Do you prefer anime dubbed or subbed?

[Japanimaniac]

That's right, the biggest question in the anime scene: Do you prefer your anime subbed or dubbed?

I don't mind either one. If it's the first time I've seen something, I prefer to watch it dubbed, since I suck at multi-tasking and I'm gonna miss something cool by reading. If circumstances don't allow, however, that's fine.

It's anime! I enjoy it any way I can get it.

[Neo Adeline]

I like anime in both subbed and dubbed but sometimes my brother and I like subbed more than dubbed. :souka:

[tha_rippa1be]

i guess subbed, so i can learn some japanese in the meanwhile :p

[DragonChan]

Definately subbed, or raw, but we'll not get into that. Dubbed means I don't learn any Japanese, and the amount of shows that have been killed by dubbers is insane. So I stick to the originals.

[King of Tokyo]

Depends on the Anime. An anime like Cowboy Bebop for example is a really well dubbed anime and I prefer the dubbed version over the subbed simply because I don't like having to read what I'm watching.. Heh. But then there are some that are terribly dubbed, so I prefer subs sometimes. Then again I don't really watch anime anymore.. Heh.

[silver angel]

subbed. hands down. For live action movies.

[Camui]

subbed and dubbed are both good...but sometimes when I'm watching subbed I keep thinking I'm gonna miss something or if they switch it too fast I have to go back and watch it again...and also sometimes the dubbed versions don't always say the same things said originally...but dubbed is good to cuz I can pay more attention to what's going on ^^

[Japanimaniac]

Dubbed means I don't learn any Japanese, and the amount of shows that have been killed by dubbers is insane. So I stick to the originals.
But then there are some that are terribly dubbed, so I prefer subs sometimes.

You both make good points. I hate when the dubbing sucks. And learning a bit of japanese is fun, but I often find it hard to put what the characters are saying to the english subtitles. Not to mention that there's not too many times in your life you'll need to say "Let's go, Sailor Scouts!" in japanese...or something to that effect. ^.^"

I still enjoy dub and sub equally.

[Jungle Boy]

Subtitle's are the only way to go IMO. Some things you just can't translate well from Japanese to Enlish. The emotion and impact just isn't there.

[Sinspawne]

Subtitle's are the only way to go IMO. Some things you just can't translate well from Japanese to Enlish. The emotion and impact just isn't there.
Exactly! And a lot of the jokes and humor is changed or even lost when it's dubbed.

[Mr. Just-A-Guy]

I am totally purist. Things (not just Anime, but also movies, games, etc) in their original way are much better!
I avoid dubbing but when there is no option I opt for watching it, although with some resistence, feeling really unpleasant like itｴs a fake.
But in case of Anime, apart from the ideal original audio, itｴs also good to watch subbed because of Japanese that is a language that I like so much!

[evasuka]

YES!!! I prefer the subbed version over the dubbed vesrsion
Especily when it comes to live action
If you anyone of you seen a movie dubbed in hmong, you'd
WANT to hurl (im not hating on the hmong, i am homng, just personal experince)

[Japanimaniac]

Live action is one exception where I definitely prefer subtitles. The only thing I can think of when I'm watching a dubbed japanese movie is "Godzilla". Can't stand it.

[Raven]

I like dubbed when it痴 extremely good or when the anime is really fast paced. Has anyone seen Kodomo no Omocha? If you tried to keep up with Sana and the way she talks and her dynamics you池e head would spin right off. I知 so serious, the girl is either on speed or no doze or crack or pixie stix�I can never tell. But when she goes on her words don稚 catch up with her actions on time. I often miss it when she痴 talking I don稚 even get to read the subtitles�I sit there and look at the screen quite taken aback lol. In a case like that I prefer dubbed�but then again I don稚 think they値l ever find an English VA with enough breath to talk that fast, I got the jist of what was going on anyway.

In an anime like Fushigi Yuugi where there痴 not nearly as much energy being bounced around subbed is good, I can keep up with it. I知 not saying that its a dull anime that has no action�that痴 absurd, FY is great, it痴 just at a different pace than KnO and I perfer it with subtitles. And then there is anime they shouldn稚 have dubbed, like Sailor Moon and Card Captor Sakura�but then again I thought the dubbed version of Gokudo no Manyuki was better than the subbed�it really depends when you try a little of both.

I agree with live action subbed, absolutely, when the words aren't catching up to their lips or the other way around...you know somethings wrong.

[Camui]

I think the subbed version of CCS is awesome..I took the time to watch the entire series that way...I never got to finish watching FY, but it was really awesome I watched it dubbed...^^

[Duo]

I prefer everything in the original language, anime, movies, music etc. The only good dubbed anime I have come across was Rurouni Kenshin, and when I compared the dubbed and subbed, the dubbed had change a lot of the lines etc ; that's not cool at all. SO subbed, hands down.

[e i e n]

subbed definitely!

example: the Inuyasha dubbed version changed everything about how the characters really were in the anime, they did't have the right tone that suited the characters

[Shin Asura]

Subbed or Raw. I usually watch Raw anime, subtitles usually get in the way and the translations aren't always correct.

[Shinhan7]

subbed.
I avoid dubbed as much as possible. For me it takes more effort to understand english voice than english text (English is not my native tongue)
Also, subbed anime helps me to learn japanese. No, not exactly learn, but to develop an "ear" for japanese language.

[Trojan1313]

I will personally hunt down and kill each and everyone of those who prefer dubbed. :D
Nah, just kidding (WHAT!? Call Ripey's! ^_^), but seriously, dubbs suck, they don't have fitting voices, they don't speak japanese, they lack feeling and worst of all... they translate names, for example, in the english dub of "Inuyasha - Affections touching across time" the cat-demons name isn't Kiara, it's Kilala (like all r in japanese are l when you speak them in western dialect... we do have an r you know).

Bottomline: Subtitles = good, Dubbs = horrible.

[dreamer]

Hum...the main problem is that most of the time the characters are created to fit the japanese seiyuu, thus when some dubbers from other countries try to dub the animes it's usually screwed...it's just the same with american movies...
Japanese seiyuus are incredibly skilled to pass a feeling contrary to all the american/french dubbers I've heard so far...
I've watched an ep of love hina dubbed in french and I wanted to kill the dubbers...
I also remember when I was in hong kong, I watched Armageddon and the chinese dubber for bruce W. had a quite soft voice making him sound girlish...

[jezantz]

Subbed, definately. It makes a much better experience for me.

[Reiku]

Subbed the first time, but it's good to watch it dubbed afterwards once you know what the dialouge should be--it's hard to take in all the detail when you're keeping one eye on the subtitles...

[Lina Inverse]

Subbed, absolutely no question!
English anime dubs are often so atrocious they make your ears bleed! :mad: :sick:

[kamuizero]

I prefer Subbed anime, It's way cooler to listen the original japanese voices, and not the horrible dubbed ones :P, also it's great to listen some japanese, and you can somehow "learn" a bit and/or test your japanese :D.

[willuknight]

Subbed, for the following reasons:

1) 70% of anime i've seen in dub has had a horrid Dub
the exceptions to this was Spirited Away.

2) The american voices are usually jarring and do not suit the character. Also the voices usually sound too old for the given character, and sound fake.

3) Apart form Full Moon Wo Sagashite, i usually enjoy the japanese actors voices, and find they are well suited to the characters. I was originally skeptical of Yuzu's voice (in Aishiteruze Baby) but it grew on me.

4) I gotten to like the sound of japanese. I watched Oseam not to long ago, and the chinese was a bit annoying.

5) I can't stand american accents coupled with stupid voices.

[Japanimaniac]

It's all pretty much relative to what you're used to, I think. I'd watched anime on tv for so long before I was ever able to hear anything in original japanese or buy dvds, that I was used to dubbing. And in my opinion, the american voices fit better lots of the time. Female japanese voices often times sound way too high pitched and whiney for my tastes. Prime example? Lina Inverse from Slayers. But again, it's relative to what you're used to.

Or maybe I'm just too americanized ^.^

[PaulTB]

I like dubbed when it痴 extremely good or when the anime is really fast paced. Has anyone seen Kodomo no Omocha? If you tried to keep up with Sana and the way she talks and her dynamics you池e head would spin right off.
I have, and undubbed unsubbed Sana is a definite 'challenge'. :relief:
I can follow it, sometimes maybe even mostly, but I'd _hate_ to have to transcribe / translate it.

