Studio Ghibli, English dub better than Japanese??

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Jan 2008

538

rosebrook said:
The Ghibli dubs get top notch treatment.

Both versions are excelent.

I think we should be careful about who we tell them to, because I have come across people who have tried to "correct" me that the Disney dubs were travesties to the original, adding that it was the "real truth".

Jul 19, 2011 1:00 PM

#53

saka

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May 2008

4052

Subjective discussion is subjective. I think a lot of people tend to worship Ghibli to the point where they can no longer rate objectively even on the points of discussion, but I did not find the voice acting in their older works to be particularly well done. They had a preference for young inexperienced voice actors, screen actors, and radio personalities -- and most of the lead characters in Mononokehime and Nausicaa etc had never even done voice acting before their roles there. They had acting experience, but not voice acting in particular and sometimes the naivete showed through.

I really despise dubs, but Disney had a lot of resources at their disposal and were able to compete with the older original dubs in my opinion, because they already had an extensive voice acting recruitment policy in place for their own films. Disney focused on using plenty of screen actors too, but in this respect they were competing on the same level. I think this is why there is really less of an obvious difference between the Ghibli jp/eng dubs.

I would argue that the actors Disney used were of much higher acting caliber that their Japanese equivalents, most of the time. Because of this they could overcome the lost-in-translation monotonic voice acting that defined foreign dubbing at the time. Both of the dubs have flaws of course, like any work..... but I'd argue they are essentially equivalent if you speak both languages.

sakaJul 19, 2011 1:09 PM

I am a banana.

Jul 19, 2011 1:06 PM

#54

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Jan 2008

538

saka said:
Subjective discussion is subjective. I think a lot of people tend to worship Ghibli to the point where they can no longer rate objectively, but I did not find the voice acting in their older works to be particularly well done. They had a preference for young inexperienced voice actors, screen actors, and radio personalities -- and most of the lead characters in Mononokehime and Nausicaa etc had never even done voice acting before their roles there. They had acting experience, but not voice acting in particular and sometimes the naivete showed through.

I really despise dubs, but Disney had a lot of resources at their disposal and were able to compete with the older original dubs in my opinion, because they already had an extensive voice acting recruitment policy in place for their own films. Disney focused on using plenty of screen actors too, but in this respect they were competing on the same level. I think this is why there is really less of an obvious difference between the Ghibli jp/eng dubs.

I would argue that the actors Disney used were of much higher acting caliber that their Japanese equivalents, most of the time. Because of this they could overcome the lost-in-translation monotonic voice acting that defined foreign dubbing at the time. Both of the dubs have flaws of course, like any work..... but I'd argue they are essentially equivalent if you speak both languages.

I dunno, I liked the "Mononoke" dub as well as the "Kiki", "Laputa", and even "Nausicaa" dubs. True, there were some cases where they missed a line or two, but overall the enthusiasm they showed for their characters more than made up for that, and other than that, I found nothing terrible about any of these dubs.

Jul 19, 2011 1:14 PM

#55

saka

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May 2008

4052

That's what I'm saying.... the dubs are essentially the same. They used similar recruitment philosophies and the english dubs were done with higher scrutiny than any other foreign dubbing at the time. The subject matter was also generally easy for both cultures to understand (they were generally inventing new cultures in the films anyway) so it made translating less awkward.

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Jul 20, 2011 11:09 AM

#56

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saka said:
That's what I'm saying.... the dubs are essentially the same. They used similar recruitment philosophies and the english dubs were done with higher scrutiny than any other foreign dubbing at the time. The subject matter was also generally easy for both cultures to understand (they were generally inventing new cultures in the films anyway) so it made translating less awkward.

Which is why I don't think it is very fair to dismiss them as sub-par dubs. They obviously spent so much time and money to make them sound fluent and natural that it's really hard to imagine how they can be any better. While it may be true that not every celebrity they've chosen were ideal and/or as experienced as the more traditional voiceover artists, there were still standouts on every one of these dubs.

Phil Hartman, Mark Hamill, Cloris Leachman, Keith David, Minnie Driver, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, and Michael McShane are such examples. Granted, these guys have had prior experience before doing the Ghibli dubs, but I don't think it's fair to lump all the actors as being inept at voice acting and doing a bad job on a lack of experience.

Jul 20, 2011 11:45 AM

#57

Hoppy

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Nov 2008

27806

Ghibli films both original Japanese and English dubbed have professional actors and actresses playing some of the characters, it's a shame they are stopping the practice on the Japanese side, it's a tragedy.

Jul 20, 2011 1:53 PM

#58

kyrie_kyo

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Dec 2008

489

if the english is just avage or better, and u watch that first, then that is most likely gonna be ur prefrence for that anime, its the same for me for pokemon, final fantasy vii and dragon ball. though i wouldent watch any of that anymore now, (expect FF) watched it when i was a kid, and 1-2 epps a few years ago (in japanese) and the voices was awfull and diddent fit at all.

