Anime Fansub

dubbed stuff just sounds terrible imho, same with films, i just cant stand them because they always tend to dub them with really silly english/american voices that sound like they belong on cartoon characters :P

subtitles 4 lyfe

(ID #56746) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:26

reply to Hwang's comment

I completely agree with you. Like I watched FMA and I loved it and then I saw it on Adult Swim and the Dubs weren't that bad but it wasn't close to the original. Also with Lucky Star I watched it and then I saw a dubbed version and I turned it off within 1 min. Long story short Sub > Dub

(ID #483118) Posted on 2009/02/11 03:51

reply to link1080's comment

not a dub person...
there are few Dubs out there that are REALLY good (actually, I started watching Samurai Champloo b/c the English dub wasn't bad, although I still watched it RAW).

as well, it's hard to translate Japanese jokes if they are dub, b/c it would become some kind of lame joke here...

SO I watch them straight RAW.  When I can't find them RAW, I don't mind subs (although I get pissed when they sub it wrong...)

(ID #56748) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:33

reply to Barsona's comment

The only good dub that I've stumbled upon is the person who did the english VA for Kratos Aurion in Tales of Symphonia and Luke Fon Fabre in Tales of the Abyss. Other than that, either the VA doesn't put in any emotions for the character at all or its just off totally.

So unless I hear from someone that the VAs is actually good, I won't bother watching or play the game in english =__=!

(ID #56750) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:36

reply to Elozt E. Elric's comment

True true. But I guess because Yuri (that's VA's first name) is a veteran when it comes to voice acting. 

Other than that, some companies ARE trying to be geared towards more "Professional Voice Acting" but isn't usually enough for most people. There are exceptions to this such as ToS, ToA, and of course the best game dub I've found so far, Persona 3 (both an epic game with excellent voice acting minus 2 or 3 people).

Anyways, be glad the CEO of the company from the game your buying doesn't cheap out on voice acting like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAtC1SzWSXg
Mind you THIS IS the actual dub. Only because the stupid CEO of this company used his family and friends for this -.-''. I puked blood after watching this. Is one of them gay?!

(ID #312791) Posted on 2008/09/25 10:44

reply to NightFoxXIII's comment

 I prefer to watch them subbed, that way I get the benefit of the diverse Japanese voice actors. 
 Here in the States you get to know the few voice actors the distributors have and gets hard to dissociate them from there most memorable performances and characters! 
 The "Anime" is truly a Japanese phenomenon and to enjoyed should be consumed in it's purest form. Ala Japanese with Subs.
 (Shameless self promotion) I love it so much I started http://animetreehouse.com to help people search for their favorite fansubs. 

(ID #56751) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:38

reply to Mr.Boy's comment

I like Anime aswell, I prefer to watch it in Japanese with Sub due to the fact that I know no Japanese. Dubs tend to change the characters from the previous due to the accent and voice.

For End of Evangelion Dub was okay-ish, the Japanese subs was the worst. It was literally the english script... ¬_¬ 

(ID #56752) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:46

reply to SG's comment

If I had the time, I would watch it subbed, but I don't. I commonly watch anime while doing other things, ( not looking at the screen 100% ) so lately I've been getting dubbed.

(ID #56756) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:52

reply to gusgus's comment

oh....超時空要塞マクロス　愛・おぼえていますか.
I love that anime too! Actually top on my list!
Never like dubbed version of anime, even before I learn Japanese language.

(ID #56757) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:57

reply to Ryori no tetsujin's comment

I just can't stand english dub x.x it sounds horrible imo  ^^;  although growing up there are some dubbed titles that I watched through local television , back when cable and  internet aint so popular yet xD 

hare hare yukai english version gave me goosebumps lol scary +_+

right now my goal is to learn japanese so i can play eroges without stress~ ^_~ 

(ID #56758) Posted on 2007/09/13 18:57

reply to Zyg's comment

Lol w/o having to wait for say patches like the rest of us? 

(Like the one of many who are waiting for that dang HEAVEN'S FEEL route patch! No offense Mirror-Moon ><")

(ID #312793) Posted on 2008/09/25 10:46

reply to NightFoxXIII's comment

I'm a die-hard sub-only fan, so subbed for me.  Hell, half the time I don't even use the subs.  I always hear people say that learning Japanese through anime is a horrible way due to slang, but combined with the proper learning materials and study guides, I feel it's a wonderful way to learn colloquial Japanese.

(ID #56759) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:02

reply to Tom's comment

never watch any more dub anime. 
Actually watching dub make me hate that anime, because the dub voices are SOooo bad.
voice actresses/actor in Japan are just way way way superior those in English and Chinese (the only dub I ever saw).

most of my anime is sub, some raw only when the story is not complex as death note. but eventually will left of the sub.

(ID #56760) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:05

reply to J.L's comment

always subbed anime, the italian voices are for the most horrible =.='''

(ID #56761) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:15

reply to Pippo's comment

dubs suck i only watch dubbed anime when i loose hope in finding the raw subtitled version i think dubs sound awfull the only time i've watched a dubbed anime it was gundam wing when i was young dubbed in arabic witch sucked 10 times more than english

(ID #56762) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:19

reply to achraf1989's comment

Wow.  Lots of dub haters. ^_^

Not trying to rock the boat.  To each their own I always say.

as for myself, it depends on the series.  There are some shows I prefer dubbed over subbed (Bebop being one of them, Ghost Stories another [I refuse to play the Sub on that one]) and vice versa (YUA for example).

After having spoken to several American VAs at conventions, I've grown to appreciate what they do.  I've come to the understanding that they're not trying to emulate the Japanese VAs word for word/ emotion for emotion  rather they try to make the character their own.

It's not to say though that all dubs are amazing pieces of work.  Gods no!

But I could never consider myself a hardcore Dub or Sub fan

(ID #56763) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:37

reply to bob-san's comment

I'm the same as your. There are some really good english dubs out there. Bebop is defiantly one of the best. There are some rather rancid ones too. I'm sure they could say the same about the Japanese VAs too. I'm sure we wouldn't notice a bad performance since we are not used to hearing the Japanese language.

(ID #311468) Posted on 2008/09/24 08:06

reply to AlikaMorein's comment

OMG, didn't know they actually dubbed Hare Hare Yukai :S (what a blasphemy, okay, that's the Haruhi-fanboy talking)  It sounded so horrible I just stopped in the middle.
Hare Hare Yukai original, definitely.

Same goes for everything else, I just refuse to watch dubbed anime ;p. Mainly because I've heard some very bad dubs before. It sounds much too American... I just buy the American dvds because they have english subtitles.
My opinion is that the original is still the best because that's the way it was meant to be made.

(ID #56764) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:39

reply to Hatix's comment

I never watch fansubs, prefer to actually buy official region 2 dvds. When I watch my anime dvds I usually turn off the subs & dub audio and play it in its original japanese 2.0 dolby format. The original japanese voice acting talent is Always superior plus there are certain things in the japanese language you just cant imitate in english.

(ID #56765) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:44

reply to Subaruhess's comment

For me it's somewhat split. I watch a fair bit of subbed anime, but I prefer dubbed if it's actually good enough quality. I've watched Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Mars Daybreak and many other fairly major ones in their dubbed versions and they were actually quite good. I will admit though that there is  a fair number of bad dubs. namely everything that actually makes it on TV. I notice that 4Kids -always- sucks, while ADV is almost bearable and Geneon is usually good enough for viewing or sometimes even as good as the original.  I think if I was more fluent in Japanese I would likely watch more RAWs though...mostly from being too impatient to wait for it to be subbed or dubbed. ;)

(ID #56766) Posted on 2007/09/13 19:44

reply to CyruzDraxs's comment

Better original, please. But not only anime, also in movies or games, I think you enjoy more of them if you have the original audio, japanese, english, no matter what.

In general, here the dubbed anime and games is horrible. The voices usually don`t suit with characters, or the pronounciation is awful. 

(ID #56767) Posted on 2007/09/13 20:05

reply to thefrikking's comment

dubb sounds odd + bad ... the end
and they dun have enough VA for dubbed stuff

(ID #56770) Posted on 2007/09/13 20:21

reply to シャキー's comment

pretty sure everyone will pick raw japanese with sub, hearing fireball no jutsu from sasuke makes me wanna kill myself :p

(ID #56771) Posted on 2007/09/13 20:25

reply to Triplekia's comment

I prefer subtitle for everything, movies, games, anime, etc.  Dub sounds just weird for whatever language it is for.

(ID #56773) Posted on 2007/09/13 20:34

reply to toxicmind's comment

@ Triplekia 
concure!!
Naruto = one of the worst dubb anime ever lol

(ID #56774) Posted on 2007/09/13 20:37

reply to シャキー's comment

Don't get me started... I have yet to hear good anime dubs. I have nothing against it if the voice acting was good, but they're not. Now I know that some of the japanese counterparts are no better, but at least I don't understand what they are saying.

And currently, it seems that the anime dubbing industry has some sort of impression of what sounds good for anime voice overs, and are constantly using the same types of terrible voices for mainstream anime. Naruto, Pokemon, Dragonball Z, Inuyasha, they all have the same gratingly terrible and annoying voices!

(ID #56775) Posted on 2007/09/13 20:47

reply to RadiantDreamer's comment

Oh, don't mention the Pokémon dub... D= After one or two eps of the dub, I immediately went off searching for a sub. The character names don't fit them, the voices are awful, and the songs phail. Japanese Pocket Monsters FTW!

(ID #332206) Posted on 2008/10/13 03:26

reply to Destinii Haruya's comment

Well, I liked them both; the English dub didn't sound half bad, and it just flowed.

It's really important, especially regarding songs like this, that the lyrics don't sound awkward.

In general, I prefer the original, though, so that makes me part of the majority, according to the poll.

The anime we get here in The Netherlands these days is horribly dubbed. Compared to the US, the US has an ample supply of voice actors, as to here we don't have jack.
Sailor Moon sounds like Misty from Pokémon, just because they share the same VA, who is unable to act with her voice alone.

I saw a sample of a Dutch dubbed Bobobobobo the other day, and while I'm happy that we are getting more anime on Dutch TV, the acting downright sucks.

A pity, really, as there is so much available.

We had properly dubbed anime, by the way; when I was young, I watched Nils no Fushigi na Tabi, Spoon Baa-chan, Alps no Shoujo Heidi, Candy Candy and many more; properly dubbed, and on prime time TV. But that was over 25 years ago, the times, they are changing.

