Anime An old debate: Subbed vs Dubbed

[Zephyr]

I was just wondering what everyone's opinion was on the the debate of Subbed vs Dubbed.


Personally, I prefer dubbed anime most of the time. The problem I have with subbed anime is that I tend to miss the action while reading the words, or I have to rewind just to read a sentance that went by too fast. I do have some problems with dubbed anime too. Such as the fact that some phrases are changed to make them more TV friendly (i.e. in Gundam Wing, Heero says "Destroy" instead of "Kill"), and the action scenes tend to suffer when the blood it taken out (Like in GW and Outlaw Star).

[JCBaggee]

[color=red]It really doesn't matter to me. Sure, you're going to lose a lot of the original story in a dubbed (they try to fit the lip sync), but the general idea remains intact in most cases. Of course, I've never really seen a subbed anime, so that's just one of the many assumptions I've made/lessons I've picked up in the past few years.

--Chris[/color]

[Enishi]

I always enjoy the subs more. It's because, the voices always fit the characters better. One case in point is Inu Yasha. The japanese voice sounds much better, but the dub voice is like a normal guy... just doesn't sound right.

Another series is .hack//sign. Tsukasa doesn't sound sad enough.. and Mimiru is done by the person who did Asuka in Evangelion... >_<

[Spikey]

In dubbed they leave out many scenes to fit the time period. I agree with you, Subbed is hard to focus on two things at once, but it doesn't leave out scenes at all. I prefer dubbed because I can focus on both of the two things, but they leave out scenes. I'm going to have to go with subbed, the voices are better.

[Amorphous]

I'm a fast enough reader to read the sentences that fly by in like a second, I watched the whole Gundam X series that way. But yeah anyways I hate dubbed, so subbed is alot better for me.

[Enishi]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Spikey [/i]
[B]In dubbed they leave out many scenes to fit the time period. I agree with you, Subbed is hard to focus on two things at once, but it doesn't leave out scenes at all. I prefer dubbed because I can focus on both of the two things, but they leave out scenes. I'm going to have to go with subbed, the voices are better. [/B][/QUOTE]

If it's on DVD, then they don't delete scenes...

And it's not really that hard to read the information.. The only time I have trouble is if they are explaining alot of the story at once... but I can always go back if I miss something ^_^

[James]

[color=#808080]I don't know which I prefer. I tend to prefer subbed anime [i]if[/i] there are omissions in the dub (or if the dub voices are too annoying).

I can read very fast, so I'm used to reading subtitles. It's not a problem for me.

However...if the dub is good quality, I'd prefer to watch that. I can't wait to see/hear the dub of .hack//SIGN, having only heard the original Japanese voices.[/color]

[vegeta rocker]

Why bring back an old topic?
But since it's here, i don't mind either way. Some are just better subbed and some are better dubbed.
But it depends on the dubbing company. If its a incompetent company then subbed. If they can handle it, then why not go with subbed? But personally, its more relaxing with dubbing.

[TheShinje]

I prefer subs, although they are quite hard to come by over here
I download them, but they are of poor video quality.

I have watched the first four episodes of Dragonball GT subbed, and the voices certainly fit the character better, for example, Vegeta doesn't have a typical raspy villainous voice, neither does piccolo. And since the characters do turn out good in the end, the style of voice in the original Japanese certainly suits better.

I have to go with subs, I downloaded a little patch which allows my usual 48 hour avi downloads to becoume 2 hours, so subs are going to become a little more mainstream for me.

[Mako]

Subs because when the sub is decently done, you'll get more outta the anime. (they don't hafta do any lip-sync stuff so they can do more direct translations)

For those who think that you'll miss things because you're reading subs, you won't. At least not if you can read at a moderate pace.

The original voices tend to fit the characters better, and IMO it is more enjoyable.

There are some instances when dubbed is alright, but hentai is definately not one of them.

[Magnum Apex]

[font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]Subtitles are better than English dubs, ALWAYS. When watching anime with subtitles, it is the original work, with the original actors, which is the way I feel the production should be watched in the first place. Anime is dubbed mainly because it is kind of a rule to have the English dialect for the anime sold in America, and because networks here won't accept it in Japanese language.

Furthermore, English dubs [u]generally[/u] suck. Script changes are commonplace, and picking the right actors for the parts seems like an impossible job for Americans/Canadians. [i]Cowboy Bebop[/i] and [i]Outlaw Star[/i] are a blunt rarity among the otherwise crappy dubs in the market.

However, I DO prefer dubbing to subtitles; that is, MEXICAN dubbing. They translate anime as accurately as possible, no matter what company does the work. Whether it's InterTRACK (Dragon Ball series) or Locomotion (Neon Genesis Evangelion), the voices and acting are BOTH excellent, and the script is rarely or never changed. They prove that the English excuse that script must be changed to fit the lips movement is a complete LIE.

I rest my case.[/color][/font]

[Manic Webb]

I generally don't care.
If I'm watching anime on TV, then I'll usually settle for whatever type is playing (dubbed or subbed, depends on what channels I'm watching). If I'm buying the anime, I'll usually get an uncut bi-lingual DVD.

