Subs vs. Dubs

That may seem like a silly battle to some - I mean, really...who in their right mind would rather watch anime dubbed? Unfortunately, there ARE people who are like that and I personally know two! In fact, maybe there is a person who is reading this/will read this and be one of those that say "dubs over subs". (Ah! I don't even like typing that statement...).
That is why I am writing this post - for all of those people out there that create that need for Subs vs. Dubs arguments. Let the battle begin!

Okay...technically this won't really be a battle since it will be one sided. If you didn't already guess, I am completely for subbed (subtitled) anime. Well, really, the best way would be to watch it in it's original raw Japanese form without subtitles too!! But, as you know, I am working on that =) For now, I must have the English subtitles. Here is why I think watching anime is better this way than with audio dubbing:

Anime is art. Plain and simple. Would you take a song that you love, and record over it with some random person's voice just so that you could hear the words in your own language? If you said yes, then why? You would be missing out on the actual Artist's voice and the way it's meant to be sung, with their passion and emotions. Same with a painting. Would you take the Mona Lisa and paint over it, just so you could try to understand it better? No! With art, you don't ALTER the original piece. If you don't understand it, you figure out a way to. You do research, translate, whatever the case may be, so that you can appreciate the nuances of it's originality without affecting the piece.

The same is true with anime. When audio dubbing in another language is added over the original piece, you are completely missing out on the Japanese art form of communicating and behaving and the hard work that the Japanese voice actors put in to make it sound awesome!

First of all, everyone has to admit that the Japanese people know how to make things cute. They are the masters of cuteness. If I didn't get to hear the cute Japanese audio when I watch anime, then I might as well just watch the entire thing on mute! It's practically the best part and I could never imagine anime without hearing the special way they say things.

Secondly, the way they talk and behave is just un-matchable. Nothing can mimic perfectly what they do, so why even try? The uniqueness is what makes anime so hilarious, or cute, or suave, or awesome, or sad, etc. Without their way of talking, any other language dub over would make the character's action's disingenuous and stupid. They would look ridiculous, and it wouldn't make sense. Because in America, we just don't do those things that they do in anime. So hearing English voice actors try to say words in English that are 'supposed' to match a Japanese behavior, would be like a right handed person trying to write perfectly with their left hand - it just doesn't feel natural, and it certainly won't come out looking good.

You may say - "but watching anime in my own language helps me connect with the characters" or "but I hate having to read subtitles when I just want to relax and watch a show. I don't want to read the whole time". For the first point, you are not actually connecting with the character if you are not watching the character in it's original form. You are watching a fake. You would be missing out on the character's nuances and so in essence wouldn't actually be connecting with anything. You probably wouldn't laugh where you are supposed to, or feel the proper emotions in the right places either - because I guarantee that what you hear in the audio dub isn't even HALF as emotional as what is portrayed in the Japanese audio.

For the second point, if you are too lazy to appreciate art - then don't watch it. I can't stand when people say "I watch anime dubbed because I'm too lazy to read subtitles". !!!! Don't watch it at all then!! Seriously? That has to be the dumbest excuse. That would be like saying "I'm going to take this incredible pot roast dinner that has been slow cooking for 8 hours, is absolutely perfect and delicious, and put it all in a blender then feed it to my system through a tube, because I am too lazy to eat it".
Yeah, maybe you'd get the gist of it - you'd get the nutrition and all that. But you would NOT enjoy it fully! You wouldn't be able to taste the rich savory flavors against the tender texture. It all adds up to an amazing meal that you would only benefit slightly from if you didn't actually sit down and take the time to scoop up each bite in your mouth, chew, and then swallow.

In fact - this is a whole other example I was going to point out. So many Chefs would probably agree with me when I say that altering their finished dish would be highly insulting. When a chef prepares food, they do so with the art of each ingredient complimenting the others, giving the result of a complete and balanced flavor that works wonders in your mouth.

That is exactly how anime is!

I have a dozen of examples like that - here is a little one my friend would enjoy: Would you take a perfectly crafted beer and mix it with a bottle of vinegar, or Pepsi, or anything completely foreign to it's original state? I certainly hope not!! That would be disgusting.

The point is - you just DON'T change what is already perfect. You don't alter what is complete and good.

So, that is why I am 100% for watching Japanese Anime in it's original art form - because it is JAPANESE!!! So that is how it should be watched! It shouldn't be changed to anything else! If you change it, then it's NOT anime and by golly why would you want to watch it then?

*ding ding ding* We have a winner!

SUBS IT IS!!!!!!