Image
Interordi Menu
itsthesherf
Quiesce perferque.
Inactive
22 posts
Quote

What's your opinion? I saw this topic on a different forum somewhere in which case some love subs over dubs... in my honest opinion I love subs more. I can't STAND reading the text!


[Lady] itsthesherf - _______
www.twitch.tv/itsthesherf | www.youtube.com/itsthesherf

Image

Staff Backer Doctacosa
Admin
SciLab Official
Benevolent Dictator
Offline
6420 posts
Princess Celestia
Princess Celestia
Got all items in the AFD2012 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Squid beaker
Squid beaker
Earned all 150 original CL achievements
Acquired on 17 January 2016
Unity.EXE emblem
Unity.EXE emblem
Defeat Bass.EXE in the AFD2013 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2013
Zenny
Zenny
Unlock all of the main forum features!
Acquired on 1 April 2014
Lilly Satou
Lilly Satou
Acquired on 1 April 2012

... and 25 more
Quote

If you can't stand reading the text, then I suppose you mean you prefer dubs. :)

This topic's a classic one that's bound to show up in all anime discussions eventually! On my end, I don't have a strong preference either way. Subs can be nice as it sometimes feel like the original voice actors put more effort into their work, so the emotions come out better. I don't mind reading the text, as I don't feel like it's distracting me from what's happening. On the other hand, dubs that are done with care are perfectly fine with me. When playing a game that offers the choice between Japanese and English voice-overs, for example, I'll usually stick with the English version. If an anime series offers me both options... I'll probably hesitate a bit!


The admin formerly known as Dr. Cossack.

Looking for me elsewhere? Maybe look at my Fediverse account for some more-or-less random postings! If you're a gamer, check out my Osmium profile. I'm building that tool!

itsthesherf
Quiesce perferque.
Inactive
22 posts
Quote

I always get excited when it has a good choice of Anime Dub... and usually the ones I find are filled with emotion and I don't mind watching it at all. :D Time to go watch some anime on Netflix! lol


[Lady] itsthesherf - _______
www.twitch.tv/itsthesherf | www.youtube.com/itsthesherf

Image

Necro
Hail to the King, baby!
Inactive
1265 posts
Quote

I rarely if ever even watch anime anymore, but if I do I'll watch it subtitled. But I somewhat understand Japanese so anything I've watched subtitled I'm halfway paying attention to the subtitles and halfway paying attention to whats being said (which are often two different things, despite what sub fans would want to think).


Sb20
Blogger
SciLab Official
Lead character
Inactive
178 posts
Princess Celestia
Princess Celestia
Got all items in the AFD2012 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Unity.EXE emblem
Unity.EXE emblem
Defeat Bass.EXE in the AFD2013 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2013
Michael Jackson Hat
Michael Jackson Hat
Get the Completionist achievement
Acquired on 23 April 2011
Derpy Hooves
Derpy Hooves
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Fluttershy
Fluttershy
Acquired on 1 April 2012

... and 20 more
Quote

One thing I enjoy doing is putting the English language subs on the Japanese-voiced film, or the Japanese-translated subs on the English dub.

I'm always curious how many times the English dubs add dialog to places where there were originally none.

In all honesty, I like original voices with subs, but if a dub is well done (written & acted) sometimes it outshines the original, IMO.

Sakura
Aqua-cadet
Inactive
1027 posts
Quote

Well even though I do not really watch anime anymore (did not really watch it much in the first place), I watch a lot of foreign films and TV. In the case of anime, I prefer subs. Sometimes when I watch a Studio Ghibli films with friends, though, we usually watch a dub because I feel like it is easier for us to goof around and talk while watching the movie. Although we did watch 3 films last night together that were all subbed, and although they weren't anime, we could all follow it. It takes some getting used to, but I have become adapted to reading while watching.
I am in my third year of Japanese (as are also a few of my friends) and I really like watching the subbed versions because I like being able to pick up on things I know, which help me with my listening comprehension skills.
With anime such as Cardcaptor Sakura, when they change whole conversations, events, episodes, etc. because they are "editing" it for our fragile American children, it is very frustrating because you essentially lose pieces of the story and even the plot. That is a case in which I would not even consider watching the dub.
I like watching a lot of Japanese movies and most if not all are not dubbed into English so I am pretty used to it by now. Original voices are always nice too, which is a part of how the original director/creator defined the character.
If you ever plan on studying Japanese, though, I would advise you to get used to subs because the most things you watch/listen to in Japanese, the more used it you will become.



RisingDragon
Goat Herder
Inactive
-4295 post
Lilly Satou
Lilly Satou
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Emi Ibarazaki
Emi Ibarazaki
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Heavy
Heavy
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Demoman
Demoman
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Pyro
Pyro
Acquired on 2 April 2012

... and 18 more
Quote

Honestly I watch subs more often, but it honestly depends on the voice acting. Sometimes the dub just sounds better. Generally speaking though I watch subs more because the series is currently airing over there and hasn't been localized yet.

