Breaking Point

[Super Sonic]

To be honest, while there are some eps and movies I pretty much will only in Japanese (DB movie 3, Z movies 5, 7 except for the ending), I never wanted to cross the breaking point as was worried I'd become one of those crazy anime fans who hate dubs for not being in the language of the land of the gods. I admit I have some nerd tendencies, but not going to where some nitpick over every little thing and a casual fan who isn't as big into watching in another language/into it will respond that I need to get a life/girlfriend/laid.

[Kendamu]

I never "snapped" or anything like that. More or less, I had found the manga early on in my fandom and liked it better than the anime. When trying out the anime again once the DVDs of the time were easy to find used and cheap, I started watching certain favorite moments in Japanese.

Since then, I mainly watch the show in Japanese and sometimes I'll switch to English for a laugh.

As for my girlfriend, she had seen a decent amount of DBZ on Toonami. We decided to watch a lot of the series together at some point a few years ago and, being that we met in Japanese class, she had no problem watching it in Japanese. Now she can't stand the dub.

We do tend to watch Kai in English, though. Our standards for anime dubs have relaxed a bit and Kai has a pretty good dub.

[Gaffer Tape]

RE: Super Sonic

I admit that's the kind of attitude I don't especially appreciate: that people who prefer to watch anime in Japanese is because of some holy devotion to the Land of the Rising Sun, and that every other country or language is somehow inferior. I'm not denying that there are probably people like that, but I only watch anime in Japanese because... it's Japanese. I have no desire to watch anything that's not Japanese in Japanese, but anything that is Japanese I insist on watching in Japanese. Seems pretty logical to me.

[DinoChow]

As some others have said, there wasn't necessarily just one breaking point. I was first introduced to Dragon Ball through the American Shonen Jump, reading the Cell Games arc; I loved it, and decided to check out the anime (I was in middle school, I think), so I bought the newest single release from FUNi, called "Sacrafice," which was the fight between SSj 2 Gohan and Cell up to Goku's death and Cell's subsequent ressurection. I didn't know much about Japanese then, so I just watched what the disc defaulted to - English. I loved it. Loved every second of it, but mostly for the animation. It was just so damn cool! I only had that one disc, and back then, it was hard to get any more of it due to the price and number of volumes (how times have changed!), and it wasn't on Cartoon Network yet. So I watched the disc over and over again, and on the second time through, I switched it to Japanese for fun. I loved it just as much, and from that point on, as I collected singles and movies, I would always watch them in English first (usually with my little brother who didn't like subtitles yet, since he wasn't reading fast enough to keep up), and then again in Japanese.

Then came the season sets, which were great for a kid with little to no pocket money trying to collect the series. I ditched the singles, and bought the seasons, and at that point, I really just wanted to watch in Japanese. But my little brother still couldn't keep up with subtitles, so we watched it in English - with Japanese music! - sort of a compromise. With every episode, I grew to hate the dub more and more, and finally, my brother snapped too and agreed it was shit. I think this was when the Ginyu Tokusentai were introduced (thanks for miscasting all 5 roles, FUNimation!). So we switched it to Japanese and I've never watched the series in English since. My brother learned to keep up with subtitles, and he loves it this way to. We make fun of the dub together!

Naturally, I later ditched the seasons for the Dragon Boxes. When I compare the ease of owning a PERFECT version of the series with the first single I bought way back when....man, times have changed, huh? But I guess that's a discussion for another day.

[CODii]

It seems pretty simple to me. A show made in Japan should be watched in Japanese. A movie made in France should be watched in French. A film made in Mexico should be watched in Spanish. Etc...etc...etc... It has nothing to do with preferring one language over another.

[penguintruth]

RE: Super Sonic

I admit that's the kind of attitude I don't especially appreciate: that people who prefer to watch anime in Japanese is because of some holy devotion to the Land of the Rising Sun, and that every other country or language is somehow inferior.

I have never ran into a genuine case of this in my over decade long anime fandom.

I have, however, been accused of being that, several times. It's a stupid, stupid accusation that comes from people who have NO argument.

"You only like the Japanese version because GRORIOUS NIPPON, lol."

