Many anime fans around the world are split on the topic of dubbed vs subbed. There are those who prefer dubs because it’s less distracting from the visuals than reading subtitles or it’s just more appealing to watch something in their native language. Then there are viewers who turn their nose up at the mere mention of watching the dubbed version of a show and frankly I can’t blame them. It’s too often an occurrence that the new voice acting and translated scripts will be awkward, annoying, or just downright laughable; however that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel on dubs entirely! In this list I’ll be presenting three dubs that did it right and truly deserve a pat on the back.
Inuyasha
This popular anime of the early 2000s tells the tale of fifteen year-old Kagome Higurashi who is dragged back 500 years into the past and confronted by demons, new responsibilities, and perhaps most frustrating of all—romance. The show is filled to the brim with action and comedy that no doubt requires an enthusiastic delivery. The English cast gives an energetic and highly entertaining performance on par with their Japanese counterparts; especially in regards to the title character, Inuyasha, who happens to yell quite a lot throughout the series. Some people, including myself, even prefer the English voices of certain characters!
Toradora
Toradora is a cute and thoughtful romance that deals with the ever emotional topic of discovering and understanding love. The entire English cast does a splendid job but who truly steals the show for me is not the fiery “Palmtop Tiger” Taiga, one of the most well-known and beloved tsundere characters, but her close friend: the chipper Minori. The seemingly air-headed softball captain is voiced by Christine Marie Cabanos who’d previously voiced roles such as Squid Girl and Madoka Kaname so clearly she’s got the cutesy game down pat. Her voice work added to Minori’s endearing nature tenfold with powerfully conveyed emotions to boot.
Spirited Away
Most people I’ve spoken to have mixed feelings on Disney owning the US distribution rights for any Ghibli films, but it’s hard to argue they’re not good at what they do and it’s no different for the English dub of Spirited Away. Led by skilled actors like Daveigh Chase, well known for voicing Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, the dub perfectly captures the charm of the award winning feature. The script is also impressively well synced to the original animation, no lip movement feeling out of place.
That brings our list to a close. If you agree, disagree, or have a dubbed series you would add to the list let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
