One of my favorite things to do is download dual audio animes and compare which voice actors are better suited to the characters. Some English voices are just wrong for the parts they play(Hideyoshi - Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu) and others sound better (Lelouch - Code Geass)than their Japanese counterparts. What characters do you feel sound better in English and which characters feel sound better in Japanese?

With english dubs it's a bit of a hit and miss for me like with Naruto it's so so but if you watch something like Panty and Stocking with Garderbelt you will die laughing in english dubs. With japanese I appreciate it a little more because they really get into thier roles, not saying that english dubs dont but still

For me, it's the same thing as superdude. Tamaki Suoh from Ouran Highschool Host Club was deffinately a miss, as with Kyoya Ootori. L from Death Note was as I imagined. You really just have to hope you get lucky.

I generally prefer English dubs, mostly because I don't speak Japanese,and I find reading subs distracting. I'll still watch an anime in Japanese if has no dub, or if I find the dub repulsive, which doesn't happen often. I've been able to put up with, and even grow to enjoy some pretty horrible dubs (...Evangelion), and I'm more familiar with the English dub voice actors, so yeah.

>>3 Really? I thought Vic Migogna did a great job as Tamaki. Then again, I haven't seen Ouran Host Club in Japanese, so there isn't anything to compare with. I thought the dub was good.

i prefer japanese with english subs because some DUBS just suck ass
but some DUBS are really good

Something often overlooked by western fans is that Japanese voice acting sometimes isn't that great either

Lots of people tend to like it by default since they don't really understand it anyway - it makes no difference to them. The problem arises when they use that neutral, or somewhat unnecessarily biased positive opinion of it to argue that the original voices are always better.

There have been a few instances where I preferred the dub voices not just because it eliminates the need for reading subtitles, but because I highly preferred them over the Japanese voices.

Honestly i like most english dub voices but i have come across some rare god aweful voices that even i cant forgive. Like Eiri from Gravitation. Or Black Star from Soul Eater, while the voice actress is talented the voice is so wrong for Black Star! But mostly its to do with convenience. I hate looking at the bottom half of the screen at the subs because im afraid ill miss something. But if something hasnt been translated yet, im happy to watch the sub version.

Subtitles are really effortless to me, I've been used to them since I was little. But I can see how, for somebody living in a country where most media is in their own language, they might pose more of a problem.

I watch mostly subs and am not really into dubs of anything, not just anime. I don't like watching things in other languages dubbed into mine, so I don't see why I'd watch anime in English either. And I think that the point Misuto made in >>7 is actually a plus for me. If I have to choose between a language I can easily identify mistakes in and one in which I can't, I'll take the latter.

(from Fairy Tail) Natsu's english voice (in my opinion) fits him so much better than his japanese voice

Well sometimes they do a awesome job for English dubbing anime but sometimes they do an awful job so I just watch English sub O.O

Normally the voices don't bother me, so I watch dubs 9 times out of 10. If the anime isn't dubbed and I want to see it, i'll watch subs.

I like dubs so I can better understand a complicated anime (because I fear with sub I might get confused or loose track). But subs seem to be more of a preference with me. Plus with subs I can hear the Japanese words and learn a little bit of Japanese myself (believe me it has helped me a lot since I came to Japan).

I prefer dubs because sometimes anime gets confusing, and I just find it easier to understand in my native language. Plus, I can't help but think that sometimes subs are translated badly and you miss the meaning of whatever's being said...

But, it does depend on whether or not the chosen translated voice actor suits the role...because sometimes, they just don't and its a real let-down.

Well personally for me it usually doesn't matter whether the anime is dubbed or subbed, the story is still the same either way. However there are some anime I prefer subbed rather than dubbed and same for certain dubs.
Subs can be better if the English voice actors are just horrible and if many of the lines and character names in the anime is changed a lot. This just ruins the plot and important details of the anime. (This usually happens with anime that when dubbed are shown on public television stations/Saturday morning cartoons).
Dubs can also be better if the voice actors can actually portray the character they voice. Also if the English lines are translated well they can make more sense than when reading subs. It also helps comedy anime if they change the line to an English/American joke that I can understand, rather than looking up reference to the Japanese joke.
In all it just really depends on which anime is dubbed/subbed.

Personally, I love watching both versions of a series and an example of a character who I believe sounds better in Japanese is every character from Death Note, except Brian Drummond, he IS Ryuk. And a character I believe sounds better in English, is Alucard, voiced by Crispin Freeman in Hellsing and Hellsing Ultimate. Another example of a character I prefer in Japanese is Rin Okumura in Blue Exorcist, voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto. And a final example of a character I prefer in English is Roy Mustang, voiced by Travis Willingham in the Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and the movies... Also, Brian Drummond as Ryuk.

