Poll: Dubbed or Subbed?

[Mstrswrd]

Well, I used to be firmly against dubbed movies and anime, and insisted they were far better with original language + subtitles. But I recently re-watched Gantz and Elfen Lied with both the english language track and english subtitles on and my god, the english language versions kicks the shit out of the japanese + subs versions! The english acting and writing make the subtitled versions look like piles of poorly translated garbage.

So, which do you prefer, dubbed or subbed, and have you seen any other examples where the english language version is superior to the subtitled version?

Trigun is better in English
Ghost in the Shell can go either way, though, I remember correctly, in Japan the DVD's are normally set to English
Sgt. Frog is a totally different experience in English because they completely changed it (but it's still good) so you should watch both to get two sepreate anime
Hellsing Ultimate is good either way (Japanese is as good as always, but in English, we get the various accent we're supposed to get)
YuYu Hakusho, while great in English, is better in Japanese
s-CRY-ed is the same as YuYu Hakusho (though the English version is no slouch)
One Piece (the funimation version) is good, but the Japanese is better
Hokuto no Ken (the first 30 episodes, at least) go for the Japanese (as well as the movies, OVA's, etc)
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, the Japanese version is the way to go (the english is so bad it's not even funny)
Lucky Star, Better in Japanese, though the English version is mostly Passable



In General, the rule is that the newer it is, the higher the chances are that the English version will be good, while the older it is, the harder it get's to find stuff that is of equal quality to the Japanese version, with the notable exceptions of things like DBZ (though they changed that heavily enough that you should again watch both the English version with the altered music and the Japanese version with the original music), Rurouni Kenshin (though that had it's unusual moments, it was still very good), and Evangelion (though the Japanese version was superior, the English version was no slouch, and in newer incarnations, this difference has dissapeared).

I could name a few more older exceptions, but for the most part, the rule is as I said; Older quality dubs are harder to find, while newer anime can usually be watched in either language.

Also, Funimation; if Funimation gets there hands on it, you can just assume it will be done well, as they're usually quite good about this.

EDIT: Just saw the K-ON english... thing. I don't really like K-ON... at all, but ARGLEBLARGLE that hurt me it was bad; alright, here's another general rule; leave things about music in their native language, whether that be English, Japanese, German, French, what-have-you. Leave music alone; translated/dubbed songs are usually a bit awkward or fully bad, exceptions being the opening to KH and KH2, and possibly YuYu Hakusho (it was good, but some subtle changes in the English version still annoy me).

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

Urghghghablabaleh

Still sounds awesome!

I go for dubbed, but really it's whichever one I saw first.

I think Trigun is better in English.

 

[Andantil]

why is there no option for "normally subbed, but in rare cases, dubbed."?

Original Japanese dialogue is better for the vast majority of anime, quality of subs ranges greatly depending on the group responsible.
Some dubs are as good as or better than the original.

also, if you only watch dubs you'll miss out on current seasons and the vast majority of anime otherwise.

 

[Thundero13]

Subbed usually, but DO NOT watch Haruhi Suzumiya subbed, it's terrib le compared to the dubbed version.

 

[MrShadowzs]

Dubbed, i don't mind sub but i prefer dub over it, unless it's complete crap dub, i like dub better because i can better understand it. Since, you know, i don't understand any Japanese.

 

[DSK-]

For anime, definitely subbed. I'd hate to think how potentially bad a Gintama english dub would be like *shudder*.

[Added]

This one of the best dubs I've ever heard

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/441926

 

[Shirokurou]

There are good dubs in existence, but nothing beats the subbed original IMHO.

 

[rickthetrick]

I prefer Subs myself, but sometimes they can be so bad as to detract from the show (mostly due to bad pirating admittedly). On the other hand, not many dubs have been done well enough to hold my interest. Funimation does a good job with their dubs, but few other companies do that well imo.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

I enjoy both, but every time I hear someone say something like "All dubs are shit," I get the sudden urge to punch someone in the face.

 

[crop52]

Dubs, because most of the japanese voices i hear in anime sound exactly the same,

 

[Mr.Petey]

]I enjoy both, but every time I hear someone say something like "All dubs are shit," I get the sudden urge to punch someone in the face.

This happens way too much in anime communities. English dubs have come a long way since the old days and not all of them are "screechy" as some people care to label them as such. I'll hold em down for you if there's gonna be any punching Love the avatar too!

On the whole I prefer dubs. its easier to just sit back and watch the animation+listen to it instead of reading too. I don't mind reading some subs on newly released fansubs but if Im buying a dvd and watching it, I will default to the English language voice over really.

 

[natster43]

I usually watch subtitled animes. Not always though. I am watching Soul Eater in English.

 

[zarix2311]

To me, it depends oh-so heavily on the voice acting. I don't mind reading sub titles, in fact I watch more sub than dub when I can, but if the voice acting is awful then I'm going dub.

 

[EvilMaggot]

Subbed... for everything... i like it in the original language so i dont have to look at the horrid lip sync that sometimes if terribly off

 

[badmunky64]

you thought the elfen lied dubbing was good?...

go watch trigun, desert punk, or wolf rain if you want good dubbing

 

[Do4600]

I watch anything that isn't originally English in sub's. Especially live action things, I can't stand watching other actors butcher the inflection and intonation of a line, it drives me crazy. The only thing I don't mind watching in dub's is kung fu movies because I don't really watch those for the plot that often. But if I'm trying to watch something like Seven Samurai, M or Solaris I can't stand the dub's.

 

[Bat Vader]

When it comes to anime I can watch it either subbed or dubbed. When it comes to foreign films I can only watch them subbed. I always turn on subtitles whenever I watch a film.

 

[kellith1stnonly]

Subbed all the way, though I like a couple dubs more than the original Japanese (i.e. Cowboy Bebop and Evangelion).

I'm pretty defensive of subtitled anything, since I think watching things in their original language is more natural and loyal to the creator's original intent. I had a friend once insist that anime was made for foreign viewers and that dubbing is a right of all fans to have. I really raged on him about that.

 

[Voodoomancer]

Subtitles, please.

Many dubbings tend to have voice actors whose voices don't fit the characters. There are exceptions, of course.

Then there's the whole lip desync issue, again there are good and bad examples.

Then there is of course the shows that are just so silly you'll cringe if you understand what anyone is saying, meaning subtitles can actually make the show better/bearable.