Subtitled or Dubbed?

[Darth Tyranus]

Or suffer from dyslexia, or simply aren't a fast reader.

Or on the off chance you have no desire to read a show that sounds perfectly fine in english.

Funny fact: American companies actually do a better job at lyp sync then Japanese.

Another fun fact some fnos actually don't like it acually being matched correctly. And in one case got into a fist fight with a voice actor. God damned otaku.

[red storm]

Such is the case for AIR. I would much rather see it subbed than dubbed. They do have dubbed versions which sound very off and the voice over actors con not pronounce the names right.

Since I have seen neither a single Japanese nor American episode of AIR, I can't comment back to you on that one.

Or on the off chance you have no desire to read a show that sounds perfectly fine in english.

*Shrug* or that.

[iliveatnightfall]

I personally would go with subs, you get the real deal exactly as the creator of the anime wanted it. I saw how some people say english voice actors do a better job of synching with the lips of the character, you know why? They change the script to make it fit. I mean not drastic changes but little words here and there. I guess some people don't mind, but I do. And they definitly don't show emotion as good as the japanese voice actors, you can't not notice it if you watch an anime in japanese then go to english, I can't stand it. Here's just one example iin particular I disliked, In samurai champloo, Mugen always screams at people and his voice is like one of a kind, the english actor sounded nothing like him and never sounded one bit enthused about anything. Horrible. The only way I would ever watch a dubbed anime again is if they get the original voice actors to learn english and say the same dialogue as they're suposed to and actualy act like they're suposed to. But that won't happen, so that's why I never watch dubbed anime.

[Gjallarhorn]

I personally would go with subs, you get the real deal exactly as the creator of the anime wanted it. I saw how some people say english voice actors do a better job of synching with the lips of the character, you know why? They change the script to make it fit. I mean not drastic changes but little words here and there. I guess some people don't mind, but I do.

Japanese is hard to translate to english, in the sense that the Japanese grammar does not match English gammar. Unlike most languages, Japanese is not derived from Greek or Latin. Because of this, people translate things differently, but it maintains the same meaning. They are not changing the words.

[_allismine_]

Yeah, like "baka" can translate to stupid, idiot, moron, retard, etc.
One problem with subs is when they translate the suffix "-sama". Japanese use "sama" for anything it could be, to older people, members of royalty, doctors and stuff. So "sama" doesn't have an exact translation; it could mean Mister, Missus, Princess, Prince, King, General, Leader, it's just a sign of respect.

[Skeith/Haseo Wave]

Japanese with subtitles. Every anime that is dubbed is completely raped in my opinion.

My point exactly!
When I tell my friends that, they look at me wierd

[Darth Tyranus]

My point exactly!
When I tell my friends that, they look at me wierd

Maybe it's because you sound like a filthy filthy otaku when you say crap like that.

They change the script to make it fit

Close but no cigar, the reason the english often matches better is because they actually care if it fits or not. Often in japan animation is made before the vocals are done an idea unheard of in american animation. So the reality is if the japanese vocals don't fit just right because of a mix of lazyness and apathy.

[iliveatnightfall]

Well my main point would have been that english voice actors sound like crap anyway, so it doesn't really matter. And if your watching anime on say Cartoon Network, you can't tell me with a straight face that they don't edit dialouge and even cut out scenes to make it "suitable" for americans. I don't watch anything fom there either.

[Regex]

Well my main point would have been that english voice actors sound like crap anyway, so it doesn't really matter. And if your watching anime on say Cartoon Network, you can't tell me with a straight face that they don't edit dialouge and even cut out scenes to make it "suitable" for americans. I don't watch anything fom there either.

They don't cut out scenes from Trigun. Dialogue is edited, so it's English instead of Japanese. I haven't watched enough of any of the other shows to know for sure, but I'm assuming it's very similar.

[Janethan23]

Well my main point would have been that english voice actors sound like crap anyway, so it doesn't really matter. And if your watching anime on say Cartoon Network, you can't tell me with a straight face that they don't edit dialouge and even cut out scenes to make it "suitable" for americans. I don't watch anything fom there either.

I agree
One of the main reasons that I forgot to mention in my post earlier was that other companies that are in charge of translating anime are also playing the role of censors. We got to admit that Japanese anime can be brutal and vulgar when it comes to depicting sex and violence. Whatever the category whether it's comedy, romance, suspense, horror, mecha, space etc. The Japanese are miles away from their western counterparts so I'm not usually surprised if they give an anime a makeover or overhaul just to make it acceptable to the american public.


It’s only lately that we see cartoons that are can be deemed offensive and disturbing are The Simpson’s, Family Guy, Drawn Together and South Park to name a few. Even though they have these cartoons of late it still falls short to what their Asian counterparts are capable of doing.

[iliveatnightfall]

EXACTLY! That is what I meant when I said change the script

[~Riyana~]

I dont care, either works for me, ^^' I'm more of a mangta person anyhow

[Trinity Muse]

I prefer subs. You can can listen to the original japanese voices and read the translations in english. But well, there are Dubbed versions that aren't complitely ruined.
P.S. I hate the dubbed version of Shaman king. 4kids really screwed it up.

