Shoujo Manga Book Club discussion

Many anime get dubbed every year, and yet so many hard-core fans are against dubs.

So, what do you think about the Dub vs Sub debate? What dubs do you think are good, and which ones should you just watch the subs?

I prefer subs. I like listening to everything the way it was originally made. I also happen to like the way Japanese sounds. I think that most dubs are really bad, but there are some that I like. The English voice actors in Cowboy Bebop are really good. I also like the the English dub of My Neighbor Totoro that FOX did a while back. Not the Disney one. The Disney dubs of Miyazaki movies are horrible. They pick famous people, not voice actors.

There are a few dubs that I can think of that are better than the original. Romeo x Juliet I like a lot more dubbed than subbed. Everyone sounds the same in the Japanese, while the dub did a great job on the voices. Besides that, Japanese "Odin" sounds like a girl, while English does a better job making her sound like a he with a male-sounding voice.

Fruits Basket's dub I've seen in many magazines as "better than the original," even in readership polls. I haven't had the chance to see the sub, but the dub was very good.

For the most part, though, I go with subs. Anymore, everything has my least favorite voice actor as the main character (won't mention his name to prevent hate-mail to me) because he's ridiculously popular and not because he's particularly talented.

My biggest problem with dubs is when they get heavily edited. One piece and Pokemon were seriously edited by 4Kids. And it wasn't always for inappropriate content or because of culture differences. Sometimes they edited things they weren't really necesarry. They also tended to leave episodes out. There are several "banned" episodes of Pokemon and Sailor Moon is missing an episode from the first season.

I used to watch dubs when I first started watching anime, but when I started watching subs I decided I liked them better. Since then, I haven't watched too many dubs, so I don't know the differences between subs and dubs on some of the shows I watch.

There is actually a lot of debate about the English voices in Dead or Alive. For the longest time the games were always released in Japanese only, but now they're starting to use English voice actors for the American releases. Some people like it, partly because Helena actually sounds French and partly because they no longer have to read subtitles. However, even though Helena now sounds French, a lot of the characters in the English version still don't have proper accents. Kokoro didn't sound Japanese at all in the English version. Also, I am just too used to the Japanese voices. I don't like hearing a voice that didn't originally belong to that character.

For TV dubs get edited. Shows that go straight to DVD don't. :) That, and 4Kids is the evil empire.

I don't mind that it's not the original voice dubs so long as the voice fits the character.

And if ever you see a bad dub, look on the bright side: nothing could be worse than the Tears to Tiara dub, in which they had an adorable little girl voiced by Greg Ayres.

Sailor Neptune and Uranus killed me in the English version. They were lovers in the Japanese dub, but in English they were "cousins". Stupid homophobic America.

Wednesday wrote: "Sailor Neptune and Uranus killed me in the English version. They were lovers in the Japanese dub, but in English they were "cousins". Stupid homophobic America."

Sometimes I really wish there were a like button.

lol Wouldn't that be nice?

They made the dub worse. XD There was incest on top of the lesbian relationship. lol

Zoicite (sp?) they made female. That one I could understand a bit, since he looked so girly. Part of me hates the change (since I know part of it was to avoid the Gay relationship with Zoicite and Malachite/Kunzite) and part of me accepts the change as a "Well, when I read the manga before Zoicite appeared in the anime, I thought he was a she too..."

4Kids is the worst at dubbing things, though. I mean, changing rice balls into donuts? What's so scary about a rice ball?

Ah, Brock's "donuts." That's just horrible. I personally think cultural differences should be kept in anime. It would open up a new world to American kids.

But we're in Amerrika! We can't let our children know that there are other countries! Not until at least 10th grade!

The dub of Howl's Moving castle was amazing IMO. Christian Bale as Howl, OMG! Everytime I listen to Christian Bale, whether in an interview or in a movie, I relate him immediately with Howl. What a sexy voice! I don't know the original voice, but I am reluctant to watch it after watching the dub.

I tried to watch Death Note Dub (in Spanish) but it is almost impossible, they do not match at all. The Japanese voices are really great (L's and Light's are my favorites)

Even though I thought the HMC dub was pretty good, I have other problems with HMC. I've read the book three times now, and the book and movie are just too different. The movie is missing something that the book had, and I find it to be really disappointing.

Sakura Yue, it sounds like a lot of Spanish dubs really aren't that great.

