Dubbed verse Subbed

[Dizeazedkiller]

I realise this is a topic that is visited like every couple of weeks, but whatever. I just wanted to post about it because of the way some of my elitist subfag friends describe why they dislike dubbed.

"Its bad"
"Its shit"
"Why can't you just watched subs and read?"

See where I'm going with this? There is no legitimate reason for them hating it. At least, they don't feel the need to explain themselves. Of course, some of this just boils down to a person's opinion and which they watched first, dubbed or subbed (not including childhood anime like Pokemon), but i feel that even on the Dubs that are good people still complain just because they are dubs.

There's also the fact that there are some goddawful subs as well (D.N.Angel for one), but you never hear Dub watchers saying it is shit, even though it is (ignore the hypocrisy of that statement).

So i looked through the animes i watch in dubbed and noted the downfalls of bad dubs

1. Flow of speech and emotion is fragmented (because of the translation and the boundaries of the animation.
2. The wrong actors for the wrong roles (i noticed this in elfen lied specifically. Some of the extras, such as Kurama's buddy who's daughter he had to kill, did a much better job with their part than, say, Koda, or Nana, or that squeeky voiced ***** who i hate.)
3. Japanese jokes sound awkward in english.
4. Not having enough good VAs so you have the same voice for multiple roles.
5. Just being bad in general (4kids).

And i also made a list of problems with subs

1. Voices don't fit. (The voices in When They Cry for subbed are too bland for how the show plays out, the dubbed does a better job of the jumping from one end of the spectrum to the other kinda thing).
2. Just being bad in general (D.N.Angel)


Obviously i don't watch much subbed, but whatever. Basically I'm just trying to say that for the most part (Of dubs I've watched at least) dubs are actually good it you disregard the minor discrepancies that are to do with the translation. So basically i want to know why people dislike dubs because, honestly, for every anime that gets a decent budget the dubs are good,so i don't see why you have to hate it so much. Even if the subbed is better the dubbed isn't ridiculously bad.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Subbed, unless the dubbing has been done very well. Sue me, I can read!

 

[Scarim Coral]

My reasons for watching it in subs is due to fact I don't want to wait several months for the dub version to be release and I like to watch it in its original form. Granted when I buy the anime on DVD I tend to watch it in dub jsut so I can hear the difference.
I'm not into the whole elitish out there as I don't mind watching it in dub or sub.

 

[Bucht]

Only cartoons and movies for children get dubbed where I live (Belgium and the same goes for the Netherlands), so anyone over the age of 6 prefers subtitels here, just because we're used to it.
Obviously I'm not talking about anime now

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Unless the dubs are good, with voice actors that sound like they fit the roles, I'll watch subs. I've watched and enjoyed both Full Metal Alchemist (and Brotherhood) and Inuyasha with dubs. Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z too, though chances are that's nostalgia driven. Oh and personally I think Berserk has great english dubs.

But if they're particularly hard on the ears, like Sailor Moon for example, I'd rather go for subs.

 

[Biodeamon]

Dubbed, definitly dubbed.
<youtube=lvp8c6H1yMA>
wubwubwubwub

(sorry couldn't avoid the pun)

 

[Amberella]

Unless the dubs are good, with voice actors that sound like they fit the roles, I'll watch subs. I've watched and enjoyed both Full Metal Alchemist (and Brotherhood) and Inuyasha with dubs. Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z too, though chances are that's nostalgia driven. Oh and personally I think Berserk has great English dubs.

But if they're particularly hard on the ears, like Sailor Moon for example, I'd rather go for subs.

I'm going to have to agree with this gorgeous man. Though, Sailor Moon is my favourite anime of all so I have to disagree there. But I will admit that I love the subbed Sailor Moon better.

All in all, it depends on if the dubbed voices are suitable for the character and actually flows correctly.

 

[Dizeazedkiller]

Unless the dubs are good, with voice actors that sound like they fit the roles, I'll watch subs. I've watched and enjoyed both Full Metal Alchemist (and Brotherhood) and Inuyasha with dubs. Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z too, though chances are that's nostalgia driven. Oh and personally I think Berserk has great english dubs.

But if they're particularly hard on the ears, like Sailor Moon for example, I'd rather go for subs.

Apparently the DBZ sub is terrible and the dub is much better, but i haven't watched the subbed to find out. What i do know is Vegata's voice is amazing in dubbed.

 

[geK0]

I prefer subs, I find the Japanese voices are often better, and I find that some of the things anime characters say seem a little less ridiculous when read instead of heard.

I will watch dubbed shows when I feel like multitasking.

 

[staika]

While I'd rather watch dubbed I watch subbed most of the time since the shows I'm interested in are not dubbed so I have to watch subbed. I like watching dubs more because I can actually understand what they are saying but some of the dubs are just so bad I go to subbed just to escape the torture. The one big problem I have with subs is that I can't stand the Japanese voices so whenever I watch a subbed show I always turn the volume off on it and just read the subs.