[willuknight]

It's all pretty much relative to what you're used to, I think. I'd watched anime on tv for so long before I was ever able to hear anything in original japanese or buy dvds, that I was used to dubbing. And in my opinion, the american voices fit better lots of the time. Female japanese voices often times sound way too high pitched and whiney for my tastes. Prime example? Lina Inverse from Slayers. But again, it's relative to what you're used to.

Or maybe I'm just too americanized ^.^

Well i watched all the free to air anime, pokemon, digimon, astroboy, sailor moon and other junk, and i didn't mind those dubs because i'm used to them. However since i've gotten into more anime, i 've found i definatly have a preference for sub.

I find that american dub (female in particular) voices usually sound far too old for the chracters they're meant to portray. Also all the voices seem to sound the same, from one anime to the next....

Add to this the inaccuracies of the dub translation and you have something i'm not interested in.

"This soup tastes like donkey's piss!" Monoke-himi

[Flashjeff]

I don't mind either. Speaking just for myself, it's cool to have the choice of dubbed when it comes to watching anime on DVD's as, most of the time, I'm too lazy to follow subbed text on the screen!
:D

[babar-san]

i like my anime subbed, no dubbbing for me, seems to ruin the integrity of the characters when they are dubbed, take akira for instance, worst dub job ever on a theatrical anime, a shame, because the japanese lang version of the film had a much more serious and realistic tone to it, the english just ruined that. not to mention they covered up curse words with the silliest analogies possible.

[Apollo]

All foreign films and (including Japanese anime) should be subbed!! I don't like watching dubbed films...
I once saw a dubbed film in Japan: it was Beverly Hills Cop starring Eddie Murphy, and I must say that it was an awful experience watching Murphy speaking Japanese.... :D

[puKKa]

hoho.. I hate dubbed animes since the voice actors often suck and it looses the japanese feeling and chibi dosn't work with english :P

I ONLY watch subbed animes.

[Ryudo]

I definetly prefer the subbed versions. I once watched a German dubbed scene of Hellsing. I couldn't watch it for more than 5 minutes. (They even changed the Themesong...brrr :mad: )

[vampmiyavi]

subtitled buddy!!! but some dubbed is okay ^.^ sometimes there voices are hilarious

[Nightwalker]

I like Subbed better. When the move it over to Dubbed it wrecks the whole anime. I have only seen a few anime with good Dub versions. Other's I can't stand. So I'm going with Subbed. It's more original and it has more characteristic.

[jovial_jon]

I can't bear to watch anything dubbed; it's just pure evilness.

[Nightwalker]

Lol. I agree! I think maybe both sides have their up's and down's to it. Like Soul Hunter the Dubbed version is sooo EVIL! I can't even watch Angel Sanctuary without wanting to hit something hard because I can't stand it. I always watch it in Sub version.

[Flashjeff]

My, my! Such unbridled vitriol against dubbing! :D Just for fun, I guess I'll come to it's defense!

I've got no beef against dubbing, in fact, I prefer it, like I said earlier, I'm often too lazy to read subtitles! HA! I understand that people have preconceived notions, or are convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that all dubbing is bad, I think that's just taking things a wee bit too far. Personally, subbing has it's drawbacks, at least for me anyway as I sometimes can't tell one voice apart, especially female voice actresses! I'd never know what's going on without the subtitles!

Is stuff lost in translation when it comes to dubbing? You bet! I won't deny that for an instant! But that doesn't take away or decrease my overall enjoyment of the anime I watch. I'm willing to take dubbing with an open mind, even enjoy it, so I'm not the least bit offended by the medium as most here are. Maybe I'm just too easygoing or not enough of an otaku to rail against the evils of dubbing, perhaps that's because I don't see any evils in it. But that's just my opinion, for what it's worth.
:-)

[Japanimaniac]

Amen, flashjeff. ::bows down::

[SkippyDaStudent85]

Subbed for Skippy! (though if I only have access to just dubbed, I will deal...)

[Uzumaki]

I prefer subbed. I cant stand American voice actors. Although Cowboy Bebop has good dub.
In all honesty Im scared for Naruto to come to America because I know they will pick horrible voice actors. When I first saw the anime, everyones voice was exactly how I imagined it from reading the manga. Im also scared theyre going to make it a "Saturday morning cartoon". Meaning they will edit the hell out of it. Even if it goes to Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, I still think they will take from its original context.
My boyfriend wants them to release it here, since we bought DVDs that had horrible subbing. Despite the bad sub, I still pick up on some Japanese. But honestly Id rather watch the horrible subbing, than listen to horrible voice actors.

[Lina Inverse]

Subbed, for the following reasons:

1) 70% of anime i've seen in dub has had a horrid Dub
the exceptions to this was Spirited Away.

2) The american voices are usually jarring and do not suit the character. Also the voices usually sound too old for the given character, and sound fake.

3) Apart form Full Moon Wo Sagashite, i usually enjoy the japanese actors voices, and find they are well suited to the characters. I was originally skeptical of Yuzu's voice (in Aishiteruze Baby) but it grew on me.

4) I gotten to like the sound of japanese. I watched Oseam not to long ago, and the chinese was a bit annoying.

5) I can't stand american accents coupled with stupid voices.
I prefer subbed as well, for pretty much the same reasons you already listed.
Not only that the US voices are too old and don't fit the character, they don't have talent most of the time either, so you get the idea they picked up some random people from the street :okashii:

@Japanimaniac:
Dragon Slave!
You better don't say anything against Hayashibara-sama! :D :D :D

[BrennaCeDria]

With what little I've seen of Slayers (I've only seen one ep, but in both languages) Hayashibara-sama destroys what's-her-name in the English. However, I don't really like slayers so I wouldn't know any further for that series.

9 times of 10, I watch dubbed anime, because my boyfriend isn't learning Japanese so it's only fair to him to watch it in English. There are good dubs, and there are really, really bad ones:

El Hazard: I believe the creators have said the English dubbed version is the "definitive" Magnificent World OVA. I've got it and watched both languages, and prefer the English by a long shot.

Tenchi Muyo! OVA and Tenchi Muyo! In Love: Okay, maybe I should just say, "anything by Pioneer is good" because for my list it looks that way, although more accurately it would be "everything by Pioneer that I've seen is good." I absolutely love Tenchi. However, the original OVAs and the first movie are all I've seen of it, and it's equally as good in Japanese. (Achika's big line in the film puts me in tears no matter what language I hear it in.)
***So I don't have page upon page of Pioneer titles, Trigun I've never had a chance to listen to in Japanese yet, but the English is entertaining; Bebop I've only seen one ep of in Japanese and while I don't know about the rest of it, I like the voices.

Maison Ikkoku: Only seen 1-36 in English, and while most of the cast is okay, I hate Kyoko's voice. I've got the entire series on my comp subbed, and I really, really like it so far (especially Akemi's voice in the sub).

Ranma series vs. Ranma movies: Only seen pieces here and there of the series (VHS so English only), and then both movies (first on VHS and second in each language on dvd). Ranma-chan is probably the only role I don't really like Hayashibara-sama in. Other than that, I adore both language tracks for the Nihao My Concubine. In the series, there are okay eps and there are bad ones that I've seen, both for the dubbing and the plot in general. Give me the manga anyday over the anime. (Actually, same goes for Maison Ikkoku: I love the anime, but I cried my way through the third graphic novel.)

Escaflowne: Dubbed sucks. Final word. I like Allen's dub voice, just cause it's Zechs from Gundam Wing, but the rest can rot in hell.

MARTIAN SUCCESSOR NADESICO: Seen half in subbed, all dubbed. Really, really want to see the rest in Japanese, but it's my boyfriend and my (grammar?) favorite anime, so he REALLY insists on seeing it in English, even though he can probably recite the script for the entire series. I do prefer the dub over the part of the sub that I have seen, just because I love Jennifer Earheart's version of Yurika.

Evangelion: Subbed is much better, in spite of Tiffany Grant being one of my more liked VAs.

Devil Hunter Yohko: Only seen subbed, and wouldn't have it any other way. :cool:

Also all the voices seem to sound the same, from one anime to the next....

That's because all the VAs have contracts with each studio. :p

[Miko-Kokoro]

I like Subbed better, but if they did a sloppy job...its just...bad. But some Dubs are good too if they do a amazing job or match up's to the mouth's and the voices are very similar to the original Japanese!!