Wednesday wrote: "Even though I thought the HMC dub was pretty good, I have other problems with HMC. I've read the book three times now, and the book and movie are just too different. The movie is missing something ..."

I think it's a good thing that the book and the movie are so different. Most of the time the movie is just dissimilar enough from the book to really bother me. In this case, they are so different that I don't feel the need to nitpick at all the details(like I do with Harry Potter). The movie and the book serve different purposes and I like each of them for what they are.

That's a good point, but I think I'm too biased toward the book to fully enjoy the movie. Yes, I admit I'm biased. :P I actually did see the movie first, but I've fallen in love with the book. Even when I view the movie as just the movie, something still seems off to me. I do, however, love the soundtrack. Then again, I love everything Joe Hisaishi does.

I read the book before watching the movie too. The book is one of my favorites fantasy book. There are a lot of things missing in the movie, and I did not like Sophie too much (Sophie in the book is awesome). But if I do not compare the book with the movie, I think Miyazaki did a great job.

Wednesday, about the Spanish dub... not really, cuz I love CSS in Spanish more than in Japanese or English ;) and also Sailor Moon... in fact, the names are prettier in Spanish than in Japanese (usually I hate when names are changing in translation, but not in this case)

Oh. I just noticed that you sometimes complain about Spanish dubs.

@ Sakura Yue: I'll have to look up the Spanish CCS now. XD Anything could beat the English dub of that one, sadly.

Personaly I like dubs better because then you dont have to read what they are saying in english. It is much easier. Since of that reason I think I am going to learn how to speak Japanise.

I like reading the subtitles. I started watching some anime in English and I find it a little frustrating. I noticed that everyone is either shouting or whispering: there is no happy medium. If I turn the volume up, I can hear the whispering, but the shouting is too loud. If I turn the volume down, the shouting is at a tolerable level, but I can't hear the whispering. If I turn on the subtitles, it doesn't matter if I can't hear what everyone is saying because I'm reading it.

Thats true but in some anime they show ths subtitles to fast and then I have to rewatch it or pause it.

@ Kristen: Funimation is cursed with no medium in anything. *shudder* Other companies' can be good or bad depending on director and all that.

@ Carmen: I agree, but that's what I use pause and rewind for. lol

I will admit when I'm super tired and want something to watch I typically won't watch anime because I don't have the energy to read subs. I just want to stare at the screen and not think too hard sometimes. lol

I agree with Kristen about subs. They just sound awkward because there is so medium between screaming and whispering.Plus, constantly messing with the volume is annoying. It's like movies that have quiet dialogue and loud action.

I always think that's a problem with the sound person/people. It happens a lot in movies too and I tend to absolutely hate them. The background music overpowers anything the people are saying because they're talking SO quiet.

Personally I like both and will watch both. Unless the voices are really annoying, in one or the other.

I really hate that most of the guy voices in Japanese are so low they sound like they're 50 years old.

And I also hate that they have women do a lot of the voices for the men too.

I couldn't STAND the voice actress they gave to Naruto when it first came out. I got over it, but I'd been reading the manga long before the anime ever came out, so it was a BIG shock because I never gave Naruto that voice in my head. Just made him into too much of a little kid, and that took away some of the meaning to it.

And I can't stand Dragonball Z in Japanese either. Must watch it dubbed. Goku's voice just does me in.


But sometimes I get very annoyed with the really girly shows that are dubbed, because they usually dub the main characters as having high pitched, really obnoxious voices. I think that's the best way to describe it. Example, Hikaru in Magic Knight Rayearth.


But, pretty much if Kae Araki does the voice, I'd prefer it in english. To me, she sounds like one of those fake people that pretend to be nice but aren't really? She voiced Usagi in some key episodes of Sailor Moon, and it really ruined the end of the first season for me. Instead of sounding like a warm innocent but klutzy person, she sounded really fake and as if she didn't care about anyone but was pretending she did.

I prefer subed because i like to hear them talk and go with the mouth movement. also when i watch a anime its hard to hear the volume so i can just read the subtitles.

But when i am lazy the duded is what i watch. But i mostly watch subed.

Haha! I don't mind either but if it is dubbed the US channels like Cartoon Network I will not watch it. Cause they are terrible at it :|

The two animes I've watched dubbed: Sonic X and Yu Yu Hakusho.

I watch subs way more than dubbed simply because its more exotic, I sharpen my Japanese for class, and you can almost be sure that it'll be better than simply trying to translate things into another language...

