Why is it always subs over dubs?

[Kagim]

"Dilly-dally-shilly-shally." Um... what? Unless you're watching Advent Children Complete, which released years after the original, there is no real explanation in the movie for exactly why Cloud is having such problems, and this pivotal scene where Cloud understands that he is dragging an emotional burden replaces the most important word of the entire movie to "DIlly-dally-shilly-shally?" Dilly-dallying doesn't even mean anything close to "dragging" in the first place

Dilly-Dally-Shilly-Shally means your dragging your ass and your behind everyone else because your to distracted by something else, usually daydreaming. In other words Cloud is living in the past because he can't stop thinking about Aerith's death.

It's an artistic translation rather then a literal one.

...It made sense to me? It replaces Tifa saying Zurro Zurro, which is a Japanese phrase meaning the same thing just about.

See, I've never heard "Dilly-dally-shilly-shally." Ever. In my life. And a search online yielded no examples or meanings beyond those that are defined by the context of Advent Children. Seriously, every single place I looked at held either guesses as to what it meant or people figuring out based on the etymology of the original Japanese translation. I suppose you may be able to figure it out in context, but there's a difference between writing nuanced dialogue and writing nonsensical dialogue.

The subtitles simply translate it as "drag." Which makes a heck of a lot more sense, and is an actual word on top of that.

Eh, my Grandma used to say it when i would doddle behind her when we went on walks if i started zoning out to much.

As well what Tifa says doesn't actually translate to drag, i can't remember specifically but it's pretty much the exact same thing in Japan. its just a bit of non sense you say to a kid to get them to focus and keep up when there heads in the clouds. So if your translation just said drag i actually find that kinda weak because what Tifa was going for was calling him a child that needed his mother to snap him out of it. Just saying drag takes away that emotion behind what she is saying to him.

I get the deeper meaning of the phrase; that makes sense. But I think the localization still fails when you're the first person I've ever met who actually knows what the heck the phrase means. 'Cause everyone else I've talked to was similarly confused by their choice of words: you're the first I've met who knew what it meant.

Maybe its a Canadian thing because all of my friends have at least been called a dilly dally.

 

[Thaius]

Maybe its a Canadian thing because all of my friends have at least been called a dilly dally.

Well I have heard "dilly dally," but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused; it doesn't at all involve dragging around a burden from the past, or even dragging a burden at all. And I've never heard the "shilly shally" on the end. So I guess it may just be a California thing. Unless the phrase is widely used and understood (including the shilly shally), I would still consider that a pretty epic fail on the parts of the translators and localizers. But if my area is the only one that doesn't get it, I guess I was just born in the wrong place.

 

[Flack]

In my experience the dubs are usually HILARIOUSLY bad which detracts from the show.

 

[RelexCryo]

I won't speak for other people, but personally I prefer to get the anime in it's purest form, and the closest thing I can get to that without teaching myself japanese and watching it raw is to find anime subbed. It allows me to get the purest, original experience and watch the anime how it's originally intended on being watched. That's why whenever I watch my anime, I look for subs first and foremost.

Pretty much this.^

 

[Kagim]

Maybe its a Canadian thing because all of my friends have at least been called a dilly dally.

Well I have heard "dilly dally," but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused; it doesn't at all involve dragging around a burden from the past, or even dragging a burden at all. And I've never heard the "shilly shally" on the end. So I guess it may just be a California thing. Unless the phrase is widely used and understood (including the shilly shally), I would still consider that a pretty epic fail on the parts of the translators and localizers. But if my area is the only one that doesn't get it, I guess I was just born in the wrong place.

Well, the Dilly Dally should be enough, think of it this way.

"but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused" Cloud isn't focused on the true problems at hand and he is to distracted and brooding over Aeriths death. Tifa is trying to describe this to him in a condescending way. Shes telling him to stop thinking about the past and focus on the now in a way that's treating him like a child.

