Dub vs Sub

[Steagol]

Just curious, what is it that exactly makes people believe subs are better than the english dubs? I mean, what exactly attracts you to it, even though you can't understand a single thing their saying without the subtitles (for those that don't speak Japanese)? I'm really thinking of buying a DVD set (only available in subs), and i don't know if it's worth it or not. Just need a few opinions on the issue.

[Soluzar]

Oh wow! A sub vs. dub thread! I've never seen one of these before, how cool!

[Starfire-99]

Dubs. Having to read subs takes away from the experience of watching the series. Most people are WAY to critical and give dubs a bad rap. Granted, there are some dubs out there which are downright horrible. But the majority are at least acceptable.

[Soluzar]

Try reading the first post, it might help.

[Gibb]

Any media is better in its originally intended language IMHO, whether it's Japanese, Russian, German, whatever. I like anime, which is Japanese, so I watch it subtitled with original Japanese dialog. I'm also learning Japanese so I can eventually watch it without subtitles.

[The Million Dollar Prons]

The subs are there to distract me from the fact the characters are talking out of the side of their face.

[animeotaku99]

I only watch subs, thats because the VAing on the English part is usually poorly done (and they sound cuter in Japanese) Its pretty rare to find a DVD without a dub track as far as I know. I don't see how watching Subs would be unattractive I dont need to understand their speak because they have subtitles I read.
and... DUB VS. SUB THREAD KILL IT BEFORE IT SPREADS!!!

[gameoffreak8]

I usually watch subs but I like to watch dubs.

[tenshi_a]

I just always prefer to experience a work of art in the closest form possible to its original. I will always choose to watch anything in its original language, if possible, not just if it's in Japanese. I also often prefer listening to a songwriter sing their own songs, even if "better" singers have recorded a "better" version. It's just the way I am.

If you're the kind of person who values these things like I do, you'll sometimes feel annoyed if a dubbed version of anime is saying something different to what is in the original (either through translation or localisation), and annoyed by the meaning of lines being changed, annoyed by the actors portraying the characters differently through tone-of-voice (not just the lines they're saying), etc.

Even if you don't understand a language, you can often detect that the emotions portrayed by the original actors, and the dub actors, differ.

I'm probably a special case, though, since I've always watched English-language TV with subtitles anyway (my mother has hearing problems), I'm used to them being there.

So.. that's why I prefer subs. Probably doesn't help you decide whether to buy a sub-only dvd set, though.

[J Dude]

I'm not really going to go into some long post explaining all the various reasons for why I only watch anime subbed and I could careless about dubs, but that's just how it is.

[ArcaJ]

Here's my reason that I like film, television, music in their respective original languages. When I attend an opera, my first thought is of the quality of the music, the singers' voices, the beautiful set design, costumes and staging. It is not, "I wonder if I can get this in English."

While viewing the performing arts is it is the resposibility of the audience to choose an art which they enjoy. My favorite pervorming art is the motion picture. Anime just happens to be one of the products of that art.

Anime, like any good visual and performing art, is an end-product of a lot of collaboration. From story planners, script writers, sound directors to general directors to actors and engineers; it all comes together to a seemless whole.

Anime, being a drawn artform, relies on artists to create the story's reality. However, that reality is nothing without the rest of the crew to make us believe it.

Since anime is a collaborative effort (just like any Hollywood film) removal of any element of that whole leaves it incomplete. A mere shell of the artwork tht it was supposed to be.

Therefore, my desire to see anime in only its native language (whatever it may be) is born of selfish wish to see those films and TV programs in their completed forms. Demanding that art from a foreign source remain it its original form isn't unreasonable.

::HUGS::

Arca Jeth

[tenshi_a]

To help you in your decision as to whether it's worth buying a sub-only DVD set, you should try rewatching one of your other anime DVDs with subs, and see how it compares, whether you're still able to follow the story, get involved with the feelings of the characters, enjoy the artwork above the subs you're reading, etc. Then you'll be in a better position to decide whether a sub-only box set will still be enjoyable, for you.

Watching dubbed anime with subtitles on may also show you the differences in language between what tends to be used in subtitled versions, compared with the dub, and could help you in getting used to having subtitles on screen. So that's something else you could try.

[KatayokuのTenshi]

^ It will also help to practice reading the subs, at first you're eyes might stayed glued to the bottom of the screen, then one of three things will happen (from my experience)

1 You'll start flicking you eyes down to the subs for half a second each time a new one appears read it and look back up.

2 You'll start focusing on the middle of the screen (or the whole thing at once like I do) and see it all at once. Although the reading will require more of your attention than the pictures.

3 You'll throw your hands up in the air call me an idiot and insist reading TV is for idiots and that Azumanga Daioh really is better in English (I have great friends don't I )

I find I don't enjoy any re-dub unless I saw it like that first, and than movies have better dubs than series, but I like subs because [insert above reasons] no really it's been said

[Soaker87]

Um... both. It depends on the series. If it's an edited dub though, than the sub wins.

[rZi]

The majority of dubs are awful, for example i re-watching Samurai X Trust and betrayl at the momment and i had forgotten how out of place some of these characters sound, and kenshin himself sounds flat...ive heard kids read news papers with more excitment in their voice (obviously kenshin isnt ment to be of similar characteristics as say naruto but still...)

I believe that most dubs often change the dialouge to suit the actors and i cannot stand anyone tampering with the original in any shape or form. PLUS there is a huge lack of voice talent in the west and you hear the same 5 guys in like 20+ different roles...it gets boring.