I used to think watching anime with subtitles was the only right way

For years I only watched subbed anime, thinking dubs were always bad. My friend in Chicago kept telling me to try the dub for 'Spy x Family' and I finally gave in last week. I was shocked at how good the English voices were, especially Anya's. The jokes landed better for me because I could watch the animation without reading. It made the show way more fun and relaxing. I still prefer subs for some shows, but now I check out the dub first. It saved me from missing out on a great version. Has anyone else found a specific anime where the dub actually improved the experience for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

marymorgan3mo ago

Hated dubs for the longest time. Thought they all sounded awkward. Gave "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" a shot in English and the voice acting blew me away. The emotion in that dub just hits different, especially for the Elric brothers.

kevin_bailey3mo ago

Totally get where you're coming from. That shift from being a sub-only person to giving dubs a real chance is a big deal. It happened to me with "Cowboy Bebop" years ago, where the English cast just nailed the vibe perfectly. Now I always check both tracks, because some dubs really do add something special. It's a good feeling to not limit yourself like that anymore.

ruby_sanchez451mo ago

I'm not fully on board with that, honestly. I've tried giving dubs a real chance, watched full seasons of stuff like "Attack on Titan" and "Death Note" in English, but they always fall flat for me. There's something about the original Japanese voices that just carry the emotion better, like in "Steins;Gate" where Okabe's manic energy feels way more natural in Japanese. Maybe it's because I got used to subs first, but even the praised dubs like "Cowboy Bebop" sound a bit off to my ears. Do you ever feel like you're missing out on the original acting choices when you watch dubs?