Why do people prefer subbed over dubbed?

Question

As I read the posts on anime I see that most prefer subbed over dubbed. I am just the opposite, I can't stand subbed anime. I find the subtitles distracting and the Japenese voices all sound the same to me.

Take Naruto for instance. I really like the Naruto voice acting. While it's not on par with the voice work in a Miyazaki movie, it's still good. Can anyone help me understand the reason why so many people prefer subbed to dubbed?

Answer 1

While some dubbed shows do have good voice acting, the main reason that people prefer subbed over dubbed is because with subbed, the dialog is kept intact. While with dubbed, conversations are often changed to have nothing to do with the original scene, lines are moved from one scene to another.

Not to mention they take things that don't have meanings and give them meanings. Like Naruto, when he says "Dattebayo!", a word that in the Japanese language clearly has no meaning, and they change it to mean "Believe it!".

Then often times the characters are given voice actors who clearly do not fit the character. Take Luna from Sailor Moon for example. In the Japanese version, she was made to sound like a cat, well more like a kitten, and in the dubbed version she turned into a 70 year old British Nanny. Or Misato Katsuragi from Shin Seki Evangelion (Neon Genesis Evangelion). In the dubbed version, her voice did not suit her at all. It made her sound like a 12 year old.

Answer 2

For me, it's the precision. With dubbed, they have to make the words match the actions, and sometimes in trying to match the voice actors with the motions, they will leave stuff out. When you're translating from a foreign language, there will be connotations that will require more detailed explanations than you find in ordinary conversations, and which you can't put in in the time alloted. Take the phrase "Shi-ne!" It's usually dubbed as "Die!" because it's short enough to fit and gives the proper general impression but what it really means is "I'm going to kill you!" MUCH more threatening and aggressive in the sub than the dub, which suits the meaning of the phrase better.

Another thing is that (if you have any understanding of Japanese) you can pick up things - and if you listen and follow along with the subtitles, you can often start to learn a little Japanese. Even if you don't know any Japanese at all, you'll be able to pick up on things like a certain scene from Tenchi where Ryoko brings a drink to school with her. In the dub, Ayame berates Ryoko for bringing tea to class with her. In the sub, you can see it's not tea at all, it's sake' - a kind of alcohol.

Answer 3

Because a lot of times the dub isin't always that great, The dub Naruto is annoying, even more so with hits "Believe it" line.


Sometimes with dubs they make edits and cuts and americanize it.

Look at Pokemon, the voices are awful, the acting is awful, they americanized it. The Japanese version is much better.

The only dubbed Anime I truely like is FullMetal Alchemist, expect for Envy's voice...he almost sounded like a middle aged woman.

Just with a lot of dubbed Anime, the voices don't seem to fit the characters, the acting isin't that great. I'm watching the Dubbed Fate/Stay Night, and so far I'm not happy with it. I don't like most of the voices and a lot of the acting seems forced and monotone.

Full Moon Wo Sagashite dub isin't that great, Mituski's voice sounds to old for a child character, even more so with the singing. The acting is ok, but not great.


Kaleido Star dub is not so good, Ken's dub voice sounds like he has a stuffy nose and is just annoying, some of the voices fit but the acting in that seemed forced, like they were trying to hard and it didin't turn out well.

A lot of the times the Japanese version will be better. I don't think Americans can capture the same emotions with the characters like the Japanese can.

Try watching Spongebob in Japanese...they really can't capture the emotion in that like the Americans can. a lot of the voices were off and just wasin't as good as the english version.

Answer 4

In my opinion I tend to focus on the subbed versions of anime, Bleach and Naruto to name two, instead of the dubbed because there is more intensity and emotion in the voices. It takes awhile to get use to the jap words and phrases and the you do have to read instead of just watch, pulls you more into the story - kind of like manga style, but after awhile you forget that the words are in jap and you focus on the story at hand. The dubbed version gets all mixed around and it truely isn't the same as the original subbed counterpart. That is why I like Subbed over dubbed versions of anime and anime in general.

Answer 5

I think that people like subbed better because the dialogue tends to be more accurate. When they dub the show, they tend to remove some of the characterization. And a lot of time, though not always, the Japanese voices are better than the American voices.

Answer 6

yeah,I have a Friend who prefers subbed over dubbed,but I don't.I like watch the show ,not reading the show.another thing I don't like about it being subbed is that the girl usually have really squeaky voices.

Answer 7

I don't watch anime, but at my house things can get crazy loud and I can't hear the TV and instead of turning it up and making more noise, I mute the sound and read the subtitles, at least I can follow what is being said.

Answer 8

there is often alot of supulty lost in translation.
also manga was invented to get Japanese teens and adults to read!!!