Dubs or subs, which do you prefer?

[I.R Joey]

Both have strong points but I'm just curious. Sometimes a dub can be really messed up (Sailor moon.), but others like Bebop are really good. Subs however allow you to enjoy the show in its entierty, with the natural flow of the original language.

[redDragon]

I prefer subs....you get more of the feel of the emotions and well I just like them better....I think I've had reasons before but my brains in lala land right now

[oranthal]

i also prefer subs myself. i haven't heard princess mononoke's japanese audio track but i think the dub for it was very good. i also like tenchi's dub as well. those are about the only that i liked dubbed. record of lodoss war's dub was okay; not the worst i have heard but certainly not very good.

[The Mad Hatter]

Oh no, here we go... the eternal flaming anime topic.

Well, I say it depends. If an anime has absolutely spectacular Japanese voices, then by all means keep it. But if the Japanese voices in the anime are average at best... and believe me, there are many, many more of these with mediocre voices than many anime fans will admit... then I don't mind a dub, just as long as the english voices aren't crap (like so many of them are).

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Subs! Then, I can understand what's going on AND learn Japanese at the same time (yeah, weirdest reason here...;))! Plus, some dubs, as said, can be horrible. My example is Sonic Adventure-some English voices are awful compared to the Japanese...

[Joe Tully]

I am not really into anime, but I prefer dubbing. I haven't even tried subtitles much, but when I have, I haven't liked it because I'd rather be able to watch what's going on instead of reading lines along the bottom of the screen. I also don't think that, for me, the original voices help all that much. Just my opinion, maybe if I watched more I'd change my mind.

[Calhoun07]

Since I've never seen a discussion like this result in any converts or any positive results, I will just say dubs and leave it at that! And no flame wars, please!

[RockItShipper]

1. Subs

2. Raw Japanese (especially when it comes to Digimon and Pokemon- expressive VAs with nice voices and vocal ability that get cast when new parts come up, rather than keeping the same peeps on the payroll. It's actually cheaper than official subs, clearer picture and has commercials from Japan on it. :D)

3. Dubs (when all else fails or I'm not too big on a show to spend $ on it or there's nothing else on)

[Calhoun07]

I have to say I loved the foriegn laguage clips on the Simpsons DVD. If I could, I'd watch all the episdoes in dubbed Japanese!

[Failure]

If the dubbing is good, I prefer dubbing. I dont really like having to take my eyes of the picture to read the words. If the dubbing is bad, I can live with subtitles.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

No particular preference. Dubs are either good or bad, and Japanese actors can be either good or bad. If the dubbing is good enough, I will watch the dub first.

[Bird Boy]

ah geesh..I thought we were talking about the food "subs"...and I was wondering what "Dubs" was....lol

Anyway, I prefer dubbed. mainly cuz of my eyes. But in some ways, it can ruin a movie....IE: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...it absolutely stank (for me anyway)..but they say it's better not-dubbed..so..I dunno...

I did enjoy Princess Mononoke...and that was dubbed. So, yeah, I'm dubbed

-BB

[Fish]

Sub so much here.
The reason why I think I don't mind the texting is

1) I'm used to it. All movies in Europe ( northern anyway ) are subtitled and kids learn to read them when they are 8 without loosing whatever is going on at the screen, plus it's a great exercise for learning English - in this case Japanese.

2) the voices are usual better in japanese unless the US company that relases the Dubs really put some effort and money into finding some good voice actors.
US dub can be very good at times - I salute you!




http://www.theunholytrinity.org/cracks_smileys/ups/DeNiro/jaws.gif<>< F I S H ><> http://www.theunholytrinity.org/cracks_smileys/ups/DeNiro/jaws.gif

[kiddiesunshine]

I prefer a dub mostly. With subtitles, you have to read and try to watch everything, which can be hard sometimes. BUUUT, Some voice actors and actresses really, really suck.(Sailor Moon, I'm looking in YOUR direction.) As someone already said, subs and dubs both have their strengths and weaknesses.

[Salvor]

Originally posted by Failure
If the dubbing is good, I prefer dubbing. I dont really like having to take my eyes of the picture to read the words. If the dubbing is bad, I can live with subtitles.
Actually it doesn't work like this. Once you get used to them, the subs become part of the screen. You don't take your eyes off the scene, you get to see a whole...

Like Fish pointed out, we -Europeans- watch many subbed films... mainly because the market is riddled with American movies! And personally I can't stand dubs. They're too... awkward and disturbing. Most of the time they don't fit well.

[Kero]

Originally posted by RockItShipper

2. Raw Japanese (especially when it comes to Digimon and Pokemon- expressive VAs with nice voices and vocal ability that get cast when new parts come up, rather than keeping the same peeps on the payroll. It's actually cheaper than official subs, clearer picture and has commercials from Japan on it. :D)


All of the Dragon ball Z fansubs were off Japanese TV and some people say the quality is awful (but the commercials from Japan are a bonus acording to them).