[Flashjeff]

Something else that should be mentioned regarding this thread, and I'm sure this will probably anger some folks: who the hell are we to criticize dubbing? None of us are experts, none of us know about the long hours and hard work I'm sure must go into preparing a dub for anime. I for one appreciate all the actors and actresses who do what they do when it comes to dubbing.

Sure, the early stuff was bad, horrible even, I won't deny that, but that was then, and this is now. Speaking as just somebody who likes anime, I've compared stuff from the past and stuff from today, and things are markedly better, thanks to better technology. But the innate prejudice (and that's the only word that best describes what I've read here) people have towards dubbing is quite perplexing.

Again, I'll admit my viewpoint comes as someone who isn't fanatical about the imagined "evils" of dubbing. I just enjoy anime, both ways and don't get caught up over whether one is bad and the other good. Life's too short for that sort of nonsense.
:-)

[Japanimaniac]

Okay, maybe I should just say, "anything by Pioneer is good"

BINGO! And Manga usually does a decent job, too. The only dubbing that I usually can't stand are the "saturday morning cartoons". Digimon, Dual Masters, Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc.

You better don't say anything against Hayashibara-sama!

I don't really need to. BrennaCeDria said it all. :cool:

[yorkii]

i like my anime subbed, no dubbbing for me, seems to ruin the integrity of the characters when they are dubbed, take akira for instance, worst dub job ever on a theatrical anime, a shame, because the japanese lang version of the film had a much more serious and realistic tone to it, the english just ruined that. not to mention they covered up curse words with the silliest analogies possible.


i too prefer to see anime subbed, helps learning process and sounds more authentic :cool:

i have only seen akira in its dubbed format, i will have to borrow the dvd off my friend again to watch it subbed, thatnx for the tip :cool:

[babar-san]

i too prefer to see anime subbed, helps learning process and sounds more authentic :cool:

i have only seen akira in its dubbed format, i will have to borrow the dvd off my friend again to watch it subbed, thatnx for the tip :cool:

no prob yorkii:), you will be pleasantly supprised! :cool:
although im interested to see how they dub the new appleseed movie, if they screw it up im gonna write some hate mail >_<

[sadakoyamamura]

Local TV stations in my country like to dub animes in our language. I don't like it though because there are times they change the names of the characters like what happened in Ghostfighter.

Subbed :cool: will always be my favorite even though the translation might be poor. The original voices of the anime appeal so much to my sense. If its dubbed I'd feel like something was stolen from me. I dunno why... :-)

[Inuyasha-the-kid]

My favrite show is called Peace maker and that dub is good but if you want to learn Japanese I prefer sub


Now let me eat my ramen :ramen: Hmm its good! :happy:

[Trojan1313]

My favrite show is called Peace maker and that dub is good but if you want to learn Japanese I prefer sub


Now let me eat my ramen :ramen: Hmm its good! :happy:
Yesh, uhm... go ahead, play with the smileys. :)

[sadakoyamamura]

My favrite show is called Peace maker and that dub is good but if you want to learn Japanese I prefer sub


I was told by a friend studying in a Japanese college that some animes use a different dialect like Samurai X which according to him used the dialect of that period. :? Well maybe he is saying that because he has not yet come to the every day conversation Japanese. Come to think of it, he did tell me once that the school lets them watch anime without subs for listening practice. :-)

[miu]

Definitely subbed. No doubt about it. Dubbed anime/cartoons/whatever just reminds me of badly Dubbed kids' cartoons you can buy from the discount shelf for 1 euro... lol Disney animations are usually pretty well dubbed here, though, and the quality of dubbing is better each year but I still prefer hearing the original language. They animate the stuff to fit the original voices, so why spoil it by dubbing if you can read?

[Japanimaniac]

They animate the stuff to fit the original voices, so why spoil it by dubbing if you can read?

Actually, anime isn't animated to any language, aside from pauses, because usually the animation and plot are done before the script. That way the story drives the script, the script doesn't drive the story. American cartoons are the exact opposite.

[Kiyomi]

subbed all the way.

[Japanimaniac]

Just wanted to say great sig, Kiyomi. Setsuna is awesome!!!

[Suki-Yaki]

ofcourse subbed. Not only does it help practice Japanese , but also you get to hear the REAL pretty/wonderful/cute voices of our anime beloved　, instead of the crappy typical "cheerleader" type voices ...... NE???


Demo , I also support the FANDUBBED , because some people are trying to put effort into making more occurate versions of our beloved anime other than the original official english dubbs....

ne ??? :box:

[Kiyomi]

Just wanted to say great sig, Kiyomi. Setsuna is awesome!!!
wow really. thanz.

[Raymond]

I prefere subbed.. Because I want to hear the original voices! I like that.. and.. learning some japanese is nice! :blush:

[layn]

That's right, the biggest question in the anime scene: Do you prefer your anime subbed or dubbed?

I prefer subbed anime, because I want to learn Japanese also, it helps me a lot.
:p

[Nightwalker]

SUBBED FOREVER! More original and if you don't notise sometimes the English voices just don't cut it. Their no characteristic in it. The Japanese voices have more of that.

I can live with Dubbed versions but sometimes I can't stand it at all.

:flower: Yay! Subbbed!

:auch: Grr. Dubbed.

[Liliai]

DUBBED ALL THE WAY! Sub total sucks! It wrecks the anime when it is subbed.

[Dekamaster]

Subbed ! Whenever my speakers conk out, at least I can still understand ! Besides, it's nice to hear the Japanese language.

[Kiyomi]

so i said, whats up with this endless debate

[isayhello]

SUBBED SUBBED!!!! The original japanese voicing is always the best and it's a good way to practice understanding the language!

[kevinsano]

The only dubs I can listen to (by choice) are Dragonball Z/GT (due to brainwashing issues), Pokemon (which I still think of as a good dub despite what other people say), Cowboy Bebob and All Disney/Miramax productions. All other ones give me trouble concentrating. The one anime I can't(plain can't, even if it's forced) watch dubbed is Love Hina.

and someone mentioned that Oseam is Chinese. Isn't Oseam a Korean animation? All the people in the credits have Korean names.

[Kama]

Subbed. Definetely. It's better to hear original voices.

The only dub I liked was for Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. But, after all it was made from the beginning as a dub.

[Japanimaniac]

Whoa, someone put a poll in my thread!! Awesome! :-)

Anyways, I stand by my views. I chose No Preference.

[LemonFish]

SUBBED is waaay better than dubbed...i cant even discribe the disgust i have for dubbed anime =____= ahh.. iunno why..just really really annoys the heck out of me... subbed anime is the way to go.. and plus..it helps polish up those japanese skills..well a bit? =P

[mizerable_d]

subbed all the way, dubbing it kills everything

[antaBAKA]

hey!!!i was wondering what every one prefers,dubs,or subs????i personally prefer subs cuz i cant stand alot of the english voice actors.....they irritate me.....(especially in kenshin) :okashii:

[RockLee]

use the SEARCH button my friend...there is a thread about this ;-)

[Dutch Baka]

hey!!!i was wondering what every one prefers,dubs,or subs????i personally prefer subs cuz i cant stand alot of the english voice actors.....they irritate me.....(especially in kenshin) :okashii:


me to dislike english voice... bah bah ( no bad things about english lang..) just they way the say japanese names, is sooo anoying... like koaru ( i say good dont i?) says : KENNNNSJIENNN

bluhhh

[mizerable_d]

ya wasnt there a thread about this already?? anyways sub is WAY better. english voice actors piss me off *shudders*

[Ackmm7]

sub is better

[xXKenshiXx]

Always sub here. Get more emotion from japanese voice actors than english ones. Like Initial D and DragonBall (Z, GT, original)

[Kirisame]

well, probably not all english dubs are bad. Though I have not really seen much english dubs, my experience with one will be Sailor Moon.

Yes I know this probably has been debated/discussed many times here or else where, but just like to say something about Sailor Moon english dubs.

To be fair, the diction was ok, but somehow the voice and the emotion conveyed doesn't really sound attractive after listening for some time.

Other than my interest in learning japanese, the high voice acting standards of japanese seiyuu contributes a good deal to the enjoyment of anime.

[AnimezCoolAs]

Well, it depends on the person really.