I usually watch the DVD dubbed first. That way, if I sneeze, turn around, or just step away from the TV, I can still hear what's going on. I hate watching an entire anime in Japanese the first time, because the slightest diversion can make me miss a high point in the dialogue. I have to keep my eyes on the subs on all times.

Then some time later, I'll watch it all over again in Japanese for the sake of knowing what the original was like and to compare the dialogue.

If given the choice between the two, I'd pick dubbed over subbed simply because I'm less likely to miss any dialogue that way.

If you want me to watch an anime that I've already seen (dubbed or subbed), I'd rather watch it subbed. It just seems natural.

[Orien_Xel]

I prefer subbed, because usually the voices for the characters in dubbed are HORRIBLE!!!

[Enishi]

Subs can be bad too, though.. for instance if you buy HK Import DVDs. The translations are HORRIBLE.

[amiboshi]

If the translation is bad, that's not the sub that's bad, but the people who translated it... ¬_¬

I highly prefer subs now. I used to be a dubbie, but I got over it and now I've seen the light. ^_^ I had DVDs, so I could have always watched subs, but I preferred dubs at the time. I've since changed my mind after getting into more anime, and I'm totally hooked on subs. The voices are always better... ALWAYS. They just fit a lot nicer. Take Kare Kano for example... It was a good dub and all, but Arima's voice was...way too deep. English VAs just stink. It's a sad truth. I don't know why so many people complain that they can't read and watch a show at the same time... ¬_¬ I can do it just fine. I get so into the show a lot of times, I actually forget they're speaking japanese. lol. It's like reading a book, the lines just go through my head in enlgish and connect perfectly with the images. ^^

[Juu]

[color=ff00cc] [size=1]I usually watch the Japanese Versions. ^_^

First of all, I like the voices much better, and the plot seems easier to follow along to.

Second, my dad's not really giving me a choice. I'm in Japanese Class right now, so he's making me watch the Japanese versions of everything...

Anyway, I just saw the sub of 'Sprited Away', and I was really, really surprised at their voices. Everyone's voice sounded alot better to me, and I really liked Chihiro's voice better too. In the dub, she had this really whiney voice, which kind of got on my nerves. In the sub, her voice actually gave her a different personality, as well as Hazu's.[/color] [/size]

[Kent]

Endymion expressed the main point that I support. (good job)

I believe it doesnt matter.

Not entirly of course.

I do think that both have positives, but some times negatives come out with both.

I dont really know what to say besides one thing in certain...

I am happy to see that the usual bashing of dubbed hasnt occured in the usual quantities we see in this sort of thread.

Since that hasnt happend, I dont have too much more to say.

Dubbed, Subbed... makes no difference to me. Just lemme have my anime.

[Queen Asuka]

[color=hotpink][size=1]There are only a few dubs that don't really bother me and that's Fushigi Yugi, Nadesico, and Ranma. Miaka's voice is annoying, but other than that, I like it. And in Ranma, all the voices are good. I like Nabiki's especially. And in Nadescio, I really HATED it at first, but then the dubs grew on me.

BUT, I LOVE subbed MUCH better. Dubs are NOTHING compared to subs. And I can read pretty fast, so I don't miss a thing. I actually keep captions on my TV normally anyway. For some reason, it's just fun to read what they are saying. (Especially in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.) I always use this as my example: Asuka's voice subbed and dubbed. Dubbed, she has this WHINEY, stupid sounding voice (Tiffany Grant, so cute, but her voice is HORRIBLE!) and subbed she has a beautiful voice that suits her.[/color][/size]

[Enishi]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by amiboshi [/i]
[B]If the translation is bad, that's not the sub that's bad, but the people who translated it... ¬_¬[/B][/QUOTE]

Well then you would be saying that the raw is good. Sub is subtitled, and thus if the subtitle is badly translated, then the sub is bad! :rolleyes:

[amiboshi]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Enishi [/i]
[B]Well then you would be saying that the raw is good. Sub is subtitled, and thus if the subtitle is badly translated, then the sub is bad! :rolleyes: [/B][/QUOTE]
O.o; You're being awfully technical, now. Most of the hong kong translations royally suck, but that shouldn't be your example of sub vs. dub. I mean....if you're going cheap, don't expect a great translation. When I said "sub" I meant japanese-speaking version in general. How's that?

I bought the Kong-Kong version of Fruits Basket, then the Funimation DVD version, and they both had pretty bad subtitles. The Hong Kong ones were hard to understand, and the Funimation ones were hard on the eyes and jagged. The Fansubs were great, though. >.> Either way, the Japanese voices were MUCH better than the american ones. They all fit perfectly. ^_^ I don't like changing of voices because the voice is one of the factors that adds to the personality, I think. It's just part of a person, or a character. So I believe dubs leave thinks missing... Even just by voice changes, because you're alterring their personality, or the way people see them.

[Subversive]

OK this is a complete dilema for me.
Personally, my anime watching has still been held to minimal amount (well compared to you people) so I enjoy dubbed. But I also can "feel" more of a character in the voice acting in Japanese, so subbed is fun, but a challenge.