Why does nobody talk about how subbed anime and dubbed anime have totally different pacing?

I noticed this when I watched Attack on Titan season 2 with subs first, then checked the dub version - whole scenes felt like they dragged because the voice acting had to match lip flaps differently. The translators are clearly making choices that change how fast characters talk, which messes with the tension in big moments. Am I the only one who thinks subs and dubs aren't even the same show sometimes?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly_coleman611mo ago

You're totally right about the "different energy" thing @price.jake. I had the exact same experience with AOT actually. When I watched that big basement reveal scene in subbed, Eren's voice cracked and he was practically sobbing through his words, it felt so urgent and raw. Then I checked the dub later and it was like he was reading a grocery list, way too slow and calm. It really changes how you feel about the whole moment. I mean, the translators have to work with lip flaps and that just messes up the pacing completely. It's crazy how something as simple as speed of delivery can make or break a scene's impact.

price.jake1mo ago

Subbed Eren talks at a mile a minute and dubbed sounds like he's reading a slow script. It's a totally different energy in the big reveals.