This is the reason a lot of anime fans are so hateful towards Japan itself, because they feel like they have to overcompensate for loving Japanese cartoons. They'll go out of their way to say things anti-Japanese and say, "Well, I like their cartoons, but it's a shitty country." It's like somebody's going to revoke their American citizenship if they prefer something Japanese. They're trying WAY too hard to be objective that they go too far the other way. This is the average 4channer.

Everyone's become paranoid they will be accused of being a "weeaboo". I call it "anime fan guilt".

[SonEric84]

That's just ridiculous. I hate those stupid terms like "weeabo". What CODii said is basically the perfect explanation of this. I do enjoy a good dub, but watching the show in it's intended format/language makes sense to me.

[TrunksTrevelyan0064]

Budokai 1 and 2 introduced me to the Japanese voices. I'm in Europe, so my Budokai games had no English voices. At first I was upset about this, but over time I came to appreciate the Japanese cast.

It makes sense to watch things in their original language. If Dragonball had been Danish, I'd watch it in Danish; if it had been Hungarian, I'd watch it in Hungarian, and so forth.

Today, even though I have the option to switch to English in Tenkaichi 3, I keep the voices on Japanese 95% of the time.
I don't hate the dubs at all, particularly for the nostalgia factor. I still have fond memories of Sean Schemmel and Chris Sabat, even though I realize they didn't do everything right. Nevertheless, if given the choice to rewatch the series in any language, I'm more likely to choose the Japanese cast.

Oh, and I hate the name "T.i.e.n."

[Bura]

Oh, and I hate the name "T.i.e.n."

Lol, agreed.
Vooral omdat het een Nederlands woord is XD

[Michie]

So I ask you this. What was your breaking point with watching the Dub?

In my case there never was such a moment. Dragon Ball Z along with Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy X are the only anime/games i prefer in English.
I have tried the Japanese version a couple of times but i just like the English dub more (not that the Japanese version is bad or anything)

[Adamant]

RE: Super Sonic

I admit that's the kind of attitude I don't especially appreciate: that people who prefer to watch anime in Japanese is because of some holy devotion to the Land of the Rising Sun, and that every other country or language is somehow inferior.

I have never ran into a genuine case of this in my over decade long anime fandom.

Oh, these people definitely exist. They're definitely not the norm, but if you peek around online fan communities about anime and manga as a whole, you're likely to stumble upon people who never watch any movies or TV shows that aren't Japanese cartoons, never read anything other than manga unless forced to, have their rooms filled with posters and figurines, pepper their speech with assorted Japanese words they've picked up... I can absolutely understand people wanting to be a bit careful when it comes to calling themselves fans of this and that Japanese cartoon, just like people don't necessarily want to exclaim their love for Star Trek, another "fandom" that's stereotyped as being quite... bizarre.

But yeah, the idea of wanting voiceovers in your own language when watching foreign entertainment has always struck me as really weird. It's okay if you're 5 years old and unable to read subtitles, but the idea of a grown ass man preferring, or even demanding, that a German movie he's watching has some random local actors talking over the original performance so he doesn't have to listen to all this weird non-English talking is... xenophobic. Disrespectful. Childish. Elitist, even.

[CatouttaHell]

I hated the Japanese version for a while because I didn't like the Japanese spellings of names, found people who used them annoying (ironic at this point,) and overall didn't think it was worth my time to see if the original dub was worth hating or not. Eventually after lurking on this forum for a long time I decided to give it a try and watched a few episodes. Didn't think much of it but after watching an episode of Dragonball in Japanese and then in English it finally hit me just how horrible and cringeworthy the English dub was. Never looked back since then.

[Piccolo Daimao]

But yeah, the idea of wanting voiceovers in your own language when watching foreign entertainment has always struck me as really weird. It's okay if you're 5 years old and unable to read subtitles, but the idea of a grown ass man preferring, or even demanding, that a German movie he's watching has some random local actors talking over the original performance so he doesn't have to listen to all this weird non-English talking is... xenophobic. Disrespectful. Childish. Elitist, even.

If you're talking about crappy dubs where the actors are literally talking over the original performances, then I agree. If you're talking about an English dub, like FUNi's Z dub, then I have to disagree. Some people just prefer watching shows in their own native language or don't like reading subtitles when watching shows. I know some people who are the latter. There's nothing wrong with that.

