Anime: English Dub Vs Sub

[mitsuhashi]

Definitely original audio w/ subtitles. The original voice actors tend to be chosen with great care, and these people in turn try to portray complex emotions to up production values.

Voice actors for foreign language dubs (English in this case) all seem to just want to get things over with and often have really one-dimensional tones. Absolutely kills the anime.

[ProxyIchig0]

Yes, the first way I see it is usually the first way I want it. However, there are exceptions. I prefer the one with the better [voice] acting and emotional expression. It helps if the voices are really unique and characteristic, and I can already recognize the voices of my favorite voice actors on the spot, just from the sound of the voice, although sometimes I am very surprised by the range of voices possible from just one person. Take the English dubbing voice for Robin in Witch Hunter Robin ... I bet you would never have guessed some of the characters she's voiced.

[Jesta]

I know just what you mean, sometimes Ive left subtitles on accidentally and the subs are miles out from the dub, makes you wonder why they decide to rewrite the script rather than just read the direct translation, which in itself is usually details more

[BlackWater]

Well, I usually like subs because they are more accurate and you can see what the original script intended to do. Also, for the majority, Japanese voice casting is spot on and the charcter really comes out through their words while English voice casting makes everyone sound obnoxious to me.

I only ever prefer dubs if the original cast doesn't cut it somehow. This is mostly when the anime takes place in a very western setting and the way they pronounce names and the use of the Japanese honorifics makes everything quite strange. (For me, the English dub of Monster was much better than the original Japanese one.)

[chris red]

I would choose japanese everytime easily. Why listen to 3rd rate english dub voice actors when can listen the best of japanese voice acting. Although I will give credit where it is due with some english dubbed anime however they remain very few.

[the man773]

Alright, if it's only available in subbed format I gladly watch it, if it's in both, I watch dub merely because I enjoy the artwork, once I've seen the series once or twice I usually watch it subbed from then on. I did that with Bleach (partially because the dub became piss poor real quick) and now I do it with Death Note.

[vanhook]

I have to agree with koby i watch shows both dubbed and subbed. one show i can not sand to watch dubbed is prince of tennis because there is no emotion or prensence behind the voice.

[LWC]

It certainly depends on the anime, and as you've said, the quality of the dub. I can appreciate a good dub, and it becomes less distracting from the action if I don't have to read while watching. However, subs will often provide useful information about characters I wouldn't recognize (language characters not person characters), and can provide really crucial information at times. Ultimately, I find that subs provide a more in depth experience, but I prefer dubs for casual watching.

[Yumeria]

I actually prefer dubs ^^

I just much rather watch and and listen.. Not read, watch, and listen xD I guess I'm lazy , but havign to read as well will distract from the series ^^

Also, I don't really like the high voices they have for some characters

[the man773]

For many I don't really care, whatever version that hits the voices right is probably the version i would watch. Artistic anime I tend to watch dub first so that i can actually look at the image and not the subtitles all the time.

[skye336]

to me it really depends on the series

I can't watch naruto some of the voices make me cringe

but I can watch Trinity blood and Full Metal Alchemist and Both the Dub adn the Sub are extremely well done

[Look2Logic]

dual audio for sure. I generally watch the dubs but like to be able to "rewind" and check out how the original actors/writers/producers intended the anime to sound

[Rankarana]

Having dual is always good; a choice is nice. I tend to normally go with subs these days as most anime I watch while they air, but there're always worthwhile dubs, or at least ones that don't feel all too different to the subs.

[saifudeen]

I THINK THAT DUB ACTORS DO GIVE EMOTION.... WELL MUCH BETTER IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE THEY BEGAN MAKING CAREERS OUT OF IT.

sorry, don't know why i keep forgetting the caps is on.

to answer the question: dubs, the characters grow on me as i watch and listen

[xyzzy]

ab cd ef gh ij

Edited January 12, 2023 by Kafei

[Nana_lorena]

I usually prefer the original audio in Japanese with subs, but there are some cases in which the dub is pretty cool, besides there are clasic series that I met in the dubbed version, so it sounds rare for me the japanese audio

[Diabetus boy]

The Japanese voices are very good, but to a native English speaker like myself, who is also tired of reading subs, english is great because you can watch and understand without having to look down every few seconds and perhaps miss something important

[fatboy4655]

I dont see how some one could choose subbed over dubbed i do understand how some dubbed anime some of the VA are not that good but on less if you understand Japanese i dont see how someone could choose subbed over dubbed. but that is my opinion.

I do watch all on going anime in subbed because it is further than the dubbed.

~And i also do not like to get distracted from the animation~

[Alkin]

I always try and get my anime in dual if its possible then i decide weather or not the dub or sub is better and then if i liked the anime and go for a re-watch i'll watch it on the other audio so i get to fully explore the anime on both dub and sub and also it just makes it feel more complete when i have it in dual.

[ShadowDragon]

I think it depends solely on the actors. I love School Rumble in Dub version much better than the sub, but Spice and Wolf was so much better in Sub. Azumanga Diaoh was great in either version in my opinion, so it really depends.