was horrible to my ears.
And also I can't imagine watching Slayers and Lina Inverse in dub. I know I would miss something great. No one but Lina's Seiyuu can do her voice. The same for the so special Naga's laugh.
Now I'm watching Saint Seiya in *** with subs and I must say that I'm really surprise because the only version I had watched was the French dub with was correct. But the original is even better.
2007-01-08 12:30:07 · answer #4 · answered by kl55000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I prefer subtitled, but it's just habit at this point. Like the other posters said, it also depends on the series. Many people think that Cowboy Bebop is better in English. Series such as Abenobashi and Count of Monte Cristo sound great in either language.
A friend of mine is blind in one eye so keeping track of everything and the subtitles is really hard for him, so he watches everything in English, and just suffers if there is a bad voice actor.
While this debate will rage on endlessly, I think it boils down to personal preference.
2007-01-08 05:11:34 · answer #5 · answered by yellow_peep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer dubbed, just cause I'm too lazy to read when watching TV. Also in a fast paced anime it's easy to miss stuff, either what's going on, on screen or what people are saying.
Not to mention japanese sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me. It kinda ruins the whole thing for me.
2007-01-08 07:18:47 · answer #6 · answered by Fox 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends. it's true that sometimes, phrases become changed completely for the sake of dubbing. (ie: in inuyasha, kagome's "sit" became "sit, boy!" in order to match her lips moving.) i think it depends on the show itself.
one example i'd use for excellent voice-dubbing would be Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex. i've watched the entire first season both subtitled, and dubbed, and nothing is lost in translation. (though i guess many die-hard fans were upset with the choice of voice-actress for major kusanagi because it was too deep, but whatever.)
2007-01-08 03:27:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
90% of the time I prefer subs, since the original voice inflection and expressions which might be impossible to faithfully reproduce in another language, are maintained. But there are exceptions- to me, the American voice for Ed in Cowboy Bebop is irreplaceable ;) Fortunately, cases like that are very few and far between.
2007-01-08 03:23:25 · answer #8 · answered by C-Man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Subbed, more importantly I learn new Japanese words. Besides once they become dubbed they also change the content. If I have to here Naruto say "Believe it" one more time some one is going to get it. Also what loser decided to eliminate the kiss between Sasuke and Naruto. Who is the loser who decided that Sanji sucking a lollipop is cooler than his smoking? Grrrr...I could go on.
2007-01-08 03:24:21 · answer #9 · answered by DeCaying_Roses 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the series for me. if a dub is faithful to the names, has good voices, and doesn't edit important things out; I'll watch.
2007-01-08 04:05:17 · answer #10 · answered by icysapphire64 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