I guess it all just depends on your preference. I personally think that there are some anime that suit japanese over english and vice versa, especially the mainstream anime such as Naruto, Bleach and One Piece which need to be able to fit the voices in english as well as japanese.I mainly watch Japanese with English subs, it improves reading skills and you also pick up at bit of japanese as you go along

well I have only watched a few animes in both dubs, but I must say it really depends on the anime
Black Butler for example, the Japanese is good but in english the British accents were the best!!
In Death Note I heard the first part in Japenese and the rest of it in English, when I first heard Light talk in English I didnt really like it because it sounded a bit forced but then I got used to it and I not cant decide, I really did like L's voice though
all in all, it depands in what you watch first and the anime in itself

DIVE INTO YOUR BODY!!

Rin Okumura (ao no Exorcist) Sounds Better in Japanese And Izaya Orihara (drrr) Sounds Better in English :P

For me, in the english dub the child protagonist always sounds so childish, Ed(Fullmetal Alchemist) Mikado(DRRR!)Simon(Gurren Lagann). Wheras the japenese dubs always make them sound mature and cool which the characters are supposed to be.

I agree with TK. I try to stay away from the dubs because the characters sound too young most of the time. The japanese just have the best voice actors for the job (:

I disagree, many voices for kid protagonists have grated on my ears in either language. The first that comes to mind is Ganta from Deadman Wonderland. Also, they're kids, they are supposed to sound childish.

That' is true Banshee, but my pet hate is the protagonist doing an awesome speech before his final battle and sounding like a nine year old on Xbox Live. It depends on the character :)

I prefer Japanese in EVERY anime, I just feel like the American dubs try too hard. The Japanese feel more natural.
Some dubs are okay, like Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon because I grew up watching them like that :D

ITT: kids in their early teens ruining anime by preffering dubs over subs

I prefer dubs. I don't know what's the big deal.

I loved Code Geass, Durarara!!, Cowboy Bebop, and Death Note dubbed because I like the voice actors.

Japanese makes the anime feel more like an anime. If its in English, it feels just like a regular cartoon that you see on tv. At least imo.

I definitely believe that all the voices in Baccano sound better dubbed because you get the full experience of their accents

Dub all the way.

bump

Definitely prefer the Japanese voices with English subs!
Makes me feel as if I'm getting the full experience!

I like both depending if I am feeling lazzy I try to find some English dubs XD

ITT Weaboos and illiterate English speakers.


It depends on which cast does a better job.Take Welcome to the NHK, for example.Sato's English voice actor did a way better job than his Japanese counterpart, but Misaki's paled in comparison to her Japanese counterpart.

in blue exorcist english dub Rin's voice is just messed up

Sometimes English dubs for anime char is messed up!!!
And i'm more fan for japanese dubs thought

It really depends on the anime, an example would be deadman wonderland HAS TO BE IN JAPANESE the voices are terrible, Baccano I think needs to be in english mainly because the voice acting is perfect for the time and place (1930s america) Another example is Naruto shippuden needs to be in japanese as the dialoge is more in depth, But Bleach need to be in japanese (personal opion) So yeah it really depends.

another one is Durarara! Needs to be in japanese, English voices are sooo shit.

Everything is messed up when dubed!!!It's never real!!!

>>40 Ever heard some really shitty Japanese voice acting?

If you haven't, you haven't been listening with an open mind. They exist. And they hurt.

The only reason western viewers tend to have a higher tolerance for Japanese voicing isn't because it's "how it was originally meant to be" - it's because they can't understand the language. They aren't used to it, so they can't point out its various flaws and inconsistencies. In the same way you likely can't point out a deliberate character accent in Japanese, you can't point out bad enunciation or trite acting since you have no reference point to how it should be spoken.

Exceptions go out to native speakers and those who have watched anime long enough to point out at least simple nuances - both of which rarely fall for this mindset.

Given, the quality of voice acting in Japan is somewhat higher because it is considered a more prestigious profession than in western countries - but that does not save them from bad quality in all cases. To say they are better simply based on their country of origin is literally racist.

I agree with (41)
There are some bad dubs, but a lot of people diss dubs without even watching them, Its very rude! There are a lot of dubbed anime that are incredible and there are a lot of anime that need to stay un-dubbed. I do prefer most of my anime dubbed, I'm in college, have a job, I have horrible eye-sight and have to study all the time! So, the dubs are sort of a saving grace for me, I also don't like that I have to miss the actual anime because I'm too busy reading the sub.

