Dubbed Audio or Subtitles

Howard the Duck · 12-09-2011, 11:02 AM

After watching numerous foreign movies and Jap cartoons, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer the media to be in their original voice acting, even if I don't understand the language.

Dubbing just feels wrong, somewhat. Unless it's unintentionally hilarious or departs from the original dailogue, like that Woody Allen dub - Tiger Lily what what what

So what say you, MB?

**Janszoon** · 12-09-2011, 11:09 AM

I agree with you. It's very hard for me to take a dubbed movie seriously, which maybe isn't so big a deal for some action movies, but for anything else it can really kill the experience.

bob. · 12-09-2011, 12:00 PM

Godzilla movies are the only movies i feel are better dubbed

LoathsomePete · 12-09-2011, 12:04 PM

Very very rarely do I ever watch something with dubbed voices, in fact I can't really think of an example of when I would, except like bob said, when it's done for humor. I don't mind reading subtitles, I don't find it distracts me too much from the movie, in fact I think I actually follow the movie better when I'm forced to read along as well. If an anime has hired professional English voice actors like in Cowboy Bebop I'll watch them, but I don't really know if that's dubbing or a minor re imagining.

MoonlitSunshine · 12-09-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Very very rarely do I ever watch something with dubbed voices, in fact I can't really think of an example of when I would, except like bob said, when it's done for humor. I don't mind reading subtitles, I don't find it distracts me too much from the movie, in fact I think I actually follow the movie better when I'm forced to read along as well. If an anime has hired professional English voice actors like in Cowboy Bebop I'll watch them, but I don't really know if that's dubbing or a minor re imagining.

Interestingly, Cowboy Bebop is the only thing that comes to mind where I prefer the Dubbed to the Subbed. I think you're right with the professional actor lark - a lot of effort obviously went into the dubbing of that, and it's also a more Western concept and feel than a Japanese one, so the Japanese voices sound weird...

I think generally a film or an animation is made for the culture that made it, so the voices that suit best are the voices of that culture... Subbed all the way!

LoathsomePete · 12-09-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonlitSunshine

Interestingly, Cowboy Bebop is the only thing that comes to mind where I prefer the Dubbed to the Subbed. I think you're right with the professional actor lark - a lot of effort obviously went into the dubbing of that, and it's also a more Western concept and feel than a Japanese one, so the Japanese voices sound weird...

I think generally a film or an animation is made for the culture that made it, so the voices that suit best are the voices of that culture... Subbed all the way!

You raise an interesting point that I never thought of, that being that Cowboy Bebop is a more western styled show. I don't know why I never thought about that, I guess because it didn't really feel foreign my mind never made the association. I felt the same with the steam punk anime Steamboy, but I think that's more because it was kind of weird to see a movie set in 19th century England with people speaking Japanese.

If I watch a more Japanese based anime like Slayers or Full Metal Alchemist I'll use the subtitled option because the dubbing just feels off.

Bulldog · 12-09-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

You raise an interesting point that I never thought of, that being that Cowboy Bebop is a more western styled show.

There's that and the fact that the overdubs were done by seasoned, professional voice-actors who know their chops. Talking of anime, off the top of my head the dubbed versions of Akira and Paprika were pretty good too.

All in all dubbing doesn't bother me some of the time, but bad dubbing really takes me out of a movie. As most dubs I've ever heard are pretty awful, I'm a sub kinda guy, especially when it comes to live action movies. I remember seeing the dubbed version of Time Crimes and marveling at how cheesy the voiceovers were when those brain cells should have been figuring out what the hell was going on in the movie.

By the way, if anyone wants to see dubbing at its absolute worst, check out Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio and Garzey's Wing.

Phantom Limb · 12-09-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

You raise an interesting point that I never thought of, that being that Cowboy Bebop is a more western styled show. I don't know why I never thought about that, I guess because it didn't really feel foreign my mind never made the association. I felt the same with the steam punk anime Steamboy, but I think that's more because it was kind of weird to see a movie set in 19th century England with people speaking Japanese.

If I watch a more Japanese based anime like Slayers or Full Metal Alchemist I'll use the subtitled option because the dubbing just feels off.

That's weird, I always thought the dubbing for FMA was really good. In general, i actually think that dubbing in anime is much more watchable than in live action films cause it doesn't look as bad when animated mouths are out of sync.

In anime, I think it's much more important for the voice actors to have charisma and fit with the general vibe of the character than be dubbed correctly. Having both is nice too though.Hayao Miyazaki - IMDb

**Goofle** · 12-09-2011, 12:32 PM

I would say dubbed if they were properly done, but 99% of the time it is awful.

Sometimes I have subtitles and the dub on at the same time to compare. Yes, I am a lunatic.

Phantom Limb · 12-09-2011, 12:57 PM

I think this poll needs the option "Subtitles, unless I plan on falling asleep to the movie".

View Poll Results: Dubbed Audio or Subtitles?
Dubbed Audio	1	6.67%
Subtitles	14	93.33%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

12-09-2011, 11:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I agree with you. It's very hard for me to take a dubbed movie seriously, which maybe isn't so big a deal for some action movies, but for anything else it can really kill the experience. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

12-09-2011, 12:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	Godzilla movies are the only movies i feel are better dubbed __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

12-09-2011, 12:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	Very very rarely do I ever watch something with dubbed voices, in fact I can't really think of an example of when I would, except like bob said, when it's done for humor. I don't mind reading subtitles, I don't find it distracts me too much from the movie, in fact I think I actually follow the movie better when I'm forced to read along as well. If an anime has hired professional English voice actors like in Cowboy Bebop I'll watch them, but I don't really know if that's dubbing or a minor re imagining. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too