Subbed, dubbed, or original?

[Moonlight Flower]

I really preffer subbed, but I do watch dubs frequently on YTV. (Gundam SEED, Witch Hunter Robin and Inuyasha. From what I've seen of the originals, the dubs shown on YTV are some of the best I've seen.)
So long as the voice-acting isn't too terrible and they don't cut out everything left and right, I really don't care if it's dubbed. ^_^

[GrandRetour]

If I knew other languages, I'd go for original. Otherwise, I much more appreciate subbed. There's just something about English speaking voices with anime style drawing that's creepy. ;

[Scholastic]

I'd go with original with English text. :P

[ProfessorRemusMoonyLupin]

Subbed!! D'uh.

The only time I watch dub is on TV. And my Hellsing DVDs occasionally, but not on my fave ep because of that one character...

Hellsing and Fruits Basket are the only good dubs I own, but I still prefer the sub.

Watch sub, the Otaku choice!! *thumbs-up pose*

[robot]

I think that watching nothing but subtitled anime can distract the viewer from seeing the anime the way it was meant to be seen. I prefer watching shows in their dubbed forms first and then going back and seeing the sub or vice versa depending on the circumstances.

[Jasujo]

I think that watching nothing but subtitled anime can distract the viewer from seeing the anime the way it was meant to be seen. I prefer watching shows in their dubbed forms first and then going back and seeing the sub or vice versa depending on the circumstances.

I agree with that. I find that when I watch subbed anime, I'm much more concerned with trying to read the words than see the art. As someone who greatly appreciates art, it troubles me because I can't catch every bit of it. When I watch something dubbed, I can just let my ears catch the dialogue while my eyes take in everything visual. It's much easier to absorb fully that way (in my opinion). After I've seen it once, if I can find the time, I'll watch it subbed to catch a more actual version of what the dialogue should have been.

[Atamand]

Most of the dubs I've seen were horrible, so I prefer subtitles.

[dante32286]

I watch mainly subbed, although some dubs (Cowboy Bebop, .HACK//SIGN) are quite good.

However, I've been watching a lot of RAW anime with my brother (stuff like FullMetal Alchemist, Samurai Champloo, and Midori no Hibi, TEXNOLYZE, Gundam Seed 3-disc special edition, Seed Destiny, etc.).

Yes, I know that FullMetal and Champloo have been licensed, and the first DVD volumes of both are already out, I just ordered them not too long ago.

[Koku]

Subbed, because most of the anime I watch is only availiable subbed, so I've grown used to it and now whenever I hear dubbed anime it just doesn't sound right. If I was fluent in Japanese it'd be great to watch it raw, though.

[Cyanna]

I think that watching nothing but subtitled anime can distract the viewer from seeing the anime the way it was meant to be seen. I prefer watching shows in their dubbed forms first and then going back and seeing the sub or vice versa depending on the circumstances.

I agree with that. I find that when I watch subbed anime, I'm much more concerned with trying to read the words than see the art. As someone who greatly appreciates art, it troubles me because I can't catch every bit of it. When I watch something dubbed, I can just let my ears catch the dialogue while my eyes take in everything visual. It's much easier to absorb fully that way (in my opinion). After I've seen it once, if I can find the time, I'll watch it subbed to catch a more actual version of what the dialogue should have been.

I agree with that wholeheartedly but I have other reasons as well.

Take Kaworu Nagisa from Evangelion for example. The guy only appears in one episode so there isn't a lot of time to create a big complex multi-dimensional character out of him. Basically his personality just reeks of a calm attitude and not much else. He hardly raises his voice...ever.

Now I can speak a lick of Japanese. I don't have a grasp on word inflections. Things that I read as questions don't sound like questions to me because my ear is conditioned for English. Japanese Kaworu sounds totally static to me. Just...calm...all the time. I can sense "happy calm" and some "sad calm" but that's about it. I think that works for his character since he is rather mysterious but still static all the same.

English Kaworu is another story. Not only do I understand the vocabulary but also the way it's being said. To me, not only does English Kaworu sound "happy calm" and "sad calm" but also "confused calm", "arrogant calm", "confident calm", "enlightened calm", "suprised calm"...basically it's a great example of how you can convey an emotion without changing your volume. And it's not as if these emotions are totally out of place. It may be another interpretation of how the character is but it's not a far fetched concept. I think it makes the character more interesting.

I'm not saying that the Japanese are uncapable of voicing their characters like that at all. I'm sure that Akira Ishida can voice as many emotions and still sound calm and composed. So even though I prefer the sound of Ishida's voice over Kyle Sturdivant's...a lot those emotions are totally lost to me because I just don't understand Japanese. Even a bad dub can be helpful...at least to me.

Also...when I watch anything on screen, usually I'm doing something else (like cross-stitching or something else with my hands). You can't read subs and look at your work at the same time.

[tomatie]

I watch dubbed anime because that's the only kind I can watch in Holland.
Most anime are in Dutch, except from Gundam Wing and Cyborg 009 (which are in English). I like the Dutch dubs better, even though the voices are always the same

[Combat_Boot]

Subbed. Way subbed. I hate most dubs, and I can't understand originals, so... Subbing is best.