Dub first or Sub first?

[Artemis]

And you thought with DVD the Dub vs. Sub arguments would cease to exist. Not so! Because you are faced with a decision everytime you pop that fresh new anime DVD into your DVD player: Which version do I watch first? The Dub? Or the Sub?

It's usually a pretty easy decision to make. You know what you prefer. So how about letting us know? What version do you watch first?

[Karl Olson]

I'll watch it with dub and sub on so I can check the translation and spot contrasts. After that point, I watch it with whatever voice cast I like best. Granted with some of my DVDs (my cardcaptor sakura dvds and my magical project s dvds), I've only got sub. Also, if it's something I've watched on TV, I usually watch the dub because that what I'm used to. However, if it's a painful dub, sub wins.

[RZetlin]

I watch sub first then compare it to the dub.

[Masamune2052]

I watch the dub first then the sub.

[Barb Gordon]

Sub....mmm yummy. If I can, I always prefer to see an anime the way it's seen in Japan, with the added benefit of subtitles. I don't mind dubs, watch them all the time, but some are quite badly done, and I find it to be a shame that that's the only version some people see of an anime series.

~Barb

[Jude Santos]

it depends, when the dub is done by Bang Zoom or Animaze, i watch the dub first and the sub second. but if the dub is by IS&M (ADV's dubbing studio), i just watch the sub, becuase i honestly dont like the ADV voice actors/tresses.

as for the rest, like FUNi's dubs, i watch sub first then dub.

[VinceA]

I watch the dub first without subs then I'll occassionally watch the dub with the subs on to check for script variations. I rarely listen to the Japanese audio track.

[Proteus3]

Unless it is coming on television, I always watch the sub first.

[Zebi]

I enjoy dubs if they are done well, so I usually give the dub a try first. Most of the time when I first sit down to watch a new anime DVD, it's in the evening, and if I'm tired, I don't want to read the subtitles. Also, I will watch some of the DVDs with my niece if they are appropriate for her to watch (she's almost 9), and she prefers dubs.

I'll give the dub a try first, and then usually watch additional viewings of the episode in Japanese with subtitles. But usually, only if a dub is horrid will I avoid it altogether.

[Poser Wannabe]

English Sub and Dub together the first time. If I like the VA and if it works along with the sub than I will leave it. I only change over to Japanese track when I can't stand the VA, or they take way too many freedoms and ruin the script.

But I always have subs on, no matter which language is playing. It’s kind of a habit now, I watch all my DVD’s with subs on now, lol.

[Chris Wood]

I generally just watch the original Japanese version, and if there are some points that were confusing (and there usually are) I might seek out a subtitled version.

[Masamune2052]

Has anyone seen dub dialogue that's better than sub dialogue? Only thing I can think of is ep. 16 of Inu Yasha where Miroku thinks about the Shikon shard around Kagome's neck.....and her breasts. Other than that the sub always comes out on top.

[Czar Gato]

It depends. If I've seen it on TV before, I try the sub first. If it's new for me, I watch dub, then sub, then I compare the changes made in the dub to the original.

[Ajax]

The way I see it is if its dub then there is no reason for me to watch the sub but if there is only a sub then no problem. I'm not that critcial of VA anyways.

[sl4]

Originally posted by Comic Book Guy
The way I see it is if its dub then there is no reason for me to watch the sub but if there is only a sub then no problem. I'm not that critcial of VA anyways.

I agree. I have no problem with watching subtitled anime, but I would always prefer a dubbed version. If a certain voice actor isn't very good, I don't care as long as I can understand what they're saying.

Even the awful 4kids dubs are watchable.

...Did I just say that?

[joshualane]

I play the dub and very rarely ever check out the sub.

I'm always doing two or three things at once, so it's much easier for me to be able to just listen to the dialogue as opposed to reading it. That, and I trust that the studios are doing good jobs about keeping the translation as accurate as possible. And if there's a minor change here and there, I'm fine with that...as long as the overall story is maintained.

[Mike Toole]

I make a point to enjoy both, but I usually do the dub first, unless there's something wrong with it (bad translation, grating performance, etc.).

[Matthew Williams]

A mix. If it's a really good dub (Gundam Wing) or if I'm used to how it is on TV, then I'll check out the dub but I'll also make it a point to check the sub. If the dub is completely awful (DBZ), then it's subtitled all the way. Sub and dub-only DVDs are a no-brainer.

[Zechs]

It depends on which one I can get my hands on.

[Mynd Hed]

I always give the dub a chance first. If it's really grating on my ears, I'll switch to sub. If a series or movie sufficiently intrigues me, I'll then usually watch it over again with the sub even if the dub is good, to see if there are any significant translation changes. This has rewarded me on several occasions, even if there are no big plot changes there are often a few little subtleties that the dub translation misses out on (the Big O is a good example of this, the dub is great but there are a few niggling little plot points that the sub translation gives clearer hints on).