Funimation is one of the more well known dubbing companies.
Anyone who is familiar with me will know that, when it comes to animê shows, I always watch the english dub. I only watch animê with subs if the animê hasn't been dubbed yet (which is usually the case for most of the animê I watch) or has been dubbed por a company I don't trust (I'm looking at you, Ocean Productions).
However, it seems that according to the fãs of anime, watching english dubs is a sin against god. They think that the english language is terrible and would prefer the japanese language. Honestly, this makes me sick. It makes me sick to my stomach, and it pisses me off to absolutely no end at all.
People who hate english dubs will often use these arguments whenever on the subject.
"Subtitles give you the same experience the japanese viewers received"
Sorry, but no. The experience you get from subtitles is no better than watching it english dubbed. In fact, it's worse, since not only are you unable to understand the voices, the stupid text at the bottom blocks the art. Do you think that the japanese watched it with text at the bottom?
Also, when I watch animê with subtitles, you know what experience I get? I get the experience of leitura a book. As someone who enjoys leitura Stephen King books, I don't want that. I want the experience of watching a TV show, since that's exactly what I'm doing.
"The animê is censored when it's dubbed"
You know what? Yeah. You're right. Some animê is censored when translated into english. You want to know WHY that is?
It's because the company in charge of dubbing is... oh, I don't know, AIMING IT TOWARDS KIDS?! Most of the animê fãs I know of are teenagers (usually around my age) or young adults (usually around the age of 20). Companies like DiC and 4Kids! aren't aiming the dubbed animê at teenagers and young adults. They're aiming it at kids.
If they see something that they deem inappropriate for little kids, they'll editar it out. It was the case with DiC and Sailor Moon (yes, I am aware that Sailor Uranus and Neptune are cousins in the dub and not lesbians. Frankly, it's a change that I can live with), and it was the case with 4Kids! and most of the animê they dubbed.
"The original japanese voices are always the best"
To those that use this argument... did you even go to school?
I guess not, because if you did, you'd know the definition of the word "original". Original means that it came first, not that it's better. I haven't watched Cowboy Bebop, but I know that most fãs consider the english dub por Viz Media to be superior to the original japanese dub.
Being the original doesn't mean that it's any better. Saying that the japanese dub is better is pretty much the equivalent of saying "The original rua Fighter II is better than Super rua Fighter II Turbo" or "The original Resident Evil on PS1 is better than Resident Evil REmake on the Gamecube".
Subtitles provide a mais accurate translation
Alright, I'll admit that this argument DOES hold a little water. Sometimes, whenever an animê is dubbed, the script does get a change or two. However, that's usually because that certain part of the script doesn't exactly translate well.
Here's an example. In One Piece, there was a moment where Zoro referred to Nami as a "komono", which means "little servant". "Little servant" implies that whoever was called that had child-like features, hence why Sanji thought that Zoro called Nami flat-chested (which we know isn't true). The joke doesn't exactly translate well in english. At least Funimation gave it a shot.
"Funimation/Manga Entertainment/4Kids!/Ocean Productions/*insert dubbing company here* always uses the same voice actors over an over again"
I don't really know about that. Last time I checked, japanese voice actors had just as many, if not more, roles as american voice actors. Romi Park and Vic Mignogna have almost the same amount of animê roles.
Besides, I think it's good that voice actors are used over and over again. It shows that the voice actor has skill and can voice many different characters. It's the reason why Christopher Sabat is my favorito english voice actor.
"The japanese voice actors are way better"
Let me ask you this. Are you japanese? Can you understand japanese? Can you recognize when japanese voices are good? No? Then shut the hell up, because you are in absolutely no position to say that.
Breaking out of the realm of animê and jumping into the realm of video games for a little bit, I want you to listen to both the english voice atuação and japanese voice atuação of Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 (only for the Capcom characters, since the Marvel characters always speak english).
Compare Chris Redfield's japanese voice to his english voice.
Compare Morrigan's japanese voice to her english voice.
Compare Spencer's japanese voice to his english voice.
Compare Phoenix Wright / Naruhodo-kun's japanese voice to his english voice.
Chris Redfield's japanese voice sounds laughably bad. However, I will cut him some slack, since Chris has never been voiced in japanese before. The japanese releases of the Resident Evil games always had the characters speak in english with japanese subtitles.
Morrigan's japanese voice tries way, way, WAY too hard to sound "sexy", "seductive", and "orgasmic". Seriously, it sounds like she's taking a good dump and having an orgasm at the same time. Disappointing, since her voice in Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom kicked ass.
Spencer's japanese voice is just... ugh. No words can describe how horrible it is. Sorry, but the epic line known as "BIONIC AAAAAAAARRRRRMMMMM" clearly wasn't made to be said in japanese.
Phoenix Wright / Naruhodo-kun's japanese voice sounds like he just drank over 9000 (no pun intended) cups of coffee, which is ironic, since Wright isn't exactly a fã of hot coffee being thrown at him.
Try telling me that japanese voices are always better after listening to those.
Those were some of the arguments that sub apaixonados use against dubs. Needless to say, they're all stupid.
Now, let me say this. Whenever I watch anime, I want to WATCH it. With subtitles, you have to take your eyes to the bottom of the damn screen (thus causing you to miss something going on) and READ. If I wanted to READ, I'd grab my freaking Stephen King books off my shelf. I seriously cannot stress this enough. animê is for WATCHING, not READING. I want to WATCH anime. WATCH it, not READ it.
And some of you will probably say "Oh, it won't matter if you're a fast reader". NO, motherfuckers. It DOES matter. And I say that as a fast reader who can scan his eyeballs across the screen fairly quickly.
Anyways, I hope that this rant convinces you that english dubs aren't as bad as the retards out there make them out to be. I will close this with a quote.
"I'd rather not READ a TV show" -Vic Mignogna
Cowboy Bebop is said to have an english dub that is superior to the japanese dub.
In Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, characters like Firebrand and Nemesis are blessed with not having a stupid japanese voice.
For those that desire to read, there's a little certain something called "Manga".
Hetalia fans consider the english dub to be superior due to the fact that it contains accents.
English dubs of hentai anime tend to suck (with the exception of La Blue Girl, which has a "so bad it's good" dub).
When dubbing Sailor Moon, DiC considered the idea of lesbians too mature for little kids, hence why Sailor Neptune and Uranus are cousins in the dub, not lesbian lovers like in the original japanese dub.
Thankfully, mistakes like this definitely never occur in english dubs.