(ID #56778) Posted on 2007/09/13 20:53

reply to Kaj's comment

i like the Raw Japanese with subtitles because since i'm learning japanese helps a lot

(ID #56779) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:12

reply to i'm mr. danger's comment

RAW.....but with subs.As far as I'm concerned it's a rule I apply on anything I view from wherever it originates from.
The OV and subs.:p

(ID #56780) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:16

reply to krapou's comment

Yeah baby I like it raw!!!!!!

(ID #56781) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:20

reply to Hayden's comment

English dub for sure.  It's more enjoyable that way for me and I do think there are quite a few good performances.  Since buy the dvd for almost everything I watch, I do go back and watch the Japanese dub as well.  Most of the time I connect better with the English dub than the listening to anime dubbed in Japanese.    

(ID #56782) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:21

reply to super rats's comment

Seriously tho....american dubbing is so crap - im not saying they always do a crap job but they do most of the time. such retardedness as giving a child an adults voice??? its like a baby singing barry white as he's being born

(ID #56783) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:23

reply to Hayden's comment

HA HA HA ... :D TRUE!

(ID #347762) Posted on 2008/10/27 04:27

reply to ecchi_otoko's comment

that english version of hare hare yukai is simply an abomination to everything that is good in this world awfull 

(ID #56784) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:31

reply to achraf1989's comment

raw with subs. I prefer to watch everything with the original audio. The dub can't "translate" the feelings which the originals actors/seiyuu expressed. So - use subs ;)

(ID #56785) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:46

reply to Sauronu's comment

Okay, two things. One, songs never sound good when they are translated from english into something else or vise versa. They just sound like a bastardization without harmony. Second, even though I prefer the original Japanese with subtitles, there are a lot of good dubs out there. I grew up watching anime dubbed, so I cant complain about it. Everyone has their preferences, and Im tired of people that watch it in the original Japanese with subtitles making such a big deal about it. If you want to impress someone, watch it WITHOUT subtitles in Japanese! Maybe you will learn something then. (the nice thing about subtitles is they usually explain what a japanese word means if it pops up). Have a nice day!

(ID #56787) Posted on 2007/09/13 21:57

reply to DRAGUN's comment

Original with Subs...haha actually thats how I started learning japanese...with a dictionary and some food....Besides, most of the dubbed titles are awful...to be sincere they SUCK!!!!! its like watching Lord of the Rings in Spanish or japanese....When you dont hear it in its original audio it just doesnt feel right, you get the sensation that somethings missing ^^

(ID #56788) Posted on 2007/09/13 22:06

reply to Timerswing's comment

I grew up watching anime raw, without subtitles, and relying on my step-mother to provide translation (which she wasn't inclined to do).  I only had significant experience seeing English dubs later.  

Most dubs are terrible, but the simple fact is that Japanese dialogue delivery generally doesn't convert well to English.  It doesn't help that most companies doing the dubbing do a really, really awful job of it.  Sometimes it's the actors, sometimes it's the scripters, sometimes it's the directors, and sometimes it's the executives.  

In my opinion, the Disney dub of Kiki's Delivery Service would have been excellent if executives hadn't decided to unnecessarily add music to intentionally-silent scenes and completely miscast one character because they felt it needed a different type of delivery.  

Gundam Wing is a good example of an English dub that's not too far behind the Japanese...  but mainly because the Japanese delivery was pretty lackluster by industry standards.  It certainly stands head and shoulders above most other English dubs, though.  

My friends occasionally tell me "Don't worry, this dub is actually pretty good."  They're usually very, very wrong.  

I've stopped watching dubs completely.  My Japanese isn't good enough to forgo subtitles, though, which raises another issue for me:  Most commercial subs are also not that great.  Even the few I can think of that impressed me almost all have moments that made me see red when I noticed unnecessary changes or mistranslation.  

And so I mostly stick to fansubs.  Sure, they generally aren't any better than the commercial subs, but they frequently are (at the very least, the care and love for the original work shines through)...  and I have much higher standards for items I pay money for.  

(ID #56789) Posted on 2007/09/13 22:14

reply to Mac's comment

This is a fandub.

(ID #56790) Posted on 2007/09/13 22:15

reply to super rats's comment

...and let me just add that the Hare Hare Yukai dub you presented is pretty terrible.  

It's really the only time that I've felt the vocals matched the characters, but the technical quality in every single aspect (singing, mixing, mastering) is AWFUL.  

There are some talented, committed people working in the American anime import industry.  Sadly, they are in the minority.  

(ID #56791) Posted on 2007/09/13 22:18

reply to Mac's comment

I had to stopped the dubbed song of Hare Hare Yukai.  It sounded worse than nails on a chalkboard.  So unharmonized.

But no, I personally prefer RAW with subtitles with only a few exceptions of the English dubbed anime.  There are good ones but then there are the ones that can't match the scene or just plain sound annoying. coughcoughNarutocoughcough

But the one thing I like about the RAWs is that it helps me with my self teaching of Japanese.  Though it's not a great way of learning, it's a bit of a start.  I usually learn the simple words or phrases and sometimes I try and catch them when I'm not looking at the subtitles.

(ID #56792) Posted on 2007/09/13 22:20

reply to Demacrez's comment

Subtitles all the way as I enjoy the intonations of the Japanese voice actors.  Also, a great way to passively pick up some syntax and key words like: demo, onegai, nani which are used alot; of course not enough for me to know the language, but fun nonetheless.

(ID #56793) Posted on 2007/09/13 22:30

reply to Neurorelay's comment

Raw Japanese with subtitles all the way. Its not that I have anything against English but I can't stand English dubs because most of the series I tried to watch in English I noticed that the voices needed some more character to it, the actors don't quite represent what the characters are feeling, the only dubbed anime I prefer over raw Japanese is the Street Fighter II animation movie. Of course there are many countries which do very good dubs, for example I love Spanish dubs, I watched loads of Spanish anime dubs and they're really good although a bit dirty swearing all over the place like in Tenjo Tenge and Full Metal Alchemist. Portuguese are not bad but could be better, I especially like when our dubbers put the characters saying  funny things that only "we" (Portuguese) understand. 

(ID #56795) Posted on 2007/09/13 22:56

reply to CrazyAnimeTuga's comment

I prefer my anime raw or subbed. Some dubs are alright, but most are unacceptable. Aegisub is actually pretty easy to use and pretty much a defacto standard tool for subbing. That and using aftereffects. Fansubbing is actually pretty fun :).

(ID #56796) Posted on 2007/09/13 23:09

reply to vtcool's comment

okay.. for the voices i like dub so i can concentrate on whats going on and not worry about reading.. but the songs...yaaaaaaaaa...... originall japanese please..s ince they usally have atleast a semi professional singing while in dub world... its whoever they can find.. which sucks.. fortuantly most leave the orginal songs intact..

(ID #56797) Posted on 2007/09/13 23:10

reply to bolt's comment

Oh wow, Hare Hare Yukai sounds terrible on dub.  I could've done without hearing it like that, though I'm sure there are some people who like it more that way.

(ID #56799) Posted on 2007/09/13 23:43

reply to Angelus's comment

初めてアニメを見たりの時、だいたい英語ダビ版を見た。

自分のパソコンとインテネトをありますで、それから、ファンサブを見ます。今ファンサブも見ますけど、ロー(raws)に転換している　^^;

I started off with english dubs as they were the only thing available then.

After I got my own PC and internet connection, it was fansubs. I still watch fansubs but I'm switching over to raws.

(ID #56801) Posted on 2007/09/13 23:58

reply to windbell's comment

Subbed plz! Dubbing is just terrible....

(ID #56802) Posted on 2007/09/13 23:59

reply to FEARtactics's comment

Raw Japanese with sub will do for me!

Danny wat u experience back in England those day was like i experience before!

I used to only watch dupped anime when i was still a kid, remember watching Dragon Ball Z, Yu Yu Hakushou, Eva and Ranma in Cantonese.

Then later the demand of watching anime began to rise and i just cant wait for them to dub it so i began watching anime with sub since i dunno japanese.

Only then i notice that the quality of the japan anime. Those dub version has lousy voice over, u can get to hear the same person taking over multiple character voice and almost every anime in Cantonese u get to hear their voice.
 

(ID #56803) Posted on 2007/09/14 00:06

reply to Sotb's comment

no, in martial art movies, it was cool. in anime, just painful.

(ID #312441) Posted on 2008/09/25 02:35

reply to kakouton's comment

my hair on my arm stood upon hearing the dub of hare hare yukai

think for most of us, we like fansubs...Raw might be something sooner or later for those studying japanese...

(ID #56805) Posted on 2007/09/14 00:11

reply to Tiny Red Man's comment

For Anime, I don't mind if it's dubbed or subbed. If it's aired on TV and handled well, I'll watch it dubbed...but, American dubbing has became a bit stale. I can watch one title, and recognize one actor's voice from a completely different title...and sometimes, it sounds like the same voices for both characters. 
As of late, for DVDs, I'll watch it on Japanese(aturally for Fansubs. :) )..think the same person is doing one character from another series, and find out it's a completely different person that's providing the voice. I kind of like that surprise. 
For Foreign Live Action, I prefer it purely in the native language. I find it a bit disrespectful to dub a living person/actor's voice, cause they could act their heart out and give their best performance ever...but if the performance gets hit with bad dubbing(either improper voice match, or just half-way done)  it kind of ruins it. 

T

(ID #56806) Posted on 2007/09/14 00:14

reply to Taaron's comment

Ugh! Please Subs over Dubs.  Am I the only one who find the Japanese language somewhat soothing.  I'm american and to hear and watch Haruhi butchered like that hurts.  Aside from the timing, the voices just never seem to match the characters.

(ID #56807) Posted on 2007/09/14 00:29

reply to Negative's comment

Sub over dub

There are only a few dubs which I could stand, and those are usually the ones where the script actually sounds ok in english, but stuff like Haruhi in english? I dunno if i could handle that @_@;

(ID #56809) Posted on 2007/09/14 00:46

reply to Aya Kyunik's comment

Omg that English dubbed Hare Hare Yukai sounds horrendous. Subs always.

