movies/tv Japanese or English Dubs?

[Tom Snyder 4,112]

The voices aren't that bad, but it's your choice what you wish to listen to it in.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,803]

Japanese dubs are what I highly prefer for almost all animes, with some specific exceptions like Trigun which I think is one of the best English dubs out there. Many others though, to me they come across as uninterested or lacking proper emotion or enthusiasm. Many of the original Japanese voice actors are so much believable and completely into the roles to me, making it more intriguing.

[LeonShi500 155]

How about we compromise... Engrish?

[Jaxsie (Inactive) 1,343]

I don't really watch anime all that much, but when I do, I prefer it in Japanese. I study the language and I love it very much; hearing Japanese is like music to my ears.

Edited June 14, 2015 by RainbowJaxs16

[Lisa 5,553]

If there's an English dub, I'll watch that. I don't like having to read subtitles, diverting my eyes downwards from what's happening.

[catnet 9,358]

Most of the English dubs I've listened to have been pretty good, IMO... I've been opting more towards Japanese recently though, since I feel it sounds cuter (for most anime I watch, cuteness matters x3) and more lively, somehow. It's not a major preference, so I'd still be happy with either one. If I'm multitasking, however, then I'll definitely go with the dub since I wouldn't be paying enough attention to subtitles if they were on.

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

English. Always. If there is no English version I'm considerably less likely to ever watch a series.Unlike most people (seemingly) I have never liked listening to non-English voice acting and I don't have any problem with the English ones. I often disagree completely with people whether the voice acting is bad or not. Almost none of it sounds even remotely bad to me.

This guy, right here. He speaks for me.

 

Besides, all Japanese kind of blends together without any nuance to me. And all the voice actors sound the same too. I can't distinguish their emotions as well as English, so I can't really judge the quality of it. I think the same goes for many natural English speakers, to be honest. They're much more judgemental of the English dub because they can distinguish things better. Japanese just sounds cooler to them because it's foreign and exotc. Although I do have to admit as well that Japanese voice actors probably do have to put in more effort, due to their voice acting industry being a much bigger thing over there whilst it's still a niche thing overseas. From what I can tell, they seem more over the top. Again though, because I don't speak the language, I can't really judge that for sure.

 

For me, sound and voice acting is very important. I prefer being able to distinguish nuance and subtlety. I just can't do that with the original Japanese. Words themselves can deliver more nuance to a performance when one can distinguish the tone each word is said in. Sadly, I can't appreciate this if I don't know what each individual word means and how it's typically used. it's basically like: "Bla Bla blah" is what the characters are saying and then some text is telling me that that's what the garble is supposed to mean. Written captions just don't cut it - it ruins my immersion in the show. I feel much more connected to the characters. They feel like actual real people to be rather than just people who make some weird noises I can't comprehend. (No offense to Japanese, that's just what all languages I don't speak sound like to me.)

 

Honestly though, I think anime (and video game) English voice actors are pretty much the best ones out there. They tend to put more effort into their performances due to the fact that the subject matter is generally more serious than western cartoons. I really do not understand the flak they get from people and think they're totally great. I wish I could voice act like them!

 

If something is subbed, I'll generally not watch it unless it's really good or related to a series I want to consume everything about and has parts that didn't make it here. (Like Xenosaga, I actually like their Japanese voice actors)

[DATA EXPUNGED 324]

Normally, when it comes to anime, I prefer the original Japanese Dub, especially if the English dub is a dime-a-dozen Funi dub. Most English speaking people like the Japanese dubs better because they have a harder time detecting bad japanese voice acting, but can detect crap english dubbing easily. However, since I grew up around, and began speaking Japanese at a young age, I can tell a bad Japanese dub from a good one. Anyway, thats my two bits on the subject. 

[Tom Snyder 4,112]

Sometimes translations gets lost and the voice actors have to make due sometimes. But i will admit, that there are some japanese voices i dislike.

[LostButterflyUtau 780]

I'm not really on either side of the fence. If the anime has only been aired in Japan, I'll watch it in Japanese with subs. If it's been dubbed, I'll go ahead and give the dub a try. For example, I've watched Toradora in both English and Japanese, and I like both just fine, same with Ouran High School Host Club. However, a good handful of the anime I've watched, I've had to watch with subs because the Western World has something against Magical Girls.

 

The only anime I can say for sure that I prefer in English is Fruits Basket. Something about the voices just really clicks with me in the English version. Except Akito. Because she sounds like a creepy pedophile. (And it's weird.) I know, I know, a lot of people hate this dub, but I don't. Sorry not sorry.

[Discordian 6,015]

I'm not really on either side of the fence. If the anime has only been aired in Japan, I'll watch it in Japanese with subs. If it's been dubbed, I'll go ahead and give the dub a try. For example, I've watched Toradora in both English and Japanese, and I like both just fine, same with Ouran High School Host Club. However, a good handful of the anime I've watched, I've had to watch with subs because the Western World has something against Magical Girls.

