Is there something wrong with my preferences?

[Kouji Tamino]

Lately, I've been questioning my preferal of the English dub when watching anime. I've read several topics and taken several quizzes that belittled dub fans for not watching anime in it's original language. While I understand that the subtitled version is the original series, I just don't get the same enjoyment out of it as I do when I watch it in English. The only series that I can watch subbed is the Slayers television series, as I watched that on International Channel. In fact, I watch the movie 'Slayers Premium' subtitled most of the time.

Am I not a true anime for preferring the English version? :crying:

[Ferquin]

No.

You see, anime, like regular TV and movies, is meant to be seen without subtitles. You're supposed to simply watch it and understand it and soak in the visuals. The problem, of course, is that you can't understand the Japanese. That's where good dubs come in. As long as the dub conveys the correct intonations and meaning, then it's all good and you can watch anime like it's supposed to, except that it's in English.

I've been enjoying lots of anime in dub only like Last Exile, a series that really lays in on the visual action as well as having a good story. It wouldn't be nearly as fun to watch it if you had to quickly read subtitles in between actually watching the show. Watching without subtitles really lets you absorb the visual nuances of a series. Yes, granted it's not in it's native Japanese, and I also try to watch everything in its native language to fully appreciate the series, but watching an anime that is English dubbed well really lets you experience an anime in a slightly different but purer way in the visual sense.

[Weatherman]

I wouldn't say there's anything wrong with that on an overall basis. Certain shows like Azumanga Daioh and others like it that are deeply immersed in the niceties of Japanese culture and language would probably be better if watched in Japanese, but there's nothing really saying that one MUST watch everything in the native laguage.

[lostrune]

Lately, I've been questioning my preferal of the English dub when watching anime. I've read several topics and taken several quizzes that belittled dub fans for not watching anime in it's original language. While I understand that the subtitled version is the original series, I just don't get the same enjoyment out of it as I do when I watch it in English. The only series that I can watch subbed is the Slayers television series, as I watched that on International Channel. In fact, I watch the movie 'Slayers Premium' subtitled most of the time.

Am I not a true anime for preferring the English version? :crying:
Once upon a time, you would've been lynched for saying that. :D
(T'was a hard battle for moderation.)

[Keldran]

Yes, you're a freak, you big freak.


But really, you like what you like, and you shouldn't let other people tell you otherwise. There is no right or wrong way to watch anime.

[MrBananagrabber]

It comes down to personal preference. Watch a show in whatever language you enjoy most, and anyone else's opinion be damned.

[Arxane]

Am I not a true anime for preferring the English version? :crying:

Of course not. If you love anime as a genre, then you are a true anime fan, and whether you watched it subbed or dubbed does not matter. Some people can only enjoy their enjoy by watching it in their original language; likewise, there are others who cannot enjoy their anime in any language other than their own, i.e., dubs. There are people who claim that you must not watch anime unless it's in Japanese and will tell you this directly (and believe me, I've seen several of them), but these people tend to miss the point that anime is just a hobby and can be enjoyed several different ways.

Of course, it's always a good idea to be mindful of the other language track out of curteousy. Dub fans should always be respectful of the original language track, while subs fans would also do good to realize that dubs are not the work of Satan (at least not anymore).

But, when it comes right down to it, it's all about preference. Pick your language and have fun with it, because isn't that what anime is supposed to be? Fun?

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

Well, if you don't know Japanese, the dubs (and I mean all dubs. I watch anime in English and in French) are the way to go or subtitles.

[Lachesis]

Am I not a true anime for preferring the English version? :crying:

Of course not. But there are always differences between dubs and subs. Subs are generally more accurate, and do better at translating some of the stuff that dubs can't.

For instance, in "Outlaw Star" Jim always calls Gene "Gene" in the dub. In the original it's "Aniki," or "Big Brother." It's usually minor stuff like that, but it makes a difference to some people. Personally, I like both.