(ID #56810) Posted on 2007/09/14 01:25

reply to Kenny Liu's comment

it's diffirent too much !i'm feeling hearing two diffirent song. But it's so interesting, too ^.^

(ID #56813) Posted on 2007/09/14 01:42

reply to HentaiBlade's comment

subs only pls. no disrespect to the dubbers but the dubs just sounds horrendous like a car crash. and if you think english dubs are bad, wait till you get a load of malay dubs.(speaking as a malaysian) 

(ID #56814) Posted on 2007/09/14 01:43

reply to Setsuna-san's comment

I prefer subtitled, mind you I have seen some horendous (fan)subbed anime from Hong Kong, where at times I needed subs for the subs. The Dubs I don't mind to much if care is taken, but most of the time the voices don't seem to match the characters.

(ID #56815) Posted on 2007/09/14 01:52

reply to iMM's comment

like 95% of people here i prefer subs. I think that subs are more pure in the sense that the creators of the anime choose their voice actors to match the characters the way they have envisioned them to be. And to be honest after hearing the raw, dubs sound kinda lame.

(ID #56816) Posted on 2007/09/14 01:53

reply to 0shift's comment

i much prefer anime in raw japanese with english subs ^^

sometimes i get to be picky with the subs and subbers that i choose 'coz there are some that focuse more on the speed of their releases rather than the quality of their subs and there's a tendency that their grammar is wrong and even the spelling..."I love corm" anyone? lolz

it's very rare to see fast subbers with good quality subs ^^

(ID #56817) Posted on 2007/09/14 01:56

reply to Henry's comment

Definitely raw with subtitles preferable. Dubbed just doesn't sound right most of the time to me.

Btw, about the electronic dictionary is it really that good? Thought of getting it, but cannot still see how it will help me a lot. Which electronic dictionary is good? I need one with English support ^^.

After living here for a year and half I can only barely make out parts of the conversation when talking to native japanese, they speak so fast はやい！.

(ID #56818) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:06

reply to xenohawk's comment

I prefer subtitles by fans. It's not because they're free but rather they do it better than those commercial ones. You'd see the quality's better if they're made by people who love the show. I also like how fans subtitle the show with notes regarding japanese puns and culture on situations shown.

As for dubbed, Viz's Ranma is by far the best translated and voice-acted. Next to it is the old Pioneer (those who dubbed the first El Hazard). 

And not to be biased, Pinoy dub rocks! They don't dub them just because it's work. They dub them with passion for they love the show! And often times they adjust the script suited to pinoy satire (Trigun,  Yakitate Japan are a few examples of amazing Pinoy dubs)

(ID #56819) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:16

reply to jorweeck's comment

That english dub of Hare Hare Yukai is horrible! I prefer my anime subbed, there are only a few anime shows/movies that I think are better than the Japanese dubs. Cowboy Bebop and Akira (Streamline version) come to mind. 

(ID #56820) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:32

reply to Otaku Surf's comment

dubbed japanese anime is...............HORRIBLE
i prefer subs with original japanese better.

(ID #56821) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:36

reply to No Name's comment

I must admit I find dubs by the Ocean Group (From Vancouver, Canada) rather fine, because there can be much worse out there, especially when the translation is done by people who don't care. I still remember my younger days in France, where every name in anime was butchered and given a French counterpart and dubs were made by amateurs (some stood out nicely though). Hopefully this is not the case anymore.

I stopped watching anime on television because TV companies mix them with local crap and don't always pick the best around to not shock the youth.

Nothing beats fansub because it respects the original essence, mostly the songs but more importantly the awesome work of seiyuu (I don't need to go for an emphasis on their cult-like in Japan, that I fully understand?) and the life they literally put into characters?

To return to some bad example, even to this very day, I'm still shocked and outraged at the English version of Hare Hare Yukai and Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu and I feel I will never accept it as a decent dub.

(ID #56822) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:37

reply to D_Blade's comment

up to this very day, i still haven't find any good dubbed anime (even the ghibli movies i still prefer the japanese)

so yeah i prefer to see raw Japanese with dub, up until now it helps me alot to enrich my Japanese vocabulary and expressions, also it's good to train your listening comprehension in Japanese.

(ID #56823) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:39

reply to bluki's comment

Henry, you are definitely right. Upon choosing a translation team, you also pick their beliefs, values, work practices, policies and many more points.
Taking the wrong one can make you get disgusted from the very anime series you wanted to try, in the worst cases.

Never haste, choose carefully, never generalize... And anime will remain your faithful friend. ;)

(ID #56824) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:43

reply to D_Blade's comment

I have always prefer my anime in the original language and sub, though I did started watching dub anime when I was young. Usually those are dub in malay which is very bad :(. I have watch some cantonese dub anime which are pretty good, as for english dub I haven't really watch any yet, but since I started to get R1 dvd I might just give it a try :)

(ID #56825) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:49

reply to valho's comment

it apply to any kind of movie, drama, anime.
subbed only!
dubbed sound so stupid n fake.

(ID #56826) Posted on 2007/09/14 02:53

reply to 3den's comment

usually watch it subbed!

(ID #56827) Posted on 2007/09/14 03:27

reply to Kite_DH's comment

Oh my god, Hare Hare Yukai dubbed is making my ears bleed. I never want to hear that again.

Original sound w/ dubs always.

(ID #56828) Posted on 2007/09/14 03:32

reply to V1lt R's comment

Hearing the dubbed version kinda make go sick in the stomach.

I would have to choose the japanese version, subbed and raw. Either way, I still can learn from both of them ^^.

(ID #56830) Posted on 2007/09/14 04:33

reply to farrroarz's comment

Dubbed? No way.
To me, Raw (with subs) is what makes it anime

(ID #56831) Posted on 2007/09/14 04:36

reply to Lazy Fiend's comment

Hearing the dubbed makes me sick. In a way, horrible. But you gotta give credit for those trying to make it sound just alright.

I would prefer to watch raw and subbed verions than dubbed cuz I could still learn small phrases little by little.

(ID #56832) Posted on 2007/09/14 04:36

reply to farrroarz's comment

I prefer subbed over dubbed, it just seems better that way. Though I admit some dubs are not that bad.

(ID #56833) Posted on 2007/09/14 04:48

reply to syrix's comment

My ears are bleeding for the 3rd time watching this...
Fan-made

(ID #56834) Posted on 2007/09/14 05:04

reply to Sam's comment

To be fair, anime dubs tend to sound good only if it's used on a serious anime. Dubbing a moe light-hearted comedy fanservice anime makes it teeth-grindingly annoying to watch. I still prefer subs over dubs though.

(ID #56835) Posted on 2007/09/14 05:10

reply to Hangmen13's comment

Subs FTW!!! Most English dubs seriously lack the emotion unlike the seiyuus.

(ID #56838) Posted on 2007/09/14 05:26

reply to soonkiong's comment

Definitely original with subs. Have to respect the folks who do the translation, from colloquial Japanese to english, its no easy job for sure. 

(ID #56839) Posted on 2007/09/14 05:29

reply to blauereiter's comment

R.A.W is the best!!

(ID #56840) Posted on 2007/09/14 05:58

reply to Collector's comment

Personally, having it dubbed is alright (and since i dont understand Japanese). Just as long as it's done good as well. Original anime audio would be closer indeed to the original script. However, reading the subtitles can make me lose focuse on the visuals which makes it less entertaining, close to reading a comic book instead.

(ID #56842) Posted on 2007/09/14 06:42

reply to Ryan G's comment

Definitely subtitle over dubbing. I prefer the original version better.

As a matter of fact, my preference for subtitle goes for all movies, not just anime. For me, no matter how well they dubbed it, it will still have that sort-of unnatural feel ^^;

But then again, I suppose it depends on which version you watched first as well. When I was a kid, I watched Saber Rider and the Star Sheriff voiced in English; when I watched the original Japanese version, Star Musketeer Bismarck (星銃士ビスマルク) years later, it became very awkward hearing Japanese coming out of the characters' mouth, when they sounded much natural to me in English. Same goes for Voltron as well.

(ID #56844) Posted on 2007/09/14 07:24

reply to ngee_khiong's comment

I've always found dubs to suck 99% of the time.  Up to this day, only the samurai x dubs are the only ones I found good.  But compared to raw, it's just on a different level. Another reason why I learn the jap language as well. ^^

(ID #56845) Posted on 2007/09/14 07:35

reply to BeLe's comment

erm,i prefer raw japanese, because it is much more better than dubs...when listen to dubs, feel very weird..

(ID #56846) Posted on 2007/09/14 07:50

reply to notfair's comment

i never seen any dubbed one b4 ... but seeing for your posted youtube videos ... i still love ones with original voice

(ID #56847) Posted on 2007/09/14 07:55

reply to Joshua's comment

Macross - Do you remember love? Was also one of my first movies! I'd seen alot of anime in my childhood in France, but after I moved back to NL there was a period with no anime for me. I remember the BBC broadcasting a few highly popular anime movies, among which were Akira and Patlabor. That really started me going again in the mid/late 90ties. 

(ID #56848) Posted on 2007/09/14 08:00

reply to keats's comment

I just listened to the English dub of Hare Hare Yukai... awful! Lucky for me, the french dubs were usually very good, and the BBC broadcasted subtitled raws!  Too bad that subtitles were very crappy in the beginning!

(ID #56849) Posted on 2007/09/14 08:05

reply to keats's comment

Surely RAW subbed. no waiting time and more like feel the original!

(ID #56850) Posted on 2007/09/14 08:15

reply to Gorgo's comment

Raw please!

Dubs sounds awful! I tried English on my Fruits Basket dvd and it sounded horrible!
Voices don't fit the characters and don't get me started about the dutch dubs on other anime.
Disgusting!

(ID #56854) Posted on 2007/09/14 08:52

reply to JaydenM's comment

Hey Danny, just wondering... Are you going to be at the Tokyo Game Show next week..? and if so, with a Press Pass?

If you are, I'm just wondering, which day are you going to be there? 19'th, 20'th? or both ~?

Because... I just happened to recently get my hands on a Press Pass... so...~

Just wondering if you wanted to hang ^^

(ID #56855) Posted on 2007/09/14 09:11

reply to Reikai's comment

I prefer the Japanese RAW because it's in its original context and language. ALso, it comes out way faster, rather than waiting for localization and licensing. Also, if it was a choice between RAW ONLY (no subtitles) and DUB ONLY, I would still pick the RAW, just because. Well, I started to learn Japanese, so hopefully I will be able to understand Anime without the need for fansubs. I notice that I can pick up quite a few things using context even with only 1 year of college Japanese experience.

Also, the dubbed Hare Hare Yukai isn't an official dub. I don't think they will ever dub the music in Haruhi (thank goodness) but I do believe that is a good fandub of the song. I remember finding it some time ago, I think I even posted about it on my own blog, haha.