 

The only anime I can say for sure that I prefer in English is Fruits Basket. Something about the voices just really clicks with me in the English version. Except Akito. Because she sounds like a creepy pedophile. (And it's weird.) I know, I know, a lot of people hate this dub, but I don't. Sorry not sorry.

You should give BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad a try, if you haven't already. They really make the music sound great in English.

 

I watched Toradora subbed cuz I was told it would never get an English version. Several years later and it does. I still need to watch it.

 

Holding out hope for a Pandora Hearts dub.

[Tom Snyder 4,112]

Okay, i know i said i like the japanese better, but its kind of a love/hate relationship with me. Depending on the voices and voice acting I will watch either way, but I prefer these genres:

 

• Supernatural
• Action
• Comedy
• Romance

[Kira Dogeikage 230]

For me, it depends on the anime. I hate the dubs of Samurai Champloo (not because of the actors, because the video is so off), Attack on Titan (the characters sound like whimpering babies, which they would in real life, but this is anime), and uhhhh... Well, I haven't seen a ton of anime. I liked Fairy Tail, SAO, and FMA better in English though. I felt more of a connection with the characters. Usually I enjoy a show best in whatever language I watch it in first. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet I liked both subbed and dubbed. Again, I think it depends on the show.

[Envy 6,202]

I really don't care either way unless the dub completely changes the original (Think 4Kids One Piece or pretty much every DBZ dub before FUNimation's dub of Kai).

[Lagrangian 64]

I prefer Japanese unless it's a really good dub because the lip syncing in English will distract me.

[Frostgage 7,976]

I'll pretty much always watch in English if it's available. I'd rather just watch and listen to what's happening on the screen than read less-than-perfect subtitles to try and understand what's going on, it's that simple. If I was Japanese, I would watch things in Japanese. Plus I'm skeptical that every dub ever made is ear-bleeding material as some would suggest

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

I think it really comes down to which dub you saw first. But if you're in it purely for the story then I would recommend a sub since there seems to be the least chance of mistranslation there. What's more, you don't even have to worry about mispronunciations since you're the one pronouncing it in your head as you read.

 

Another thing, if you're going to switch over to a different dub (regardless of language), I would recommend that you open up your mind and try to see these characters as being different from their counterparts in other dubs. Like, I see Rainbow Dash in the English dub as being different from the Rainbow Dash in the Latino dub but IMO both versions are pretty believable. But it's going to have to grow on you first, just like how the characters had to grow on you when seeing them for the first time in whatever dub you saw them in first.

[Velcorn 279]

I think it really comes down to which dub you saw first. But if you're in it purely for the story then I would recommend a sub since there seems to be the least chance of mistranslation there. What's more, you don't even have to worry about mispronunciations since you're the one pronouncing it in your head as you read.

 

Another thing, if you're going to switch over to a different dub (regardless of language), I would recommend that you open up your mind and try to see these characters as being different from their counterparts in other dubs. Like, I see Rainbow Dash in the English dub as being different from the Rainbow Dash in the Latino dub but IMO both versions are pretty believable. But it's going to have to grow on you first, just like how the characters had to grow on you when seeing them for the first time in whatever dub you saw them in first.

Exactly this... I do prefer the English dub for MLP but the German dub seems decent and I like the Spanish dub =P

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

English dub. I rather not read a paragraph whilst trying to pay attention to what's happening. I can multitask, but if there's one thing I cannot do is read and watch something at the same time. It's difficult.

The English dubs are easier to follow. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it isn't, but I will make do with what I am given.
 

[gone~ 614]

Cliches bishonen or deeper bad boy voices you hear everywhere, or are the irritating high pitched girls voices? either way, the two former are annoying for sounding alike, and the latter are irritating. I pick the English due to that 

 

I find this really funny because I choose the Japanese dub for the same reasons ^^; I especially can't stand almost any of the English voices for high school girls, and the English dub for something like Lucky Star just makes me cry.

 

The only anime I can think of where I prefer the English dub is Dragonball Z (Funimation dub), probably because that's the one I first listened to and got used to ^^;

[Jeremiah 1,586]

I ALWAYS watch dubs, but... i only watched/enjoyed the Tokyo Ghoul sub though, i still like subs though, just i dont watch them that often

[Wahya 71]

I mostly watch subbed unless its for a show like Hetalia. You just can't get the right voices and accents in Japanese. That is my only exception so far.

[ThatOneComrade 1,091]

I prefer English Dubs whenever I can get them. It's kinda annoying to have to read and not be able to enjoy the animation as well as I would've if it were a language I understood.

[Jokuc 8,174]

Japanese. Always. I really don't understand why people wouldn't want to watch with the original voices, it's a mystery to me. Then again, I live in Sweden where nothing ever gets dubbed except bad commercials for imported products.

 

Anyway, I think Japanese is a very かっこいい language so even if I were used to dubbed stuff I wouldn't want to change.

[Omar 692]

Of the few anime that I watch, I watch it in japanese. The only exception is Dragon Ball Z since I grew up watching it in english.

Edited June 19, 2015 by Omar