Thoughts on sub vs dub argument

Jul 19, 2021 9:05 PM

#51

removed-user

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Jul 2018

561864

It's all personal preference but sub is still infinitely better than dub imo :)

Jul 19, 2021 9:08 PM

#52

epidemia78

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Aug 2018

8518

Does the talent of voice actors even matter? Does the obvious lack of passion inherent in 99% of all dub actors matter? What a weird question.

Jul 19, 2021 11:08 PM

#53

WatchTillTandava

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Jun 2019

7885

I watch subbed exclusively.

I just, for many reasons, prefer to watch any media content - whether animated or live action - in its original language. It doesn't matter if said original language is Japanese, Thai, Polish, Hindi, or whatever.

The primary reason is that, as a native English speaker, English language regular acting (in live action films and television series) and English language voice acting in natively-produced, Western cartoons (native to the Anglosphere countries like the U.S., Canada, and Britain) is world-class and some of the finest available.

English dubbed voice acting superimposed over any foreign production from a non-English speaking country, as someone who loves film and language and art of all kinds - is just an absolute embarrassment and disgrace devoid of anything which seems to give an individual work any shred of spirit and make it even worth watching.

Yes, as a non-Japanese speaker, native or otherwise, I cannot tell on the same level how proficient or abysmal a Japanese voice recording is. I don't believe anyone truly can for any language apart from their native language (maybe for those who have achieved total fluency and mastery in a second or third+ language after years or even decades, but even then, I conceptualize fluency as more of a lifetime work-in-progress; many of us do not have enough verbal or written fluency or even requisite competency in even our own native languages). It doesn't change the fact that I consider myself to have an exceptional ear for poorly conceived, poorly constructed, poorly delivered English that is as flat and tasteless as a church Eucharist and dubbed scripts and performances fit the bill every time I encounter them.

I love being a native English speaker. I love the English language and I enjoy speaking and writing in English, just as I enjoyed studying it and even teaching it. And I can find no joy, amusement, or anything of value in hearing English which alternates between lifeless and cheesy, fake, and forced as hell in a dubbed release.

Everyone sounds stilted and like they are ISIL Salafi jihadist captives reading a propaganda script with all true life force, energy, and power sucked out of their words before being frog-marched to a field execution.

Now, why they masterfully execute English voice acting in say, American and Canadian cartoons, but botch it as soon as it's non-Anglo material, that's the critical issue.

WatchTillTandavaJul 19, 2021 11:12 PM

Jul 19, 2021 11:45 PM

#54

caesarsalad4361

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Apr 2020

315

It's a pointless discussion, really. I don't get the whole 'dub vs sub' thing since all anime is dubbed, no matter the language. Problem solved.

No but really, it comes down to preference. It'd be really hard for me to enjoy FMAB in English because I watched it in Japanese first. The same can be said for the reverse. Does that mean that one is inherently better than the other?

I always watch animated series in their original language, whatever that is. Mostly Japanese. I don't need to be fluent in Japanese to understand what the voice actors are going for or the emotion they are trying to convey. I've heard this argument being used on more than one occasion where someone argued that anime couldn't be experienced fully unless it was in that person's native language (because of cultural differences, references, translations etc.) and they assumed that would be English. Guess what? A lot of us aren't English speaking natives and anime sure as fuck isn't dubbed in my native language. So why should I settle for the English dub when I can watch the original and get the same experience (I tend to watch both with subtitles if they're available). I never got a response to that.

So watch it in English or Japanese or whatever language you want, whether it's better or not is subjective.

Jul 19, 2021 11:52 PM

#55

caesarsalad4361

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Apr 2020

315

Pyro said:
I don't really think the language preference is the problem. Like, at all.

Some dubs are just so inferior and or altered that you might as well be watching a different show. Emotional, dramatic, or intense scenes can be much less impactful with worse voice acting. Sometimes the tone is ruined. It's not super common, but it does happen, especially with older anime. Usually you can never go wrong with sub. You just can't say the same for dubs. And no, I'm not a sub purist.

I agree, in the original language you hear and know what the intention is and how characters are portrayed. In the case of Goku from DBZ, he got quite a character make-over in his early Funimation dub (arguably English dubs have come a long way since then). His character went from rather childish and simple-minded to superman the world saviour and that's just not who he is. I heard it's been fixed slightly in DB Super but I've yet to watch that.

People also seem to think that watching the Japanese dub makes you even more of a weeb than we already are, but like what's wrong with watching shows in their original language?

Jul 20, 2021 12:17 AM

#56

removed-user

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Jul 2018

561864

Dub is trash and the people who watch anime in dub are lazy

Jul 20, 2021 12:25 AM

#57

ksmNA

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Jun 2020

In the end it all comes down to personal preference, but subs are usually better imo because of the JP VAs

Jul 20, 2021 12:27 AM

#58

removed-user

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Jul 2018

561864

Honestly, everyone who argues about them should just shut up.

That being said, I prefer sub only because dub can sometimes straight up ruin my watching experience.

Jul 20, 2021 12:46 AM

#59

Older_than_dirt

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Sep 2016

1481

I agree the argument is dumb.
Both sides of it have their advantages and their drawbacks.

The only reason I see why the argument continues is because it's kinda human nature to want to be on the "winning" side of any conflict (unless you're a masochist), so the diehard "fighters" will never give in or accept a stalemate/truce.

I'm not ashamed to say I personally prefer dub over sub if it is available.
Call me lazy, say I'm not a true anime fan, I don't care.
I'm not watching anime for anyone else, so I don't have to watch it the way they think it should be watched.

Older_than_dirtJul 20, 2021 12:52 AM

You're never too old to watch anime.
If I ever stop watching anime, check my pulse I'm likely dead.

I wake up with coffee & anime, I go to sleep with coffee & anime.

Sorry if my sarcasm is bad, it's not my first language.

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Thoughts on sub vs dub argument

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