Dubbing or subbing?

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

The dubbed version of Final Fantasy: Advent Children was wonderful, but the subbed version of Let the Right One in was great, too.

So... both?

[Mavorpen]

Depends on the language. Dubbing for languages such as German, French, etc are fine to me. But dubbing when it comes to Korean, Japanese, etc. is usually of much lower quality.

[Forsher]

So, you're watching a foreign-language TV show. You are given the option of watching a dubbed version (where the soundtrack has been re-recorded in your native language) or a subbed version (subtitles are placed in the bottom of the screen and the soundtrack remains unedited). Which one would you pick? Why? Does dubbing have benefits over subbing, or vice versa?

Personally, I prefer subbing over dubbing. Dubbed versions are usually much lower in quality, and it'd just seem weird watching Americans speaking Finnish in a TV show taking place in America. Good thing only kids show sar subtitled over here in Finland, it'd suck to live in a country like France or Germany where everything is dubbed.

I do not like subtitles... I read them too much and miss the action. On the other hand dubbed live-action would be weird.

Subbed with actors.
Dubbed with animation.

Mind you Boes Boes is pretty awesome even though I've never been able to understand a single word (sentence is more accurate).

[Threlizdun]

Subtitles

[Patriqvinia]

Dub for most things but only if done well; though it's odd for live action stuff. I don't mind subs at all for things like games, but with something like a cartoon it can distract from what's going on visually.

[Olthar]

It depends, but I generally prefer dubbing, unless the English dub is noticeably worse. For instance, I refuse to watch the English dub of Gurren Lagann. However, other than such specific exceptions, I very much prefer dubbing.

Oh, especially in foreign martial arts films. There, the dubbing is essential. It serves as the perfect icing on the cheese cake. There's nothing better than watching a poorly-dubbed martial arts film.

[Cameroi]

subtitles are best because they mean i don't have to turn on the sound, which avoids inspiring others to force their noise on me. most things i care to watch, and granted, more of them are on youtube and viemo then on direct or that other one, loose little or nothing when watched without sound of any kind. i actually find it more fun that way. its actually rather pleasant to not have to hear the sound of the human voice at all. also, i consider it to be an advantage to not know what they are saying, as i am lass likely to be annoyed that way by the usual retarded dismalness of dialogue.

[Pope Joan]

Purists insist on the subtitles, because that way they can catch the vocal nuances even if they don't understand them.

I've known a couple voice actors, and it's a true art. If the dub is good, it helps the flow better than if you have to keep looking down and up to understand what's really going on. A good voice actor actually sounds like the character, has proper inflection for the various moods and situations, and matches the cadence of the words with that of the original language.

[Antoniland]

On second thought I would prefer subbing since it gives the chance to pick up on some of the foreign language.

[Reploid Productions]

It depends, but I generally prefer dubbing, unless the English dub is noticeably worse. For instance, I refuse to watch the English dub of Gurren Lagann.

Eh, the Gurren Lagann dub wasn't necessarily bad. (Dubbed Leeron was fucking hilarious!) ... just I think most of us saw the mind-blowing epic awesome of the original Japanese and after that not even the best dub could hope to compete! The later DBZ dubs aren't too shabby either, even though a lot of the dialogue is angry yelling and grunting. And the dub of Sgt. Frog is a great example of a well-done localization with really good voices that fit the characters. (Also, what flavor of crack were the animators on and where can I get some, srsly!)

[Forster Keys]

Subtitles.

[Weslyria]

Subtitles, unless the original is in French.

Dub French every day of the week.

[The Zeonic States]

It really depends on what it is but having things in your native language regardless of the quality is always nice.

[Olthar]

It depends, but I generally prefer dubbing, unless the English dub is noticeably worse. For instance, I refuse to watch the English dub of Gurren Lagann.

Eh, the Gurren Lagann dub wasn't necessarily bad. (Dubbed Leeron was fucking hilarious!) ... just I think most of us saw the mind-blowing epic awesome of the original Japanese and after that not even the best dub could hope to compete! The later DBZ dubs aren't too shabby either, even though a lot of the dialogue is angry yelling and grunting. And the dub of Sgt. Frog is a great example of a well-done localization with really good voices that fit the characters. (Also, what flavor of crack were the animators on and where can I get some, srsly!)

No, English Gurren Lagann isn't bad. It's just not as good as the Japanese dub. See, the English VAs didn't particularly understand the show at first and didn't realize that hammy, over-the-top acting was a good thing. That's why the Japanese dub is so much better: they put much more energy into it. Japanese Kamina was so incredibly manly that I could feel it.

But, yeah. So far, it's only one of two animes that I specifically watch in Japanese, with the other being Azumanga Daioh. I really do not like English Osaka. English Chiyo is also kind of annoyingly squeaky.