In the original Japanese Tifa is doing the exact same thing, using a line a mother would use on a distracted child. In neither the original nor the translated version is tifa saying anything about dragging along your past burdens. Like i said, Zurro Zurro is something a mother would say to a child screwing around. The translation you watched that just said 'drag' is wrong.

On a note, the 'shilly shally' is just something you say to the child to embarrass them so they respond quicker, it has no meaning. Dilly Dally is the phrase and shilly shally is just a way to embarrass the child into reacting properly.

 

[darkkan2125]

dubbed is just unnatural

 

[h3lblad3]

What about anime with word-based jokes?

 

[Thaius]

Maybe its a Canadian thing because all of my friends have at least been called a dilly dally.

Well I have heard "dilly dally," but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused; it doesn't at all involve dragging around a burden from the past, or even dragging a burden at all. And I've never heard the "shilly shally" on the end. So I guess it may just be a California thing. Unless the phrase is widely used and understood (including the shilly shally), I would still consider that a pretty epic fail on the parts of the translators and localizers. But if my area is the only one that doesn't get it, I guess I was just born in the wrong place.

Well, the Dilly Dally should be enough, think of it this way.

"but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused" Cloud isn't focused on the true problems at hand and he is to distracted and brooding over Aeriths death. Tifa is trying to describe this to him in a condescending way. Shes telling him to stop thinking about the past and focus on the now in a way that's treating him like a child.

In the original Japanese Tifa is doing the exact same thing, using a line a mother would use on a distracted child. In neither the original nor the translated version is tifa saying anything about dragging along your past burdens. Like i said, Zurro Zurro is something a mother would say to a child screwing around. The translation you watched that just said 'drag' is wrong.

On a note, the 'shilly shally' is just something you say to the child to embarrass them so they respond quicker, it has no meaning. Dilly Dally is the phrase and shilly shally is just a way to embarrass the child into reacting properly.

It makes sense, I suppose, it's just not quite how the phrase was used around me. When I grew up, if we were working out in the yard or something and I got distracted by a shiny rock and bent down to play with it instead of working, that was dilly-dallying. The context in which it was always used when I was a child-OOH SHINY!!!

I get that Tifa's treating him like a child, and that's pretty good for the scene. It makes sense. But the phrase still doesn't have the connotation of what the nature of his distraction is, only that he's distracted. And everything I've read and heard from friends seems to say that the original Japanese words have the connotation of dragging; the most common phrase I've found online is that it's a "Japanese onomatopoeia for dragging."

Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult, it's just weird that so much of this seems contrary to everything I've seen and read on the subject. It seems that the line is meant to be more specific than just saying he's distracted.

 

[WrcklessIntent]

I'll watch both but i generally lean towards subs because like you said there are only a few good dubs out there. Funimation i've found seems to do decent dubs and when i can i normally watch it but than there is also the thing of hearing like the actual voice in japanese that just seems great to me.

 

[Kagim]

Maybe its a Canadian thing because all of my friends have at least been called a dilly dally.

Well I have heard "dilly dally," but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused; it doesn't at all involve dragging around a burden from the past, or even dragging a burden at all. And I've never heard the "shilly shally" on the end. So I guess it may just be a California thing. Unless the phrase is widely used and understood (including the shilly shally), I would still consider that a pretty epic fail on the parts of the translators and localizers. But if my area is the only one that doesn't get it, I guess I was just born in the wrong place.

Well, the Dilly Dally should be enough, think of it this way.

"but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused" Cloud isn't focused on the true problems at hand and he is to distracted and brooding over Aeriths death. Tifa is trying to describe this to him in a condescending way. Shes telling him to stop thinking about the past and focus on the now in a way that's treating him like a child.

In the original Japanese Tifa is doing the exact same thing, using a line a mother would use on a distracted child. In neither the original nor the translated version is tifa saying anything about dragging along your past burdens. Like i said, Zurro Zurro is something a mother would say to a child screwing around. The translation you watched that just said 'drag' is wrong.