There was actually one time, in Anime Club, where my friend put in her DVD and started playing Princess Jellyfish, and as soon as we heard the first words in English, everyone started covering their ears and panicking until she put it to the subbed version X) Ahh Anime Club, we're one special little group X)

^ My club enjoys the occasional dub, so long as we get a good laugh. XD We showed Fighting Food-Ons once and that was a lot of fun.

Horrible subs team are very good team. They sub straightforward as any new anime came. I like subs instead of dub. I dont know it takes on my nervous, feels fake and something is wrong. Sometimes they dub wrong or hilariously.

I feel like a lot of dubs are way over exaggerated. Everybody's always screaming all of their lines.

It also drives me nuts when the syncing doesn't quite match, so they keep talking but their mouths aren't moving or their mouths keep moving but they aren't talking.

That happens sometimes even in the original Japanese, though. In Japan, they animate the mouths before they record the voices. It's harder to lip sync that way.

You should watch the dub for D.Gray-Man or Tsubasa Resevoir Chronicles. Worst. Dubs. In existence.

D.Gray-Man they mispronounce everyone's names (Komui becomes KaMOOee, like they moo his name like a cow).

Tsubasa you can't hear their voices over the music most of the time because the audio track is too quiet, and Vic Mignogna as Fai is one, one of the worst voice actors I've ever heard (actually, I can't think of anyone more overrated than him...), and two, can't properly voice Fai's emotions. Or anything Fai says. He always sounds bored, no matter what he's saying. (While I haven't seen much with the original Japanese audio with this one, I'm familiar enough to Fai's character from the manga to know he doesn't always sound extremely bored)

Sorry if I offended any Vic Mignogna fans, but I honestly can't stand the guy's voice.

There are some dubs that work well. The best one I've heard was from the cast of Dokkoida!? where they completely upstaged the original cast and made the series much funnier. Soul Eater was pretty good, and I have a soft spot for Love Hina even those its tolerable at best. Baka and Test was pretty well done too.

Usually though I'll watch the subs. What's funny is when the reverse happens, when a native Japanese actor tries to speak in english. Some can do it very well, some do it horribly.

Kristen wrote: "That happens sometimes even in the original Japanese, though. In Japan, they animate the mouths before they record the voices. It's harder to lip sync that way."

Yeah, there's also a lot of quirks to foreign languages that make that even harder. Like when you watched the Cat Returns. Haru in the dub calls Muta Moo-ta, punning off of the English word for cow sounds. But in the original Japanese, she's calling him Buu-ta, which actually means oink. She's calling him a pig, which fits a little more because he eats like one.

The little I know makes me really appreciate those guys who have to rewrite scripts to dub them.

^ The Japanese LOOOOOOOVE their puns.

I very rarely blame the ADR Script Writers when dubs go wrong. Usually it's not the writing that's the problem (I say "usually" because sometimes things do get screwed up), but the voicing. Mispronunciation or poor actor choice is what I usually complain about with dubs.

I generally prefer subs, to hear the tone and delivery as originally recorded, even if I can't understand the words. I've watched so much over the years I'm really used to subtitles and have no trouble following. I actually often leave them on even when I'm listening to dubs, to see the differences in translation.

I have watched some really good dubs though. Fruits Basket and Gunsmith Cats come to mind. I also preferred the dubs in Ranma 1/2 (early seasons) and King of Bandits Jing, although they weren't spectacular. There's more leeway in comedies I find...

D.M. wrote: "The little I know makes me really appreciate those guys who have to rewrite scripts to dub them. "

Same here. Neil Gaiman had some fascinating interviews about translating Princess Mononoke, where he went for the feel and tried to get every line loaded with the right context and connotation instead of a literal translation (even for the sub).

I prefer dub most of the time because the sub is sometimes off on their translations. I also prefer not having to read all the time while I'm watching or having the actors talk so fast that I have to pause every few econd to read the subs. Two good points about having the anime is subs is that you get to hear the original actors voice and the way the japanese talk is so cute ^-^

Dubs can also be off in their translations. Both have that problem, so I don't think that's really a fair argument for or against either.

Honestly, I've come to the conclusion that it depends on each individual show for me. I refuse to watch any anime that was released in the 90's dubbed since they tended to be heavily edited. And except for the shows I'm already in the middle of, I've decided I'm going to watch the first episode of each new show I start in both languages to see which I prefer.

