Why do more people like Dubs than Subs?

Visual Novel Community Archive, 2000-2009
#1

Started thinking about this after someone mentioned in the demosiac thread that dubs are more popular than subs…

I mean, frankly only out of curiousity, I cannt comprehend why anyone would prfer dubs where the language usually does not fit the style of the movie or game. For eg, why would anyone watch dub anime/hentai or prefer to have voices in the games dubbed - it just seems so…unnatrual ^^;

Not only Japanese in this case, I have watched some Polish & French movies before and never enetertained the option of switching the the English stream in the DVD.

The (confused) Angry Gamer

#2

I personally don’t understand either…I pretty much hate dubs…maybe someone can enlighten us with something

#3

Because the dubbed voices are done by porn stars?

#4

i dont like dubs… when i watch a movie or show i want to see it in the language it was originally made in (of course with subs since english is the only language i know) (and i only know bad english at that…)

I not saying that the dub actors do a bad job, i simple havnt heard enough to really know any better. Watched 2 seasons of Ranma 1/2 dubbed… thats about it though… heh

Like i said, i want to see it with the original voices, simple as that.

#5

It has been my personal experience talking to the average American that it comes down to ease. It is less work to listen to a dub than to read a sub. Also reading the subs takes some of your attention away from the show.

#6

I guess it’s true that it’s less work, but it just sound weird…it’s so…"un-japanese"

are people actually willing to sacrifice voice quality over “ease of watching”?

#7

A lot of people think that subtitles detract from the action onscreen. Subtitled films have never been overly popular with the mainstream, and the bulk of anime in the US and probably worldwide is consumed by “casual” fans - those who walk into a video store and make an impulse purchase. But it’s not just the casual buyer that prefer dubs, many knowledgable anime fans do aswell - the English Track forum over at AnimeOnDVD is testament to that. Subtitled VHS was dying a lonely death in the late 1990’s and if it wasn’t for DVD…well, who knows?

I prefer subtitles myself but it could be argued that the Japanese didn’t watch their anime with words along the bottom of the screen

#8
quote:
Originally posted by gaogao:
Because the dubbed voices are done by porn stars?

Hey, that's only Nutech's trademark (AFAIK)!

#9
quote:
Originally posted by Interzone:
I prefer subtitles myself but it could be argued that the Japanese didn't watch their anime with words along the bottom of the screen [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

Well, at least the deaf japanese people would do something like that, I suppose.

#10

I prefer Subs, although there are exceptions.

I thought the You’re Under Arrest dub was Exceptional,as was the first two seasons of Star Blazers. (Isacandar and Comet Empire)

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“His last thought is wry, Not bad for a dead man.” Moon Knight vol.1, #1 (1980)

#11

I too prefer subtitled animes. Many anime shows i saw the dub really sucks, but sometimes there are really good dub animes.

Anyway, i think we can “feel” better an anime show if we listen the characters with their original voices… feel their emotions. When creating an anime, the original ‘Seiyuus’ - wisely selected - must to put feelings in their works because it’s an important part of the anime itself.

In dubbing anime they don’t have such feelings. Many times are not selected the best suitable voice to each character.
Porno actress too, are not selected by emotions other than libido and sexy voice.

#12

I prefer subtitles myself, but I’ve been watching subtitles movies and shows for years. I didn’t even understand the general “badly dubbed kung-fu movie” cliche till about 5th grade, because I’d never seen a dubbed one till then, only subtitled ones.

I think American-dubs are getting better. I still don’t think they have it down quite pat yet, but I can think of a few titles where I felt dubbing was done well. And sometimes, the dubs can be especially preferred if there’s a lot of translated background text like in Kare Kano. (My friend was driving me nuts be reversing back to catch a subtitles he missed…)

#13

I think this question would fit better in OT now that we got an OT forum, but I’m game. Here are some of the reasons that I have heard in the dub vs sub wars. One of the major things is that people are too lazy to read the subtitles. Other’s claim that the subtitles blocks out the bottom portion of the screen so they could be missing something. Some people also seems more confortable listening to english voices.
Personally I’d rather watch shows subbed unless it’s on tv or there’s only the dub ie robotech. I admit I’m in the minority as my cousins and most of my friends perfer dubs. Which is why I love my dvds so much because I can have both the subs and dubs.

#14

I like both Dubs and Subs but I usually watch Dubs first then watch Subs

#15

I’m not sure about other foreign movies, but I think I’m begining to see some light in the case of anime / bishoujo games. After going around asking from people I know who watch anime & ppl who actually frequent this board.

Findings:
People who regualarly watch fansub anime (I don’t mean rabid fans) or play BGames seem to prefer subs while casual watchers/gamers seem to prefer Dubs.

Might it be because we tend to associate anime drawings/characters with high pitch voices esp. the moans & groans in hentai which English dubs (usually slutty and coarse) are sorely lacking? I mean the casual hobbyist does not draw this association whcih is prehaps why he/she may find it perfectly fine to consider ease of watching as they are indifferent to this.

What do you folks think?

#16

Ya I agree with angry gamer to some extent. It may also be the case that “casual watchers/gamers” have never watched any original japanese voiced animes and they have no idea how Japanese voices sound in an anime…

sorry, stayed up all night so I don’t know if I am making any sense right now

#17
quote:
Originally posted by Lamuness:
sorry, stayed up all night so I don't know if I am making any sense right now

By now you should know that some of us don't even make sense when we have enough sleep... [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

Hmm, not sure how to word this myself. While you do have somewhat of a point about the pitch of the voice, I don't think it's because of the association those more familiar with the genre have with it. Sometimes, the dubbed voice pitch just doesn't match the perceived ages of the characters. I'm trying to remember what series it was but a friend had asked me how old the characters in it were supposed to be. I mentioned that they were in high school. She had thought they were in college because the voices sounded too "mature" to her. Conversely, the dubbed voice of Hibiki in Strawberry Eggs, both the male and female voices, sounded appropriate to me for a character in their twenties.

#18
quote:
Originally posted by ekylo:
I'm trying to remember what series it was but a friend had asked me how old the characters in it were supposed to be. I mentioned that they were in high school. She had thought they were in college because the voices sounded too "mature" to her

Probably not who you're referring to, but the English dub voice of Souchiro Arima from Kare Kano (His & Her Curcumstances) made the character sound as though he was in his thirties. I mean, I know the character has issues and all, but c'mon...

I don't think young characters are the fortÈ of American voice actors - they seem to overplay the part in an attempt to capture that Japanese essence. Female actors have an especially tough time trying to reach that high pitch and end up screeching horrendously. Both dub actresses who played Excel of Excel Saga are examples of this. English VA's seem far more adept at shows that feature adult characters, such as Cowboy Bebop and Patlabor WXIII.

The dubs produced by one US company in particular - which shall remain un-named (though a hint is in the above paragraph) - are highly overrated in my opinion; I see topics at certain forums saying "[insert female VA] is soooo hot!", which is then followed up by equally nauseating bullcrap from other posters. The company whom these overrated actresses work for then basically has a license to make celebrities out of them. I don't know why but it irks me greatly [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/mad.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by Interzone (edited 10-02-2003).]

#19

Can only speak for myself…

But with subs, I always feel like I’m missing some of the action, and quite frequently end up missing dialog… and heck, I may as well read a book with pictures.

With dubs, well… even if the voice acting is bad, at least I’m getting the dialog.

#20

I remember there was a psychology study on reading closed captions on the screen, and cultures that use pictographs consistently outperform cultures that use roman alphabets when it comes to following dialogues. In part that’s one of the reason why people favor dubs over subs I believe.