Anime/Foreign films - Sub or Dub?

I had a thought the other day, that recently I have become adamant about watching Anime/foreign Films in their original languages. For some reason, I just don't feel that the English actors/production houses do a good enough job.

I first noticed this years ago when I first saw Akira on BBC2, I saw it in Japanese but could only buy it dubbed into English. After watching it in English so many times I forgot how good it was in Japanese, so carried on buying/renting them (Anime) dubbed for years. Subscribing to the "by reading subtitles you miss half the action" line of thought for so long, I was amazed when watching a subtitled version of "the wings of honneamise" (again on BBC2, they used to be good with Anime), then renting the English version from Blockbuster Video.

Now, however I refuse to watch an Anime (given the choice) in anything other than in Japanese. There is something lost in the translation (if you excuse the film reference pun), not only in the story element, but in the characters as well. I have just finished watching the first 2 DVD's of "Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi" and obviously chose to watch the episodes in Japanese. However, I was forced (by the good people at "Madman Entertainment") to put up with the horrific English voices in the interactive menu's.

This normally wouldn't bother me, if it wasn't for the fact that the series was intensly enjoyable in Japanese, and a farce in English. While it is indeed meant as a comedy, the English voice actors made the characters (especially Sasshi) sound totally moronic.

Before I go off on another sub-rant, what is everyone else's opinions of Anime/Foreign films and dubbing? With the imminent release of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex in English on DVD, this has been playing on my mind for a while.

 

While I don't mind watching a film or show subbed I much rather watch a dubbed version. Especially since now that anime has become more mainstream the voice acting has gotten much better in my opinion. If you watch the early dubbed anime like Vampire Hunter D compared to the stuff now like Cowboy Bebop or Last Exile it almost makes you cringe. This also might just be me but one of the things that bugs me is that all the Japanese female voice actors all sound so whiney. It makes me think of what Lucille Ball would sound like on speed. Maybe it would be better if I knew what they were saying but since I don't it is just a big distraction.

 

Funny you say that actually, as Cowboy Bebop is one of the few I do enjoy in English.

 

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subtitle always. if not available in sub I won't buy it...
saying that I'm still looking for original JPN Ultraman and Spiderman w/ subtitle. Saw one while I was in Shinjuku but couldn't find out whether they were sub or not... probably not...

cheers

 

Spiderman dub? what?

I prefer neither or removeable subs. It's good to learn more than one language.

 

I'm not too bothered when it comes to sub or dub. Either way works ^_^ I'm usually more bothered with teh content.

 

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I'm referring to NOT Spiderman Movie but cheezy TV series aired in Japan circa 70s... I believe...

cheers

 

Is that the Spiderman series where he had the giant robot?

 

Subbing... but I must point out that you have your definitions of the two backwards.

 

Re: .

Can you help me out... im looking for cybercop and Seiun Kamen Machine Man dvds,tapes,whatever.... seen any?

 

Oops. you are right.. that will teach me to rant when im tired! I will fix it now!

 

It's got to be subtitles all the way !! 99% of the time the dubed voices are God awful. Not only in Anime but also in movies and games. The only anime I think sound better in English are Cyber City (better Music and voices than the Japanese original), Dominion (Better voices but the music is awful in places) and maybe Tenchi Muyo. As for games I've never liked any dub over the original language. Same goes for movies.

Yakumo

 

Might make star wars more interesting...

 

Anyone who thinks dubbing is alright go watch the English dub of Bio Zombie
:smt043 :smt024 :butthead:

 

subbed all the way baby!!!! i hate friggin dubs >_> i prefer watching american movies in english and anime or fereign moves with subs >_>

 

I refuse to watch any movie/show/whatever that is not in its original language. BUT I like to watch cartoons dubbed by brasilians because most of the time they can make a boring cartoon sound like a master piece, i.e. The Tick.

 

Anything I want to watch semi-seriously I'd prefer the sub, but sometimes bad dubbing IMPROVES stuff :smt023 I'd point to half the anime done by Manga Entertainment, specifically Angel Cop, Violence Jack and Mad Bull. For without bad dubbing, we wouldn't have THIS: http://home.comcast.net/~jlehr2001/video/vjack.ogm and also THIS: http://home.comcast.net/~jlehr2001/video/chicken.ogm

 

Paulo, I'm going to find where you live, and put you in a world of hurt. :smt027 :axe:

My preference is also subtitles, mainly due to the fact that the English voice acting is horrifying and annoying. I'm not sure why every male protagonist in a comedy series needs to sound like he's halfway through puberty, but the English voice actors pull it off. I think a bit of the story gets lost in the dubbing as well, as I'm sure most of you have noticed that the speech in almost every dubbed anime feels very hurried - it's because a lot more can be said in 3 seconds of fluid Japanese than in English, so naturally the story loses out as things get cropped and reworded. If a dub is done well, I'll watch it, and it indeed allows you to focus a little more on just the action, but subtitles are always safe bets that keep the story in it's original intended form.

 

Subbed, english anime sucks balls, a few examples, DBZ, Neon genesis evangelion, sonic x , ghost in the shell they all sucks balls in english especially Sonic x and NGE it's just pure rape :smt022