Jul 20, 2011 2:01 PM

#59

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Mar 2011

25092

Furthermore, there are a couple of concepts in Japanese culture that American audiences may not understand so readily,.

such as

baut also Disey Change Key Plot Points thats one unforgivable thing

"If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine"

When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one
For the Union makes us strong

Jul 20, 2011 2:28 PM

#60

saka

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May 2008

4052

JTurner said:
Phil Hartman, Mark Hamill, Cloris Leachman, Keith David, Minnie Driver, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, and Michael McShane are such examples. Granted, these guys have had prior experience before doing the Ghibli dubs, but I don't think it's fair to lump all the actors as being inept at voice acting and doing a bad job on a lack of experience.

That's what I said. The english voice actors were more experienced than the japanese ones, despite both studios choosing voice talent from radio and television. It's because the english casts had this advantage that their dubs were comparable to the originals, and superior in some parts. Both dubs still have plenty of flaws, but I think they are largely equivalent -- which is testament to how great a job they did adapting it.

I am a banana.

Jul 20, 2011 3:48 PM

#61

Kumoshi

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Jul 2011

30324

From watching a few of the Ghibli movies in Japanese and English, I actually don't mind either. Usually when I have to listen to an English dub (like when I was watching Someday's Dreamers and had difficulties finding the episodes in Japanese - ugh, I couldn't even understand what they were saying sometimes), it really irritates me, but I actually like the English dubs for the Ghibli movies.

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Jul 20, 2011 3:54 PM

#62

Forest-kun

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May 2011

1133

I grew up with listening to the English dubs as well, so I'm probably just biased, but I do prefer them over the Japanese versions. For most anime, I like the subbed versions instead of dubbed. I'm picky about those, but when it comes to Studio Ghibli, they always turn out at least somewhat enjoyable. Howl's Moving Castle was one of the best dubbed, and Princess Mononoke was one of the best subbed, in my opinion. I don't prefer Ponyo dubbed or Spirit Away subbed, though, but the other versions are still well done. Studio Ghibli's pretty good about that stuff.

Mar 28, 2014 10:06 AM

#63

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Jan 2014

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I gotta ask... is it okay to watch Ghibli movies dubbed?

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Mar 28, 2014 10:10 AM

#64

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Mar 2011

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Japanese better cuasethey do not censor things or MESS with titles

and Plus i hate and always will hate disney's casting ideals

Mar 28, 2014 10:11 AM

#65

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censor what?

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Mar 28, 2014 10:14 AM

#66

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judals said:
censor what?

"Big parts" [ pun intended] in pom poko
Laputa [nough said] but do consinder this that name is taken form a City in an an english novel

Mar 28, 2014 10:16 AM

#67

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Jan 2014

3077

I'm watching Castle in the Sky now.. dubbed, and it seems to be alright

Can someone give me a break down of each movie's dub vs sub?

Given that I really like the Laputa dub and from the jap trailer, I thought it doesn't fit the atmosphere at all.

GrunbeldMar 28, 2014 10:19 AM

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Mar 28, 2014 10:19 AM

#68

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judals said:
I'm watching Castle in the Sky now.. dubbed, and it seems to be alright

its call Laputa Castle in the Sky or t could be called Luputa Heavenly Castle

Mar 28, 2014 10:21 AM

#69

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Ahh Potatoes man... the opening scene does make it look heavenly though... reminds me of Wall-E's credits

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Mar 28, 2014 10:24 AM

#70

Yhuuro

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Jan 2014

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Necro'ing a 2,5 year old thread.

Mkay.

Mar 28, 2014 10:25 AM

#71

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Yhuuro said:
We already had a thread like that just 2.5 years ago
Mkay

If I started a new thread.

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Mar 28, 2014 10:53 AM

#72

deactivated30325

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Dec 2013

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Studio Ghibli movies sound great in both english and Japanese. Except for Princess Mononoke, the english version was so......meh.

Mar 28, 2014 10:55 AM

#73

deactivated30325

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judals said:
I gotta ask... is it okay to watch Ghibli movies dubbed?

Yes, they sound fine in english. This is coming from someone who tries to avoid dub as much as possible.

Mar 28, 2014 11:20 AM

#74

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judals said:
Ahh Potatoes

Mar 28, 2014 11:45 AM

#75

AstronomyDomine

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Aug 2013

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Most Ghibli films received fairly amazing dubs in both languages, so it definitely is a matter of personal preference or even which you heard first, making you get acquainted with those particular voices, thus giving you a strange experience when listening to the other dubs.

The only Ghibli's dub i got disenchanted after listening to was Grave of the Fireflies. The english voice of Setsuko was so... soulless and emotionless. Concerning how the movie revolves thoroughly around her and Seita, the overall experience felt truly weakened.

Mar 28, 2014 12:27 PM

#76

Shabadabaxxx

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Aug 2013

English dub anytime.

Hayao Miyazaki has said several times that he always intended his films to be watched, not read, which is why he supports them being dubbed into other languages we understand.

Apr 7, 2014 5:10 PM

#77