All the other, I prefer English. Though, especially The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I think that English dub is so well done that I actively recommend it over the Japanese dub. English Kyon is just so unbelievably dry, monotone, and sardonic. It's like the VA perfectly understood the character on an emotional level. Plus, Itsuki was voiced by the Black Power Ranger, so that's awesome.
Hell, Johnny Yong Bosch does voices for a lot of my favorite animes.

[Immoren]

Am I again reminded by the fact that not all people are as fast readers as me, because I have never had any problem following subs even during most fast paced action sequences? Or might it be just because I have used to following subs since I was a wee lad.

Also subbing should be preferable, because it apparently increases national literacy rates.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Frankly, I prefer subbing. At times, dubbing kind of takes off from the movie, especially if the voices don't seem to match the actors.

That happens a lot with Japanese animation. Two examples I always refer to are Fruits Basket dubbed to English and Neon-Genesis Evangelion dubbed to English and Spanish. For Fruits Basket, the voice actors chosen for the characters of Sohma Yuki, Sohma Akito and Honda Tohru, in my opinion, didn't go with the characters. Same thing with Ikari Shinji and Misato of Evangelion, in English and in Spanish. The voices felt wrong.

Of course, I'm not saying that dubbing is always bad.The dubbing for Ponyo, IMO, was decent. I just prefer subbing to dubbing. Also because I think, and this is a personal point of view, that by dubbing, the hard work of the original actors is lost. Or isn't respected enough.

[Olthar]

Also because I think, and this is a personal point of view, that by dubbing, the hard work of the original actors is lost. Or isn't respected enough.

Unless you're going to watch every version of a show that's available, I don't think you can really use that argument. The Japanese aren't the only people in the world who work hard, and wholesale ignoring the English and other language dubs could be seen as just as "disrespectful" to them.

Really, though, I think the entire thing is kinda silly. Voice actors work in the entertainment industry where the entire purpose is to entertain. If you don't like what they do, then just don't watch it. They're not going to be upset. So, just watch whichever dubbing you want.

[SaintB]

Most people I know can't read fast enough for subbed movies and I get sick of having to hit pause.

[Individualist Constructivism]

Subbing for any filmed TV series or movie, absolutely.

For anime, dubs can sometimes be acceptable depending upon the way it is done.

[Katganistan]

So, you're watching a foreign-language TV show. You are given the option of watching a dubbed version (where the soundtrack has been re-recorded in your native language) or a subbed version (subtitles are placed in the bottom of the screen and the soundtrack remains unedited). Which one would you pick? Why? Does dubbing have benefits over subbing, or vice versa?

Personally, I prefer subbing over dubbing. Dubbed versions are usually much lower in quality, and it'd just seem weird watching Americans speaking Finnish in a TV show taking place in America. Good thing only kids show sar subtitled over here in Finland, it'd suck to live in a country like France or Germany where everything is dubbed.

Good subtitles are superior to bad dubbing (think Billy Bob Thornton in Lady Mononoke. Then again -- DON'T.)

[Freenationia]

I remember Dragon Ball being rather well dubbed in Latino Spanish. Goku's voice especially.

Same here, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was rather well dubbed, but some stuff needs subs.
I can't stand Simpsons in spanish dub for one.

[Valanora]

I guess I should mention that most of my foreign exposure is to anime and anime movies, where the dubbing can be excellently done, as compared to live action movies. When it does come to live action movies, subtitling is better than the bad dubbing that can happen and does far more often than I'd like.

[Samuraikoku]

I remember Dragon Ball being rather well dubbed in Latino Spanish. Goku's voice especially.

Same here, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was rather well dubbed, but some stuff needs subs.
I can't stand Simpsons in spanish dub for one.

And here's a dub comparison, featuring the Power Rangers. I've posted this link before, but it had the misfortune of being the last post before a new page.

I particularly like Latino Spanish there too.

[Patriqvinia]

So, you're watching a foreign-language TV show. You are given the option of watching a dubbed version (where the soundtrack has been re-recorded in your native language) or a subbed version (subtitles are placed in the bottom of the screen and the soundtrack remains unedited). Which one would you pick? Why? Does dubbing have benefits over subbing, or vice versa?

Personally, I prefer subbing over dubbing. Dubbed versions are usually much lower in quality, and it'd just seem weird watching Americans speaking Finnish in a TV show taking place in America. Good thing only kids show sar subtitled over here in Finland, it'd suck to live in a country like France or Germany where everything is dubbed.

Good subtitles are superior to bad dubbing (think Billy Bob Thornton in Lady Mononoke. Then again -- DON'T.)

Definitely. I couldn't watch the dubbed One Piece because Monkey is annoying as hell.

[Marcurix]

I usually go with subbing, but I've seen a few dubbed movies and programs that did a good job not messing up.