Do You Prefer Your Anime Dubbed or Subbed?

[Naedmi]

I've watched many different dubbed anime during my time and I have to say I prefer it over subbed, but I understand why people would prefer sub to dub at times, I've also found some very horrible dub voice actors during my time, the kind that make you cringe at the sound of their voice.

Some of my favorite dubs would include Dragonball Z, Fullmetal Alchemist, Jojo's Bizzare Adventure, Attack on Titan and some others I can't name right now.

Dragonball Z gets me every time with their amazing voice actors, this quote gets me every time. "Screaming in English"

[Air]

I prefer subbed, because the original voice acting is usually better, no matter the language(even though from Japan, I'd never play a Metal Gear game in Japanese). Dubs can sometimes be just as good, but having to voice over already-existing animation does add some restrictions to the voice actors. As a result, some dubs just have voice acting that doesn't sound like realistic dialog.

However, I do suggest watching the dub of Ghost Stories if you can.

[Volfogg]

Maybe I prefer subs, because I'm not a native english speaker. Not all accents are clear enough for me. Also I really do enjoy some hammy Japanese VA like Hiyama, Wakamoto or Tomokazu Seki.

[Frezmo]

depends what anime it is

[SpaceyMatt]

I prefer it dubbed.

[Ⓥenom Ⓢnake 🐍]

I go both ways!

I'm funny that way.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Messaggio originale di Someone:

Messaggio originale di Sashie:

(video)

He makes the ridiculous argument that dubs can somehow be just as valid as the original work and that since a perfect translation is not possible it means that it's fine to not even try.

Dubs are inherently inferior even at their best.

For you to think that after watching that video demonstrates your bias which is apparently so great as to blind you to numerous of examples he provided of what he considered poor English dubbing, and his message that it's not going to be perfect but it is worth trying to provide constructive criticism to improve things (as opposed to blanket statement either way, or baseless speculation...).

Furthermore, the "a perfect translation is not possible" argument also applies to subs anyway. And, as he points out, it's not like the Japanese voicework is without its own faults in the first place.

Are translated subtitles more likely to be able to present linguistic accuracy? Perhaps, given that it doesn't have to match lip flaps.

Does linguistic accuracy always help in conveying the story more effectively? That's where different people's mileage may vary. The script is very much not the whole storytelling experience. Is it important? Yes, but that doesn't mean the most accurate script in the world will work magic and transfer the experience of a domestic Japanese audience to a foreign audience that doesn't understand the language.

Funny thing is I just read through yet another subs-vs-dubs debate over on MAL just a couple days ago and so yeah it's fresh on my mind. Incidentally, I should thank Sashie for posting the video because now I know why people there were criticizing the Dragon-Maid dub, which I hadn't yet watched.

Messaggio originale di Someone:

Messaggio originale di Sashie:

I don't really agree with the second half the video myself. But the first part was a bit interesting. But once he starts sjw warrioring its time to abandon ship.

The arguments he makes against those Funimation dubs are accurate. Maybe you haven't seen Kobayashi-san, but it's very blatant about its lesbian themes.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but based on the limited commentary in the video, it seems like that theme may be one-sided on Tooru's part as far as Kobayashi herself goes, aside from Kobayashi's not shutting her down outright (and even that is something that can change as character development).

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Messaggio originale di ⓥenom Ⓢnake 🐍:

I go both ways!

I'm funny that way.

I've occasionally watched stuff dubbed and subbed at the same time.

[Ⓥenom Ⓢnake 🐍]

Messaggio originale di Quint, Queen of the Giant Rabbit:

Messaggio originale di ⓥenom Ⓢnake 🐍:

I go both ways!

I'm funny that way.

I've occasionally watched stuff dubbed and subbed at the same time.

So you play the English audio track with the English Subs on? I have done that a few times.

[rept]

i have watched very little anime but i just wanted to post that the voice acting in the English dub of Cowboy Bebop is better than the original

[Someone]

Messaggio originale di Quint, Queen of the Giant Rabbit:

For you to think that after watching that video demonstrates your bias which is apparently so great as to blind you to numerous of examples he provided of what he considered poor English dubbing, and his message that it's not going to be perfect but it is worth trying to provide constructive criticism to improve things (as opposed to blanket statement either way, or baseless speculation...).