I like either, when its subbed it takes a while to get into it but it comes naturally after a while.

But I have to say that Kurbi Morrow is a really good voice actor for dubbed series. He has been Goku(DBZ), Van(Escaflowne) and loads more. :cool:

But i agree that some of the voices are better in japanese. :haihai:

[Apollo]

I prefer subbed anime...I prefer subbed everytime....NOT a fan of dubbed at all, as I think one has to listen to the original language.

[JNell83]

That's tough... it depends on the series, for me. A lot of times the quality of the dubbed voices sucks, and doesn't go with the characters. And if I'm watching a show that's set in Japan, where Japan is obviously where it's set (like Rurouni Kenshin), I'll watch it subbed. Cowboy Bebop was excellent dubbed, though. I watched Fruits Basket both ways (I've seen it like 4 times now LOL). Hellsing I watched dubbed because they got British voice actors which made much more sense than British people speaking Japanese. So it just depends on the series. I want to get the best out of what I'm watching, plain and simple. And every series is different.

[XxSirenxX]

sub is usually better then it doesnt usually miss much of the orginal...dubbed only works with a few...like bebop i think it works out great and the voices work very well with the characters...and i love watching escaflowne the movie dubbed...cause of paul dobsons voice *drools* is pretty damn sexy :p

[Tsuyoiko]

I use anime for Japanese listening practice, so it has to be subbed. I tend to read the subtitles and predict what I am going to hear. I have learnt a lot that way.

[Koneko]

Eh, depends. I'll watch anime both dubbed and subbed. Sometimes I prefer subbed and other times I prefer the dubbed version. I've also been known to like both at the same time.

I tend to like bad dubs too.... They make me giggle. :hihi:

[miracle]

I root for subbed. 100%. No dubbed for me unless it's really really good. Haha, picky me.

I dunno about English dubbed...but some chinese dubbed seriously go down the drain...No offense to anyone.

So...yeah, yeah. ^-^ Subbed all the way.

[X_Naruto]

I like both.. I can understand some liking dubbed more, but if I like the show and it happens to be in english.. whatever.

[Keoland]

I was told by a friend studying in a Japanese college that some animes use a different dialect like Samurai X which according to him used the dialect of that period. :?

Yes, there are many particularities that are not conveyed by dubbing anime in other than the original languages. In the case of 'Kenshin', he speaks in the old Samurai way. This might be convened in English if a character spoke as in the days they said 'thee' and 'thou', for example.

In fact, this kind of speech is common to many Jidaigeki anime. Like 'Kenshin', 'Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran', for example, also uses this style, which you can recognize easily by the heavy use of the 'de gozaru' or 'de gozaimasu' expressions (which are old-fashioned ways of saying 'desu').

There are also two anime shows where this very noticeable: in 'The adventures of Kotetsu', for example, the main character uses the Kensai accent, in particular that of the Kyoto region. Very old and very typical. Not something you can replicate in English.

(and, to be honest, I'm not sure non-Nihongo speakers can identify it just by following subtitles)

In 'Elf Princess Rane', it's dialect Bonanza. Many different dialects were used, and it is a challenge (an impossible one?) to actually follow them all without the aid of subtitles.

There are many more characteristics of the original language, and one of the things that jumps to the mind is the fact that the characters from the Osaka area can easily be identified by their speech, something that is possibly lost in most of the non-japanese audience. And is a pity - it is a bit like the Yankee/Dixie speech difference in the US.

Anyway, the original is always better for everything, be it anime or not. Besides, hearing the original allows one to find out wrong translations. For example, I noticed that often when a chara says he/she is 16 years old, the subtitle often says '18 years old' (like in the 'Gestalt' OVA). And I do not believe the translator got it wrong, there is no way someone with a minimal fluence in Nihongo can misunderstand those numbers. :okashii:

Fortunately for me, I live in a country where just about *everyone* hates dubbing, so we get everything in their original form. This not only includes anime (subbed and unedited) but also all kinds of movies, to american blockbusters to small-budged chinese productions.

In fact, things even went as far as the main channel airing the popular game show 'Takeshi Castle' raw Saturday afternoon. Most of the population could not understand Nihongo, but the show was so good it had a record audience nonetheless :-)

Regards,
Keoland

[Kaitou]

Subbed all the way! Although it was dubbed that orginally got me into anime, I really can't stand it anymore. When comparing an English language track with Japanese one, I find the two to be on completely different levels. As you can see from the above results of the poll, most people dislike dubbed for similar reasons. Although I have a friend who likes dubbed better simply because he says he's too lazy to read subtitles (which is why I always make fun of him). :P

[gotoh]

I prefer subtitles now that I'm learning Japanese.

But in short, if I was a fan of some series during my youth, chances are I'd like it dubbed just like it was then. :bluush:

I recently bought a series called Albator (O.t. is : Uchü Kaizoku Captain Harlock) that was dubbed in French in the '80s and was shown on French-Canadian TV. Not a shred of Japanese, dub or sub, in the DVD's. Just the original French that I remember as a kid. Another well known French dub from my youth (late 60's) is Mini-fée (O.t. is : Mahou Tsukai Sally). I ... I don't think I could bear to hear it in another language, even in Japanese. Even so, "Jungle taitei" was translated in Quebec with local talent in the early '70s. Now the only dubbed DVD's available are done in France. It's the same language but, you know, it's not the same thing. :okashii:

[XxSirenxX]

kinda off topic cause it isnt anime..but has anyone seen Volcano High? they played it on MTV here...an asian film with dubbed voices
http://www.moviestars.co.nz/images/products/1464742.jpg
the actors...

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0006UEVRC.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
the voices...

i think the movie was pretty funny...but the voice actors they chose as you can see was a joke...

[Japanimaniac]

I actually found Volcano High pretty entertaining. Though, it is nice to have the DVD, since the original movie is one the reverse side once you get bored of the intentionally melodramatic hip-hop dubbing. But still, you have to admit...an asian with the voice of Li'l John is just hilarious. :D

[nanda]

definitely sub for me !!

[lastmagi]

Sub, usually.

I don't know why it is that dubs are almost always poorly done. I'm always wondering if it's because the English Voice Actors just don't take their roles seriously enough. Some get the whole concept of the anime title wrong, others can't even properly pronounce Japanese names correctly, and almost all of them plain cannot act (while not anime, I've always wondered how the VAs of some of the PSX Megaman titles ever even got hired). Really, it's as if some of the localization teams hire bad actors intentionally.

I have, however, heard some really good voice acting. The lead character of Makoto Shinkai's The Place Promised in our Early Days (Orig: Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho) did a pretty good job expressing the feelings of his character, although some of the other cast didn't do so well in that dub. I thought Genji Ikari's (evangelion) english VA had more badass feel than the Japanese version.

Also, there are times when, like in the aforementioned Kumo no Mukou... it's better to use dub because there are so much stuff to pay attention to in the visual side (artwork, hints about character developement, foreshadowing, etc). Unless you know the script already, of course.

[nadeshiko]

Subs are definitely much better for me. For one, listening to the original seiryuu voices is always a pleasure, and subs help me understand what they're talking about for I'm still an amateur at the japanese language. Still, I suppose there are certain series that are dubbed by competent casts... It's just that I've never had the fortune of encountering those good ones.

Trust me, when all you've heard are abysmal chinese dubs, you'd naturally go for the original. *shudders* I honestly can't imagine how they'd dub something like FFAC... *huggles Kadaj & Vince's seiryuus* :blush:

[Xsuit]

I say dubbed though after recent aquisitions of certain animes I must say subbed has never looked better!

[Dreadlocked Shinya]

Subbed. Normally, you get the actual uncensored anime. Sometimes though...I like the dubbed. Hellsing's dub in particular. Its just too funny. :yeahh:

[Doc]

For me it depends on the anime, the voice actors involved with the project, and the dialog that's being said. Sometimes I prefer anime in dubbed, other times I prefer it in subbed. It all depends on those three following factors for me.

Doc :wave:

[Tokyo-K1]

I like to watch both subbed and dubbed versions whenever I get a new anime. But for me the better version will be the original Japanese subbed version, generally the voices are better and more suited to the character. Alot of English dubbs are very good (Eg. Ah! My Goddess TV) but there are also a few animes that have been dubbed so poorly it could really put you off from watching it any further.

