Poll: English dubs for anime: good or bad?

[godsown1991]

I mostly prefer watching subs, but there are some shows that are just better in English.

Cowboy Bebop's dub was very well done, the dubs for the Slayers shows were also very good, Ghost in the Shell, a couple really girly/soap opera ones I'd be embarrassed to actually admit to watching...yeah, good dubs are possible. The problem is, they're so danged rare...

 

[Trivun]

I've only recently got into anime, so I've seen Elfen Lied and Hellsing so far, and intend to watch Death Note fairly soon. I thought the dubs in those two were quite good, and I made a point of watching them dubbed since I hate subs. However, I'll watch anime with subs if I have to or if the dubbing is terrible, but on the whole given a choice I prefer English dubs rather than original Japanese dialogue.

 

[Hitman 43]

Porco Rosso is dubbed very well. It's also a great film.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

It all depends on who does the dubbing, some companies butcher it horribly, but others do a pretty good job. Personally I can't stand reading subtitles, so I usually go with the dubs.

 

[GodofDisaster]

I personally don't like dubs, which is ironic because my first two animes were Dragonball Z and Trigun, both in dub.

Although I have watched about five animes in english dub and I thought they were quite good.

Code geass
Fullmetal Alchemist
Cowboy Bebop
Bleach has an ok dub.
Black Lagoon.

 

[cathou]

i watch anime dub in french, but i also watch tv and movies dubbed in french.

but like i said to someone not long ago, the difference is that we have way more good dubbing actors then english because we have much more thing to dub than you...

 

[Robert632]

if it's done well(e.g full metal alchemist, hellsing, etc.) then i'd rather watch it dubbed. however, most dubs are shit, so i prefer subs anyway.

 

[Goodluf]

I always try to find subbed versions of whatever I'm watching, but if there isn't any, I can tolerate an episode or two of dubs...with some series.

Examples:
As many have mentioned it already, One Piece has had propably the worst dubs I have ever heard.(Not to mention the other things they censored)

Dragonball Z had a surprisingly good dub in my opinion, I preferred and still prefer it over the original with subtitles...Goku just doesn't sound...right with that japanese voice. But that's just how I like it.

In any case, if I start watching a series subbed I'll propably find the dubbed version weird sounding and vice versa. But most of the time I watch subbed series and that's what I'm used to. Maybe that is so because about every foreign series that gets broadcasted in my country will be subbed with original audio.

 

[ZeeClone]

bad all the time!

I've NEVER watched a dub I enjoyed.

 

[hermes]

Most of the times I preffer subs over the original language... It is easier to understand the intention of the author... dubs on spanish could get a lot worst (some studios don't realise spanish is spoken in 3 continents, and an argentinian does not speak the same as an spanish or a mexican)...

What I don't understand is why some series have changed the backgound music... I get the dubs need, but what is the point of american Dragon Ball having those awfull tunes?

 

[Willwillwritehiswill]

Subs or dubs, i don't really care. as long as i can follow the story.

 

[GrinningManiac]

I like dubs.

My mate saw one where the guy fired a lazer shouting "now!" or something, but the dub read "Imma firin' mah lazer!"

 

[zahr]

Often the original voice acting is better, but the good thing about English dubs is that the obligatory shrieking character isn't as loud.

 

[Icehearted]

I'd rather watch my anime than read my anime.

'nuff said.

true if I wanted to read anime id read the manga - which in most cases (bleach,naruto,black lagoon,beserk,tenjhou tenge to list a few) is better than the anime.

That said I assume you mean watch the anime in Japanese dot dubbed.

I think you missed my point... or I'm missing yours.

My remark was meant to imply that I watch anime to watch anime, not read it. If it's subbed I'll end up spending most of my time staring at the bottom of the screen and reading text than I will actually watching the show. I loathe doing that that.

I watch shows to watch shows, not to read dialogue translations at the bottom of the screen.

 

[Cowabungaa]

The only dub I prefer over the Japanese dub, is the one in Steamboy. The British accents fit that movie extremely well, that's obvious because it's set in 19th century Britain, with an art style that's not overly Asian. As for the rest, I'll always go for the original dub, the dialogue is often written for that language which is especially noticeable with the big gap between Westren and Eastren languages.

 

[RollForInitiative]

I couldn't do that, I have never liked the second version of anything I watched. It sounds just wrong, even if done really really well. Japanese's always out first, so I never like the dubbed stuff. (Unless I have seen the dubbed one first)

I'm reviewer. I consider it my duty to explore both faces of the language coin so that I can give a well informed opinion of the differences between the two. It's not something I'd normally do when watching a series for entertainment. =)

 

[jpoon]

Dubs are just fine with me if done well. I remember back when Akira came out, that wasn't too bad at all. Ghost In The Shell (the first movie) had good dubs too, was a fucking amazing movie for its time.

 

[J-Alfred]

Very few animes have been dubbed well. But Cowboy Beebop was so well dubbed that it constantly gives me hope for the future. And then Naruto and Yu-Gi-Oh! come along and try to crush my dreams. And then they're eaten by a panda with Steven J. Blum's voice.


I have very strange dreams.

 

[ae86gamer]

Some are ok.

Love Hina English dub= Good.

Initial D English dub= Horrible.

 

[lord canti]

It varies honestly some are bad such as 4kids and Naruto some are good like Bleach and some are just great Cowboy Bebop, Full Metal Alchemist.