(ID #56856) Posted on 2007/09/14 09:15

reply to t3h Dave's comment

The dub video there sounds bad D:
I don't really like the raw either. The song just isn't to my liking

(ID #56866) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:16

reply to Nepo's comment

Japanese RAW of cource.
It is terrible to present as it will sound in Russian

(ID #56868) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:23

reply to Nerthoul's comment

the dubber, IDK if she rookie or pro.
but his voice just doesn't fit haruhi image and the BGM

(ID #56869) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:28

reply to hendrik's comment

Maybe it's me, but the dub does not sound natural....

(ID #56870) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:29

reply to holybell84's comment

Argh, that dub video!! My ears!! They bleed!!!!

Overall, even though I started on dubs with manga ent guyver and tank police dubs, I quickly moved over to subs when high speed internet became available in the UK. The main reason was due to the faster speeds I could watch the shows, but I was surprised at how I just couldn't bring myself to watch the dubs on any newer anime purchases. There were some exceptions, but for the most part, I can't stand dubs now.

More recently, with thanks to nicovideo, I have been watching a lot more Raws than I used to. All those years watching anime subbed has started to pay off (oh, and studying the lingo for a year and having random basic japanese conversations with my jap friends didn't hurt either). 
Currently, I'm watching Gurren Lagann, Nanoha StrikerS, Heroic Age and Idolm@ster raw as they are shown and subtitled later.

I don't understand it all, but I know enough to get by.

(ID #56871) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:32

reply to GundamJehutyKai's comment

日本人も海外の映画(洋画と呼ぶ)を映画館で
見る場合、日本語字幕付と日本語吹替え版が
ある場合、大抵は日本語字幕付の方を見る。

まぁー日本の場合、吹替えに無駄に俳優とか
素人を起用して顰蹙を買うからってのも有るけど。
(現在シンプソンズの吹替えでファンがもめてる)

(ID #56872) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:33

reply to ふぇんりる's comment

u guys should see my G-seed destiny dubber, completely disgusting, abomination; more way to say it.
i could even say i can even dub kira  far more better than that!

i could say they just read the script without seeing character expression & intonation.  
aoi sekai no tameni(?) (for blue sky and pure world?) readed like a f-ing robot, no, even worse, zombies

the opening song survive from the dubs though

(ID #56873) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:35

reply to hendrik's comment

okay who were the heathens who voted for dub? XD

(ID #56874) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:44

reply to iheartassassinmaids's comment

Funny, I got friends who rather watch dubbed anime than raw, as for me, its raw with sub or just raw... luckily the wife understands japanese, cause these animes with sub from china are garbage. I just watch and try to make words out of it. wife just laugh at how pathetic the subtitling are. Now wfie is obsessed at watching Yama Onna Kabe Onna, Your fault Danny :)

(ID #56875) Posted on 2007/09/14 12:50

reply to cedrico's comment

oopss...voted the wrong one...
I prefer japanese RAW with english subs :D

(ID #56877) Posted on 2007/09/14 14:14

reply to Dead Snake's comment

i will like to thank all the fan subbers for their effort in providing quality subbed anime to the rest of the  world.

without them, we would not have known all the great animes which we so dearly loved.

(ID #56883) Posted on 2007/09/14 14:49

reply to gordon's comment

I got to an art university where we have Animation Major and bunch fo anime fans, for the most part they prefer subtitles. I must confess I prefer English. First having English already been my second language it shard enough, but reading now that sometimes makes me loose out on anime. I do watch some subtitles anime that have not been released in USA yet or if anime is very good. For example I watched Gundam Seed Destiny, I got tired waiting for it to do released in USA same with Xenosaga the Animation. Now i'm watching Gundam Seed Destiny in English and they did a bad job with voices, horrible :'( In the end English is still my preference because I believe I enjoy it much more this way.

(ID #56891) Posted on 2007/09/14 15:48

reply to Boris's comment

i did mentioned bout their pro or rookie :)

(ID #56901) Posted on 2007/09/14 19:02

reply to hendrik's comment

Personally i prefer Raw japanese anime with subs ^_^ I really don't like dubs, i mean when i was younger it never bothered me that much, but now i hear the cheesy voices and think..."eugh thats just wrong" Especially when you get the cheesy american voices...no offence to american people, its just their voices really don't suit the characters. And i think the Japanese language sounds cool, and in anime where attacks have names...when the character screams out their attack it just sounds soo much more epic in Japanese, whereas in dub it just sounds cheesy...like in gurren lagann for example, attack names sound so epic! ^^

(ID #56905) Posted on 2007/09/14 19:57

reply to Arekusu's comment

I may sound a little harsh on this, but I look at dubbing as a violation to the author's original work.

It's simple: There are cultural elements that can never be translated from one language to another, no matter how good the dubbing crew is.

For instance, on Azumanga Daioh (manga), the whole Tsukomi routine and Osaka's dialect, just can't be done in english.

But I watched some english dubbed animes, mainly when I had no other choice.

Nowadays, if I'm limited to watching only a dubbed version, it's very very simple: I don't.

Not limited to japanese/english stuff... french, spanish, korean, chinese... doesn't matter. I always favor the original language.

But I do like the quality from english subs. And even though I have access to portuguese subs nowadays, I still favor english subs over.

(ID #56907) Posted on 2007/09/14 20:40

reply to XSportSeeker's comment

that being true still doesn't apply to all anime. there's always certain gems to be found. Armitage III and its sequel Armitage : Dual Matrix have excellent dubs and i do not believe there to be any cultural "mistranslations"
that said though, i personally feel most dubs are bad. especially non-asian dubs. (which is why i said certain gems as a rarity)

(ID #262486) Posted on 2008/08/11 15:35

reply to Sie Kensou's comment

 I'll watch either one. If i can tolerate the dub voices, then i'll watch a dub. Theres always issues with cultural meaning going unexplained or being altered to fit American or another countries culture. I find myself watching more subs recently because most of the shows i currently watch are still being aired in Japan, so dubs aren't available.

  @Soushi: Your stereotypes of anime fans and VA's is really uncalled for. You do understand that your comments are complete generalizations?? 

  I have a social life, i am an active athletic person, i have a job and numerous responsibilities, yet at the same time i am also online often, and spend lots of time watching anime, and lots of money collecting merchandise. And even more time re-watching the good shows and discussing them amongst friends both on and offline.

  Understand that fans of ANYTHING will always fall into numerous categories regarding their level of interest in the subject of question. 
  
  *We really need some forums around here. It would be great for a way to continue these conversations. It would also increase your amount of users i'm sure.  ^_^   

(ID #56908) Posted on 2007/09/14 20:56

reply to Emperor's Hand's comment

I only watch subtitled raws (or unsubtitled raws if i can't wait for the next episode), i can't stand dubbed versions of anime, films and other stuff for three reasons : 
First, it allows my japane to improve, even a little bit.
Second, i think french dubbers are not enough 'into it' to make quality dubs, since this isn't a well payed profession ^^.
Third, for me it's some kind of respect due to the authors of the anime/film to watch the original version.
Those rules apply to everything i watch, being japanese, english or anything else.

(ID #56926) Posted on 2007/09/15 09:51

reply to peepingtom's comment

OUCH. I just watched the English dub of that Haruhi sequence, and it hurt my ears. It felt so foreign they might have just as well dubbed it over with the audio from an episode of Green Acres. I definitely prefer subtitles. It seems to me that the ocean of imported anime in the US is dubbed by the same group of oh, maybe 4 people. Also, especially if I've seen it subtitled first, it's obvious how much "character" we lose when a character is dubbed over. Sad, really. I think the poll speaks for itself--subtitled anime preserves the emotion of the original actors, even if you don't understand japanese and are dependent on the subber's skill. Even if bottlenecked by language, the overall effect is more complete when you don't kill the voice acting with cue-card readers. 

(ID #56930) Posted on 2007/09/15 11:29

reply to Gladwort the Mighty!'s comment

i still prefer the subtitled one, though there are some dubbed ones that really stand out.. and yes, it's some..

(ID #56934) Posted on 2007/09/15 12:50

reply to terry's comment

Personally, dubs spoil the mood and they really sound weird. Maybe coz i've given up on watchin dubs after watching a few.. raws or raws + subs are da best! =)

(ID #56991) Posted on 2007/09/16 09:51

reply to jiatlormee's comment

(In a Rainier Wolfcastle impression after watching the Haruhi dub)
"My ears! The earplugs do nothing!"

(ID #57000) Posted on 2007/09/16 14:37

reply to Tim's comment

I will probably always pick the original Japanese voices acting but there are some good American dubbing going on.  Except for the times in anime like Haruhi Suzumiya, even the Japanese have to deal with trying to mimic the "flaps" and could goof up.  Unlike corny American animation; anime is drawn first then the voices are added.  English and other language dubbs wouldn't be so bad if the actors have talent and if the content (and music) is kept original.  Too many times anime gets watered down when it comes here to the states and even corny music that wasn't there gets added to "please" american audiences (add Bleach music now).  Sorry for the long post but I think some people get what I mean.. or I'm just a nutcase about this. 

(ID #57009) Posted on 2007/09/16 15:49

reply to Chuck Gaffney's comment

Well anime is *Japanese*, and is designed for a japanese audience. Which is why dubs pale in comparison to the original voice overs, i.e rie tanaka.

(ID #57022) Posted on 2007/09/16 17:31

reply to Subaruhess's comment

english is not a very bendable language when being used in song
both languages are alright when showing emotional but that depends on the voice actor to show the expressions, so it's more on how each individual character sounds

there are only a few anime that i enjoyed the dub better than the original voices like FLCL and Trigun

(ID #57065) Posted on 2007/09/17 06:36

reply to Ranth's comment

I'm still waiting for a sound explanation as why - anyone - would prefer a dubbed version over the original form. 

In regards to anime, the history of dubbing hasn't made very much progression. There have been only few, far and between series that has been decently dubbed (justified to edit) from the original form; Some of those series include, but not limited to: Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura (aka Lum), Dragon Ball, and fast-forwarding to the present there would be... umm.. I guess FLCL.

