First off, I suggest that you all read this:

http://animenewsnetwork.com/columns/DubTrack.php?discuss=11

Now, for my rant.

Before I really get going, I want to tell you all that I'm not trying to convince you all to love dubs, nor am I trying to convince you that all dubs are good. I'm trying to convince you guys to give dubs a fair chance.

Why? Because, quite frankly, I'm sick of the subtitle elitists. They think that their fan-made subs are always superior to the official dubs. While I will admit there have been very tragic dubs, such as One Piece, most dubs are passable.

One thing you have to understand about dubs, is that they are dubbed by different companies. That being said, different companies have varying degrees of how well they dub it. 4Kids dubs are tragic. FUNimation's are generally good.

Another thing you should know about is censorship. When you watch a dub on TV, it might be different from a DVD dub. This is because the FCC forces the channel to cut out particularly violent scenes or strong language. You can't blame the company or the dub for this. Blame the FCC.

Fansubs aren't always accurate either. I've seen many a tragic FMA sub. Some people don't know much Japanese, but as long as they use Japanese material, people will download it, even if the translation is nothing but crap. Another thing about fansubs: if you don't like the dub, buy the DVD. They have Japanese tracks. You're not supporting the anime you claim to love. You're just not wanting to pay for it. I'm not looking down on people who download fansubs, I'm just telling them that they have no right to claim that they're better fans than those who watch a dub.

Finally, give each dub a chance. Don't go around saying "All dubs suck." Because it varies greatly. Doing so is ignorant.

My two cents.

Well, I for one don't have anything against English dubs, i give them a try when i have friends that come over to my place and are too lazy to read subtitles. The sad part of dubs is that some of them are bad because the voices that they used don't fit the character. But there's hope, the quality of English Dubbed animes are now improving. One good example of an excellent English Dubbed Anime for me is Cowboy Bebop the Movie. I just wish that all dubbed animes will be like that.
Anyway, the only thing that annoys me is that some subs are not accurate, for anime fans that understand the Japanese language like me, it really grates on us that some subs should have been better.

I'm okay with dubs ^-^ In fact, I prefer the dubs in some cases and I can't decide if dub or sub is better in some cases. For example...I like the dubbed versions of Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin more than the subbed...I especially can't stand the YYH Japanese voices...too weird. I suppose it depends which one you watched first, but...I found myself liking the FMA dubbed a lot even though I watched the subbed first (can't decide which one is better...I think I like them equally). I think overall, I prefer the dubs because they are easily accessible (at least the ones on CN), but then again, the subs force me to read and think (which is good). Oh darn it! I can't choose...either way---I think people should give dubs a chance because those people work hard to make the anime as enjoyable as they can for those non-Japanese people and new anime fans...I mean, it's not like some person who has never heard of anime before suddenly looks it up...I got introduced into anime through dubs.

I've seen a few decent dubs, recently Nausicaa. I don't automatically dismiss a dubbed anime.

I seen good dubs so i am not complaining. But fansubs are good too. On the basis that not the subtitles are that fantastic, rather that if it is a decent fansub what we want are originality. To hear the actual voice actors and the japanese language itself, thats what most people are after maybe.

I like a good dub, ususally better when I haven't been following a fansubbed version of the anime beforehand. Yu Yu Hakusho and Cowboy Bebop (and a few others I fail to remember at the moment) are good examples for me.

If I have been following a fansubbed version, I usually give myself a few weeks of complaining. Once that's out of my system, I can enjoy the anime to the fullest in a language I actually understand.

There is nothing wrong with dubs as long as they are good....lol...I've seem some where the guy/girl is just reading the script and that flushed away all the interest outta me....>_<....there is nothing wrong with dubs.....I think....

I watch most of my anime dubbed and subbed. I love a lot of dubs and have notice the recent improvement in dubs in the past couple of years. I think some dubs rival the subs, but that is just my opinion.

I just say watch it the way you want to and who cares what others think. It's about what you enjoy. Though some people on either side of the argument make it seem like you've killed their dog when you disagree with them XP

I lkke both dubs and subs and like voices in both. so I actually like dubs.

I once had a e-mail sent to me telling me if I watch dubbed then I was not a true anime fan and I'll be hunted down blah blah blah, WTF, why should anyone care how another views anime (and who decides the defenition of a fan). Also if I wanted to read I'd go get the Manga or read a comicbook/book. If I understood Japanese I'd be watching in original Japanese, and that'd be cool, but till such a time it's dubbed for me (admittedly I flip the subs on occasionally to see if there is a difference in translation). Ah, venting done.

I watch all entertainment--film, animation and otherwise--in the language in which it was originally presented. To me, watching a foreign dub is like watching Godzilla in English, or The Godfather in French. It has nothing to do with quality, it's about preserving the original experience by the director. I know a few anime that were dubbed into English first and Japanese second, like Tenchi Muyo! In Love 2, or Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, but I admit some bias here and prefer to listen to these movies in the language of their native country, in this case Japanese.