 

[Shock and Awe]

I've always preferred dubs, though I can watch subs if no dubs exist.

 

[Shoto Koto]

I'm not a fan of dubs as they are generally seen, usually because when I watch things that are in other languages subs work better for me simply because there always a really annoying, grating American accent, completely out of context to what I'm watching.

That said, when dubs are done well they are equally as applicable as subs.

 

[Sparklyfingers]

I'm of the opinion that prefering dubs is mostly something that occurs in countries where the main populace speak English. It's a spoiled brat kind of thing to me (who is from a non-English country); everything should exist in my superior language!

Anyway, goes without saying, I prefer subs. Partially of course because I've grown up with it and I'm used to it, but I think I'd prefer it anyway. Original soundtrack feels more "authentic" to me, it suits the culture of whatever you're watching better, be it anime, Disney or foreign language film. Plus, having subtitles in your language/English along with original soundtrack is a great way of learning words.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Mo-ooooo-ods! He's making a versus thread! *points at OP*

Anyway, yet another sub watcher here... or rather, I often watch raws. Raws are better than both because it doesn't clutter up the screen with text which can often be intrusively large and maintains the original audio.

Now as for why I prefer subs over dubs... no disrespect Americans, but it's the accent. As a Brit, I generally expect Kanto-Japanese to be the equivalent of RP English, so when the dubs come on, you can bet I'll be grating my teeth.

That said, there are some OK dubs out there, and IMO, I'd go so far as to say that the one for Haibane Renmei is actually pretty good.

 

[DANEgerous]

Everything sounds blundered when dubed it feels utterly nonsensical, i want subtitles mad by a translator meaning someone who can speak and understand both languages. To be honest other than understanding it it is simply the only way to keep a non-fragmented flow. Even a perfectly dubbed show has words that go from a massive amount of syllables to a word that may have tow and seeing 10 syllables and the time it take smashed in to 2 or vice versa is just annoying.

 

[DANEgerous]

Everything sounds blundered when dubed it feels utterly nonsensical, i want subtitles mad by a translator meaning someone who can speak and understand both languages. To be honest other than understanding it it is simply the only way to keep a non-fragmented flow. Even a perfectly dubbed show has words that go from a massive amount of syllables to a word that may have tow and seeing 10 syllables and the time it take smashed in to 2 or vice versa is just annoying.

 

[A-D.]

Subbed, and thats not because japanese are better at it, god no. the german dub of DBZ for example beats the japanese dub of DBZ hands down, at least in my opinion. But for the reason that i prefer subs, or rather the original dub is because, when its made in a certain country, which in this case is Japan, some stuff just doesnt translate well, its the same for everything else, so i'd rather have to read more than out-of-place dubbing which sounds utterly wrong in context to whats happening.

With the original dub, its just that all of the context and flavour is still present and untouched. Some dubs do a bang-up job translating everything perfectly over, but there's still a few bad cases. Point being, if you enjoy the media, its worth at least watching it once in its original form

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

It kind of depends on the show.
For action-themed shows like Black Lagoon, Desert Punk and Soul Eater I'll tend to watch the dubbed version. The only exception for this seems to be Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann but that's because I think the dubs aren't capable of showing off the hot-blooded insane nature of the show, something the Japanese audio is great at doing.
For comedy, horror or drama shows I'll tend to stick to subtitles again because I think the Japanese audio is much better at achieving the mood the show is set to achieve

 

[Sparklyfingers]

I'm of the opinion that prefering dubs is mostly something that occurs in countries where the main populace speak English. It's a spoiled brat kind of thing to me (who is from a non-English country); everything should exist in my superior language!

Anyway, goes without saying, I prefer subs. Partially of course because I've grown up with it and I'm used to it, but I think I'd prefer it anyway. Original soundtrack feels more "authentic" to me, it suits the culture of whatever you're watching better, be it anime, Disney or foreign language film. Plus, having subtitles in your language/English along with original soundtrack is a great way of learning words.

its spoiled to want to enjoy content in your native tongue?

Does the same apply to literature or text heavy games, what about research journals , news, legal information.

Its just a case of people wanting to get the best experience possible. Not everyone has the free time to LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE, so in your world they should punished for this?

Get off your high horse

I never said you had to learn a new language. That's what subtitles are for, no? What I was saying (in a slightly muddled way) is that the whole "What, you want me to READ?!" is a a very spoiled brat sort of response and it certainly is the most common one when you suggest to an English speaker to watch something foreign.

Besides, I like horses.

 

[Dante DiVongola]

Subbed version. Doesn't matter if the voices are good or not, it just adds more of an authenticity and it makes me feel like I'm absorbing a bit more culture when I listen to the original language. I tend to feel that way whether I'm watching an anime or a regular foreign film.

Dubbed can be acceptable at some times, but I'd much rather not listen to a dubbed version if I can get away with it. It gives me a sort of feeling like someone else was adding different touches to a finished piece of art.