>>42 Protip, use >>41.

I too prefer dubbed, until I catch up to where they haven't dubbed yet, unless I highly enjoy the series and the dubbed so much, that it'd be a let down to catch up using subs.


For example, one of the best voice acting I've seen for dubs is Gurren Lagann and I decided NOT to catch up using the subs. It was so much better to wait it out for each release.

I love Good Dubs, I think thats kind of natural but i've gotten so used to the
subs and the hearing of Japanese voices, If I start a series in Sub I can never go to Dub but the other round yes I can. I mean don't get me wrong I mean I love Dubs as much as I love Subs but...

I prefer subs. It might be because I don't understand any Japanese, though. Otherwise, Japanese voice acting might sound just as strained and exaggerated to me.

>>46 I also prefer subs, I mean I study Japanese and I speak it in some amount, but English subs would be of great help. But I don't agree with dubs, they kinda annoy me and it feels wierd to hear a Japanise anime in another language than Japanese. I hate it when they dub it in my own language (I'm not English). I guess this is something I think.

I like subs over dubs almost any day of the week. I've always been a fast reader so that isn't an issue for me. Additionally it's gotten to the point where I can get by only paying partial attention to the subs, and am (very) slowly learning Japanese.

The only times I can recall where I preferred dubs, would have to be Darker than Black, Cromartie High, and Black Lagoon. I'm sure there would be more, but by habit I try to avoid dubs.

I find that often names aren't said clearly, and many jokes and terms cannot translate very well, thus I find myself using both the subtitles and partially understood Japanese dialog to truly enjoy a show.

Subs! If there going to dubb it might as well make it into a live-action film. Like they did with dragon ball z.

i like subs more, dubbed anime sometimes sucks. well other voices are not perfect to the character. that's why go for the subs :3

I usually prefer dub just because I prefer to watch an anime in my own language. However I like both Bleach and Persona 4 the Animation better in sub.
I like Naruto and One Piece's sub and dub about equally.
Everything else I like better in dub.
The worst sub I have ever seen was DBZ, I saw one episode and that was enough. Seeing all those tough guys sounding like 5 year old girls was painful.

I generally prefer English dubs because it makes it easier for me to really get engrossed in a show because my attention isn't divided reading subtitles while trying to still pay attention to what's happening on the rest of the screen. The vast majority of the anime I've seen has been in English. There are a few that I've seen in Japanese (Princess Resurrection, Toradora!, and Kara no Kyoukai), and a few that I've seen in both languages (Code Geass, DeathNote, Shakugan no Shana Second). For the ones I've seen in both English and Japanese, I liked both languages pretty evenly. I definitely think it's doable to produce English dubs of Princess Resurrection and Toradora! that are of the same quality as the Japanese dubs. However, I think that even FUNimation, who I consider to currently do the best dub work in the U.S., would be very hard-pressed to produce an English dub of Kara no Kyoukai that is equal in quality to the Japanese dub.

I like Dub, but don't mind Sub. It really all depends on the VA.

To be honest, i hate english dubs @__@ i think they´re ruining it all and when you have watched it on Japanese it´s like death to ears. In games too. I just love Japanese language and then it´s the original voice. I feel like the English voice just doesn´t even fit for the character~

Cowboy Bebop and Desert Punk in english dub was right on the spot.

I never really like English dub, but I guess it's whichever anime I watch first in any dub becomes my favorite. XD It's like I'm a baby chick who cracks their egg and whoever I look at becomes my mother. XDDD

I prefer subs over dubs, mostly because I feel that the Japanese VAs do a better job as sounding like the character and not making it sound forced (like most english dubs tend to be) but some dubs are alright and there are a few that are actually quite good.

I guess being able to read the subtitles quickly also helps, as some people don't like reading subs

While there are some very good dubs, I usually watch subs. As others have said, it feels less forced and when you've got an anime based in Japan, what's the probability of them all speaking in English? Some dubs fit better than others. Watching subs feels more natural, but I've seen a few good dubs here and there.

Biggest dub fail in anime history: "Believe It" from Naruto.

I live in Germany. The moment you listen to one, is the moment you stop to watch german dub.
As for English dub... it is okay in some cases but I always have the feeling that something is lacking.
So I agree with Blinking.

I prefer dubs, mostly because that's what I started with.

The thing that really gets me though, is that if you say you like dubs in most places (especially on the internet), people get all aggressive, like you've committed a crime or something.