[Doc]

Coastal Line Studios was still in business they had the best dubbing ever. Ah My Goddess the OAV was the best English dub IMHO. I would like to also point out that if a particular company is doing the dub, it also dicatates which track I will listen to. For example Geneon (formerly Pioneer) pisses me off to no end. The voices hardly ever match the characters, and it just sounds annoying as hell. ADV Films is about the only ones who can pull it off anymore. Too bad some of these companies like Viz can't do the same. :(

Doc :wave:

[monrepo]

I like both the original Japanese version and the Greek dubbed version.

[Andro]

I prefer subs, because I don't understand japanese. I only understand only about 20-30 words. So I need a sub on every anime.

[Kaminari]

Hmmm... I won't buy any that don't have both.

[Anchyyy]

I prefer Original Japanese version with subtitles! :D

[Sukotto]

I might have written before....,

subtitled, definately.
Someday we'll have subbed movies in the mainstream theatres beyond the occasional Crouching Tiger,
just you wait.

After knowing characters via a subtitled movie and then watching a dubbed,
as I did with Battel Angel....,
it totally damaged the emotional attachment I had for the characters.

The ones that I like for sure dubbed are the Godzilla movies.
can't claim to be a huge fan, but nostaligia none the less.

[Andro]

I prefer Original Japanese version with subtitles! :D

Me too! I like Original versions better than not original.

[bluubear]

Subbed, since I'm learning Japanese. Also, the dubbed versions somehow always sound weird to me - they can't express the original feelings of the characters as well.

[Mikawa Ossan]

I prefer to watch the original version. So much gets lost in translation. The best, IMO, is to watch on DVD with Japanese subtitles, if posible. :cool:

[Andro]

I want to learn japanese too. But it's so expensive for me. And I don't have time too.

[wonderpt]

Original Japanese version with subtitles (I mostly can't understand Japanese)

I only understand few words of japanese :-)

[Yami_no_Hikari]

The original is always better. :D but since I don't know that much Japanese, i need the subtitles. :lol:

I refuse to watch the English dub of Naruto. I. Hate. It. So. Much. T_T

[Zentron]

Subbed, always! Though that's mostly becasue of the poor voice actors used by most western publishers, no names mentioned *cough*4Kids*cough*, although, sometimes, they're no help either, as is the case of dubtitling!

[Neon Heart]

I ALWAYS try to go for the subtitled animes. Mostly because every other dub anime I've seen has THE worst dubbing I've ever heard. It does get annoying after a while when a girl with a teeny-bopper voice pronounces a name incorrectly. -_-

Sometimes when I watch subbed anime, I pick up on some of the words, you know, the Japanese word and the English counter part. So, that's always kind of a plus.

So, subbed anime always over dubbed anime!

[Hyde_is_my_anti-drug]

Subs. I hate dub for the most part, they can never say any of the names or places right. :auch: Stupid dubbers.
Frankly 80% of the time I don't actually need the subs but when that 20% rolls around and I'm left thinking "Wha???" it's nice to have them.

[daemonette]

Japanese version with subtitles.. i dont know i always love the japanese version better, because its uncut
like what toonami did with naruto was effing horrid..i refuse to watch that crap. *hugs japanese subs*

[lost]

love japanese and subb....i hate dubb...can't really stand it..ehhee...

[Riyko]

Subbed or no subtitles at all. I do watch Dubbed anime, but only with people who don't understand what's being said XD

[JoRuDeNnA]

I prefer subbed because I cant understand anything in japanese, seriously, Im trying to learn though to subbed animes help somehow.....I really cant stand dubbed anime!!!

[Kraid]

Personally I would never watch or buy a movie that don`t have the orginal sounds in it. I can understand that they would dubb a Disney, movie or other movies that are ment for children to watch, since they cant read. What I cant understand is why the retailes would dubb a movie and remove the orginal track.

[Da Monstar]

Like Kraid Said. Movies should be seen with its original sound. And I believe that Anime and other Japanese movies MUST be in japanese sounds with subtitles since i can't speak or understand Japanese. I only know a handful of words that I have learned the last couple of years.

So my vote goes for the second.

[BloodPoi-chan]

well, i prefer subbed 'coz I can hear the original voices in japanese, and still understand what they're saying.. i don't speak japanese nether understand, but reading the subtitles is better :-) I love the original voices and sounds. They look much better without dubbling :cool:

[Japanimaniac]

This is totally random, but I figure since I started this thread way back in the day, I have a right to be random. :-)

I wonder if people in Japan (or any other country besides the US, for that matter) prefer to watch Disney movies with their language dubbed in, or if they'd rather watch it with the original voices, and have their language's subtitles?

[Locklear904]

I prefer subbed,american voice acting mostly sucks.Though the japanese voice actor for Kenshin in Rurouni Kenshin sounds too.....feminine.

[Hachiko]

Subbed, with option to remove subtitles for graphics edit, on a region-free DVD. Chop chop. :-)

[-rika- shinya`]

subtitled or raw. i can't stand the dubbed version(either english or chinese) of any anime X.X the voice just isn't right for the most parts and nothing can beat the original japanese version. the japanese seiyuus's voice and the emotions suits the characters very well.:-)

[blossom]

subbed because you get to see what they really say.

[-Lucifer-]

I prefer Original Japanese version with subtitles! :D
yap! of course u watch anime(japanese version) with (english) subtitels!

[do you eat crapz?]

definately subbed, stupid dubs never say anything right or they will make up entirely new names for people/things
but sometimes subbed is not that great, cause for the original version of ayashi no ceres, the subtitles are terrible everything is "disgusting" and her tennyo is called "the feather coat"
and they would use the translations of their names instead of their real names, so it would be "Little Fairy" instead of Aya
or "Hung Fei" instead of Yuki
or "Ten Nights" instead of Tooya
it all got VERY confusing @_@

[-rika- shinya`]

her tennyo is called "the feather coat"
and they would use the translations of their names instead of their real names, so it would be "Little Fairy" instead of Aya
or "Hung Fei" instead of Yuki
or "Ten Nights" instead of Tooya
it all got VERY confusing @_@
it was terrible when subtitles do that :sick: i'd get confused too but i wouldn't want to get used to it

[do you eat crapz?]

well, i really wanted to watch it since i had fallen in love with the manga...and since i did not want to buy my own i just borrowed it from my friend who only had the original version from China (the three-disc set)
so i just sat thru terrible subtitles...it wasn't the worst thing in the world....

[Dont Hesitate & Go]

For me it just really depends on the quality of the voice actors.

For instance, I'd MUCH rather watch Naruto and One peice Subbed then dubbed. They did a absolutaly HORRIBLE job with the casting.

But Full Metal Panic, DNAngel, and Full Metal Alchemist I just loved dubbed. Mainly because Vic Micnogna is my favroite voice actor (I met him, we hung out for a few hours) 'Twas a blast!

but other then that, I'm beginning too liked subbed more then dubbed. the only thing that I don't really like about it is that sometimes I pay more attention to the words then the animation.

Samurai Champloo was fabulously done in the Japanese verson...not so much english.

[rikku_lee]

I prefer subbed version. I'm learning japanise so it's good for me to hear and udrestsand (sort of) native speakers.

[asian]

Personally I don't really mind either one...unless the dub is so horrible that I need to watch it in Japanese.
I watch most of my anime in Japanese though. One, becuase I download it and two, it helps me learn Japanese (using repetitive words :cool: )

[Dont Hesitate & Go]

Personally I don't really mind either one...unless the dub is so horrible that I need to watch it in Japanese.
I watch most of my anime in Japanese though. One, becuase I download it and two, it helps me learn Japanese (using repetitive words :cool: )

Lol, I agree to that.

I used to like dubbed anime better, but now subbed anime's are quickly taking their place.


I remember when Sailor moon used to the 'the thing to watch'...I still love the first season. HA, i'm such a dork :(

[hamutha]

subbed!! hehehe it's helping me to learn some japanesse :)

[madyf]

It's way cooler to listen the original japanese voices,

yeah me too..I`m prefer subbed anime..if it dubbed , the voice doesn`t match with the character..kawakunaiii:(

[[dasutin]]

yeah really, like its hard for me to watch anime in america, idk im just so accustomed to my friends versions that he downloads off a program and theyre in japanese with english subtitles

[Tej]

Viva subbed!! Man, if only we can understand any language easily, there won't be any need for subs or dubs... differences can suck sometimes... well anyway, subbed all the way! :yeahh:

[Philip]

Subbed. I hate when they are dubbed.

