Japanese vs. American voice acting

I never got into anime when I was a teenager, because a lot of the English dub versions they play on t.v. here seemed cheesy and lame to me. But then I started watching the subbed Japanese versions of some series on Netflix and Hulu and I really enjoyed them, the stories and characters are deeper than the stuff you find here in the U.S., and I like the Japanese voice acting. Last night I decided to youtube the English dub version of the series I'm watching right now (Naruto Shippuden), and I wasn't impressed. I feel like the Japanese actors do a better job, but I wonder if it just seems better to me because I don't speak the language so I'm not used to hearing and understanding it in a real life setting.

Which do you guys prefer, American or Japanese voice acting?

Anime without seiyuu is plain pointless :P

I always saw it as a cultural matter: in the west animation was generally considered as children entertainment, so I'd guess they didn't take it very seriously or acted in "grotesque" ways to appeal kids...

Hmm... personally I'd say it depends. For shonen series like Naruto, Pokemon and the like, you can generally expect the English dub to be unimpressive or downright crappy.

But for something more seinen-oriented, e.g. Death Note or Code Geass, I personally found the English voice acting to be excellent.

That could be just from my limited viewpoint, though. Rule of thumb is look for the general opinion on the specific show's dub before you decide. If it does the original work justice, I usually go for it. It's just so much easier to understand and get into that way.

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Originally Posted by Tuuvi

the stories and characters are deeper than the stuff you find here in the U.S.

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You're talking about American cartoons, right?

Problem I have with Japanese voice-actors is that I often don't know what emotions the characters have. You have to understand the cultural context I thing. It's not just with voice acting but japanese stuff in general, it often doesn't make sense to me

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Originally Posted by Tuuvi

But then I started watching the subbed Japanese versions of some series on Netflix and Hulu and I really enjoyed them, the stories and characters are deeper than the stuff you find here in the U.S.

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Well that's simply not true.

It is simply because they shouting nonsense in Japanese sounds better than them shouting nonsense in English (where you understand it) as you imagine it to be really awesome things which many fansubbers sometimes write into their subs. (Like one had Naruto using b-words and c-words during fight scenes).

So you have them shouting things like "Baka!" which in translation in the English version is "Dumb-Dumb!". Which sounds less impressive.

All of you speaking only of Naruto must repent watching some quality anime like:

Berserk, Elfen Lied, GTO, Cowboy Bebop, Rurouni Kenshin or Neon Genesis Evangelion (to mention some)...

Anyway as in books or motion pictures, the original version is always better, much is lost in translation, like cultural references or idioms...

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Anyway as in books or motion pictures, the original version is always better, much is lost in translation, like cultural references or idioms...

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You obviously haven't watched the Baccano Dub.

My favorite version of DBZ is Team Four Star's abridged version.

But my favorite animated shows right now give us this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnHGGNEn084

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Originally Posted by Chaotix

Hmm... personally I'd say it depends. For shonen series like Naruto, Pokemon and the like, you can generally expect the English dub to be unimpressive or downright crappy.

But for something more seinen-oriented, e.g. Death Note or Code Geass, I personally found the English voice acting to be excellent.

That could be just from my limited viewpoint, though. Rule of thumb is look for the general opinion on the specific show's dub before you decide. If it does the original work justice, I usually go for it. It's just so much easier to understand and get into that way.

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I'd say this would be the way to go, but to be honest, I would probably go English every time unless it was really, really :daisy:.

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Originally Posted by Fragony

Problem I have with Japanese voice-actors is that I often don't know what emotions the characters have. You have to understand the cultural context I thing. It's not just with voice acting but japanese stuff in general, it often doesn't make sense to me

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I also agree with this. Often I find it much easier to get into a show when its in English rather then Japanese.

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Originally Posted by Arjos

All of you speaking only of Naruto must repent watching some quality anime like:

Berserk, Elfen Lied, GTO, Cowboy Bebop, Rurouni Kenshin or Neon Genesis Evangelion (to mention some)...

Anyway as in books or motion pictures, the original version is always better, much is lost in translation, like cultural references or idioms...

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Cowboy Bebop sounds stupid. Neon Genesis Evangelion I have watched for a bit, I didn't mind the English in it, but then again, that was a while ago.

Death Note had a good English dub as Chaotix mentions.

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Originally Posted by lars573

Well that's simply not true.

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To be honest I don't watch a lot of t.v. so I won't try to defend myself here :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Arjos

All of you speaking only of Naruto must repent watching some quality anime like:

Berserk, Elfen Lied, GTO, Cowboy Bebop, Rurouni Kenshin or Neon Genesis Evangelion (to mention some)...

Anyway as in books or motion pictures, the original version is always better, much is lost in translation, like cultural references or idioms...

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What's wrong with Naruto?

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Originally Posted by Tuuvi

What's wrong with Naruto?

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Nothing, just lots more to watch, out there :)

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Originally Posted by Greyblades

You obviously haven't watched the Baccano Dub.

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I'm not excluding the possibility of a good dubbing, especially with Baccano's setting...
I watched it jap and was well done, gotta check in english...

The only two anime series I ever thought that were far better dubbed than subbed were DBZ (lol) and Cowboy Bebop. The original Japanese voice actors for DBZ sounded ridiuclous, like screaming 12 year olds. The english speaking CB voice actors just sounded much more natural and correct. Everything else that I've heard both dub and sub, the subs are much better.

