Can the Japanese make a bad dub?

[justnotcricket]

I like subs for two reasons:

1) I was put off dubs by the absolutely ear-bleed-inducing American dub of Sailor Moon as a child.

2) I feel that, watching it in the original language (this applies to anything, in any language, by the way), I am seeing what the director etc intended me to see, with as few obstacles as possible. Additionally, I like the sounds of foreign languages, even if I can't understand all of them.

HOWEVER. I in no way deny anyone else their right to watch the dubbed version. I use subtitles because I like it that way, but if you prefer the dubbed, more power to you. =)

 

[nukethetuna]

I find that the nature of anime lends itself well to overacting. It's easy to overact in Japanese and still sound cool (especially to a non-Japanese speaking audience), if you overact in English it is hard to retain a lot of the drama and you end up pretty hammy.

However, I'd like to add that even in their live dramas, I find Japanese acting to be enjoyable... I mean not because it's good acting, but it is entertaining to watch such unnaturally powerful emotion as a reaction to almost any event.
(Disclaimer: I've never been to Japan so I can't be sure if that's actually overacting. If it's not... well I think I should move there).

 

[ChocoFace]

I'd say it also has a lot to do with somewhat of a comfort zone.

It's because you can't spot the errors in the japanese version that you're more comfortable watching it. You can easily tell when english dubs have horrible faults (which really distract from the actual show), so having no real distractions, it's easier to watch it in japanese.

Of course there are the exceptions when an english dub has been done really well, or when the japanese version has too many annoying voices. Usually, however, the work put into making the english dubs is not even half of what they put into the original, japanese, so the difference in quality is easily noted.

 

[Wintermoot]

maybe unfitting (like American Gangsters in Chicago speaking fluently Japanese or any non-Japanese anime character for that matter)
I generally stick to dubs unless I hate the main characthers voice actor (or if his/her voice is unfitting)

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

What this topic needs is genuine [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25X9VzMJ1LA] Japanese dubbing.

Consider that sorted.

Edit: Personally, I'll watch anything in its original language as long as there's subtitles available in a language I'll understand.

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

Speaking of Japanese dubs, you know what hate? When a character gets hit or something shocking happens and they make a *ghhhkkk* sound in their throat. To make that sound you have to actually stop breathing for a second which is opposite the bodies natural survival mechanism. That's why you go 'AHHH' out with the bad air in with some good air cuz the adrenaline's about to start flowing.

Just a little complaint on top of many other complaints I have.

 

[OliverTwist72]

Are we talking just Anime? Cause Godzilla dubs are pretty awesomely bad.