That and I can't really afford buying the DVDs yet.


"Why do you care that I care that you care enough to care that I care for caring?" "Conversation isn't your strong point, is it?"
"I worship the supreme comrade Cossack!"
"OugharagarraaahhHHH: When 'Ow' just won't cut it."
ImageImage
Image

CAPCOM: We put the "No" in Innovation.

Tri-Edge
Bobo
Inactive
589 posts
Quote

Dubs more than subs but if the show is good enough I'll watch with subs if there is no other alternative. Until I learn Japanese JP dub will only slow me down in progressing through storylines.


In memory of .hack//Chat I say one last time: "Let's meet again sometime, in that place we love to go. The Root town of Mac Anu!"
.... .hack//kyat....we miss you dearly

WindRider739
Cyberspace Ghost Hunter
Inactive
331 posts
Quote

Definitely prefer dubs. I don't watch Tv, movies, shows etc often and when I do, I want to veg. Extra brainpower of reading bothers me, as does the possibility that I'll miss something while reading and have to rewind. I dislike subs to much I can't even bring myself to watch Wasabi again, and I love that movie.


Image

God
Chris Ray Gun is still cool
Offline
854 posts
Quote

I don't know what all this is about "I don't watch subs because it's harder". Um hello the subtitles are RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN, so unlike something with only speaking and no words, you can actually know what's going on all the time and take less brain power to comprehend it since you can just read it instead of having to concentrate!

But other then that, the problem or reason people do not like dubs, is because it changes the story. I don't necessarily agree that all American seiyuu are horrible, but I do want to see the show the creators intended me to see and not some fucked-up version of it. However there is a problem; if there isn't an "official" version, then you will just have random people subbing it so there are 3,000 different versions of the same show and you don't know which one to watch.

The other problem is, most of the ones I have seen, are actually done by native Japanese-speakers rather then native English-speakers,. so you get some REALLLLY weird sayings that don't make sense even in English!

Staff Backer Doctacosa
Admin
SciLab Official
Benevolent Dictator
Offline
6420 posts
Princess Celestia
Princess Celestia
Got all items in the AFD2012 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Squid beaker
Squid beaker
Earned all 150 original CL achievements
Acquired on 17 January 2016
Unity.EXE emblem
Unity.EXE emblem
Defeat Bass.EXE in the AFD2013 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2013
Zenny
Zenny
Unlock all of the main forum features!
Acquired on 1 April 2014
Lilly Satou
Lilly Satou
Acquired on 1 April 2012

... and 25 more
Quote

Quote from post #231685:
Originally posted by God
I don't know what all this is about "I don't watch subs because it's harder". Um hello the subtitles are RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN, so unlike something with only speaking and no words, you can actually know what's going on all the time and take less brain power to comprehend it since you can just read it instead of having to concentrate!


You've got it backwards, at least for many people. Watching a dub involves two senses: the hearing and the sight. Both are able to focus on one specific element, forming a whole. If you watch a dub, the sight's attention is split between watching the scenes and reading the text, which can be tricky for some people. We aren't all good at the same things. :)


The admin formerly known as Dr. Cossack.

Looking for me elsewhere? Maybe look at my Fediverse account for some more-or-less random postings! If you're a gamer, check out my Osmium profile. I'm building that tool!

itsthesherf
Quiesce perferque.
Inactive
22 posts
Quote

Exactly! And it's even worse for me especially if I don't speak whatever language it is so I have to try to block that out while reading and it's all just confusing... dubs FTW.


[Lady] itsthesherf - _______
www.twitch.tv/itsthesherf | www.youtube.com/itsthesherf

Image

TopHat
Hats n' spirals
Inactive
2417 posts
Caprice
Caprice
Become Dr. Cossack's waifu
Acquired on 20 April 2012
Rin Tezuka
Rin Tezuka
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Soldier
Soldier
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Engineer
Engineer
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Spy
Spy
Acquired on 1 April 2012

... and 22 more
Quote

when i'm watching cartoons i want to watch cartoons, not read them

itsthesherf
Quiesce perferque.
Inactive
22 posts
Quote

Quote from post #231949:
Originally posted by TopHat
when i'm watching cartoons i want to watch cartoons, not read them


That's what I'm saying!


[Lady] itsthesherf - _______
www.twitch.tv/itsthesherf | www.youtube.com/itsthesherf

Image

Morphman
Niz-Da
Inactive
2647 posts
Quote

I live in a country where English is not the mother language. Unlike the Germans, we don't dub everything, so we get subs for everything that comes from other countries. When it comes to anime that comes on tv, it used to be that way too, but in recent years dubs have become more and more common. The quality tends to be pretty good too, except with some seasons/characters of Pokémon.