Edit -

Reign - The Conqueror dubs started out great, then got bad. Apparently this is one of the most notorious examples of what happens during low budget dubs, as the quality went south real fast.

Japanese Voice actors make def cool villains and heroes, S2HTW was a great example!

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Originally Posted by Visorslash

Cowboy Bebop sounds stupid.

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The name sounds stupid, but the show is actually incredible. Nothing to do with cowboys, except that it's sort of a space western.

Hands-down one of the best series of the 90's. I highly recommend it.

Only anime I ever enjoyed watching was Death Note but mostly because of what was going on and whoever came up with it really did a good job building up and keeping tension at a high level throughout the first 'season' (?)

After L died, it was just >_<

Never got into anything else.. it is either too way over the top or childish for my taste. On that note, does anyone know any anime that is like Death Note? =p

Uh, I dont know about ones like them but Fate/zero is pretty awesome.

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Originally Posted by Sp4

Never got into anything else.. it is either too way over the top or childish for my taste. On that note, does anyone know any anime that is like Death Note? =p

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Like I mentioned in the OP I used too feel the same way. I was going to tell you to give it a chance, but I guess if you didn't like the second season of Death Note you probably aren't going to change your mind. Personally I still liked the second season, but it's true it wasn't as good without L. L was awesome lol. One anime I can recommend is Mushi Shi, it's really bizarre and weird in a good way. It's not a drama like Death Note, but it's intended for older audiences so I don't think it would bug you like other anime shows.

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Originally Posted by Tuuvi

One anime I can recommend is Mushi Shi, it's really bizarre and weird in a good way. It's not a drama like Death Note, but it's intended for older audiences so I don't think it would bug you like other anime shows.

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I second that, Mushi Shi is great. Some other more serious/non-childish Anime I can recommend to Sp4 are Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Monster (they're quite long however). Both of these series are often compared to Death Note, but are not really that similar in my opinion. There really aren't any Anime like Death Note :(

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Originally Posted by Sp4

Only anime I ever enjoyed watching was Death Note but mostly because of what was going on and whoever came up with it really did a good job building up and keeping tension at a high level throughout the first 'season' (?)

After L died, it was just >_<

Never got into anything else.. it is either too way over the top or childish for my taste. On that note, does anyone know any anime that is like Death Note? =p

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Try Code Geass. It's like Death Note but with giant battle-mechs. Very high-tension, strategic drama, difficult choices etc. But if you don't like giant mechs... well skip it.

Also be prepared to knash your teeth at who gets the happy ending.

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Originally Posted by Chaotix

Try Code Geass. It's like Death Note but with giant battle-mechs. Very high-tension, strategic drama, difficult choices etc. But if you don't like giant mechs... well skip it.

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Hmm. I dunno. First time I watched Code Geass, I felt very similarly about it. When I watched it again, I couldn't help but notice how over-the-top the show goes, especially once it hits season two. I ended up laughing for like half of it. Mind you, still very enjoyable, but the show got so ridiculous I couldn't take it seriously. I mean, all hail Britannia is honestly one of the funniest things ever if you watch it in Japanese. Charles in general is just a really silly character, from his plots to his even just his character design. Dude lacks a neck.

Death note balanced itself out better, with the exception of that one gambit season 1, the potato chip thing, and the last few episodes.

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Originally Posted by Visorslash

Death Note had a good English dub as Chaotix mentions.

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"I'll solve equations with my right hand and write names with my left! I'll take a potato chip... and EAT IT!" :laugh4:

I've become acquainted with Japanese animated shows over the years due to some ex-partners or friends being fans, but there's very few that I actually like. Aside of Death Note, I would suggest Higashi no Eden and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann; their English dubs aren't too bad, but they lose a certain something in translation, better to stick with subs.

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Originally Posted by Secura

"I'll solve equations with my right hand and write names with my left! I'll take a potato chip... and EAT IT!" :laugh4:

I've become acquainted with Japanese animated shows over the years due to some ex-partners or friends being fans, but there's very few that I actually like. Aside of Death Note, I would suggest Higashi no Eden and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann; their English dubs aren't too bad, but they lose a certain something in translation, better to stick with subs.

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I thought all anime was similar to that. (The stupidity of the potato chip sentence). That's my experience with it. (Every show has stupid parts to it. )

death noto!

If you are interested in thriller, ethics and psychology (Death Note's concept is very unique though), could try Ghost in the Shell...
Especially if you like cyberpunk...

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Originally Posted by Arjos

If you are interested in thriller, ethics and psychology (Death Note's concept is very unique though), could try Ghost in the Shell...
Especially if you like cyberpunk...

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I have watched various episodes of that and I quite enjoyed it. I didn't mind ergo proxy either.

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Originally Posted by Fragony

Problem I have with Japanese voice-actors is that I often don't know what emotions the characters have. You have to understand the cultural context I thing. It's not just with voice acting but japanese stuff in general, it often doesn't make sense to me

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Oh! I feel quite insulted at that remark! Shame on you!






















Actually, I don't give a flying ****. My culture is pretty weird.

An example. This is anime in a nutshell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06o5NbF1n6E