So, I'm about to start watching Gurren Laggan...

[Leemaster777]

Yeah, I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I've finally motivated myself enough to get around to watching Gurren Laggan.

Thing is, I have a small question. Is the english dub of this okay, or is this one of those shows you HAVE to watch in japanese?

I don't have anything against subs, but if I can watch this in english and get the same experience without subtitles, I'd rather do that.

So, is there a significant difference in quality between the english and japanese versions?

(If you're one of those people that says "always watch the subtitled version" don't feel compelled to answer. I'm looking for unbiased opinions here)

 

[Madara XIII]

Yeah, I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I've finally motivated myself enough to get around to watching Gurren Laggan.

Thing is, I have a small question. Is the english dub of this okay, or is this one of those shows you HAVE to watch in japanese?

I don't have anything against subs, but if I can watch this in english and get the same experience without subtitles, I'd rather do that.

So, is there a significant difference in quality between the english and japanese versions?

(If you're one of those people that says "always watch the subtitled version" don't feel compelled to answer. I'm looking for unbiased opinions here)

The english dubbed compared to the japanese dub is about on the same par. Trust me, Steve Blum does a hell of a job on Leeron in the English dub and Kamina sounds like he looks in the English.
In all honesty, the English dub on this anime is the way to go. This is one of those animes where the English is just as good as the Japanese if not better. It's like Fullmetal Alchemist or Cowboy Bebop.

Not to say the Japanese isn't great, but if I can have good voice acting in my language so I don't have to read the bottom of the screen, then the better.

So I say go with the English Dub my friend and be prepared to enjoy one hell of an anime.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

I like the english dub and think it's a great dub. If you search it on Youtube, Manga Entertainment have actually put up a 100% legit stream of it too!

Happy days, and prepare to have your balls blown away by sheer awesomeness!

Calumon: That red haired boy in it seems kind of familiar... :S

 

[EtriusGraiv]

I watched it in Engish dub and found it to be perfectly fine. Haven't watched the japanese version, but if all you want to know is if the the English is good, then my vote is yes.

 

[Lord Devius]

The dub is good. It gets cheesy at times, but so does the show.

It also is incredibly awesome at times. Enjoy!

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Well, try watching the English version, if you think it sounds weird, switch to Japanese.

I usually watch Japanese versions because the dubbed versions often sound like the voice actors don't know their text and are just reading it into a microphone. (As if it's the first time they see their text.)
Or the voices don't seem to fit the character. (Like sounding way older than they should.)

There are some exceptions of course.

I'm pretty sure I watched at least the end of Gurren Lagann in Japanese, but I'm not sure about the beginning, since it was a long time ago.

 

[TeeBs]

Here is a sample of the japanese version of Gurren Lagann


Here is a sample of the english

This is less to convince you of which one to watch, and more to post probably the funniest youtube poop ever made.

 

[theheroofaction]

I watched the dub and some of the sub, it was a good translation, and none of the names were changed.

 

[Zoomy]

I watched the first two episodes of the dub on YouTube, (MANGAEntertainment has the first season uploaded, so it's high quality and not split into three videos). I didn't see any problems with it. Everyone gave the right amount of ham in their performances for something like that, so you might as well. Saves the old problem of missing the action due to reading the subs.

And I would have kept watching it had ME not decided to do the utterly ridiculous idea of allowing the first two but blocking the U.K from watching the rest.

 

[Leemaster777]

I like the english dub and think it's a great dub. If you search it on Youtube, Manga Entertainment have actually put up a 100% legit stream of it too!

Happy days, and prepare to have your balls blown away by sheer awesomeness!

Calumon: That red haired boy in it seems kind of familiar... :S

Actually, the main reason I'm asking this is because I just got netflix, so I was just going to watch it on that.

Anyways, thanks for the opinions. Seems like the general consensus is the the dub is good, so I'll go with that.

 

[Madara XIII]

Kamina sounds boring in the dub so go with the sub

JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!!!?!?

lol jk. That's the first time I've ever heard that. I'm guessing you've heard Kyle Hebert's voice acting for Elder Gohan and Kiba from Naruto, which in that case does kinda take away from the Kamina effect.

Either way hearing him in English say "JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!" sounds so fitting.

 

[The Abhorrent]

While I'm normally in favour of dubs (as a matter of principle, I prefer watching things in my native tongue), but Gurren Lagann is a series where subs are probably the wiser decision. This is due to the nature of the show, rather than the quality of the dub itself; it's absurd and more than a little nonsensical (still a fun series to watch, but not something which I'd ever consider taking seriously), so the fact you don't understand the original language actually helps the series out a bit.

Ever heard the phrase "That sounded much better in my head"? That's more or less my reasoning for watching TTGL subbed, the series revels in its own ludicrousness... and the less it makes sense, the better. The slight disconnect between reading subs and hearing the lines spoken aids in preventing logic from getting in the way of the series.

Don't get me wrong, its a good series and a ton of fun.
Just be sure to turn your higher brain function off while watching it.

 

[SonofaJohannes]

I watched it in japanese, so I have no idea if the dub is good or not, but judging from this:
Go for it.

 

[Leemaster777]

Just watched the first episode. Now I finally understand why people sometimes say, "Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me. Believe in the Kamina that believes in you."

That was... interesting. I believe I will continue watching this.

 

[Madara XIII]

Just watched the first episode. Now I finally understand why people sometimes say, "Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me. Believe in the Kamina that believes in you."

That was... interesting. I believe I will continue watching this.

Hehehehe glad you enjoyed one of the many Kamina sayings.

 

[Broderick]

I have seen it in both english and japanese. I would say they are both about the same quality voice acting, although I think the japanese voice actor for Kamina does a better protrayal of the character; he seems to put more energy into all the many manly things that kamina does, compared to the english voice actor. That being said, either one works.