[Regex]

There are some shows that were brought over to America, and modified to make them suitable for children. Sailor Moon, for example, was chopped up a bit so that children's networks felt comfortable showing it during their regular programming. This is different from the more adult-themed programs previously mentioned.

If you notice, Family Guy shows on Adult Swim, an adult oriented time slot on Cartoon Network. Along with that is Samurai Champloo, Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Neon Genesis Evangelion, etc. There is some censorship involved from the original dub to the "suitable for tv" dub. The differences between the dubs and subs are usually MINIMAL.

Those of you who believe that all dubbed anime is censored are no more right than the people who believe ridiculous stereotypes about different cultures. Show some respect for the art of a whole anime show, no matter which language is coming from your little television speakers. In most cases, they mean the same thing.

[_allismine_]

Yeah! And if you want the uncensored version you could always buy / rent / download / watch off of youtube.com ^_^

[Dosu-Ichigo]

Subbed whoops dubbed asss any day.

[Janethan23]

There are some shows that were brought over to America, and modified to make them suitable for children. Sailor Moon, for example, was chopped up a bit so that children's networks felt comfortable showing it during their regular programming. This is different from the more adult-themed programs previously mentioned.

If you notice, Family Guy shows on Adult Swim, an adult oriented time slot on Cartoon Network. Along with that is Samurai Champloo, Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Neon Genesis Evangelion, etc. There is some censorship involved from the original dub to the "suitable for tv" dub. The differences between the dubs and subs are usually MINIMAL.

Those of you who believe that all dubbed anime is censored are no more right than the people who believe ridiculous stereotypes about different cultures. Show some respect for the art of a whole anime show, no matter which language is coming from your little television speakers. In most cases, they mean the same thing.

As long as there are cultural differences in morality there will always be changes to an anime when it gets dubbed. Minimal or not I would prefer what the creators of the anime wanted it to be simply because it is their art or way expression of how they view things rather than see what other people with different interest view it. It's a pity that what's good for Japanese TV isn't usually good for other TV outside Japan.
_allismine_ said earlier that why not buy, rent or even download to avoid censorship all in all but that’s not the point entirely. We should get to watch these Anime made for TV uncut but classified (G, PG, M, MA15+, R18+) and given their appropriate timeslot the way the Japanese do it for their TV audience. Don't fix what isn't broken. No to censorship.

[Regex]

As long as there are cultural differences in morality there will always be changes to an anime when it gets dubbed. Minimal or not I would prefer what the creators of the anime wanted it to be simply because it is their art or way expression of how they view things rather than see what other people with different interest view it. It's a pity that what's good for Japanese TV isn't usually good for other TV outside Japan.
_allismine_ said earlier that why not buy, rent or even download to avoid censorship all in all but that’s not the point entirely. We should get to watch these Anime made for TV uncut but classified (G, PG, M, MA15+, R18+) and given their appropriate timeslot the way the Japanese do it for their TV audience. Don't fix what isn't broken. No to censorship.

Don't be ridiculous. That's not true at all. Read my post again, and notice the examples I gave that supported what I said. If you have specific examples within these, be my guest in pointing them out, but so far, all you've said is that "dubbing = censorship" which I've already shown why not.

[Darth Tyranus]

Tonight I decided to watch marcoss 2 in its japanese form. And while it beats the holy hell out of the absolutely miserable dub the show recieved it still brought out the same things I hated about watching subbed anime. For starters my eyes are always being drawn to the bottom of the screen to read the dialog, which makes it harder to admire the art style and animation, in the case of macross 2 both happen to be beautiful. Some of the lines flowed better and made a little bit more sense, but I liked the "you would turn on your god" line from the dub better than "you would destroy your master" in the sub.

And my final complaint is the japanese language has almost no range it's either chirpy or angry, that's really it. And it can be grading on my nerves after a while. So in the end it beat the dub (wasn't hard) but if I can stand the dub the sub will never get turned on.

[DNAngelDaisuke]

Well my main point would have been that english voice actors sound like crap anyway, so it doesn't really matter. And if your watching anime on say Cartoon Network, you can't tell me with a straight face that they don't edit dialouge and even cut out scenes to make it "suitable" for americans. I don't watch anything fom there either.

I agree all the way. I have both japanese with subtitles and dubbed of fruits basket. i like the japanese way better any way i hate reading it...

[Sakky]

Subtitled all the way.
It's just, better.

Yeah! And if you want the uncensored version you could always buy / rent / download / watch off of youtube.com ^_^

Haha, yay for Youtube! <3
That's where I watch most of my anime.
I mean, I've downloaded some.
But it's just easier to watch it on there.

[Reika Yagami]

well, i really like dubbed one but, the japanese w/ subtitles are also great. in my opinion english dub were also good and not that too shabby. but sometimes Subbing is better.

[_allismine_]

Yes, yes, I retract my previous statement. Not ALL the dubbed anime suck. Just about 65% of them. ^_^

[Miyukara]

I don't really have a preference, just whichever I first saw the anime as, I don't like having seen a subbed anime and then watching it dubbed, vice versa. I'm really picky about how they sound and when you watch one version and then the other they don't sound the same and that drives me crazy....<.<

[Darth Tyranus]

Yes, yes, I retract my previous statement. Not ALL the dubbed anime suck. Just about 65% of them. ^_^

Or how about just 65% of the awful shows you watch.