[IanC]

Ill just copy and paste my reply from animeondvd,

Just watch it as you like to and enjoy it.

[Master Moron]

You know I find it interesting that so many people like watching anime dubs, but then when it comes to a live action movie, like say the Italian film "Life is Beautiful" that won an Oscar a few years ago, people say dubbing the film is blasphemy. Seems kind of hypocritical.

Nevertheless, most of the time I prefer subs, but there are definitely some animes that are better appreciated dubbed, like Martian Successor Nadesico for instance. In Martian Successor Nadesico there are often scenes where there is more than one conversation going on at once, making it nearly impossible to understand in the subtitled version, since you can't match the words to the person saying them. I definitely prefer the dubbed version of Nadesico.

That being said subtitled versions are inherently better than dubbed versions because the translations are innacurate in dubs. Since the Japanese phrases and the English phrases have different numbers of syllables the translation has to be altered in order to make it match the lip flaps. But, a little inaccuracy is acceptable I suppose. Just as long as they don't change the music. The music is a lot more important to a scene than the dialogue.

[MrBananagrabber]

You know I find it interesting that so many people like watching anime dubs, but then when it comes to a live action movie, like say the Italian film "Life is Beautiful" that won an Oscar a few years ago, people say dubbing the film is blasphemy. Seems kind of hypocritical.

I think the difference is that it looks stranger/worse when you dub over an actual person's face than a cartoon.

[Youko Recca]

It doesn't matter. I watch Subs or Dubs depending on which is better. I'm not one of those "dubbies" or one of those "subbies", I just watch anime in the bettter form.

[Ben]

No.

You see, anime, like regular TV and movies, is meant to be seen without subtitles. You're supposed to simply watch it and understand it and soak in the visuals. The problem, of course, is that you can't understand the Japanese. That's where good dubs come in. As long as the dub conveys the correct intonations and meaning, then it's all good and you can watch anime like it's supposed to, except that it's in English.

Exactly. Subtitles aren't how they were "meant to be seen," in Japanese is how they were meant to be seen. If you don't know Japanese you're getting a translation either way. And the diff between anime and live action film is-- anime has three mouth positions most of the time: open, semi-open and closed. The live action human mouth has a kajillion mouth positions and ultimately dubbing live action looks so kitschy as to be nearly unwatchable for a serious film.

[Classic Speedy]

Nevertheless, most of the time I prefer subs, but there are definitely some animes that are better appreciated dubbed, like Martian Successor Nadesico for instance. In Martian Successor Nadesico there are often scenes where there is more than one conversation going on at once, making it nearly impossible to understand in the subtitled version, since you can't match the words to the person saying them. I definitely prefer the dubbed version of Nadesico. So true. And the VAs for Nadesico do a good job with the acting and differentiating the characters so they don't all sound alike. That's one advantage to a dub: More variety. Don't get me wrong, there are differences in Japanese voices too, but not being from the country or being able to talk Japanese, a lot of the voices tend to run together. I mean that in the most non-racist way possible. :)

I always watch both the dub and sub on a DVD (mostly for comparisons sake AND to see if there are differences in translation), but what do I choose 90% of the time when re-watching something? The dub.

[Arxane]

That being said subtitled versions are inherently better than dubbed versions because the translations are innacurate in dubs.

It all depends on how good the dub script adapters are, really. If they pay attention and understand the source material really well, then they'll convey the original meaning of the Japanese script as best they can.

And subtitle translations aren't always inherently more accurate than dub scripts. Japanese is sometimes a tricky language to translate, and a subtitle writer has to try to write a line that both translates the Japanese dialogue faithully and can be read in a reasonable amount of time when it flashes on the screen. Sometimes, a subtitle translation has to be condensed or otherwise altered slightly so as to come to a reasonable compromise, because people who prefer their anime subtitled wouldn't like mistimed subs. And, of course, it all depends on the subtitle translator *cough* Kevin McKeown *cough*

So while subtitle translations do have the benefit of not being confined by lip flaps, they also have their little nuances that prevent them from being 100% accurate. The only way a person can truly enjoy anime "in its original form" is to be fluent in Japanese and watch anime raw. And since most English-speaking anime fans don't have that luxury, we have to make our own decision on how to best enjoy that anime: either with the aid of subtitles or through an English language track.

