This is opinion is so popular it supports the entire dubbing industry.
this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2024
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Unpopular Opinion
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Whenever I see someone complaining about subtitles, I assume they didn’t learn to read very well
I want to be able to do other things while watching, or if I sit down to watch exclusively reading the subs means I don't pay as much attention to the animation. That said, if it's a show I want to watch, I don't mind subs, it's just not what I prefer. What I really dislike is subs on stuff in my language, they're distracting for no reason and just annoy me. I read a lot in school instead of having friends (unfortunately), so not a bad at reading issue.
“I prefer x to y” has a much different meaning to “x is better than y”
I would prefer dubs but subs to me do not detract from the show at all
I can watch details of a show and take in more of its meaning when I don't have to stare at the bottom of the screen and see the rest with periferials. Subtitles were likely better on TVs 32" and smaller. A 55+" TV and you really are missing a lot of the effort put into the film/animation if you are stuck having your focus shift to the bottom of the screen (not where the film makers wanted your eyes resting/darting)
The complaint is the way people act about it. Which you're kind of acting like now.
Skill issue
Actual unpopular opinion, let's goo
Disagree.
I agree that subs take more attention. In practice, all that really means for my viewing habits is that I multitask less when watching something with subs. Not strictly speaking a downside in my book. (Just a difference.)
But dubs tend to lose so much "in translation". The characters all end up sounding so different. So much of the emotion and inflection in the original voice is lost in the process. And replaced with more western ways of emoting that don't fit well with the work.
And god can it be annoying when a character had a "catchphrase". Much more so than with the sub.
I'm honestly not sure to what extent these issues could be addressed with "better" dubs. Dubs just so universally come across as "silly-sounding" it may not be possible to make dubs not sound ridiculous. Or maybe if the dubs industry worked differently, we could get some actually good dubs.
P.S. Why is OP getting downvoted?
I started using subs because I had no choice (other than wait for dubs to exist, and then find the place that has it). And after getting a bit used to subs I was surprised to come across some dubbed content but when I tried to hear it I was kinda horrified with the change in the voices from the original characters to the dubbed ones that I just couldn't enjoy it. After this happening on more occasions I started distancing more and more from dubs. Also it becomes clear that there are jokes based on word plays that can't be translated.
Yes! I loved some of Kaio-Sama's jokes in DBZ. Probably the first word play I ever understood in Japanese was his joke about eating asparagus for breakfast.
The Japanese term for "breakfast" is pronounced "asagohan." ("Asa" on its own means "morning".) And the Japanese pronunciation of "asparagus" is roughly "asuparagasu." So the joke was "What's the best vegetable to eat for breakfast? 'Asaparagusu!'" (I think Kaio-Sama's joke adjusted that "u" sound to an "a" sound on purpose to drive the joke home a little better.)
I definitely prefer subs because it helps me learn the language (or at least the gist of it). I learned more Spanish watching narco-novelas with subs than I learned in two semesters of Spanish class. lol
Yeah I feel like the quality of dubs is really lacking for some shows. For example, I can't watch any Netflix dubs anymore. They do an ok job but it seems like they use the same 5 voice actors for every show, and I end up recognizing them. It's weird hearing a voice and matching it to a big Russian dude in one show and then a Korean guy in another. For that matter, they don't do accents or hardly any emotion in the lines. It's like having my dad read the dialog for me; it'll never be as good as the original vice actors. There's also the additional issue with live action dubs where the audio doesn't match the lips. It just ruins the immersion and is really distracting.
Subtitles become less of an issue if you read faster. Don't try to read it in time with the voices, read faster then spend the extra time watching the visuals.
I watch anime for the animation, so if I'm reading the whole time it makes it difficult to fully appreciate it.
A lot of dubs suck but FLCL for example has a dub that even the creator thought was better than the original.
I watch it for the story. Miyazaki's stuff is incredible
Downvoted because I agree. I type at a computer all day. When I get off, the last thing my tired brain wants to do is read more. I know - I'm lazy, but I'm TIRED.
You and OP are absolute monsters!
Disagree, dubs totally kill the personal expression of an actor and disturb the cultural setting of a story.
Bad dubs do, good dubs don't. Reference silent films with voice actors. They are dubbing the film. They also enhance many films.
Yes but you are pointing out the exceptions.
Are you sure it is not you who are pointing out exceptions? It is all opinion
You do what you prefer, I will keep watching with subtitles in the meantime :)
I switch back and forth depending on the movie/show. Both can be good. Enjoy!
Enjoy!
You too!
Oh God....I think I'm gonna be sick 🤢
I'm sorry for making you feel this way, FeetInMashedPotatoes
I preferrer subs because I want the authentic performance of the original actors. Fuck a low-rent interpretation of them.
However, going further: my partner is ESL (English as second lang), so we watch everything with subs because she can't interpret all accents. After a year of doing this, I've found that I (English first) catch things that I would have missed. Modern sound mixing obscures too much dialog with background music, sound effects, and sound design.
I think that’s valid. It does affect immersion I think. On the other hand, I find that dubs can take out some immersion for me too cuz it often just sounds like voice actors voice acting instead of a character speaking. Also I just started learning Japanese and it’s fun to say phrases I’ve heard before.
Depends on the quality of said dub.
I've been watching Frieren: Beyond Journey's End recently, and that show has an excellent English dub, to the point where I'm going back and rewatching episodes I've already seen just to see it with the dub, because it's really, really good.
But these are the exception, and not the rule. On the rare occasions I do watch anime, I typically watch it subbed, because most dubs are just...bad.
Anyone got any good Mandarin dubs of any good shows? Because I really don't.
I don't have a problem with subtitles but I prefer dubs for animated media. I'm with you on live action tho. I find the voices not syncing with the actors' lips is too distracting. I would rather read subtitles in that case.