Dubs and Subs each have their own pros and cons. Subs are better for expressing Moe (although not very enjoyed, it's only existent in subs because sounding cute in English is near impossible without faking it[badly, too]). Dubs can allow the audience to look away at times while watching. Subs also translate the writing in Japanese that most dubs don't always do. Dubs are MUCH easier to help distinguish character's voices, especially if you speak English because that's what youre used to hearing. Now at this point in time, Dubs and Subs are pretty much at the same level in terms of quality. Wind back 10 years ago per say, and the level of dubs is much worse than the subs (for example, Evangelion). So if watching an older show, its probably better to go with subs, If you don't watch older shows, I'm gonna have to interrogate the authenticity of your otaku self. But that being said, one of my favorite shows is by far and away better in dub. Its title is Baccano (which was the production predecessor to durarara, also the password to this site as you may have noticed). The dub is clearly better if you've ever compared them, but most people seem to become snobby aggressive elitists the second anyone says dubs are better. so stop. that is all

Well I prefer Japanese dubs, because they just feel more natural in my opinion, but I can't say I don't like English dubs, because I started watching anime with English dubs, but not all Eng dubs are good some just feel weird, like that voice actor definitely doesn't suit this character, so yeah I stick with Japanese dubs.

I like both but I like japanese subs better it feels more natrual.

Sometimes the dubs are good, but most of the time the Japanese audio is better than the dub. There are some really good dubs for some shows (Cowboy Bebop, for instance) but there are some bad ones too (Evangelion).

All-in-all, it highly depends on the anime in question. I don't like/dislike subs or dubs in general. I usually watch a show twice, one in each, anyway.

I like the japanese more than the english dubs :)
I feel like it fits the characters more. And sometimes some of the english dubs sound horrible too ><

I tend to prefer the japanese dub simply because there are a lot of anime in which things just don't quite feel right in english version like T.K. from Angel beats. Because it was originally english in a Japanese show, when there are all english speakers it just doesn't have the same effect. Of course there's alway when they have Japanese class and you're like "What?".

hmmm I have to say I prefer subbed. Mostly because I'm learning Japanese and it really helps sometimes. However I only watch subbed if the voice actors aren't that good. Some characters are SO good in English (Izaya and Shizuo from drrr.)

Plus in some anime the characters have accents and you don't get the full effect unless you watch it in English. (Hetalia, Baccano, and Black Butler.) But some dubs just... suck. (Angel beats, Deadman Wonderland, and Tsubasa Chronicles.)

I won't lie, I like Dubs over Subs. But I watch both & honestly, imo, it really doesn't matter as long as you like the anime your watching.

No offence but i'd have to object to Lelouch's voice sounding better in dub. I have no problem with dub and sub cause some people wouldn't have the chance to watch without dub(like on TV) I like certain things better in sub or dub but Lelouch in my opinion was better in sub..Johnny Bosch sounded amazing as Vash and less serious characters! I agree that certain things like Hetalia give a fuller effect in English! I like Ed(Fullmetal Alchemist) and certain shows like Shaman King in dub but some like Luffy(well One Piece all together) just won't be the same if their not in Japanese! Naruto and Bleach i can go either way and i haven't heard Drrr in dub so i don't know? I think people should continue to make dub and i guess if people don't like certain voices than just not watch them in dub? Er not to offend anyone..

If anyone likes dub, or just wants to try it on shows they haven't heard in english dub, this is a good cite to go to: http://www.dubbedepisodes.ws honestly I used this to watch Durarara in dub, because I couldn't find it anywhere else in dub. Honetly I grew up watching a lot of anime in dub, so I'm very used to that, but I have watched some in sub, and I liked it. So I guess it just depends on how you feel, and which you think sounds better, which kind of voice actor you like most, because honestly I would go either way, they are both great, but because I grew up with dub, I go a little more toward that. Like Steve said I honestly don't think it "matters as long as you like the anime your watching."

I like English because I hate to read in tv shows and movies in that Elysium movie the first thing you do is read subs and ugggggggggggggggg good thing me and my bf were the only ones there we just talked threw the whole thing

>>72 What are you, 12? That's a bit closed-minded, don't you think?

Subtitles are necessary in multilingual situations in which characters don't all speak the same language, but for the sake of the viewer, they need to be understood. And talking over them instead of bothering to try and understand is rather insensitive - not only to the language and the character, but the writer of the story itself.

Besides. This thread wasn't talking about subtitles in general - it was asking about dubbed shows versus original-audio + subtitles, in terms of localization.