[Adamant]

If you're talking about crappy dubs where the actors are literally talking over the original performances, then I agree. If you're talking about an English dub, like FUNi's Z dub, then I have to disagree.

And what's the difference, pray tell?

Some people just prefer watching shows in their own native language or don't like reading subtitles when watching shows. I know some people who are the latter. There's nothing wrong with that.

"Wrong with"? Not necessarily, but it's still really immature behavior. "I don't want to watch this movie unless someone reads the script in my own language. Ew, foreigners.". "I don't want to eat healthy food. Burgers are better." "i dun wana rite corectli I'm not in skul". There's nothing "wrong" with any of these stances, but they still make you look like an idiot.

[CatouttaHell]

If you're talking about crappy dubs where the actors are literally talking over the original performances, then I agree. If you're talking about an English dub, like FUNi's Z dub, then I have to disagree.

And what's the difference, pray tell?

I absolutely hate the FUNi and Ocean dubs but there's still a massive difference between a full blown dubs with different voices for each character, new music, etc and some random bored guy talking over the show.

[Piccolo Daimao]

If you're talking about crappy dubs where the actors are literally talking over the original performances, then I agree. If you're talking about an English dub, like FUNi's Z dub, then I have to disagree.

And what's the difference, pray tell?

If you don't know, then I can't help you.

Some people just prefer watching shows in their own native language or don't like reading subtitles when watching shows. I know some people who are the latter. There's nothing wrong with that.

"Wrong with"? Not necessarily, but it's still really immature behavior. "I don't want to watch this movie unless someone reads the script in my own language. Ew, foreigners.". "I don't want to eat healthy food. Burgers are better." "i dun wana rite corectli I'm not in skul". There's nothing "wrong" with any of these stances, but they still make you look like an idiot.

I wouldn't call it immature or xenophobic. That's what English dubs are there for; some people just don't like reading subtitles on a foreign show. It's different if it's a movie--you only have to watch for one or two hours. But if it's watching a series, some people just don't warm to it. I'm not agreeing with those people (I've yet to watch the anime in full, but when I get the money to buy the Dragon Boxes, I'll watch it in the original Japanese), but that's just how it is.

[Adamant]

If you're talking about crappy dubs where the actors are literally talking over the original performances, then I agree. If you're talking about an English dub, like FUNi's Z dub, then I have to disagree.

And what's the difference, pray tell?

If you don't know, then I can't help you.

No, seriously. What's the difference between watching the original performance with a person talking over it and watching the original, muted performance with several people talking over it? You still get to hear your own language, you still don't have to read to follow the story. Why do you agree with me that watching the former is weird, but not that the latter?

It's different if it's a movie--you only have to watch for one or two hours. But if it's watching a series, some people just don't warm to it. I'm not agreeing with those people (I've yet to watch the anime in full, but when I get the money to buy the Dragon Boxes, I'll watch it in the original Japanese), but that's just how it is.

You're not making sense. What makes a movie different from a TV series?

I don't see how "that's just how it is" is an argument for... well, anything, either. ders lotza ppl ritin lyk dis wen not in scul, but it doesn't exactly make them come across as particularly intelligent and mature people, does it?

[Piccolo Daimao]

And what's the difference, pray tell?

If you don't know, then I can't help you.

No, seriously. What's the difference between watching the original performance with a person talking over it and watching the original, muted performance with several people talking over it? You still get to hear your own language, you still don't have to read to follow the story. Why do you agree with me that watching the former is weird, but not that the latter?

Because a dub with actual voices for characters is better than a narrator talking over the original performance in a dull, bland voice is worse.

It's different if it's a movie--you only have to watch for one or two hours. But if it's watching a series, some people just don't warm to it. I'm not agreeing with those people (I've yet to watch the anime in full, but when I get the money to buy the Dragon Boxes, I'll watch it in the original Japanese), but that's just how it is.

You're not making sense. What makes a movie different from a TV series?

I don't see how "that's just how it is" is an argument for... well, anything, either. ders lotza ppl ritin lyk dis wen not in scul, but it doesn't exactly make them come across as particularly intelligent and mature people, does it?