He says all kinds of things, but ultimately concludes that translations can't be perfect anyway and we should all take dubs very seriously as if they were just as valid as the original.

Furthermore, the "a perfect translation is not possible" argument also applies to subs anyway.

A perfect translation, however impossible, must always be the translator's goal, and subtitles allow for more accurate translations.

And, as he points out, it's not like the Japanese voicework is without its own faults in the first place.

It has about zero faults when compared to English dubbing, and even if it does have flaws it's not the place of some American company to try and "fix" them.

Does linguistic accuracy always help in conveying the story more effectively?

I'm not sure I understand where you are going with this paragraph. The fact that the script is not everything and that even accurate translations won't fully transfer the experience of watching something as a native speaker is just stating the obvious, and doesn't suggest that dubs could be better than subs.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but based on the limited commentary in the video, it seems like that theme may be one-sided on Tooru's part as far as Kobayashi herself goes, aside from Kobayashi's not shutting her down outright (and even that is something that can change as character development).

It is one-sided but the lesbianism is still there, and it's obvious that Kobayashi, Touru and Kanna represent the roles of a salaryman, housewive and daughter.

The video also goes too far in trying to defend Funimation with its Not All Dubbers talk, but Funimation has done this (at least) twice now, and the fact that a major company like Funimation thinks this is appropriate says a lot about the state of things. The people who came up with and greenlighted the Prison School and Kobayashi-san dubs shouldn't even be working there anymore.

[Ⓥenom Ⓢnake 🐍]

Messaggio originale di Rept is toxic omg:

i have watched very little anime but i just wanted to post that the voice acting in the English dub of Cowboy Bebop is better than the original

There are actually a fairly decent number of those, but it is more of a cultural bias kind of this. What the Japanese expect a character to sound like often differs from what someone of another country might expect that same character trope to sound like. It really does depend on who does it.

[it's love]

just read the mango it's always better

[Ⓥenom Ⓢnake 🐍]

Messaggio originale di Crazed Rabbit:

just read the mango it's always better

I'll go with that.

[Someone]

Messaggio originale di Crazed Rabbit:

just read the mango it's always better

Anime is not always based on manga, the anime may improve upon the manga, and manga does not have sound, animation and color.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Messaggio originale di Someone:

Messaggio originale di Quint, Queen of the Giant Rabbit:

For you to think that after watching that video demonstrates your bias which is apparently so great as to blind you to numerous of examples he provided of what he considered poor English dubbing, and his message that it's not going to be perfect but it is worth trying to provide constructive criticism to improve things (as opposed to blanket statement either way, or baseless speculation...).

He says all kinds of things, but ultimately concludes that translations can't be perfect anyway and we should all take dubs very seriously as if they were just as valid as the original.

He literally says that it's okay if you don't like dubs and prefer subs, and never speaks on validity outside of Mamoru Oshii's commentary.

Messaggio originale di Someone:

Furthermore, the "a perfect translation is not possible" argument also applies to subs anyway.

A perfect translation, however impossible, must always be the translator's goal, and subtitles allow for more accurate translations.

And, as he points out, it's not like the Japanese voicework is without its own faults in the first place.

It has about zero faults when compared to English dubbing, and even if it does have flaws it's not the place of some American company to try and "fix" them.

Unless you're a native Japanese speaker, I don't think either of us is qualified to speak on the faults of Japanese. But the video does point out the issue of it not matching lip flaps, and that is pretty undeniable.

Messaggio originale di Someone:

Does linguistic accuracy always help in conveying the story more effectively?

I'm not sure I understand where you are going with this paragraph. The fact that the script is not everything and that even accurate translations won't fully transfer the experience of watching something as a native speaker is just stating the obvious, and doesn't suggest that dubs could be better than subs.

But reading text and using listening gibberish standing for meaning to infer tone of voice is not the same as hearing meaning with built-in tone of voice.

You may prefer the former, but I prefer the latter because I find it more immersive when it works, and that immersion is more important to me than an as-literal-as-possible translation of the meaning.