For me, I Preferred Subtitles than English Dub.......cause sometimes I can't understand what they're saying on Dubs.....and I can learn Japanese by hearing them talk and reading whats the meaning of It..........^_^

For me, I think it honestly depends on the anime. While some people tend to choose one over the other, I'm pretty neutral about it. Some of the animes I think are better in Sub are: Ouran, Black Butler, and Higurashi. Some of the ones that I feel are better in English: Code Geass, Hetalia, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Then there are the ones in which it doesn't matter which language I watch them in such as Panty and Stocking and Naruto. I do admit that usually I'll go looking for the dub if I find out there is one, though again I think that both sub and dub have their good and bad points.

I usualy go for dubs mainly because im a bit of a slow reader. Although i don't mind readind subs, there are some voices that can easly ruin an anime for me. Subed or dubed, the voice acter is allways important to me.

Dub if it's good, subs if not. I guess I'm one of the simpler cases.

Dub is cool for more action shows but it can go anyway for other shows.

In my opinion, anything dubbed by Todd Haberkorn is better. I'm such a fangirl.
Usually, I prefer dubs over subs, when I can get them. I like to be able to multitask when I watch shows.
But there are some exceptions. The main one being Fruits Basket. No offense to the English cast, but the voices just did not fit the characters at all! I couldn't even make it through the first episode! Then I went to the original, in authentic Japanese, and it was astoundingly better.

i think the place the anime has been set is important
when it is set in japan it is weird when ppl talk in english and the wierd pronuntiation and vice versa it also depends a lot on the VA

Personally, I love Japanese dub better.

>>80
Yeah this is definitely a thing. I will always watch Baccano! in English, and subsequently always watch Durarara!! in Japanese.

Im not the only one who thinks that the Code Geass English dub is way better than the sub! But Some times, Actually a lot of times the dub is absolutely horrible.

i dont usually like the dubs because whenever im watching and anime and i deciced to watch a dubbed version its just horrible so im with with just watching subed anime

Hm..Erza Scarlet's English Voice Actor Colleen Clickenbeard is a favorite of mine. I think she's good anywhere. Especially as Riza Hawkeye in FMA/Brotherhood

If I knew japanese japanese of course but dubbed I'd convenient! But subs are sometimes really bad translations or use awkward words dubs at least they try to make sense of it.

I don't care which one i watch. i watch both no matter what.

The entire crew of Baccano! is much better in Engligh Dub. The voice actors accents add to the 1930's New York Mafia feeling.

personally I prefer watching anime with English subs. I think English dubbed voices are annoying but I like English dubbed on some anime like OHHC, black butler, soup eater, vampire knight, and hetalia

Lol omg soup eater *soul eater

>>90 lol that would sound like a really great title
bump for my comment

I swear I have commented on this thread at least five times... Unless we have ten of them and/or I'm doing it in my dreams or something, I have no idea where my posts keep going.

Anyway, general consensus, imo, is this: Almost every work sounds better in its original language. Whether its original language is English, Japanese, French, German, etc., it just seems like there is so much more emotion in the original because the voice actors were a part of the original production. They were there for it. They knew what was going on.

However, I'm not saying all dubs are bad - just that the originals are usually better. I have found some dubs that I really like, though. I accidentally switched to the dub for Mushishi and didn't even notice it until I was halfway through the episode, that's how natural the voice acting in it was. Despite being an older anime, GitS:SAC also sounds amazing dubbed. Meanwhile, the Inuyasha dub, though I grew up on it, just sounds like raging sex if you listen to it without watching it... which is bad, since multitasking is one of the plus sides of something being in your own language. I'm also not a huge fan of the Cowboy Bebop dub even though people refer to it as the god of all dubs; the MC's voice actor is great, but a lot of the supporting characters fall out and lose that realistic tone, in my opinion. I also dislike the dub for Baccano, less because of the voice actors but more because of the pacing of the voices and the translate dialogue; it sounds a little awkward to me, but I do appreciate seeing an anime that's based in America be English. Ghost Hunt has a fairly decent dub, imo, even though I've heard some complaints about it; the characters may not sound as dramatic as they did in the original, but they're more realistic, in my opinion. They sound like real people (though I appreciate both the Dub and Sub equally for that anime).

There are only a few dubs that I honestly like out there, and it all rolls back to how natural it sounds and how well written the translations are. It varies from series to series. I think that any purist on either end of the debate is missing some good material.

I would say that i dont think the english dub really does not get the emotion

It depends.. It can go either way for me.

Japanese