NoaIzumiDubbed vs. subbed, the Classic Question
November 10th 2008 17:10
It is the issue that divides anime fans the world over. Should you watch anime in the original Japanese with subtitles, or dubbed into your own language? The answer, in the end, depends on the fan’s personal taste, although there are some general differences between dubbed and subbed anime.
For example, when anime is dubbed into English, the character’s mouths tend to synch with the words better than when it is in the original Japanese. This is usually a surprise to the un-initiated fan (it was to me), and an interesting contrast to dubbing in live-action films. Of course, there are certain exceptions (I’m looking at you, Patlabor series), but this is the general rule.
There are usually some slight differences between the wording of dubbed and subbed versions. This bothers purists, but it allows the dubbing director some creativity, which is often a good thing. Probably the most famous difference between a dubbed line and an original one is seen early in the movie Princess Mononoke:
(The priest Jigo is eating at a stall.)
Japanese: This gruel tastes like hot water.
English: Are you selling soup or donkey piss?
This line is notorious among anime fans because Japan had no donkeys in the time in which the movie is set. The stall-keeper would have had no idea what this priest was talking about! In spite of the goof, however, I’ve always preferred the English line because, with its sarcastic tone, it fits the character a little better.
A similar difference is seen in the Lupin III TV episode, “The Return of Lupin III”
(Jigen is looking at a layout of the cruise ship the group is on, and is very impressed.)
Japanese: This is a moving hotel, or more like a town!
English: This ain’t no boat, it’s Las Vegas with seagulls!
Both lines work, but the dubbed line has a little more edge to it.
Sometimes, a line works because it fits better with the tone of the story. In the episode of the sci-fi series Outlaw Star, “The Strongest Woman in the Universe”, the gang is in the car, on the way to a fighting tournament that Aisha (the tough catgirl) wants very much to compete in.
Japanese: I’m itching to get down to business!
English: Can’t you get this thing to go any faster, Gene? This girl is ready to rumble!
Both lines fit the scene and the character; in fact, the tone of voice in the Japanese version expresses Aisha’s eagerness to a greater degree. But the “ready to rumble” line in the English version is a better fit for the over-all story, since it calls to mind the American phenomenon of pro wrestling, which is sort of what this episode is all about.
Other times, a line just works better for the audience. In an episode of Burst Angel, “Uncharted Cyberspace,” hacker Amy meets an acquaintance, who is psyched about a video game. Amy has a different opinion:
Japanese: You know, you really need to graduate from being a junk-man!
English: Time to leave your mom’s basement, dude. Nobody plays that kind of junk anymore!
Both lines express Amy’s attitude perfectly, but the “guy who lives in his mom’s basement” is more immediately recognizable to English-speaking audiences than the Japanese term “junk-man”. BTW, the dubbed line is my absolute favorite of the whole series. You tell him, Amy!
Of course, this can cut both ways. Check out the following exchange between Kanuka Clancy and a customs official when she returns to Japan to help out the Patlabor team in Patlabor: The Movie:
Japanese:
Customs official: Here for business or pleasure?
Kanuka: (taking off her sunglasses) Combat.
English dub:
Customs inspector: Pleasure or business?
Kanuka: Business.
Inspector: What’s your occupation?
Kanuka: (taking off her sunglasses) Labor pilot
This time, it’s the Japanese version that has the edge. Interestingly, the dubbing in the newer Collector’s Edition has been changed to correspond with the subtitled version, including the “Combat” line.
Of course, if you’re studying Japanese, or just want to pick up a few phrases, then subbed is the way to go. It doesn’t even need to be said that anime is great practice.
As for the voices, there’s no hard and fast rule as to whether the Japanese or English voices work better for the characters. Animes from ADV Films tend to be good in English, thanks to good voice actors and an excellent dubbing director. You’re Under Arrest works equally well in either English or Japanese. Patlabor and Karin, on the other hand, are probably best kept in the original Japanese; personally, I find the English voices in those animes annoying. Of course, that’s even more subject to personal taste than the whole “dubbed vs. subbed” question.
Fortunately, the question is not as critical as it once was. When buying or renting anime, you don’t have to choose between them; thanks to DVDs, you can have both. My advice is to take advantage of the opportunity. If you’ve seen an anime in dubbed version and want to see it again, watch it in subbed form this time around. You’ll brush up on your Japanese and see your favorite anime in a slightly different way (sometimes the background music is different, too). If you’re seeing an anime series for the first time, try alternating languages for the first few episodes so you can decide which voices sound better. Even if you’ve already made up your mind on this question, you might be pleasantly surprised.