[Mycernius]

Subbed, except for Ghost in the Shell. It might have something to do with the fact I first bought it on VHS and it was a dubbed version and I got used to the voices. Recently Fimfour have had a Studio Ghibli season showing, Laputa, Princess Mononoke, Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service, Nausicaa and Totoro plus Lupin III. They have shown them both in dubbed and subbed version, which is quite good for a film channel to do so.

[sadie_sue]

I like subtitles, it's easier for me to remember what's been said. That's why I watch so many Japanese and Chinese movies.

[beau99]

Dubbed, all the way.

No offense to the Japanese voice actors or anything, but they rape my ears.

[Alma]

Original Japanese version with subtitles (I mostly can't understand Japanese)

i just prefer it.. i like how it sounds.. and it's good for me to listen japanese as much as i can. also, english can sound just weird

[moondoggie]

japanese audio sounds more real then the english. I still need the subtitle because I only can pick up one word every 15 word.

[vivitu]

I prefer subbed versions.I don't really understand Japanese,but at least I want to hear the language :)

[justin]

Most animes I liked dubbed, but when it comes to the real Japanese movies I go with sub-titles.

[A-chama]

Well, I like mine subbed only because I find they change too much stuff when they dubb it! Of course when you don't know how drastic the changes are.... it doesn't make a difference ... but when you do.... the subs are much better!

[Dean]

What A-chama said.

It also depends on the Anime, and who the cast are. I like Subbed, and it helps with learning Japanese, but then dubbed is good when I'm tired or if I can't be bothered reading subs.. Other reasons I can't think of cause I'm tired..

[A-chama]

Yup~ If you're not to tired to read or what not then it's better because you get a more accurate version of what they're saying. It's not 100% of course.... but then again if it was translated word for word it wouldn't make much sense in english :relief:

[hideto_matsumoto_RIP]

I prefere to see the anime with japanese laguage and english subtitles.
becouse then I will learn a little japanese and also learn english.:-)

but I also like dubed anime.....:-)

[kinsey87]

I hate dubbed anime, it sounds just wrong, the voices in dubbed are sooo crap most of the time, I always watch Japanese version with english titles, whoa, been a while since I posted at JREF.

[aikorei]

i personally prefer subs. i really enjoy listening to the japanese voices because i love the language. once i got use to hearing the japanese voices, i didnt really like the english voices on anything.. it sounded so fake.

[MetalRocke]

Depends on the anime in question...

[Desert_Punk]

I have no prefence when it comes to watching anime, lol anyway I can get it works for me.

[hideway]

Definitly "Original Japanese version with subtitles". Dubbed versions can be artfully translated and ommit several important but subtil information like politeness level and the way characters do relate with each others.

[Lola-chan]

Subbed. I can't stand dubbed animes or films, really. o_o

[volcano1234]

i like sub with no dub better cuz when i try to watch dub ones the voice doesn't even match the characters and they even changed the theme songs into something really bad so i prefer anime with sub no dub better

[Lexa Kaminari]

I really prefer subbed even if it means i have to read very fast.... for me it doesn't matter (anyway i have to see a movie at least 3 times to understand it)
the dubbed versions suck... they don't really have good voices

[Homerduff]

as being a japanese language learner, I prefer subbed ofcourse..

[BlackSoul]

I totally prefer the subbed versions (although I can't speak japanese), since the German stations seems to be unable to manage to make good dubbed versions. It's really terrible. The voiced don't match at all to the characters and there's hardly any emotion in the voices.They can't mangage to translate the animes in the correct way (things like that politeness or titles). Also they can't pronounce japanese names (that's the most terrible thing in my eyes). You should hear how they pronounce the names in Naruto for example, really horrible. They should give up making dubbed versions and broadcast the original versions with subs.

[Sukotto]

They should give up making dubbed versions and broadcast the original versions with subs.


Hahaha. I agree. Same here in the States. Anime fans revolt! Write letters to the tv stations and local country distributors! Um, maybe tomorow. I did email Anime Network about it, I think. Or write a Haiku about it on their page.

[sugoi_baka]

Personally, I perfer dubbed. I don't understand Japanese, really, and although I'm a fast reader I have trouble following the subtitles unless I occasionally pause the show (which gets annoying very fast). Also, I just like the voices chosen by the english voice casters better than the original Japanese voice cast. My friends feel the opposite, however, which goes to show that it's probably just me.

[Manchester_Mike]

I personally can't stand the dubbed versions, so many of them are really poorly acted.

I just wish my Japanese was good enough to dispense with the ST's, though, as sometimes they can be a bit irritating.

Two things that annoy me:

1) ST's with "closed captions" (for the deaf). You know the ones, they highlight the action with such useful info as "dog barking" and "phone ringing".
I had to stop Millennium Actress because of that, and still never got back to it despite really wanting to watch the thing.

I appreciate that deaf people find it useful, but there should be two ST tracks.

2) Inconsistency. I've often come across clips in DVD extras that have very different translations to those in the actual episodes I'd watched not an hour before. Part of me then starts wondering which one is "correct"...

[Robster]

It has got to be subbed, however the subs arn't always that good, but often still better than english dubs

[gine]

i'm so usually stick to the original/subbed with only few exceptions.. Ninja Scroll was one exceptionally well dubbed for example...(gemma,Jubei,Kagerou)
STILL can't beat the original.....i miss original dark/deep voice of Gemma

[UNaruto1990]

NOT DUBBED for sure !!! they cant do it like the original japanese voices, also i'd prefer it subbed because i am currently learning Japanese :)

[Ghostless-Shell]

I voted for "Original Japanese version with subtitles (I mostly can't understand Japanese)" personally because I love the anime in its original form.
Some of these american VA's sound horrible with the anime.x.x

[Kirie_Maiden]

I agree. I think Anime is much better with the original language and sub-titles. The American voice overs are just terrible and try to do rubbish accents.

[Arlet]

Subbed, pretty sure, i dont like english people who're dubbing it...
It's not real, i think u should leave it in the way they made it...
I don't like any other country that dubs, dont know why...
Yoroshiku everyone :)

[Kyous Elric]

I like anime to be subbed, it helps me learn Japanese and sometimes I really don't like the dubbed voices that they give the characters.

[Tokyofan25]

when it ocmes to other animes like bobobo and Inu, Dubbed
when it comes to One Piece..definitly subbed

[ToroMay]

i hate it when anime are dubbed.
i like hearing the original seiyuu.
so it's definitely subbed for me.

[*~EnvY~*]

definitely subbed
french dubbing su**s :okashii: so yeah definitely subbed morever japanese dubber are so energetic it's nice to listen to and the voice goes well with the characters most of the time .... so subbed

[Tatsuki_Fujioka]

Subbed always, without a doubt!!!!!!! I get used to watch anime like that, and I like to listen to the original and compare my favourite seiyuu in many series...
In my opinion the spanish dub is deficient, lacking of emotion and taste and voices are way worse than the original ones :okashii: If they only put more enthusiasm to it...
Everybody complains about the dub in their countries, isn't it? :hey:

[reiyuki]

i'd prefer subbed anime than dubbed
: D

[String]

I prefer original sound and subtitles... dubbed anything usually sux (doesn't matter what language it is dubbed too, its hard to find someone who puts as much effort as the original laguange).

[dark_secrester]

I prefer subs the whole way through, so that if I can't read something, It's at the bottom for me.
It's useful for learning informal Japanese phrases.

[MyGothicLover]

subbed, you can listen to the original cast and i think it's more fun that way

[Yami]

Without a doubt, I prefer anime in original version with subs (I'm still learning japanese and I can't understand aaaaall perfectly ^^UUUU). In addition the dubs in my language are very bad x___X.

[kei-san]

with sub is best, because i think the english dub suck....

(TOT) dub sucks.......

[Jap_AnimeFreak]

subbed is defenitely the best because you can watch and learn at the exact same time..Sometimes though it's hard to keep up with the reading and watch whats going on, but thats the whole learning process because then if something interests you, you go back and study it..