Im in agreeance with SierriusBlack, I have seen a couple that were really pretty good even after watchin the sub version. Like Ranma 1/2 from viz.

yeah... i really don't bother giving dubs a fair chance. but i swear it's only because the dubs on tv (for kids) are usually terrible. (kenshin... argh...) but many of the dvd ones are really good.

OK about Ranma 1/2 as a dub I like it too. Up untill they (VIS) switched voice actors. I realize dub companies only keep so many voice actors on staff, but how many times are Richard Cox and the voice of Roger Smith/Spike Spegal going to be on EVERY U.S. anime releace? Dub's CAN be tollerable but who's in charge here? Even Disney(Miyazaki Hoarding... Don't get me started there) mixes it up mostly. Pardoning Suzan Egan in both Spirited Away and Porko Roso. I don't mind either but please no more of the same actors in every thing.... OK I'm breathing normally now.

Only some animes have horrible dubs, the others I dont mind. Dubs are ok in my book. Why? Because thats probably one of the best influences for others to watch anime.

I believe dubbed anime are as equal as subtitle anime. Probably a little better but still their both even. The point is that you should enjoy and watch anime as long you can understand the anime no matter how bad the dubbing is or how annoying subtitle are.

I'm alright with dubs, I don't entirely hate them but I surely don't like them either, cause the dub alone, with a few editing and cut scenes from the original anime, does take away the authenticity of them all (Damn FCC) I do like watching anime in both Japanese and English, but translated anime does need to get back on the ball with voice characters actually suiting the personality of that character. I'm not saying that it's all bad but, prolly around...55-45.

In short I'll try anything once, especially dubs and if it's good, I'll keep watching it, otherwise I won't even bother.

hum... people say they are better fans coz' they watch subs rather than dubs? o_O wow... i never implied that, though i do watch more fansubs, coz i can't afford to buy all the anime i want especially not right now, i'm jobless but i'm studying and i have to pay for an appartment and so on... and i no longer have any English channels that present anime (or French ones for that matter)

well, i personnally don't like most dubs... but it's really coz' most of the time i actually heard the Japanese track... i guess it's just coz' the English sounds really weird in my ears (especially because they give Japanese names an English twist, hate that ) when i know what it sounds like in Japanese i also don't like the fact they have to cut scenes when the show goes on tv, that's really annoying, and i think it goes against the whole point of the anime... i'm mostly thinking about Escaflowne, when i was shocked to find out they had also reversed some episodes (1st one became the last, and so on...)

I'm not saying fansubs are better, but at least, if i'm not sure about a certain point, i can always get my Japanese dictionary out and check it out for myself... and then get mad at the subs

You can see a perfect Example of a good Dub in Rurouni Kenshins OVAs Trust and Betrayal.. y peronally loved this Dub, Dont know how they managed to find such good voice for Kenshin.. it matches him perfectly.. The other voices are excellent too.. well Itekimasu..

Some dubs are good. Sometimes the American voice actors can capture the personality of that character better. I really liked the Cowboy Bebop dub. Interestingly enough, I could hate a dub on a specific anime, but after a while get used to it and not even mind it. Inuyasha was one such anime; I got used to watching it dubbed on tv and now watchign a fansub feels wierd at first.

I don't necessarily like dubs, just because usually they are sooo horrible. But usually i tend to give them a chance. Samurai Champloo was the best dubbed I've ever seen though. All the others are "EH..."

Although, I hafta admit, they hecka screwed up One Piece. Still though, the good ones are in Japanese. If they want people to like dubbed, make it better!

For me, I dont hate dubs as long as they are bearable. Cowboy Bebop has exceptional dubs and i will admit that not all dubs are bad. Dubs such as one piece, as you already stated is a great misfortune. I do agree with the fact that if people dont like the dub, they can buy the dvd and switch to the original japanese audio. Overall, complaining about the dubs doesnt serve much purpose as people are getting overly angery at something that has a simple solution. Why get angry at something you love?

Ah yes, the traditional dubs and subs topic. Seen a lot of these. I for one don't have anything against dubs until I here them. Then I judge. Most of the time in my case however, the dubs were pretty horrible. I usually prefer the subtitles because I'm used to subs already and I'm used to jab dubs anyway. I've seen a lot of animes that have been poorly dubbed in english and i'm sorry, but I can't really take that. So I donn't really hate dubs unless they are that horrible. There are a few animes with exceptional eng dubs.

Quote by thoraduumI realize dub companies only keep so many voice actors on staff, but how many times are Richard Cox and the voice of Roger Smith/Spike Spegal going to be on EVERY U.S. anime releace? Dub's CAN be tollerable but who's in charge here? Even Disney(Miyazaki Hoarding... Don't get me started there) mixes it up mostly. Pardoning Suzan Egan in both Spirited Away and Porko Roso. I don't mind either but please no more of the same actors in every thing....

that reminds me, dub companies should hire more voice actors/actresses on their staff. it's as if they're the only voice talent that they use for every anime release.