On a note, the 'shilly shally' is just something you say to the child to embarrass them so they respond quicker, it has no meaning. Dilly Dally is the phrase and shilly shally is just a way to embarrass the child into reacting properly.

It makes sense, I suppose, it's just not quite how the phrase was used around me. When I grew up, if we were working out in the yard or something and I got distracted by a shiny rock and bent down to play with it instead of working, that was dilly-dallying. The context in which it was always used when I was a child-OOH SHINY!!!

I get that Tifa's treating him like a child, and that's pretty good for the scene. It makes sense. But the phrase still doesn't have the connotation of what the nature of his distraction is, only that he's distracted. And everything I've read and heard from friends seems to say that the original Japanese words have the connotation of dragging; the most common phrase I've found online is that it's a "Japanese onomatopoeia for dragging."

Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult, it's just weird that so much of this seems contrary to everything I've seen and read on the subject. It seems that the line is meant to be more specific than just saying he's distracted.

I know, and i am sure some people have probably analyzed it anally. I was told it means "pushing something heavy in circles" as a way of berating a child for doing something pointlessly. Ultimately I prefer Tifa calling him a child who needs to stop focusing on the past then a direct translation that removes the the emotion behind the words. Whether the line is about dragging or not the overall meaning is "Your dwelling on the past and acting childish. Stop it"

Either way to me the feeling came through perfectly. That's all. I prefer when my anime's captures the spirit of the dialouge rather then being a direct translation as it's impossible to keep the true emotion of the words from dialect to dialect. It doesn't really change the story in any way and it keeps the spirit of what Tifa is trying to say. So i feel it works splendidly.

 

[Blair Bennett]

...you know it's interesting.

But there is a big difference between mistranslations and mistakes. Akward phrasing is always a problem that comes from skill in the language. Skilled translators must also be skilled writers/speakers. There are plenty of monolingual people that produce atrocious grammar and word choice.

A fair point. But in the end, I believe it's as many have stated before: that it really all just comes down to preference...Also, the mistranslations can be some of the most unintentionally hilarious things out there.

 

[Nouw]

Dubbing is usually a. wrong or bad translation and b. terrible quality.

I like subbing anyway.

 

[Nemu]

I prefer subs over dubs because often times there is something lost in the translation or outright censored.

I admit that over the years the quality of dubbing has improved, but it's still my preference to watch anime/movies/tv shows (where applicable) in subbed form versus dubbed.

 

[TheSeventhLoneWolf]

This does not apply for anything that involves the quote:

''ATTENTION DUELISTS! My hair is inviting you inside!''

I suppose subs are easier to apply. Dubs require translations and voice actors.

 

[Durxom]

From what I've been noticing from all of this, its basically most if not all Shonen type anime (Bleach, One Piece, Deathnote, etc), keep getting the crap end of the stick because they are the most popular, and get acquired by the larger western anime companies (like 4kids), while most of the Seinen anime (Hellsing, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, etc), get acquired by the other companies with less excutive meddling (Funimation, and Geneon *before they went under*), and turn out a lot better, or pretty damn close to the japanese.

 

[xXAsherahXx]

I much prefer Subs over Dubs in movies, but in TV shows I would rather Dubs. It is more authentic, although I don't like foreign movies because I have to look at subtitles and miss the action. It is lose lose when you don't know the language a movie is in.

...All your base are belong to us.

 

[Thaius]

Maybe its a Canadian thing because all of my friends have at least been called a dilly dally.

Well I have heard "dilly dally," but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused; it doesn't at all involve dragging around a burden from the past, or even dragging a burden at all. And I've never heard the "shilly shally" on the end. So I guess it may just be a California thing. Unless the phrase is widely used and understood (including the shilly shally), I would still consider that a pretty epic fail on the parts of the translators and localizers. But if my area is the only one that doesn't get it, I guess I was just born in the wrong place.