For example, when anime is dubbed into English, the character’s mouths tend to synch with the words better than when it is in the original Japanese. This is usually a surprise to the un-initiated fan (it was to me), and an interesting contrast to dubbing in live-action films. Of course, there are certain exceptions (I’m looking at you, Patlabor series), but this is the general rule.
There are usually some slight differences between the wording of dubbed and subbed versions. This bothers purists, but it allows the dubbing director some creativity, which is often a good thing. Probably the most famous difference between a dubbed line and an original one is seen early in the movie Princess Mononoke:
(The priest Jigo is eating at a stall.)
Japanese: This gruel tastes like hot water.
English: Are you selling soup or donkey piss?
This line is notorious among anime fans because Japan had no donkeys in the time in which the movie is set. The stall-keeper would have had no idea what this priest was talking about! In spite of the goof, however, I’ve always preferred the English line because, with its sarcastic tone, it fits the character a little better.
A similar difference is seen in the Lupin III TV episode, “The Return of Lupin III”
(Jigen is looking at a layout of the cruise ship the group is on, and is very impressed.)
Japanese: This is a moving hotel, or more like a town!
Both lines work, but the dubbed line has a little more edge to it.
Sometimes, a line works because it fits better with the tone of the story. In the episode of the sci-fi series Outlaw Star, “The Strongest Woman in the Universe”, the gang is in the car, on the way to a fighting tournament that Aisha (the tough catgirl) wants very much to compete in.
Japanese: I’m itching to get down to business!
English: Can’t you get this thing to go any faster, Gene? This girl is ready to rumble!
Both lines fit the scene and the character; in fact, the tone of voice in the Japanese version expresses Aisha’s eagerness to a greater degree. But the “ready to rumble” line in the English version is a better fit for the over-all story, since it calls to mind the American phenomenon of pro wrestling, which is sort of what this episode is all about.
Other times, a line just works better for the audience. In an episode of Burst Angel, “Uncharted Cyberspace,” hacker Amy meets an acquaintance, who is psyched about a video game. Amy has a different opinion:
Japanese: You know, you really need to graduate from being a junk-man!
English: Time to leave your mom’s basement, dude. Nobody plays that kind of junk anymore!
Both lines express Amy’s attitude perfectly, but the “guy who lives in his mom’s basement” is more immediately recognizable to English-speaking audiences than the Japanese term “junk-man”. BTW, the dubbed line is my absolute favorite of the whole series. You tell him, Amy!
Of course, this can cut both ways. Check out the following exchange between Kanuka Clancy and a customs official when she returns to Japan to help out the Patlabor team in Patlabor: The Movie:
Japanese:
Customs official: Here for business or pleasure?
Kanuka: (taking off her sunglasses) Combat.
English dub:
Customs inspector: Pleasure or business?
Kanuka: Business.
Inspector: What’s your occupation?
Kanuka: (taking off her sunglasses) Labor pilot
This time, it’s the Japanese version that has the edge. Interestingly, the dubbing in the newer Collector’s Edition has been changed to correspond with the subtitled version, including the “Combat” line.
Of course, if you’re studying Japanese, or just want to pick up a few phrases, then subbed is the way to go. It doesn’t even need to be said that anime is great practice.
As for the voices, there’s no hard and fast rule as to whether the Japanese or English voices work better for the characters. Animes from ADV Films tend to be good in English, thanks to good voice actors and an excellent dubbing director. You’re Under Arrest works equally well in either English or Japanese. Patlabor and Karin, on the other hand, are probably best kept in the original Japanese; personally, I find the English voices in those animes annoying. Of course, that’s even more subject to personal taste than the whole “dubbed vs. subbed” question.
Fortunately, the question is not as critical as it once was. When buying or renting anime, you don’t have to choose between them; thanks to DVDs, you can have both. My advice is to take advantage of the opportunity. If you’ve seen an anime in dubbed version and want to see it again, watch it in subbed form this time around. You’ll brush up on your Japanese and see your favorite anime in a slightly different way (sometimes the background music is different, too). If you’re seeing an anime series for the first time, try alternating languages for the first few episodes so you can decide which voices sound better. Even if you’ve already made up your mind on this question, you might be pleasantly surprised.
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