I watch bleach, death note, d gray man yakitate japan!! all in subbed because it helps me develop a sense of how to say things in japanese.. All i need to learn now is how to put everything together and say things in a sentence:relief:

[hiyoko]

That's right, the biggest question in the anime scene: Do you prefer your anime subbed or dubbed?
I don't mind either one. If it's the first time I've seen something, I prefer to watch it dubbed, since I suck at multi-tasking and I'm gonna miss something cool by reading. If circumstances don't allow, however, that's fine.
It's anime! I enjoy it any way I can get it.

As much as I hate to admit it, I love anime in its original, undubbed form. No matter how good the dubbing is, there's always something missing, always something that dies in the process. Not only in content (cause there are some things that simply can't be translated) but also in the emotion with which characters are played. Japanese voice actors are just the best there are and I haven't found a single anime series that's been so well dubbed as to match the original voice work.

I'm a big fan of voice actors and, in fact, one of the many things that drove me to anime were seiyuus. I started studying Japanese because of them, because I wanted to understand everything they talk, watch raw anime and listen to CD dramas and all. So, yeah... I definitely LOVE subtitled or raw anime, rather than dubbed one. :blush:

[Faustianideals]

I prefer subbed anime, mainly because when an anime is dubbed, the translation tends to mess up what was originally said by the japanese script.

[82riceballs]

i prefer subbed b/c, it gives me a chance to learn colloquial japanese since most textbooks onlly give the teinei words.

plus, not to make be racist or anything, but japanese seiyuu are much more involved and into it than american ones who have to concentrate more on saying the words so that they fill the time it takes for the anime mouths to talk than actually putting emotion into it. take inuyasha for instance- the dubbed version sucks

[hiyoko]

i prefer subbed b/c, it gives me a chance to learn colloquial japanese since most textbooks onlly give the teinei words.
plus, not to make be racist or anything, but japanese seiyuu are much more involved and into it than american ones who have to concentrate more on saying the words so that they fill the time it takes for the anime mouths to talk than actually putting emotion into it. take inuyasha for instance- the dubbed version sucks

That's kinda true. I mean, all voice actors who dub anime series (and movies, for that matter) have to be worried about lip synchonization more than anything else. And, added to that, sometimes the dialogues they translate are kinda modified to fit the time the original line in Japanese uses in a certain scene.... But even though, some dubbers manage to do it pretty well, adding the right feeling to the words and all.

I've had few chances of hearing stuff dubbed in English, 'cause I live in a Spanish-speaking country and, if something arrives dubbed, is dubbed in Spanish. But I can tell you that the few things I've watched dubbed by American voice actors kinda sucked in general. :souka:

As for the dubbers in Spanish... There are several (mainly from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and Argentina) and, among those, the best are Mexicans. Chile is good in neutral Spanish (dubbing stuff to a Spanish that doesn't contain slang or idioms from any Latinamerican version of Spanish or from Spain's Spanish) but Mexicans have really mastered the technique and, sometimes, their dubbing work actually gets really close to the original Japanese one. They actually put the right feeling into it, apart from syncronizing their lines perfectly. :-)

[Sparky]

I only use the subs the first time and then when I need to understand something I don't know. Other than that. I like to watch it as it is.

[a51ts4]

The original. Changing the language takes away the feel of the movie. It also helps me learn my japanese :)

[nocomment1]

i think it really depends:?
if the english voices dont matc the character (almost always)
the subbed is the way to go...like in naruto
but i actually liked bleach dubbed:-)

[Akasha]

I prefer it dubbed and after I seen the whole series then I watch it in the original language without the sub. Why because I'm trying to leran Japanese and want to listen more intently to the pronunciation. Sorry I know that just me.

[Pepe]

Quite often will watch subbed rather than dubbed as the subtitles are usually more accurate translations (there are techical reasons why sometimes the dubbed cannot be perfect translations of the original). But with the more popular (read: lots of money spent on dubbing it) animes I'll watch them dubbed. Especially if I'm watching out of one eye while doing the dishes!

[Grammarsaurus]

Subbed or raw, I can't really stand dubs as the voice acting more often than not is terrible. Dubs also tend to edit out content to make it kid-friendly, because North Americans tend to view anything animated as a children's show/movie.

[jnelly9]

subbed
not very many dubbed animes are good >__<

[=w=eezer]

i prefer subbed because almost always the japanese acting is better.. even if there was a good dubbed version i would probably still stick with subs, because I can't imagine an anime without japanese language; they go together like peas and carrots.

[Noelia]

I always like to see anything on its original language, so even if I can't understand japanese very well (yet), I obviously prefer the subtitles...

:)

[Stelian]

I like them subbed; I think it's better that way if you don't know japanese

[northsider1983]

Gotta be original language. I cannot stand dubbed anything, it takes away so much from the film and the actors (in the case of live action movies).

[a51ts4]

I like subbed. I hate dubbed movies, mostly because it's weird and most of them are horribly done.

[Sukotto]

i realized another reason i prefer subbed.
movies i can stand dubbed, but prefer subbed.
any series i watch, most do not hook my interest enough
to warrant watching them dubbed - most shows on cartoon network, etc.
if they are subbed, they just seem more fun & interesting to watch.
then at least i can test my ears a little. maybe more cultural specific stuff
is cut out in dubbed? boring. like cartoon network's reworking of shin-chan.
while it is kind of funny at times, i actually hate it.
it looks like it would be more interesting with the original content than with
references to recent US pop stars.
being a captive audience to propaganda for toys & junk food,etc the endless
repetitiveness of 'buy our junk, you'll be happier' might
be another reason those shows do not keep my attention.

[Juno333]

Subbed! I can't stand dubbed versions, they're no fun at all...plus how am i supposed to learn some decent Japanese when i watch dubs all the time...muri desu!

[Tomino]

i like dubbed cuz i'm sick and tired of reading the subs
and pure japanese. then i ccan learn some jap.

[Kumi-chanmi]

I like when animes are subbed. Mostly because things get lost in translation when its dubbed. And I also get to learn some Japanes in the process :-)

[anginami]

I like when its subbed. And like Kumi-chanmi sayed, I can get to learn some Japanese.
And original is always better.

[Kitsune Lord]

Definitely the original Japanese. Maybe with English subtitles. I can usually recognize 75% of the dialogue...but depending on the contexts and vocabulary the anime is using, I may just put the subtitles on English.

Usually the jokes or statements made are altered or messed up if they are directly translated into English. But I only don't mind certain dubbed anime series'.

[Geostigma]

99% of anime is butchered in the dubbing process. I can think of a few choice titles but we won't get into that. :relief: It's best to just stick with the originals for me.

[Superlevenloos]

I like my anime subbed. Thing is that You learn a lot of japanese over time when you listen to the japanese lkanguage and making conections to the subs ( the same way how I learned most of my english).

Also I think it sounds a bit better (now I hope I won't get any flames). See, most of the voices in dubbed versions are not as good as i want them to be. Things like wrong synchronisation or voices who doesn't suit the character can annoy me terribly.
One of my fav examples is Trigun. Vash for example has a very deep and romantic voice but (like some of you might know) Vash can also be a major dork ( in a good way :blush:) and that romantic voice doesn't really suit that characteristic thing of his. In the Japanese versions this is most of the time captured very well so that's another reason why I like my anime subbed.

[izzie]

Dubbings are sad..
I prefer it subbed..^^

[The Blind]

I preffer hearing the characters' original voice cause makes the character look more alive and since I don't understand a lot of Japanese english subtitles are needed for me.It also helps me to read english faster and get used to it.

[janica-chan]

I prefer it subbed too! It is quite awful to listen anime what is dubbed in english but it would be more awful if it's dubbed in finnish!! Oh I don't wanna even think about that :mad: And it's ANIME so it have to be with original voices! That's what I think^^

[Ambar]

I prefer original japanese version with subtitles, I mostly can't understand Japanese, but i love the voices¡¡¡

[xGarnetx]

Subbed is definately better! The original japaneese voices sound so good, they make it look so realistic. When anime are dubbed, it sounds so fake.

[Calchas]

I prefer dubbed. That way I can pay more attention to other details, details I would miss if I where concentrating on reading or translating what was being said.

Dubbed dialog loses some of the original meaning but I can live with that.