(ID #57084) Posted on 2007/09/17 17:29

reply to shou''s comment

@shou
there are many people here in the US that watch some anime movies but are not totally anime fans
ex. Princess Mononoko or Samurai X
those people are the ones that watch it cause they've heard it had a good story and they are not used to watching movies in japanese with the subtitles and prefer it be dubbed into english for their liking
it's like the same concept of the Bruce Lee movies and some Jackie Chan movies, like Drunken Master(2) 

just like how when I used to watch RK dvds with my older cousins, they prefered to set the settings into english audio rather than keeping it in japanese audio with english subtitles,
they loved the story of RK but wanted to keep it in english for them to understand rather than listening to a language they've no knowledge about

(ID #57109) Posted on 2007/09/18 01:52

reply to Ranth's comment

I prefer the raw-unsubbed over the subbed/dubbed ones. Subtitles are kind of distracting my attention away from the show itself, even if both the spoken and displayed language are the same. Dubbed ones don't sound natural and sometimes the background music/sound effects are muffled/removed.

(ID #57141) Posted on 2007/09/18 13:31

reply to the1iam's comment

Thanks, I will never pick up the dubbed version of Haruhi ^^.

(ID #57170) Posted on 2007/09/18 23:30

reply to -XYZPDQ's comment

Ranth wrote: 
"@shou
there are many people here in the US that watch some anime movies but are not totally anime fans
ex. Princess Mononoko or Samurai X"

Mononoke Hime is an animated movie. Samurai X or Ruronin Kenshin is a manga that was adapted into an animated series with an additional OVA and a movie that wasn't based on the manga. 

Those are two key differences between your two examples. Mononoke Hime can be watched within a couple of hours, whereas Ruronin Kenshin would require multiple days to complete in it's entirity (even assuming you skip the Op/Ed songs and the previews for the next episode). 

And yes it is quite evident and easy to accept that one isn't required to be a fan to watch or even enjoy something -- which in this case it happens to be about anime. However that wasn't the point of my question. 


Ranth wrote: 
"... and they are not used to watching movies in japanese with the subtitles and prefer it be dubbed into english for their liking"

Excuse(s). 

And for the argument for the sake of convenience serves as an underlying factor for laziness when applied here.


Ranth wrote: 
"... 
it's like the same concept of the Bruce Lee movies and some Jackie Chan movies, like Drunken Master(2)"

No. Not at all. If I want bad Engrish, I know where to find it.

(ID #57175) Posted on 2007/09/19 00:48

reply to shou''s comment

So many comments! Hope you have the patience to read through all of them danny

Looks like everyone is bashing dubs over subs BUT I know that many Japanese prefer to buy English release DVDs over original ones due to the following reasons:

A. It comes with more stuff (booklets..etc)

B. It comes with original and   English so it can be used as a study tool for English which is important in Japan (and most countries I suppose) 

C. It is interesting to listen to 
  the dubs. People comment that the 
  characters sort of sound like the 
  original seiyuus. 

D. It is cheaper 

(ID #57264) Posted on 2007/09/20 01:31

reply to Rufus Shinra's comment

oh my god, dub HHY. I've never been so disturbed in all my years T_T Anyway, i don't mind watching a dub if it's good (Gankutsuou, Air, and FMA are good examples) but for the most part, a sub is better. At the very least, if it's a show I liked in dub I'll rewatch it in sub. 

(ID #57305) Posted on 2007/09/20 19:10

reply to 21st Century Digital Boy's comment

At the begning i would rather watch everything dub, cause i am brasilian and there isn´t this habit of watch dubbed animes when we are kids, and when we start to learn a foreign language, this language is english, and because of this cultural predominance we use to listen to english dub with portuguese subtitled. Now, japanese anime are taking over this market and we are having more influence of japanese culture. I got tell u, nowadays i prefer watch anything and listen to it´s language than dubbed, specially when we talk about anime. It´s got be japanese with portuguese subtitled.

(ID #57682) Posted on 2007/09/25 05:57

reply to cassetubs's comment

Omfg...the dubbed video make me want to slap an infant...

(ID #58364) Posted on 2007/10/03 07:01

reply to Briant's comment

English dubbed into anime can't really capture the origalness of the first one... And some dubs are wrong, just wrong, like the vid above, they can't translate the lyrics properly... But some dubbers do a great job... Anyway, I'll go for Japanese with English subtitles...

(ID #69482) Posted on 2008/01/13 04:00

reply to lostandfound's comment

awh hell english dub just ruins anime. RAW is 9000000 times better then the dub. i wouldnt care if there were subs but if they were dubs i would just play stepmania or armored core 

(ID #70519) Posted on 2008/01/24 11:06

reply to Last{[0]}Raven's comment

hey will there be a buzzer beater seoson3 because i realy want too see it

(ID #72369) Posted on 2008/02/15 15:54

reply to hedghok's comment

if somebody now something send an e-mail to my adress hedghok@hotmail.com

(ID #72371) Posted on 2008/02/15 16:04

reply to hedghok's comment

Ever since I got used to subs, I could never go back to dubs. Watching anime with English voice acting would be like playing Halo with the cinematics dubbed in Japanese. Some things just don't work.

(ID #187335) Posted on 2008/05/14 09:17

reply to ETERNAL's comment

Same..

(ID #265909) Posted on 2008/08/15 07:48

reply to play150's comment

I think that it is good with it if there is love

(ID #271972) Posted on 2008/08/21 05:21

reply to CHIHYA_P's comment

とは言ってみたものの、
確かに外国映画で、「声優ではない」日本の俳優が、
外国人俳優の吹き替えをやったりすると「妙な違和感」にとらわれる事はあるね。

役者の醸す微妙な感情表現まで、ひたすら声だけで表現する訓練を積んだ声優と、
ある程度デスチャーでフォローアップすることが身に染み付いてる俳優との間には、
狭いけど深い溝がある気がする。

外国映画を日本の俳優が英語で吹き変えたものと、
「外国語での感情表現ができる」日本の声優が吹き変えたもの、
そしてオリジナルのものを公開してどれが一番人気が取れるか？
なんだか見てみたくなってきたよ。

(ID #277063) Posted on 2008/08/25 04:27

reply to CHIHYA_P's comment

Honestly it doesn't matter to me. I preferred the English dubbed Haruhi better, but on others I'd rather watch the subbed versions. Sometimes when I feel the Japanese acting is too over the top or whiny, or overacted I'll try the english dub, and when that fails I tunr off the vol and read subs...

(ID #306236) Posted on 2008/09/19 06:33

reply to Gradysama's comment

depends on the anime, FMA and Haruhi are great dubbed, but Rozen Maiden and Cardcaptors sound horrid in english

(ID #307684) Posted on 2008/09/20 13:32

reply to Kitty Dynamite's comment

mmm es mejor subtitulado

no me gusta escuchar voces raras

o de mala calidad

^^

(ID #309955) Posted on 2008/09/22 21:05

reply to kresniko's comment

I'll take the Japenese Hare Hare Yukai. Can't understand the English lyrics (yeah my English isn't that good).

(ID #311015) Posted on 2008/09/23 22:52

reply to ale/pepino's comment

I prefer subs. There are legitimate reasons as to why one would prefer a dub to a sub, though.
A couple of my friends have problems staring at TV or PC screens for a long time, and reading text while watching puts excess strain on their eyes. It gets so bad for them that if they can ever avoid it, they will, even if the dub is quite horrible.

I <3 my glasses.

(ID #311019) Posted on 2008/09/23 23:00

reply to Dot's comment

OMG the English version sounds horrible.
English/German/whatever dub= DO NOT WANT! 
For example German Haruhi trailer (Attention huge amount of fail after this link!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s4n9BD0NTo 

I watch only subbed anime because dubbed sounds mostly completly wrong.

(ID #311021) Posted on 2008/09/23 23:05

reply to hikky's comment

I've been mixing it up a bit with Suzumiya Haruhi and have noticed that some of the subtitle translation is not as accurate (loses the meaning of the scene sometimes) as the dubbed audio translation.  As with the majority though, I prefer subbed mostly.

(ID #311048) Posted on 2008/09/24 00:01

reply to davidc's comment

Subtitled FTW

Seiyuus are much more expresive and you can even practise japanese if you're learning it.

(ID #311057) Posted on 2008/09/24 00:08

reply to Omu's comment

I like to watch anime shows in raw japanese with subtitles, but I prefer reading the subs in Spanish (main tongue) rather than in English (not the rule every time but mostly).

Now there are some shows (they are counted) where the dubb was great (in Latin Spanish).

^_^

(ID #311058) Posted on 2008/09/24 00:09

reply to phossil's comment

that dub version is official?!! i mean, is not some fan made? because its really horrible! i prefer one million times the original japanese version, whit hirano aya as haruhi. dub versions is almost not a good work, even movies i like to watch in english (i am from Brazil).

(ID #311064) Posted on 2008/09/24 00:21

reply to aseps's comment

It's not official. That english dub is fanmade by Christina Vee.

(ID #311066) Posted on 2008/09/24 00:28

reply to Muffler's comment

Silly question is silly, democracy has spoken.

(ID #311070) Posted on 2008/09/24 00:46

reply to Requiem's comment

raw with subs is the way to go~
it caters a more unique experience and brings out the best in anime^^

(ID #311115) Posted on 2008/09/24 01:44

reply to duffman's comment

I watch MKVs with the subtitles off. Once or twice an episode I'll have to rewind and turn the subtitles back on for a sentence if it contains too much vocab I don't know.

(ID #311154) Posted on 2008/09/24 02:28

reply to Jed D`Lagged's comment

Well it depends for me.

Some stuff should stay subtitled because I seriously doubt any American/Canadian artress can pull off some of the roles out there, especially in the moe genre.  Can anyone top Kotomi-chan from Clannad's original voice, or anyone from the Aria series?  Nope.  Don't think so.

However, there are some quality dubs out there which have surpased the original in my opinion.  Shuffle! for example.  Kaede's voice sounded much sweeter and Asa's more playful in the dub.  Just an opinion, please don't go nuts. (;

(ID #311162) Posted on 2008/09/24 02:34

reply to punynari's comment

Eh, never heard Hare Hare Yukai English dubbed before, a new experience for me:P (and it is better than I expected)
But on the topic, I usually (95% of the time) watch anime with subtitles. It just seems more original. But I have heard some good english anime dubs too, GITS ones for example.

(ID #311165) Posted on 2008/09/24 02:36

reply to Harts's comment

English dubs are the worst. They now are getting better, still I don't like it. When I have files with double audio, alway japanese, sounds better. English voices sound of the characters, and seem to artificial. For instance, spanish dubs sound good some times, its all a question of the person thats dubing it, if they don't get into the character then the result is messed up.
Just watch God Knowns in english and you'll see how bad it is (for those that don't know, its the song Haruhi sang at the festival).