A movie's different from a TV series in that you watch a movie for one or two hours, while a series is much longer, form part of a greater storyline and are expanded over periods of time. As in, a person may be fine watching Oldboy with subtitles for two hours or so, but can't watch a series in Japanese that they want to follow and understand the words in the plot without looking at writing on a screen, even if it is the original version.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

But yeah, the idea of wanting voiceovers in your own language when watching foreign entertainment has always struck me as really weird. It's okay if you're 5 years old and unable to read subtitles, but the idea of a grown ass man preferring, or even demanding, that a German movie he's watching has some random local actors talking over the original performance so he doesn't have to listen to all this weird non-English talking is... xenophobic. Disrespectful. Childish. Elitist, even.

Please tell me how it is weird, djsrespectful and childish. I'm sorry, I don't have a problem watching things with sub titles(hell I'm watching Ip Man right now as I type) but I can't always devote my time to sitting down and reading/watching something. Sometimes I like to get up and multi-task: you know do laundry, take care of dishes, do homework or hell just draw; I'm not always going to give something my fullest attention, sometimes I want a little background noise...especially with television shows. It's only natural for me to want that kind of experience to be with shows in my native tongue. That way I can still follow along and know whats going on. I've had the Japanese version of Z on while drawing once, and if I hadn't already seen the show about a million times I wouldn't have know what the hell was going on.

Another thing, when dealing with children it's only natural to air the show with a dub and not subtitles. I can't imagine Dragonball taking off in America(sorry don't know where you are from) with a sub only release. Sure, you guys here would have been happy as fucking hell but the show wouldn't have gained momentum, wouldn't have lasted and chances are you wouldn't have even seen a home release(let alone something like the Dragonbox). Most of you guys would have had to have spent well over the necessary amount of money just to watch the Freeza Saga(and if you don't want to pay there's always piss poor quality boot-legs with amateur sub titles).

It shouldn't come as a surprise that these children of ten years ago would grow up to be in there twenties(like myself) and still appreciate the version they grew up with. It's not immature and disrespectful because the dedicated ones(the ones on this site) have given the original version a chance, while the not-so-dedicated fans have moved on with there life. What about those guys over at other dub dedicated sites, well they are just enjoying there past experiences and living off of nostalgia. The only reason they get nasty is because self righteous fans feel the need to insult something they love and tell them there version isn't real. Sure they may be wrong, but they are having fun. I personally just shrug it off and leave it be. I don't tell them there version is fake, or that it sucks or that it's Saya-jin not Saiyan; I just smirk because I know what they are talking about and honestly it's not a big deal.

Lastly, I dare you to tell Yūji Mitsuya that his portal of Timon was disrespectful the next time he comes back over to America. Didn't he say something about enjoying doing the role and actually getting to meet Nathan Lane and getting really excited over it? Yea...totally disrespectful.

Anyway, I've said enough. Time to move on.

[Adamant]

Anyway, I've said enough. Time to move on.

You're really going off on a different tangent here. I even specifically mentioned that it's understandable to dub stuff aimed at young kids. Kids don't have the reading skills to follow subtitles, so of course you toss in some voice overs so the kids can follow along if you're aiming it at kids. And of course people get nostalgic for the stuff they watched in their childhood and want to re-watch it the same way with the same blemishes it may have had then - but in that case, you're watching it for the nostalgic experience. I have no interest in watching the original English version of the Super Mario Bros 3 cartoon - it's a fucking terrible show, but I grew up on the Norwegian-dubbed version, and that specific version I have some nostalgic fondness for. If I'm watching it, it's specifically for the sake of that nostalgia.

But we're not talking about that. We're not talking about kids who can't read, we're not talking about people wanting to watch old cartoons they grew up on for nostalgic reasons, we're not talking about people firing up some random shit on their TV to provide background noise (and if they're doing that, why not, you know, toss in something they can understand?) We're talking about normal, grown-up people who sit down to watch a movie or a TV show, and demand someone talks over it in their own language for reasons that essentially boil down to "I don't want my ears to hear all this foreign talking. Ew, foreign languages" and "I don't want to read, I'm not in school. Ew, reading." How is that not immature behavior? How does that not make you come across as unintelligent?