Image
All hail the Supreme Comrade Cossack!

HollowTorment
Interordi's Lovable Jerk
Inactive
4805 posts
Quote

Subs all the way, unless the japanese is bad but, that doesn't mean the english will be any better. It's usually much worse. Much, much worse.

Sb20
Blogger
SciLab Official
Lead character
Inactive
178 posts
Princess Celestia
Princess Celestia
Got all items in the AFD2012 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Unity.EXE emblem
Unity.EXE emblem
Defeat Bass.EXE in the AFD2013 event!
Acquired on 1 April 2013
Michael Jackson Hat
Michael Jackson Hat
Get the Completionist achievement
Acquired on 23 April 2011
Derpy Hooves
Derpy Hooves
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Fluttershy
Fluttershy
Acquired on 1 April 2012

... and 20 more
Quote

I was trying to think of some examples of dubs that I preferred to subs. I know there have been some... but right now my mind is blank. You guys think of any?

itsthesherf
Quiesce perferque.
Inactive
22 posts
Quote

Any ever. XD I think everyone also caught in my original post (since I made this thread) that I meant I like DUBS over SUBS... I totally messed up. But yeah... HAH.


[Lady] itsthesherf - _______
www.twitch.tv/itsthesherf | www.youtube.com/itsthesherf

Image

RisingDragon
Goat Herder
Inactive
-4295 post
Lilly Satou
Lilly Satou
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Emi Ibarazaki
Emi Ibarazaki
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Heavy
Heavy
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Demoman
Demoman
Acquired on 2 April 2012
Pyro
Pyro
Acquired on 2 April 2012

... and 18 more
Quote

I preferred s-CRY-ed and Gundam SEED's dubs over their subs. s-CRY-ed's subs in particular made all of the men sound really angry all the time.


"Why do you care that I care that you care enough to care that I care for caring?" "Conversation isn't your strong point, is it?"
"I worship the supreme comrade Cossack!"
"OugharagarraaahhHHH: When 'Ow' just won't cut it."
ImageImage
Image

CAPCOM: We put the "No" in Innovation.

Morphman
Niz-Da
Inactive
2647 posts
Quote

Quote from post #231994:
Originally posted by RisingDragon
I preferred s-CRY-ed and Gundam SEED's dubs over their subs. s-CRY-ed's subs in particular made all of the men sound really angry all the time.


To be fair, most of the main male characters were angry all the time.


Image
All hail the Supreme Comrade Cossack!

TopHat
Hats n' spirals
Inactive
2417 posts
Caprice
Caprice
Become Dr. Cossack's waifu
Acquired on 20 April 2012
Rin Tezuka
Rin Tezuka
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Soldier
Soldier
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Engineer
Engineer
Acquired on 1 April 2012
Spy
Spy
Acquired on 1 April 2012

... and 22 more
Quote

Quote from post #231990:
Originally posted by Sb20
I was trying to think of some examples of dubs that I preferred to subs. I know there have been some... but right now my mind is blank. You guys think of any?


isnt cowboy bebop praised for having a stellar dub

Morphman
Niz-Da
Inactive
2647 posts
Quote

Quote from post #232086:
Originally posted by TopHat
Quote from post #231990:
Originally posted by Sb20
I was trying to think of some examples of dubs that I preferred to subs. I know there have been some... but right now my mind is blank. You guys think of any?


isnt cowboy bebop praised for having a stellar dub


Cowboy Bebop and Trigun both. And apparently the German version of Digimon. Half the Dutch dubs are also very good. (The other half tends to be anime aimed at younger children.)


Image
All hail the Supreme Comrade Cossack!

Glenn Magus Harvey
Lead character
Inactive
172 posts
Quote

I'll watch both, but I tend to prefer dubs when possible, because hearing the lines delivered in a language I am fluent in makes me feel more immersed in the story.

Though, oddly, I sometimes have this hobby of watching dubs and subs at the same time -- i.e., I turn on English audio AND translated subtitles. This has actually given me a bit of insight into the dubbing process, by comparing the two. It also tells me more about how different the two translations are -- in some cases they're very close and in some cases more artistic liberties are taken.

And just because said artistic liberties are taken doesn't mean the dub is "bad". It sometimes even leads to a clarification of the scene's meaning, or an alternative interpretation, both of which are interesting to think about. I don't make the assumption that the original is necessarily the best or the "creator's vision" or something like that -- pretty much all productions are flawed in their own ways. Not to mention that subtitles are still a translation and carry with them their own flaws and changes, including having to adapt things like slang to a different language.

And I'm always very interested to read translators' notes, which provide further insight into the story and the creative and translation processes.

Finally, I don't really like super high squeaky voices for certain female characters that much, and English dubs on average have slightly lower voices for such characters.


It Just Bugs Me! - a place to discuss media, real life, and other topics.