Since I didn’t really have much to say today, I thought I’d get my friend, Winson to write about his thoughts regarding the subject of Subtitles vs. Dubbing:

So I have always told Steve that one day I would write something for his site. But the problem is, this is an anime site. What do I really know about anime? Honestly not a whole lot anymore. I did grow up watching some of the classic anime (Voltron, Mazinger, Getter Robo etc.), but the scene has changed so much that it really is nothing like the way it was when I was a child. I am a huge American comic, and cartoon fan and once in a while I like to read some manga, but just not as much as before. Really what can I write for this site, that no one else has done? That’s when I decided on the simplest thing, a laymen’s look at anime, after all that’s what I am. Most anime sites are filled with experts (and so call experts), but there is not a whole lot of outsider point of views, and this is what I will write about.

The debate that I am going to discuss with all of you today is: Subs vs. Dubs. For many of us who aren’t fluent in the Japanese language, these are really the only two ways we can enjoy anime. In case anyone of you out there aren’t familiar with the terminology, that either means you are newbie or on the wrong site. Anyhow, Subs is the short form for subtitles. This is when the characters on screen are speaking “gibberish� and you have to read those little words at the bottom which translate what they are saying. Many (boring) foreign and silent films made subtitling famous. Dubs on the other hand stands for voiceover dubbing. Do all of you remember seeing old Chinese movies where all the characters speak fluent English, but the lips don’t match what they are saying? If you have, then you’ve seen an example of Dubs. What is the big deal between the two anyway? It appears to me that most “Otaku� prefer Subs over Dubs because it retains the original character voices and sounds. Well I have to say that I am of the opposite opinion…I really actually prefer Dubs over Subs. You must be thinking to yourself, “Blasphemy! how can you say that?� Well please hear me out before you start to crucify me.

People who know me, know that I am arguably one of the laziest people around. I like to take the easy way out in everything I do and Dubs are that easy way out. It takes a lot less effort and work for me to listen, than to read, which as a bonus, also gives me the opportunity to “zone out� and allow me to focus my attention elsewhere. Coincidentally, I also have a habit of doing multiple things at the same time (multitasking). With the voices in English, it gives me the chance to do other things, like watch television or even write this article and still be able to listen and know what is going on. I find the Japanese language to be very fast and fluid and often I find myself having to pause and rewind just to re-read and figure out what was being said. The reason is not because I am slow, it’s just hard for me to enjoy the animation and read the subtitles at the same time.

Another reason why I enjoy Dubs better is actually one of the reasons why most people HATE them. Many English scriptwriters use their “creative liberties� and alter the dialogue from the original Japanese script. The reason being is that often times with the literal translations the humor is lost, because the cultural references aren’t common knowledge in a different country. With anime that is dubbed, there is a whole new script written for it, which allows them to come up with brand new jokes that is recognized by Western culture. I do know that most of English jokes can be borderline corny, but really that is part of the charm in the whole thing for me.

Even though I like Dubs more then Subs, there is one fundamental problem with it. My beef is that most popular anime is licensed by the big television networks in North America. Japanese society is a little less strict when it comes censorship and what is appropriate viewing material (in comparison to North America). Much of the anime broadcasted on television has been “butchered� and censored to fit American broadcasting standards. As a result, it causes the show to lose it’s edge and sometimes crucial parts of the story.

Most of you are going to tell me that a lot of the anime shows are now being sold on DVD, uncut, with all the violence, sex and gore intact, I’m already aware of that fact I think it is a step in the right direction. But I am talking about the popular shows, where networks can make so much more money by giving it high exposure, the Naruto’s, The Shaman King’s, and the Full Metal Alchemists of the world. Till the day adults realize cartoons are NOT the reason kids go bad but rather bad parenting, I will have to suffer with “hacked-up� anime.

That is pretty much my rant on the topic. I am sure many of you out there would like to disagree with what I’ve written. Here is your chance boys and girls! Write back, let me know how you feel, show me what it’s like to be on the other side of the “Otaku fence�. Until next time, Holla at your Boy!

-Winson