(ID #311206) Posted on 2008/09/24 03:07

reply to microdark's comment

I have several series in dual audio and you can clearly tell the difference between the quality. I'll admit that the Vancouver Ocean Studio dubs are comparable to the original work in Japanese (for the most part anyway), but anything else is just revolting.

(ID #311223) Posted on 2008/09/24 03:20

reply to GNdynames's comment

Nothing wins against the original voices!!!!!!!!!!! so yes stamp some subs and let me hear the glorious jap voices!!!!

(ID #311265) Posted on 2008/09/24 04:08

reply to Dynames's comment

is the dub really what they are using for the english dvds?

(ID #311267) Posted on 2008/09/24 04:10

reply to the great paul's comment

maybe when anime and game publishers here in the US see this poll, they will come to their senses.  Especially for games.  

I'm a raw japanese/sub kind of person myself.  I buy dvds and stuff which of course come with english dub, but I dare not watch them dubbed lest I sully the beautiful experience I had when watching them fansubbed with japanese (like, for example, Byousoku 5cm as screenshotted above).  Speaking of which, I still haven't watched my dvd of Byousoku for fear of going through the emotions again lol.  Btw the R1 dvd packaging for that title is absolutely pathetic...I guess ADV was just about getting ready to up and bail out of the business, and pushed this out as one of their final releases.

(ID #311353) Posted on 2008/09/24 05:24

reply to suneo's comment

maybe when anime and game publishers here in the US see this poll, they will come to their senses.  Especially for games.  

I'm a raw japanese/sub kind of person myself.  I buy dvds and stuff which of course come with english dub, but I dare not watch them dubbed lest I sully the beautiful experience I had when watching them fansubbed with japanese (like, for example, Byousoku 5cm as screenshotted above).  Speaking of which, I still haven't watched my dvd of Byousoku for fear of going through the emotions again lol.  Btw the R1 dvd packaging for that title is absolutely pathetic...I guess ADV was just about getting ready to up and bail out of the business, and pushed this out as one of their final releases.

(ID #311354) Posted on 2008/09/24 05:24

reply to suneo's comment

yikes...sorry about the double post -_-

(ID #311355) Posted on 2008/09/24 05:25

reply to suneo's comment

Subtitles of course. I respect the work of voice actors but they usually sound nothing like the originals and quite often they change what a character says completely. You are really not watching the same show to put it frankly.

(ID #311374) Posted on 2008/09/24 05:49

reply to mario's comment

Translators have to not only make a fairly accurate translation but often have to condense it so that it matches the flaps (animation of the mouth). You can fit more meaning with better flow and faster speed into a sentence of japanese than english basically. As well - unless you're hardcore or know japanese culture very well - some references or words have to changed completely or to their foreign equivelant so the new audience can understand.

This is sometimes brought up in commentaries included as bonus material on DVD releases. I applaud them for getting it correct that much. There's nothing more you can expect unless you wish to hear a full translation despite the charcter not speaking anymore (which has happened in some series dubs I've seen and is one of the worst things)

(ID #311402) Posted on 2008/09/24 06:24

reply to Raz's comment

The dubbed versions sounds terrible.

(ID #311376) Posted on 2008/09/24 05:52

reply to Tsukasa-san's comment

after hearing 20 seconds of the dubbed hare hare yukai song, i vomited a little inside.

(ID #311377) Posted on 2008/09/24 05:55

reply to amasero's comment

I generally gravitate towards watching dubbed anime. It's true the mass majority of series that have been english dubbed are poorly done but there are quite a few exceptions amongst the crowd (Cowboy Bebop I would say as the best followed by Full Metal Alchemist, neither of which had the settings for a non-english voice cast). Evangelion wasn't bad, though Shinji's voice irritated me to no end. FLCL and a few of the Gundam series were done well enough. It takes some time getting used to poor dubs but works out eventually. 

The only series I'll watch purely subtitled is Haruhi and Lucky Star because the lovely Aya Hirano is a goddess above all else.

(ID #311382) Posted on 2008/09/24 06:03

reply to Raz's comment

almost ALL dubbed stuff stinks. i hate dubbed things. it just ruins the movie/anime. 

(ID #311389) Posted on 2008/09/24 06:15

reply to Altair Hashan's comment

English dubbed ver. sux~!!!

(ID #311396) Posted on 2008/09/24 06:19

reply to MKO's comment

i saw the english hare hare yukai on youtube it was done by "milkycabbage"youtube user:christina vee a voice actor for dubs.she did rozen maiden,and is going to do the familiar of zero and other shows. i kinda like sub and dub:3

(ID #311442) Posted on 2008/09/24 07:26

reply to binky-chan:3's comment

I'm a purist.
Be it anime in japanese, chinese movie in chinese, or whatever... my preference is to always watch it in the original language with subtitles when I have to.

Which is the case for anime.

I think too much is lost with dubbing, even when the translators are REALLY good, which is also rare.

But maybe, I'm too extreme with this point. But I just can't avoid it.
I gave up playing lots of good games only because taunts or small in-game videos had dubbing.

For instance, I loved the design, gameplay and overall idea on Disgaea... but I could only play it when I finally got it for PSP, because it had the option for original language with english subtitles.

(ID #311458) Posted on 2008/09/24 07:53

reply to XSportSeeker's comment

while i normally don't like Haruhi, Aya hirano and pals > Wendee Lee (or whoever the f*ck sang that english monstrosity. nuff said

(ID #311501) Posted on 2008/09/24 08:55

reply to necrophadian's comment

I prefer my anime subbed for at least at the same I could at least learn some nihonggo and I could hear my fave seiyuus ^^

There are some good dubs but I'll still prefer the undub subbed version

(ID #311509) Posted on 2008/09/24 09:12

reply to Henry's comment

Raw Japanese for sure. Dub is no thx ^^

(ID #311525) Posted on 2008/09/24 09:32

reply to Saku's comment

I prefer raw Japanese for sure, but as Danny stated, I remember watching Battle of the Planets (G-Force) and Starvengers (Getter Robo G) in english and I loved them. Now when I see Getter Robo cartoons...I usually watch it in Japanese but always have to watch it in english dub also. 

(ID #311539) Posted on 2008/09/24 10:00

reply to unit78's comment

I like most of the anime in its original Japanese audio with subtitles. However, the animes that I watched the dubs completely (especially when growing up) I will like more in comparison to the original. There are some well done English dubs, but don't compare to the Japanese audio

(ID #311552) Posted on 2008/09/24 10:23

reply to Kevin Nguyen's comment

oh my DEAR GOD!!!
lol the dubbed OP is just TOO out of the stratosphere!!
But i watched the actually contents in dub, and i think they are alright...

(ID #311560) Posted on 2008/09/24 10:40

reply to howie huang's comment

WTF!!!!!
On the English version Haruhi sing's without moving the lips :P
Lol i wnat to to that too XP

(ID #311568) Posted on 2008/09/24 10:59

reply to tiberis1221's comment

In English version her name is Bridney ^^

(ID #311588) Posted on 2008/09/24 11:21

reply to ceasol's comment

Haruhi's name, like most anime characters, was kept in the dub, unless if you're talking about Wendee Lee (her's and Konata's English VA)

(ID #311594) Posted on 2008/09/24 11:27

reply to Shugo's comment

I like both dubs and subs!!

(ID #311584) Posted on 2008/09/24 11:18

reply to Shugo's comment

Oh, unless if its dubbed by 4Kids, Elastic Media, Singapore, Disney (well I hate Disney anyway) and numerous others!!
Dubs I do like Bang Zoom!, ADV, FUNimation, Animaze/ZRO Limit, Synch-Point, Coastal Carolina Studios, Ocean Group, NYAV Post, Headline Studios, Media Concepts (Lupin III's and Noein's dubbing studio) and CRM Studios (Illumitoon, well minus B't X and Beet the Vandel Buster's dubs)

(ID #311592) Posted on 2008/09/24 11:25

reply to Shugo's comment

Japanese always just a few movies has really good translations. I hope some day anime companies understand this. 

(ID #311587) Posted on 2008/09/24 11:20

reply to ceasol's comment

I prefer dubs IF its done right, if not raw with subs is the only way.

But uh .. imo the MUSIC dubbed is a no no ... never liked that at all .. no erghh .... that hare hare dubbed was ergh .. :S

(ID #311593) Posted on 2008/09/24 11:25

reply to Neku's comment

Thank God, that wasn't the official dub

(ID #311595) Posted on 2008/09/24 11:28

reply to Shugo's comment

I mainly watch raw japanese with subs, but I can watch deal with dubbed anime.  But best to watch in it's native tongue.

(ID #311627) Posted on 2008/09/24 12:11

reply to NeoRyu's comment

Depends on the voice cast.  Quite a lot of the newer ones are decent.  The thing that bugs me is how the "older" character English dubs almost always have that borderline monotone zombie tone.  I understand that they slowing down their lines in order to try and match the amount of mouth flaps that the characters have since japanese generally use more syllables.
With my DVDs, it depends, if enough key characters drive me nuts then I'll switch over to the original Japanese voices.
Dubbed translated songs rarely ever go well though...I remember hating it so much with Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 and Gundam Seed.  Hearing Lacus sing in English was about as good as nails on a chalkboard.

Why do they always use women to do the voices of young male characters instead of actually getting a boy to do the voice in Japan?

Oh if you want to hear terrible dubbing, try to find the Japanese Transformers series like Victory or Masterforce that was done for the Malaysian market.  Now that's painful.  I didn't mind when I was 7 though.

(ID #311647) Posted on 2008/09/24 12:36

reply to Johnni Kok's comment

The best dubbed version of a song I've heard was the one sung by Melfina (Outlaw Star) in EP21. 

Very simple yet absolutely beautiful...

(ID #311711) Posted on 2008/09/24 13:33

reply to Raz's comment

GitS Stand Alone Complex is one of the few exceptions
The English voice cast are excellent (I love the Jp and Eng voices equally for this one)
However, in most cases I prefer the Jp raws much much more 

(ID #311648) Posted on 2008/09/24 12:38

reply to tomoaki's comment

It depends on the series.  For example, I watch Tenchi Muyo dubbed, because the Japanese VAs for Sasami and Ayeka were far too high-pitched for me.  Cowboy Beebop is a another good example.  I can only hear Steve Blum's voice attached to Spike.  Others, I watch either way, depending on my mood (Macross Plus, I watch subbed, because the English translation, though good, ruins most of the music.)  And, I go by recommendations of friends.

