Subs vs Dubs

[akalink 163]

So I go to the opera every so often (student discounts make it super cheap). Sometimes they have subtitles projected above the stage, other times the words are translated into English. Funny enough I once went to an opera that was originally written in English, they also put up English Subtitles.

 

What do you guys prefer, translated or subtitled.

 

Did you think I was ask about something else? Fine anime discussion too.

[Le Kvlt Dawn 2,368]

I almost always watched anime subbed, but I really like the Hetallia dub. I guess I'm alright with dubs as long as their done well.

[LazuriteDreams* 136]

Hmm..well to me it really doesn't matter. Actually the first anime I've watched was dubbed, so it didn't matter. As for subs, I can say the Lucky Star anime as well. Lucky Star,K-on, Cardcaptor Sakura were all good dubs to me. But overall, I watch any anime available in subs and/or dubs depending on if I it's good or not.

Edited August 4, 2013 by Lunar

[An Old Head 4,816]

I'm more of a fan of subs. It preserves the anime, so to speak, by retaining the authentic Japanese voice. That way you're getting the same as they do over there, with added translation tidbits that don't really detract from your immersion. Then again, I've only watched a few dubs, so it might just be that I'm used to subs.

[Midnight Blade 80]

If you ask me, just about everything should stay in the original language. In most cases you'll end up with bad voices/writing/lipsyncing/other stuff I'm not thinking about right now, or a combination of that.

[Thuja 3,664]

I prefer to watch subbed anime however there are some good dubs that I like to watch as well.  Unfortunately, I haven't watched any operas in a while, but when I do I can't stand to watch the english language operas for some reason.   

[Megas 28,069]

I depends on how the dub is handled. For example, Sailor Moon, or just about any anime that's done by 4kids that's not Pokemon is by and large better to watch subbed because those are ridiculously edited both content and script, sometimes to the point where they completely change the story. Some anime, like Gurren Lagann I can take either since all that's changed is the language, and some, like Cowboy Bebop, Big O, Trigun, and even DBZ are just better suited dubbed.

 

tl;dr, if there's a dub, I'll probably watch it, but only if it's dubbed by someone competent

[Scootalove 10,689]

I usually just watch anime with subtitles but, I don't mind watching dubs either. As long as it is done well, other than that I don't mind

[Frosty V 309]

I prefer subtitles just because it seems

like it would keep it traditional and still

let people enjoy the show who don't

understand what's being said. Lol

[Serbon div 386]

I think subs are better cause any dubs in Serbian are awful so it is much better too read the text, plus you get to hear the original language.

[Foreigner And Lover 207]

In the case of anime, it doesn't really matter since I speak English and Japanese (though I prefer English). But If it's in some language I don't know like Swahili or something, I prefer dubs because being able to understand what there saying let's me appreciate what's happening on the screen. Not that I mind subs.

 

Besides, a lot of anime have really good dubs that are actually better than the Japanese. (I know, since I've seen both for a lot of them and can appreciate the dialogue for the Japanese.) Sometimes I like to watch Telemundo so I can keep my Spanish sharp, but I guess that's not really important.

 

I feel like I need to say that Funimation dubs are very often better than the Japanese. Not always, but often. They just flow better. And a lot of Japanese dubs are very bad. Just because it's in Japanese doesn't make it more accurate if you're reading subs. After all, someone is translating it.

Edited August 5, 2013 by Foreigner and Lover

[Envy 6,363]

To be honest, unless the dub is really watered down (like 4Kids One Piece, although that's one of the worst examples), I rarely hold any preferences and will at least be able to tolerate watching either.

[notdog1996 315]

I prefer subs, cause every French dub is horrible. They have no expression and speak with a monotone voice.  The only one I prefer is Ie naki ko because it's going on in France and I prefer the French voices overall.  Sometimes, I try the English dub, but I often prefer the subs anyway.

Edited August 4, 2013 by notdog1996

[~StatesTheOblivious~ 1,795]

I only have a problem with dubs if they are bad. Usually I watch TV-shows and movies, for example, in german to be able to follow the story without missing anything due to possibly occurring understanding issues. FiM is an exceptional case. I watch it in english only.