Hopefully if they ever dub Ojamajo Doremi then it would be a good dub or at least have subtitled.

Kero

PS Sub

[Maxie Zeus]

--I like subs on anything that is in another language. But I haven't enough subbed anime to tell whether there are times when a dub would be better.

[Mr. Obsession]

It really depends on which version I see first.

If it's something my local club shows, or if I acquire fansubs that's usually going to be the version I stick with.

If it's something I saw on TV, then it's going to be dub.

And if it's a commercial release (DVD's are my friend :)) I usually give the Dub a chance. But if it assaults my auditory senses to the point where my ears contemplate suicide ;), then I'll switch to the sub.

[Singin' Stray Cat]

I lean ever so slightly in favor of the subs, for films in any language. I can read pretty fast, so there's not much of a problem missing the action.

[Calhoun07]

You know, come to think of it, there are foriegn films I couldn't imagine watching dubbed, like the French version of Cyrano De Bergerac, My Life as a Dog, Jean De Florette, Wings of Desire, and others. For live action foriegn films, I prefer subbed, but for anime I prefer dubbed. I suppose the lip synch thing bothers me more in live action cuz it's more noticeable.

Speaking of dubbed, watching dubbed versions of the Simpsons on the new DVD set is quite an exprience. Some of the voices they use in the different clips are so...off.

The only live action movie that's fun to watch dubbed....GODZILLA movies! Something about the lips not being in synch there add to the campiness of the movies.

[Lachesis]

Subs, definitely.

I think something's always lost in translation, and having specific numbers of syllables that have to match up makes things even worse. It's in my experience that you get used to watching stuff subtitled, and I think it's worth losing a little picture.

That and the mismatched dialogue speeds in dubs drive me crazy.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Keep in mind that if you want a *pure* experience, watching subs is only good if you can understand Japanese. Because sub translations are just as unreliable as dubs. There are many anime titles out there where the dub script is more accurate than the sub, strangely enough. Plus, a lot of recent subs have numerous typos and grammar problems--unacceptable for a professional release.

Now, even though I can't understand Japanese, I CAN sense good acting, and there are some titles where I pick the Japanese because the acting is better, or the voicing flows smoother.

[zero zero nine]

I'm with BB... in my Japanese class... at least twice a week we watch ANIME... and it's college... so violent anime is OKAY! but sometimes we watch boring japanese soaps :rolleyes:

[Maxie Zeus]

Ren & Stimpy's "Space Madness," dubbed into Japanese. It's even more strange and funny in another language than it is English.

[Calhoun07]

Now that I would pay good money to see! Hopefully when they put Ren and Stimpy out on DVD, they will give us different laguage tracks to have fun with!

[Batgirl_2005]

Ren and Stimpy on DVD? I shudder at the thought...

I've always prefered Subs... just because of how badly they screwed up Sailor Moon... I mean come on people!!! Haruka and Michiru... COUSINS?! grrrrrr.... and then they want to make the Starlights GIRLS?! *sigh*

Although Princess Mononoke was a great movie... and Outlaw Star was good the FIRST time it was on (but then CN realized there was ONE bad word so they HAD to take it off) (ok... Gene said it twice but that's not the point)

I loved the Sailor Moon R movie subbed and it wasn't TOO bad Dubbed but they took out some of the BEST parts!!! so i don't like dubbed...

[Starchild]

Right on Batchik! Sailor Moon R subbed totally rocked! Well, except for the fact that I had this 'friend' that "borrowed" my Sailor Moon R Japanese Subtitled Uncut *takes breath* video in around last Christmas and didn't give it back until AUGUST 2001!!! I wont mention any names of course *cough*batchik*coughcough* ... darn allergies... heh ^_^ But I'd have to say that I have a special place in my heart for both subbed & dubbed. I like 'em both! *gives subbed and dubbed big hug* ^_^ Well, except of course, for 'certain' lines in subbed, which are really cheesy and can grate on one's nerves.

[Batgirl_2005]

You say that like it was MY fault I never saw you Starchild!! and it WAS NOT xmas!!! it was ONLY just before school ended!!! and I didn't see you like all summer until our little classes we had... hmmmm... anyway...

[RockItShipper]

Originally posted by Kero


All of the Dragon ball Z fansubs were off Japanese TV and some people say the quality is awful (but the commercials from Japan are a bonus acording to them).

Hopefully if they ever dub Ojamajo Doremi then it would be a good dub or at least have subtitled.

Kero

PS Sub

I wasn't talking about any of the DB shows... I do have a couple fansubs from all 3 DB shows... image quality reeks, no commercials... But the one advantage over Poke and Digi stuff I pick up is that there's subtitles. I'm starting to understand more and more, tho'...