Generally, I do prefer subs, as a lot of dubs come out a little odd. One dub I do like is InuYasha. The biggest thing that bothers me about that dub is the mispronunciation of names, but otherwise it's a good dub.

I think ultimately the best way to watch anime would be to be fluent in Japanese and watch anime in Japanese without relying on subs. But, that's not always an option, and even if it is, it takes years to fully learn a language.

I prefer dubs.
I agree with you Arianna! ☺
I often pause the anime I'm watching when I'm watching it in sub!
But I guess I should start watching some subs.
When my friend tells me a good anime to watch when it is in sub, and I just forget it.
I always try to watch my anime in dub. ☺

I guess subs also depend on how fast you read. I read pretty quick, so I don't see as much of a problem with it, but it you read slower or the subs are really quick paced I can understand the dub preference.

What bothers me about the sub vs. dub debate is the hostility. It doesn't really matter that much if one person prefers subs and another prefers dubs. The hatred of one or another is ridiculous.

I personally prefer dubs mainly because I feel I can get into the anime more if its dubbed. Although recently I have been encouraged to watch subs and I am slowly getting used to it.

But I will mostly was dubs where possible. I have nothing against subs its just a personal preference that everyone is entitled to.

I was thinking recently... All those sub lovers that are always bashing on dubs never say anything about having to read translated manga (professional or fan translated). A lot of times dub haters will argue that watching anime subbed is more authentic, but then isn't reading manga in Japanese more authentic? I just think that argument is invalid unless you are truly fluent in Japanese and watch anime in Japanese with no subs and read manga in Japanese.

Granted, I prefer subs. But, it makes a good listening practice and sometimes dubs just don't sound good. Plus, I don't hate dubs and will watch dubs depending on the show.

I do prefer subs but that's mostly because I like reading subs whenever I have the chance lol also since I take Japanese classes I like to listen to the original script and try to understand it, while using the subs for additional help (although I'm aware not all sub groups do that great of a job orz)
When it comes to dub, I'm really fond of the Latin Spanish dub since that's the one I grew up with, they did a great job with Pokemon, Digimon, Shaman King, Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, Rurouni Kenshin, DBZ, Card Captors Sakura, Ashita no Nadja, and Inazuma Eleven IMO, although the Naruto one got a bit on my nerves XD but I'm planning on trying to watch dubbed Death Note soon since some friends have recommended it to me.
For English and Spanish (from Spain) dubs I find it hard to get used to, but I did liked the Spanish dub for Inazuma Eleven... anyways I guess both are allright for me XD just depending on who does the dub on which anime, haha.

So I recently found something interesting... DBZ has better voices in the English dub than in Japanese. In Japanese, Goku sounds like he's five...

Lol I agree with that one Selena.

@Sakura Yue- I love your screen name!

Subs vs. Dubs...for me it is about the show usually. If I want to watch a specific show, then I will watch it in whatever form I can get it in. Some shows (Like FMA and black butler) I started watching in dubs and now I kind of want to continue watching it in dubs. I started with Sailor moon in dubs, but I wish they had kept the original names. For that reason I actually started watching the subs.

Some shows are better in dub, some are better in sub. I'm not really against one or the other.
Except for *shudder* 4Kids. They suck.
Haibane Renmei's dub is amazingly perfect. Watch HR in dub. Actually, just watch Haibane Renmei.

@ Cordelia: FMA and Bebop had really good dubs, but why Funi dubs? Funi dubs tend to go with that actor-who's-really-popular-but-has-no-talent (I will not name him to prevent my inbox being flooded with hate mail).

@ Anna: With you on 4Kids. I read once that they actually had licenses taken away from them because the original studio saw what they were doing to their shows (Winx Club was one of them, I think).

And as for Haibane Renmei, I read the first volume of the cinemanga once and fell in love with it. I just have to find time to sit down and watch it.

Dee Dee wrote: "I prefer dubs rather than having my eyes at the bottom of the screen all the time xD, also I don't have to pause every time i get distracted or open a new tab and can just listen"

Hahahaha. That's a really good reason. XD I have a few friends who are like that.

I have also heard this argument for subs: "I can watch it anywhere. Just turn off the sound, and BOOM, not bothering anyone."

Kristen wrote: "I prefer subs. I like listening to everything the way it was originally made. I also happen to like the way Japanese sounds. I think that most dubs are really bad, but there are some that I like. T..." i agree, subs are awesome! and the japanese language is also awesome!