(ID #311674) Posted on 2008/09/24 13:01

reply to FMPhoenixHawk's comment

True. Whenever I hear Steve Blum's voice I automatically think of Spike, and also of Faye whenever I hear Wendee Lee. That cast was perfect.

(ID #311708) Posted on 2008/09/24 13:28

reply to Raz's comment

I absolultly cannot take english dubs. there are really really small exceptions like 1 or 2 series but thats it. either raw or raw with subs for me

(ID #311691) Posted on 2008/09/24 13:19

reply to XTaku's comment

There are good dubs and there are bad dubs, that was a bad dub. I can go both ways, personally, it just depends on how good of a job that the subs or the dubs are done.

(ID #311700) Posted on 2008/09/24 13:24

reply to Phalon's comment

For the record for some people who don't know, the "Hare Hare Yukai" dub is actually a fandub. :P

Otherwise, you have to praise the English VAs for their hard work. And sometimes, it's even a mental block, like when you watch the subs first, then get the dub. You really tend to edge towards the sub and Jpn audio from there.
Anyways, as a fansubber, you gotta love the subs!

(ID #311719) Posted on 2008/09/24 13:41

reply to Piroko's comment

Like the movies, I prefer original voices with subtitles, in this case I voted for raw with sub... Because when is dubbed, they have poor quality in the sound...

(ID #311785) Posted on 2008/09/24 14:59

reply to vincento_py's comment

I prefer subtitles but I don't mind dubbs as long as they are stupid. Some of them are so bad because they change the attitude and way they say things and sometimes the things they say, it just ends up sounding stupid.

(ID #311841) Posted on 2008/09/24 15:40

reply to Zou's comment

I'm a dub only guy. The only stuff that I watch subtitled, is the stuff where it's the only option (like Gunbuster).

(ID #311853) Posted on 2008/09/24 15:47

reply to MARl0's comment

I only watch anime with subtitles and raw japanese ;)
the only dubbed anime that i like is DragenBall Z :P

Dubbed sounds wierd ;)

(ID #311902) Posted on 2008/09/24 16:24

reply to Project One's comment

Subtitles only!

(ID #311924) Posted on 2008/09/24 16:47

reply to Realta Nua's comment

Subs all the way! I just can't stand the voices they give the characters when dubbed. Maybe DBZ dub was decent but anything else will fail!

(ID #311941) Posted on 2008/09/24 17:09

reply to manga's comment

Subbed for me. Dubbed sounds funky.

(ID #311969) Posted on 2008/09/24 17:51

reply to Akari's comment

Screenshot looks like he's subbing Byousoku 5cm using Aegisub. ^^;
A few anime I watched dubbed in mandarin when I was a wee lad eg doremon and shin-chan, now I discovered other sources I usually find Japanese voice acting superior. I do the usual shudder whenever I switch over to eng dub for dual audio disc but I do give it 5 mins to change my opinion. I is fair person =)

(ID #311977) Posted on 2008/09/24 18:00

reply to Neutrinos's comment

I absolutely hate dubs. There are a lot of reasons why:
1.Dubbed voices can try all they want, but they will never even stand close to japanese seyu. It's a matter of skill. Dub voices sound like emotionless dolls. A complete crap.
2. Japanese language has specific structure. U can't just translate a song and sing it. It sounds like crap.
Thats not all, but i don't really want to insult dubbers anymore than i did.

(ID #311986) Posted on 2008/09/24 18:15

reply to fre1gn's comment

I prefer watching subbed Japanese. Most English dubs sound like crap.

(ID #312009) Posted on 2008/09/24 18:46

reply to Shoddy Goldrider's comment

I've always watched mine subbed or raw.  I was first introduced via subs and never really had the reading irritation some people have with foreign movies.  There are a few dubs that I would watch but for the most part, I think the voice acting is horrible.

(ID #312059) Posted on 2008/09/24 20:05

reply to Caitlin's comment

hehe this topic never gets old.
I too prefer mine undubbed, still need the subs though since my Japanese Vocabulary is still lacking. Actually, I thought anime was terrible for the longest time, which was mostly because of dubs if i look back. If you think English dubs are bad, you don't even want to know how German dubs sound( Just think of how much you loose when you dub into English and then take that ^2) I became hooked on Anime only after I started getting interested in Japanese as a language, which is kindof a backwards way of getting into Anime I guess. ^^;

(ID #312162) Posted on 2008/09/24 22:30

reply to Nevar's comment

I much prefer to watch my anime in it's original format with subs. The only dubbed anime that I've been able to stand was Cowboy Bebop. They did an excellent job on that.

(ID #312182) Posted on 2008/09/24 22:54

reply to wolfish's comment

raw with subs...

sometimes i switch it off for a challenge to see how much i understand without

(ID #312202) Posted on 2008/09/24 23:07

reply to chibihien's comment

the only dubbed anime I ever watch is pokemon ^^;

(ID #312204) Posted on 2008/09/24 23:13

reply to andra's comment

i heard the dubbed version... i instant got goosebumps... *_*

(ID #312246) Posted on 2008/09/24 23:49

reply to sayagila's comment

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH MY EARS ARE BLEEDING FROM THAT RIDICULOUS HARE HARE YUKAI DUB!!!

Here in Portugal most of the cartoons and anime are dubbed, which put basically, sucks...

They recently started broadcasting Naruto (Yeah, only now...) and they broadcasted the american dub version for the first week, changing into the japanese original on the second one - my guess is that they got flamed for broadcasting the dub (I know I flamed their asses!).

I HATE any kind of dub, even if it's a relatively good one, the original is always better.

(ID #312263) Posted on 2008/09/25 00:01

reply to Gammagreen_Zero's comment

prefer japanese with subtitles. 
dubbed voices are really horrible

(ID #312301) Posted on 2008/09/25 00:30

reply to Navy_Recruit_LT's comment

I can't believe how much stereotyping and misinformation there is in this topic about dubs! >_<

It like most of the people here haven't listened to a dub since the mid 90's or something...

(ID #312304) Posted on 2008/09/25 00:34

reply to MARl0's comment

I know right!!
I'm probably one of the few who likes dubs and subs, unless if its dubbed by 4Kids, Elastic Media, Singapore, Disney (well I hate Disney anyway) and numerous others!!

Anyway, dubs aren't as bad as people make them out to be, I'm with you MARI0 (as we're both members of Anime News Network's forum)

(ID #312372) Posted on 2008/09/25 01:29

reply to Shugo's comment

Indeed. I generally don't mind watching subs either. If it's only available in sub format, I'll still watch it. But 9 times out of 10, if their is a dub available, I'll watch it that way.

Though how do you know me from ANN's forums? I've only posted there a handful of times ever! o_O

(ID #312504) Posted on 2008/09/25 03:36

reply to MARl0's comment

well, no matter how "good" a dub might be it never gets as close to the original. Something is always better in its least altered version. Also a reason i dont't watch American TV dubbed to German. But if I have to compare the quality of TV shows/movies from the US dubbed in German(which, since there are a lot of them showing on TV here, really could be considered ok), to English Anime dubs, later are a lot worse. So i don't think it's just people beeing misinformed.

(ID #312387) Posted on 2008/09/25 01:42

reply to Nevar's comment

Oh yeah, Danny, I remember the first Project A-ko dub, it was horrible, I'm glad CPM got Ocean Group to dub it

(ID #312373) Posted on 2008/09/25 01:31

reply to Shugo's comment

Quick answer, NO DUBBED ANIME FOR ME PLEASE!

(ID #312389) Posted on 2008/09/25 01:44

reply to Divine Fang's comment

I don't mind dubs or subs one way or another, since I try to keep off the torrents, I can't choose much (glad that I could watch it online at all). 

I try to listen for words I recognize while watching subs though (nope, not that diliget to have a dictionary in hand XD). 

But dubbing isn't as bad as I thought, though I can name a few "lost in translation" moments; Kanon(2006) dubbed had them pronounce "Sawatori" as "Swatori", and "Sayuri" doesn't sound as good in English than in Japanese. Can still remember the cringe moments. XD 

The main reason I watch subs is that I wouldn't have to compete with the volume of the family TV; sometimes it's hard to hear things in dub and no subtitles.

(ID #312473) Posted on 2008/09/25 02:59

reply to radical anime fan's comment

like to watch anime in original language with subs. with subs we have added advantage of being able to turn them off.

(ID #312483) Posted on 2008/09/25 03:11

reply to 6pack's comment

Like most people, I prefer subs over dubs... I mean, I was able to pick up some Japanese from it; so I like to think I am learning Japanese that way. Not to mention that the Japanese voice actors are usually a lot mroe into it and fit the emotions a lot better than English dubbers. I admit there are a few shows, FLCL, Crayon Shin-Chan, Milk Chan, and similar situational comedy animes that really use jokes only Japanese people would get and are just adapted to American jokes. I thought Lucky Star would be a good one... But I can not get myself over the horrible voice acting.

(ID #312516) Posted on 2008/09/25 03:44

reply to thammuz's comment

I like sub's (although their are a couple of shows that I think the dub is done well). I do hate the fact that most of the time here in the US the DVD's come with extras about the English voice over cast... That's kinda cheap don't you think? I love it when they have interviews with the original cast, directors and artist. For me this is a much better selling point.

(ID #312519) Posted on 2008/09/25 03:47

reply to JB.'s comment

Let's face it: Most dubs suck. A lot of older dubs were heavily edited, and even today's much more accurate dubs typically have sub-par to hideous voice acting. Really, the only dub I really, truly liked was the English version of Princess Mononoke. Save me the pain, give me subs!

Also, as I recall, these "english dub" Haruhi songs were done by the voice actors in their spare time, and it kind of shows in the quality of the sound mixing. ^^; They're totally off the beat in the English version. I had to resist yelling at the screen: "Get a metronome!" XD So, yeah, definitely prefer the Japanese just because of the timing. 

(ID #312540) Posted on 2008/09/25 04:27

reply to Poofiemus's comment

Why not add in the polls "Dual Audio .ogm files" ? I mean Spanish and Japanese Audio and Maybe subs... Like here ---> http://www.elrincondelmanga.com/foro/showthread.php?t=73550 Maison Ikkoku ^__^

(ID #312547) Posted on 2008/09/25 04:52

reply to EyKauS's comment

Dubbed Anime truly turns a excellent anime into a horrible anime. Voice acting is as important as the anime itself. 