[Demonic Raven]

Am I not a true anime for preferring the English version? :crying: Certainly not true. It all depends on personal preference and also which one is of better overall quality.

The usual case for me is I will watch both subs and dubs to see which I like better, but I usually go for the dub just because there is no subs to be reading and I can enjoy all of the visuals. However, if a dub happens to be piss poor, I won't hesitate to go for the sub. Just have to keep an open mind to these things and see which one is better for you.

[Riza Hawkeye]

Am I not a true anime for preferring the English version? :crying: Everyone has their own preferences, if you only like the dubs that's fine, if you only like the subs that fine as well. I think it is to your benefit to see the Japanese version too, but if you don't like subs you certainly don't need to watch it in Japanese. That's why most companies now release their DVDs with a sub and dub, so the choice is up to you.

I personally prefer subs over dubs most of the time, but that's just me. I feel the VAs are better in Japanese than in English, more often than not. There are some where I like both the sub and dub, Eva, Last Exile, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Inuyasha come to mind for me. There are some where will only want to watch the sub because I don't like the dub, Sailor Moon, Yu Gi Oh, and Gundam SEED. But really is all up to you, just watch which ever one you're most comfrotable with.

[Ben]

One thing to be said for subs is that you do absorb more of the Japanese cultural aspects if you watch in Japanese, purely because you're listening to a foreign langauge. Frankly, I think that does people good. But ultimately if your only goal in watching anime is to have a good time looking at cartoons then it's dollars to doughnuts.

[Mr. Pedro]

I don't see anything wrong with your preference. I normally watch dubs before subs (or use my DVD remote to switch jump around from the different audio tracks just for fun). I don't feel you're any more or less of a fan, based on what language you usually listen to.

Besides, I don't see anyone complaining that Shakespeare's plays are no longer performed in Olde English.

[IanC]

The usual case for me is I will watch both subs and dubs to see which I like better, but I usually go for the dub just because there is no subs to be reading and I can enjoy all of the visuals. However, if a dub happens to be piss poor, I won't hesitate to go for the sub.
Thats what i normally do, Initial D and Sailor Moon are 2 anime series i can think of right now where i cant stand the dub at all, so i watch the japanese track + subs

[Ben]

Besides, I don't see anyone complaining that Shakespeare's plays are no longer performed in Olde English.

That's not really analogous to this situation, since nearly all words in Old English have exact equivalents in modern English, so the loss of meaning in translation is little-none. But I know what you're trying to say.

[Hordesman]

To each their own is something you will hear of more and more in the coming years in the consumer market. You've got more retailers moving towards a specialty model: online sales, conventions, tourist area stores, mail catalogues. One day Wal-Mart may sell you the iPod and TiVo set-up and computer, for example as they are now moving towards taking the lead in consumer electronics, but you buy/program the content you want elsewhere.

Personally, I don't think the dub quality is good enough. In many cases, the voice talent compensates for the animation quality in the original Japanese production. But dub companies tend to hire from an inhouse group of VAs or outsource to Canada. I'm not asking for an identical performance as much as the best one possible. 4Kids should have had someone of Takeshi Kaga's talent (star power, too, perhaps but I know they like to skimp) in the dub of Pokemon 2, just as the French dub of the Shrek movies had a well-known comedian (Alain Chabat) covering the title role. There has to be better performances. I know voice talent is a bigger deal in Japan, beginning with people who could get huge followings for reading silent movie intertitles at the beginning of the 1900s to the vast market in character vocal CDs today. But really, quality is its own best investment. And I simply don't see it in most anime dubs.