[chedie]

I prefer the subbed (original voices). I guess I just grew up getting used hearing the languages (don't I understand a lot of it hehe). Also, dubbed ones (by the Americans) tend to make the show too corny or too emphasized until you detest not only the dubber but also the show itself. Though, there are exceptions like those who dubbed the English version of Escaflowne and Samurai X. But I still prefer the subbed ones. It helps learning new words. :cool:

[dartagnan32]

Wel obviously subbed cause the original voices are so cute!
Baka! Osuari!
(cf Inu Yasha ):bluush:

[Derfel]

i vote for subbed, better for learning japanese, more enthusiasm from the voice actors, and they often use explanations for situations that don't make any sense to non-japanese people (word games, culture related things, tones). But lets admit, the english voice actor for Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) did a good job. I can't say much about the others, i forgot them quickly, but Kenshin's voice caught my ear.

[drj0402]

I prefer subbed, but find myself watching the dubbed version more often since my partner prefers that.

Sometimes I will go back and watch the subbed version and be amazed at how the difference in the voices creates a different interpretation of the story.

[GregoryMcGlothern]

I can't stand watching dubbed anime. I find it almost disgraceful. It takes away the key part of the anime, that is the actual way it was meant to be viewed. Although I suspect that one day maybe a universal language will solve the problem. So I plan on enjoying the subs while I can.

[Skullcrushergurl]

I like to have the subtitles. The english is annoying. And it helps me learn Japanese.

[ChibiSara]

Dubs somehow... Kill the spirit of anime o.o I think original voices are a part of the character, if they change, the whole character changes.

[Lloyd]

Subs, but there are some exceptions. I dont mind the FMA dub, whereas some people completely hate it lol. But yeah, I find that for the most part, you lose a fair chunk of the character through the whole translation process... Shame. Still, alot of work goes into the dubs...apparently...^_^;

[bebopdobop]

Definitely subbed. There are some dubs that are alright, but for the most part in my opinion, they sound terrible. You miss out on alot of what they are trying to get across with dubbed versions, something in the voices that just isn't the same to me.

[hugzkisses]

i prefer it subbed bcoz i cn feel d real intensity of d anime:-)

[melon]

the 2nd one!!

coz i think that it can improve my skill ^^

[Clawn]

Generally, I go for subs. However, there are a few cases (Bleach, Eureka Seven, Gankutsuo) where the English dubs are on par with or even better than the original Japanese versions. However, that usually only happens when the very best English voice actors are used.
Most of the time, though, dubbed anime just sounds unenthusiastic. So I'll go with subs.:wave:

[Erdbeerbox]

As much as I love Japanese there are shows that I simply can't stand in Japanese, such as The Snow Queen. As a native German it makes me sick to hear how Japanese voice actors pronounce German names.

[Satorian]

I only listen to Japanese dubs, but similar to Erdbeerbox, I cringe whenever they try to pronounce German (or English, for that matter) words or try to show off some 'foreign' dialogue and really botch it.

[kala83]

I mostly prefer the original Japanese with subtitles so that I can understand what is being said. Like for example with one of my favorite show his and her circumstances I love the original Japanese voices but am not a huge fan of English ones.
I try to watch both language tracks just to see if I like them or not but usually I tend to like the JP version a lot more. I do however like ENG versions� to Scott McNeal is an amazing voice actor and I love anything that he is in. And for some reason I really like Cowboy Bebop in ENG but can't stand it in JP I guess it just depends on the show and if the voices match up to the characters or not, but again that greatly depends on one's personal opinions on the show and the characters when watching them

[hagashiku]

Subbed. No question. I would feel like I was totally missing out on how the show was intended to be experienced if I watched a dub. Not to mention the bad voice acting in dubs. ^^;;

[tsugami]

I prefer subbed, i never like dubbed since Japanese seiyuus are better in making the character alive hehehe. I agree with kamuizero since i also pick my japanese from anime and dorama :)

[akita]

Always subbed i never liked the way anime are dubbed. And I can also practice Japanese. Actually i don't like nothing dubbed. Ever heard Tom Cruise speaking russian?:)) It's the same for anime , most of the time it's just weard.

[Derfel]

We're quite lucky there, Hungarian voice actors are not that bad. I never seen two audio streams put together in Hungarian dubs. Although still, for language practice obviously its better in Japanese, and its truly feels damn good when you understand a sentence or two... well at my level that is.

[scorpion da black]

of course subbed

the anime characters always sound better in their native tung :P

[sodarkangel]

Subbed. No doubt about it.

The only anime I watched dubbed was "El viaje de Chihiro", and etc, movies by Hayao Miyazaki, which I've always watched dubbed into Castlian spanish.

[Zirdante]

Subbed. Most dubbers suck at voice acting, so they don't get the emotion into it. Like yells, etc.

[koyuki-chan]

i prefer subbed english subtitles but if it has good cantonese dubbed then i dont mind either one. but watching the subtitles has helped my japanese improve:)

[__shrink]

I find dubbed anime annoying. One of the first dubbed anime I watched was Fruits Basket, and the dubbed voice for Honda Tohru was irritating, how whiny she was. And how Yuki Sohma sounded like a rapist. :/

So subbed for me. ^___^

[Hopeanuoli]

Subbed! The original Japanese sounds so much better, and just more natural! I don't like it when they change things in anime like names, objects, places etc.

Well, I suppose they are trying to Americanize it a bit, just so the Americans can be familiar with it or something like that.

Dubbed anime is really bad. Sometimes its quite good, personally the only anime dub I liked was Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-Hime Mononoke王女)
That was the only anime dub I liked, the others were horrible. Japanese with subs for me.

[Doc]

For me, it actually depends on the anime itself, the dubbing voice actors, and the overall context in which it is all being used. Only then will I make a decision between the two.

[Suzuki_Akira]

I definatly prefer subbed! It does depend I guess on the quality of the dubbing. :-) I find most japanese voices to be much better than english but some can annoy me. :poh: Also some times I am too lazy to read the subs. :relief: As a general rule I prefer subbed. :cool:

[kiki23]

I don't mind if it is dubbed as long as it isn't dubbed in English. I can't stand watching any animes in English. I grew up watching all animes in Cantonese and it never bother me but if I have to pick between watching it in Japanese with no subtitle and watching it in English, I would chose to watch it in Japanese with no subtitle.

[Aiko_PL]

Only subbed. ^^ becouse I can improve my english, japanease seiyuus are amazing :D

[Shalimar_Doyle]

subbed-i love japanese language.

[li_na]

I definitely prefer subtitles as I like to hear the Japanese language (plus you still have the original-feel to it). From past experience, I've felt veryyyy agitated & annoyed with dubbed ones (it basically kills my mood) :auch: :box:

[ハダカ]

Junko Takeuchi rules! Thats all :D

[NihongoNoob]

I started as a dub lover, but slowly over time I've become a Sub lover, mostly because I want to learn Japanese. Even though I know trying to learn ANY Japanese from Anime is silly :P I mostly listen to Japanese "live action" movies for the Japanese. I'm just digging myself deeper now, I'll shut up. Yay for Sub :P

[CrimsonMasquerade]

subbed. dubbed anime is a half of anime. i don't like dubbed movies in general.

[captaingunkan]

I prefer subbed Anime more...

Why? It preserves the original language used, and I thoroughly enjoy Japanese Language. That's why I'm here, one of the reasons. Hehe :blush:

I also don't enjoy dubbed anime for the voice-acting... sorry, but I'd rather read english in Anime than read it.

[Pingu4u2]

Subbed versions, by far XD. Dubbed voices suck >__>.

[mysticgenie]

subbed because I cannot understand japanese very well....sometimes, the dubbed version suck big time!

[elocee]

i prefer subbed, i used to completly hate on dubbing, but some of it is quite good, but because i like learning japanese subbed is always my first choice
and thanks to that i can say= baka chibiko too my friend dede, or kawaii imouto to my little sister, and i unconsiously call my mom okaa-sama, ive learned quite a bit!

[bonta_kun_4eva]

Subbed is sooo much better then the dubs!
With the dubs it sounds to weird
For example I started watching Naruto when the first 10 episode came
Couple of years later they show it on cartoon network with dubs
It was so crap, I couldn't watch 10 secs of it (-_-)!
It's verry verry bad
Same with Full Metal Panic, I'd havn't watch it in ages so I go on youtube
and they only showed dubs, which was awful
I really can't stand Dubs!!!

[Taikutsu]

Yeah the Jetix dub of Naruto is awfull the cartoon network dub was great compared to the early jetix episodes ...well Subbed for the win