(ID #312610) Posted on 2008/09/25 06:44

reply to Falryu's comment

For me, it's pretty hard to choose between dubs and raw Japanese w/ subs, but I'll have to go with the subs for this one. Sometimes, dubs are more convenient when you don't want to read subtitles; i.e. you're too busy with homework/studying and basically use your peripheral vision to watch your anime/movie/dorama/etc. The problem with dubs is that they sometimes lack quality, but I have seem some where the dub jobs were done superbly (Eureka Seven, anyone?). Another reason why dubs are "inferior" is that they lose many hidden terms and tones through the translation. This is probably the main reason why I tend to stay away from dubs, but downloading some series in dual-audio w/ subs is extremely convenient.

(ID #312684) Posted on 2008/09/25 08:34

reply to Kyle's comment

I remember hearing this a while back. I don't think its too horrendous lol. Still prefer the Japanese version though lol.

(ID #312753) Posted on 2008/09/25 09:58

reply to Meimi132's comment

When I was watching anime as a child, I'd have to of course watch it dubbed since there was no other way. Though over time, you get so into it, you want to know more titles than the ones that are already localized and get into subs.

Now I'm not a dub-hater, just a dilike dubs a lot (Hate would be dislike it WITH PASSION!) since majority of it gives a bad name to those who are actually TRYING to make this work out. Although some of the problems lies here:

First problem with dubbing was that the animation for these sequences were done for the Japanese audience and don't expect other countries to license it and localize it into the anime. Thus you have the problem of dialog and change of script at times.

Second problem is when it comes to dubbing is the use of jokes and accents that are significantly different to the Western audiences. I remember that Bebe from Persona 3 was in the original japanese audio had a 'samurai-style' speech which is pretty hard to translate so they stuck with the Wapanese-Weaboo type which made more sense to an audience like us. 

Third problem is puns. Majority of the time is that puns are EXTREMELY hard to translate since it deals with the Japanese language itself and isn't really funny unless you know the language or the translation attempts to explain it to you. If they even try dubbing that, then it becomes worse since they might have to change the script entirely for that part. 

There are exceptions to the dubbing which actually didn't do so bad. 
Appleseed (Thoroughly enjoyed both Original and Dubbed Audio)
Persona 3 (Best dubbing I've seen so far minus Ken and Fuuka)
ToA, ToS (They were decent and won't kill your ears, but I still wanted to have the skits voiced)

There's probably more good dubbing but majority of it isn't well done or up to good standards which is why most people who watch anime (including myself) will watch it RAW with subs. 
That and for any thing I watch, I'll watch it in the original language context (like say watching Star Wars or something in English since it was made for it)


TL;DR Summary:
Dubs are ok if done really well. Prefer to watch it RAW with subs 

(ID #312811) Posted on 2008/09/25 11:08

reply to NightFoxXIII's comment

the only dubbed anime I watch is Fullmetal Alchemist, witch is the only good dub I ever seen.
Chobbits is ok... but still prefer RAW sub.

(ID #312872) Posted on 2008/09/25 12:17

reply to cloudy's comment

I generally watch raw (no subs) these days, or occasionally Japanese audio with subtitles. The stuff I am interested in often doesn't get an official English language release in any case, and why waste a good opportunity to practice?

(ID #312880) Posted on 2008/09/25 12:24

reply to yny-u's comment

I don't mind dubbed as long as it is good. Yes, there is good dubbed work out there and I can name some that are better then "subbed". But in the end it's easier to watch it in subbed so you don't have to hear the annoying voices when they do come out. Oh, using the Hare Hare Yukai music video is a very bad example of dubbed work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DehmPOkrtRc - English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5ah-o7THB4&feature=related - Japanese

Ah, much better.

(ID #312896) Posted on 2008/09/25 12:44

reply to MumMum's comment

Ever since I started watching anime I've alway prefered watching Raw Japanese with subtitles. It just feels a lot more authentic, plus some things don't translate properly from Japanese to English. Then again there are some anime that I'd watched dubbed because I first saw them dubbed.

(ID #312899) Posted on 2008/09/25 12:48

reply to ben_s's comment

I prefer not to have to read while watching something, mostly due to the fact that my parents are deaf, and growing up i always read the closed captioning to a sicking level. That's why i only watch subs if there is no dubs for it. For example: Magipoka and ef - a tale of memories were very enjoyable and i wish there was a dub for them. :D

(ID #312900) Posted on 2008/09/25 12:48

reply to Wolf Leader's comment

I prefer my subs. Dubs can just be weird sometimes. Hare Hare Yukai Dub kinda ruins the song for me IMO.

Although I will say this, I prefer the Genshiken Dub to the Sub. That is my only exception.

(ID #312907) Posted on 2008/09/25 13:01

reply to Arisato-Kun's comment

I only now got the videos to work. I have to inform everyone here that the Hare Hare Yukai English dubbed is not real, it was done by someone who took the time to make it without the copyrights and without any real equipment. The english dubbed episodes left the japanese version of it. This debate is kinda one sided due to there not being a real Hare Hare Yukai English dubbed, and showing this very bad fandubbing in comparison to the real thing. All that putting those videos next to each other did was make everyone here who watches subs want to watch dubs even less. >:(

(ID #312920) Posted on 2008/09/25 13:30

reply to Wolf Leader's comment

Oh just to let you guys know, the English dub of Hare Hare Yukai is a FAN-dub and not official. 
VA is Christina Vee and has been doing this for a while. Besides that (yes I know it wasn't good for most of you), to me this was a little unfair since comparison of dub and sub was between music.

If someone actually a good comparison between sub and dub that'd be good. Like Persona 3. 
Besides you can't compare music, since dubbed music is even worse and is on a totally different level of gross -.-''

(ID #312953) Posted on 2008/09/25 14:00

reply to NightFoxXIII's comment

The original Japanese version sounds better. In translating Japanese songs, the syntax & grammar is simply hard to transfer from language to language. Also, the English voices were inappropriate. It was like listening to a bunch of Pussycat Doll or Hannah Montans wannabes. One must also consider the original artistic concept of the Japanese creators when they choose the voices for their anime characters. They do pour a great deal of scrutiny with the voices, especially with the quality of the sound. Whether, melodic, pleasant, harsh, high pitched or bass, the Japanese properly set the right voice for the right character most of the times.   The Americans just don't get it right. But to be fair, there have been several REALLY GOOD ENGLISH DUBBED anime shows. There's Ranma 1/2, which was dubbed in Canada, and Cowboy Bebop. 

(ID #312982) Posted on 2008/09/25 14:34

reply to cscentrl's comment

ooo hot topic here...

Yea Im a sub person. I wish they also have dual audio in games so you can hear the japanese VAs.
Its just the english sounds so scripted, a lot of the scenes, it sounds like they're reading the lines for the first time.

One recent exception in my books though was full metal alchemist. I actually prefered the english dub over the japanese voices.

(ID #313096) Posted on 2008/09/25 16:30

reply to euphoria's comment

Subs all the way...there are rarely any dubs that make a good match to the anime...

(ID #313106) Posted on 2008/09/25 16:50

reply to silent1134's comment

Actually it depends! a love raw japanese original, but some times there are so much dialog that is hard to read the subtitles, like Haruhi Suzumiya. Now, there are dub versions that in the end becomes better than the original jap itself, like Cowboy Beboop and Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. for instance. Who did not fell in love for Motoko's english voice!!!

HOWEVER, my main concern in the dub versions is how much they change the original script!!! Yes, in USA unfortunately they do change a lot, depending on what time they gonna air it, and who is the target - kids or adults. In USA Naruto's script was just ripped, because CartoonNetwoork air it in the middle of the evening when only kids would watch, so a lot of the dialogs and scenes were changed and deleted. Although they had great names of american anime voice talents it didn't help much... in the other hand, when an anime is show late (for adults than), like MTV or AdultSwim in American CartoonNetwork (main source of good animes), the american producers tend to be more careful with the dubbing (translating the script as original as possible and choosing good voice talents),plus the animes have less or none deleted scenes.

(ID #313142) Posted on 2008/09/25 18:07

reply to Roddy's comment

dubbed anime sounds weird...especially malay dubs! they sound really fake...prefer raw japanese with subs....

(ID #318841) Posted on 2008/09/30 23:35

reply to KyonRyan's comment

Dubbing is the first thing that I'd look for for in an anime so definitely its a must. :d

Characters sound more cute with their Japanese voices.

(ID #329777) Posted on 2008/10/10 20:20

reply to wildquaker's comment

Fansubs are typically much better than dubs, etc. Problem is, I can't find any for one particular anime that I would gladly kill the dubbers of and then hammer their graves with a huge mallet day and night. The first few eps have almost hundreds of different subs of, and then nothing... D=

(ID #332200) Posted on 2008/10/13 03:23

reply to Destinii Haruya's comment

Sub is good. However I think fansubs are illegal

(ID #344177) Posted on 2008/10/24 04:37

reply to duncanmc's comment

My first (and it still remains my favorite) anime "Ghost in the Shell" - was dubbed, but usually I watch with subtitles, especially if it's something kinky, sex scenes sounds very realistic and subs are enough =)

(ID #377988) Posted on 2008/11/19 22:49

reply to agata's comment

I prefer the original Japanese version, with or without subs. :)

(ID #379609) Posted on 2008/11/21 03:46

reply to irene's comment

I'll admit I started with dubs too , but raw or subs is the only way to watch anime .  The only anime that has a good dub is Haibane-Renmei , it has a type of setting and story that whether it is told in English or Japanese it really doesn't change much of it . That's actually a par of it's genius . 

(ID #416170) Posted on 2008/12/18 05:47

reply to haibane's comment

I don't much like the extremists who say "only dubs" or "only subs", because you're gonna miss out on a lot no matter which way you choose.  I personally watch subbed most of the time, but I'm always open to dubs, assuming it doesn't ruin the experience.

(ID #444899) Posted on 2009/01/12 08:52

reply to Natso's comment

Prefer Raw Japanese (with subtitles), Dub sound weird and make me dont want continue to watch

(ID #457565) Posted on 2009/01/22 18:21

reply to devlim.com's comment

Sometimes when u watch animes in subs and then compare to dubs U just have that Surprise inside ur head that its really different.I for one like subs better than dubs its like Im learning Japanese already

(ID #499665) Posted on 2009/02/23 21:17

reply to JakeTheFake's comment

epic phail...dont like the english dub

(ID #500963) Posted on 2009/02/25 01:37

reply to masahiro's comment