Well, the Dilly Dally should be enough, think of it this way.

"but it always simply meant that one was getting distracted, screwing around instead of keeping focused" Cloud isn't focused on the true problems at hand and he is to distracted and brooding over Aeriths death. Tifa is trying to describe this to him in a condescending way. Shes telling him to stop thinking about the past and focus on the now in a way that's treating him like a child.

In the original Japanese Tifa is doing the exact same thing, using a line a mother would use on a distracted child. In neither the original nor the translated version is tifa saying anything about dragging along your past burdens. Like i said, Zurro Zurro is something a mother would say to a child screwing around. The translation you watched that just said 'drag' is wrong.

On a note, the 'shilly shally' is just something you say to the child to embarrass them so they respond quicker, it has no meaning. Dilly Dally is the phrase and shilly shally is just a way to embarrass the child into reacting properly.

It makes sense, I suppose, it's just not quite how the phrase was used around me. When I grew up, if we were working out in the yard or something and I got distracted by a shiny rock and bent down to play with it instead of working, that was dilly-dallying. The context in which it was always used when I was a child-OOH SHINY!!!

I get that Tifa's treating him like a child, and that's pretty good for the scene. It makes sense. But the phrase still doesn't have the connotation of what the nature of his distraction is, only that he's distracted. And everything I've read and heard from friends seems to say that the original Japanese words have the connotation of dragging; the most common phrase I've found online is that it's a "Japanese onomatopoeia for dragging."

Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult, it's just weird that so much of this seems contrary to everything I've seen and read on the subject. It seems that the line is meant to be more specific than just saying he's distracted.

I know, and i am sure some people have probably analyzed it anally. I was told it means "pushing something heavy in circles" as a way of berating a child for doing something pointlessly. Ultimately I prefer Tifa calling him a child who needs to stop focusing on the past then a direct translation that removes the the emotion behind the words. Whether the line is about dragging or not the overall meaning is "Your dwelling on the past and acting childish. Stop it"

Either way to me the feeling came through perfectly. That's all. I prefer when my anime's captures the spirit of the dialouge rather then being a direct translation as it's impossible to keep the true emotion of the words from dialect to dialect. It doesn't really change the story in any way and it keeps the spirit of what Tifa is trying to say. So i feel it works splendidly.

Well I suppose a lot of my problem came from not quite understanding Cloud's conflict the first time around. Then when I watched Complete with the subs, the word "drag" made it click in my mind. So I guess it largely comes from that.

Very good movie. Especially Complete. Now if they would just give us that stupid VII remake they dangled like a carrot in front of us... I hate them sometimes...

 

[Adzma]

The only Anime that has marginally tolerable English voice acting is Cowboy Bebop. That's why I prefer all subs.

You must have a fairly narrow view of anime.
Outlaw Star: Either
Anything produced by 4kids: Subbed
FMA: Dubbed
FMP: Dubbed
Naruto: Either (Subbed if you want it)
Any Gundam Series Ever (DUBBED)

I'll watch Dubbed unless it's one of the above mentioned problems. Fucking 4kids giving every other dub a bad name...

No, I have a high standard of what some of us call quality.

Which animes are you referencing, if you don't mind me asking?

I'd rather not list everything because I'll be here for quite some time, but two good examples are Bleach and Code Geass. The english dubs are woeful. The fact is I can't stand any dubbed media whether it be games or anime or whatever where it sounds like the voice actor is forcing their lines.

 

[Billion Backs]

Dubs, while there are some of the very good ones out there, have their reputation ruined over the amount of really shitty ones. You do NOT absolutely fuck up the voices of the characters. And considering that anime is very popular among teens in the west, and most teens/20s probably had their first experience with anime on TV channels where it'd be horribly maimed and badly voiced "cough believe it cough", it's understandable why a lot of people would prefer subs.

4kids and FUNimation stuff, basically. Most of it is shit.

So, subs are seen as something better. And very often they are.