 

But when it comes to singing, I always prefer subs. You can't simply translate songs and try to let them be sung to the same music, the same rhythm, without taking away a lot of their actual meaning and impact.

Edited August 4, 2013 by StatesTheOblivious

[akalink 163]

This is good to hear from everybody. So many people I've meet won't watch subbed anime because of all the reading. It really is hardly any reading at all.

[The Leafeon Pinkeh 3,603]

SUBS! I watched subbed anime. Only dubbed anime I can stand are Hetalia (which I watch both subbed and dubbed), Pokemon (grew up with english version so it stuck), and I can stand the FMA subs too. Mostly because of Vic Mignogna. He's funny.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

I mainly only like subs. There are a few anime's where the dubbed version turns out pretty good, but for the most part, the original language, that mainly being Japanese of course, usually sounds a lot more natural and more in tune with the characters. Plus, some dubbed voice actors/actresses are incredibly annoying.

[Fluttermena 1,223]

I tend to prefer subs, but I make an exception for anime. English anime dubs are usually pretty good.

As a french-canadian, I can say that french dubs of anything are horribly godawful.

[Sugar Pea 2,683]

Though I seem to think that Sub sounds way better than Dub, I believe I have to go with Dub on this one.
I would prefer to watch the anime more than I would a bunch of letters on the screen. It's easier to understand, and it doesn't strain your eyes going back and forth from the subtitles to the actual anime. :3

Edited August 5, 2013 by Nature Of Fluttershy

[Starlighty 1,020]

For me it depends on the anime because the voice actor in some animes just sound terrible!!! Like death note and OmyGoddess and some other I can only watch in english because i watched so many times I got use to it... BUT One piece, black buttler, and some others I JUST can not stand in english there voices make me wanna pull my hair out... and maybe cause its a girl voice actor doing there voice and I can understand what they are saying that makes it so bad... WHEN a girl voice actor does it in JAPANESE it sounds so much better.  

[Josh Sinclair 4]

I hate this "Only Japan Does It Right" mentality.  Some anime was adapted from manga, and I'm sure somebody out there thinks that Goku shouldn't sound like a 10-year-old girl as an adult.  Then there's Orihime from "Bleach" (KUROSAKI-KUN!), Kenshin from "Rurouni Kenshin" (who sounds like a woman), and Edward Elric.  Yeah, a personal pet peeve of mine in Anime is when they cast women for adult/teen males, and Japan does it 70% of the time with their Shonen anime.

 

We need to understand that the 90s are over.  Dub voice acting has come a long way since "Pokémon."  Of course, people will bitch if Sebastian Michaelis doesn't sound like a pedophiliac Barry White or if Naruto sounds just as loud and annoying as he does in Japanese, but fails because its not Japanese.  I refer them to the fanboy from episode 31 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! Abridged."  They just ruin anime watching for casual viewers.

[Xanatos 162]

It varies. I prefer dubbed anime but I would absolutely never watch Kamen Rider dubbed. I suppose because Kamen Rider is live-action so all these obviously-not-English people speaking it would break the immersion. Meanwhile in anime, everyone looks white anyway so English fits.

Edited August 5, 2013 by Xanatos

[Xievie 498]

Subs, as everybody else is saying.

Dubs have made a bad impression on me because I haven't given it a chance in a long time.

 

Dubs tend to not be so good, and make it hard to get immersed in an anime.

Can't stand bad dubs.

[Galen 1,354]

Well, when it comes to opera, I prolly would prefer subs as a lot of times, the language is very difficult to understand. For anime, I prefer subs almost all the time because english dubs are generally horrible.

[碇 シンジン 27,439]

I dont understand how people who can read can watch the dubs if the original is available subbed its just is beyond me  9 times out of 10 the original voice is superior to the dubbed and conveys the emotion of the scene as it is supposed  dub feels just cheap it sacrifices the quality and sometimes even destroys the context