7 Anime That Are Better in Dub Than Sub

Frequently, purists argue that Japanese audio with subtitles offers the most genuine experience. However, at times, due to exceptional acting, cultural adjustments, or extraordinary creativity, English dubs can go beyond simple translation to produce something distinct, perhaps even superior?

In simpler terms, these seldom-seen dubbed versions don’t just match the original, they improve it in various ways. For instance, the acting performances might perfectly embody a character’s spirit, the script could make cultural references easier to understand for Western viewers, and the production quality often surpasses expectations. These dubbed versions have their own artistic value that can rival or even exceed the source material.

They show us that adaptation, when done right, becomes reinterpretation with its own voice.

7. Cowboy Bebop

Jazz-Infused Space Western

Cowboy Bebop follows the story of space bounty hunter Spike Spiegel, along with his motley group on board the starship Bebop, who pursue fugitives throughout the solar system, all while grappling with their haunted personal histories.

In the dubbed version of the show, skillfully led by director Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Steve Blum delivers an unforgettable portrayal of Spike. His depiction of the character’s weary yet cool demeanor has earned him high praise from numerous Japanese voice actors, as they recognize his exceptional interpretation.

In a more conversational manner: Beau Billingslea gives depth to Jet Black’s character, while Wendee Lee beautifully portrays Faye Valentine’s hidden vulnerability despite her tough exterior as a femme fatale. The dialogue is realistic and its pace harmonizes wonderfully with the show’s jazz-inspired background music.

The reason this show transcends to legendary heights is because it authentically embodies the diverse essence of its series. The universe of Cowboy Bebop was deliberately styled after the West, with characters who, within the storyline, would naturally converse in English.

As a fan, I find myself completely immersed in the dialogue of this dub, as it seamlessly blends colloquial speech and noir tones that authentically echo the cinematic influences of the show. The language feels like it’s organically woven into the fabric of the world, becoming an integral aspect of the storytelling rather than a mere adaptation.

6. Baccano!

Prohibition-Era Supernatural Chaos

1930s America serves as the backdrop for Baccano!, a tale that intertwines various storylines featuring immortal alchemists, mafia clans, and train heists. The intricate plot unfolds in a non-chronological manner, focusing on an extensive roster of vibrant characters who initially appear to have unrelated stories. As the narrative progresses, these separate threads gradually unravel, revealing surprising links that span across different timeframes.

As a gamer, I can’t help but appreciate the English dub’s outstanding ability to bring historical accuracy to life through spot-on period-specific accents. Each character’s unique dialect, whether it’s gritty New York, smooth Chicago, or Southern drawl, instantly immerses me in their world and gives them a tangible, relatable identity.

Bryan Massey, J. Michael Tatum, and Monica Rial all provide exceptional voice acting performances that brilliantly embody the show’s unique blend of intense energy and dark comedy as Ladd Russo, Isaac Dian, and Claire Stanfield respectively.

In a clever move, Director Tyler Walker fully immersed himself in the American backdrop of the story, making it seem less like a foreign adaptation and more akin to an animated period mob movie.

In a more conversational style, let me rephrase it for you: The fast-paced conversation, ’30s jargon, and diverse accents make this show feel authentic to its historical era in ways that the Japanese audio, even with high-quality subtitles, might not fully capture.

5. Ghost Stories

The Ultimate Adaptation Reinvention

In this extraordinary series, young students initially encounter a collection of eerie ghost tales, which eventually prove to be genuine perils they have to vanquish. Unlike the conventional Japanese children’s horror animation, the English-dubbed version deviated remarkably and underwent a significant transformation.

In an effort to boost flagging sales forecasts for a rather ordinary production, ADV Films was granted an uncommon privilege to significantly revise the script, while keeping the fundamental storyline intact. This led to the creation of a hilariously disrespectful comedy, brimming with mature humor, pop culture references, and spontaneous dialogue, which is barely recognizable compared to the original’s mood. Voice actors like Greg Ayres, Monica Rial, and Hilary Haag delivered performances that seamlessly blended genuine character development with over-the-top comedy.

Ghost Stories stands out as a legendary example in dubbing history due to its ability to transform a mediocre series into something memorable through innovative reimagining. While the original Japanese version has largely been overlooked, the English adaptation earned a devoted following for its daring and unique style.

It’s quite possibly the most striking instance where localization morphs into a transformation process, resulting in something fresh and innovative that many would argue surpasses its original content, due to an impressive display of creative bravery.

4. Yu Yu Hakusho

Spirit Detective Classic

This fantasy-themed TV show centers around Yusuke Urameshi, a rebellious teenager who meets an untimely end while saving a young child. However, he’s miraculously brought back to life not as an ordinary human, but as a “Ghost Investigator” responsible for probing supernatural mysteries in the mortal realm. As the story unfolds, Yusuke and his companions encounter increasingly menacing supernatural adversaries, often through tournament settings and intricate power developments.

In the Funimation dub, which was produced in the late ’90s and early ‘2000s, Justin Cook delivers an outstanding portrayal of Yusuke, embodying his rough-and-tumble demeanor as well as his hidden complexities. Christopher Sabat’s Kazuma Kuwabara and John Burgmeier’s Kurama set the bar high for these characters with their gravelly and calculated performances respectively. The adaptation manages to maintain a faithful translation while also incorporating dialogue that feels natural, avoiding any stiff or unnatural conversations.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire what sets this dub apart – it skillfully maintains the raw edge of delinquency in the series while making character interactions feel genuine to Western viewers. The rapid-fire banter during battles, passionate outbursts, and expertly timed humor all resonate powerfully with me.

3. Black Lagoon

Mercenaries in Southeast Asia

Observe the team from the Black Lagoon, a group of mercenaries who operate in a fictional city plagued by crime in Southeast Asia. One day, during one of their operations, Rokuro Okajima, a Japanese salaryman, is captured. Eventually, he decides to leave his corporate career behind and join them. What prompted this change? Perhaps it was the heat of passion within him?

The English dub stands out due to its convincing portrayal of a multi-lingual universe. Within the storyline, characters hail from various nations (America, Japan, Russia, China), making it plausible that they would communicate effectively in English, serving as their shared language.

Brad Swaile skillfully portrays Rock’s transformation from a corporate worker to a morally complex troubleshooter, while Maryke Hendrikse delivers a standout, profanity-filled performance as “Two Hands,” creating one of the most unforgettable antiheroes in anime.

The outstanding aspect of Black Lagoon’s dub lies in its consistent portrayal of the show’s mature theme. The authentic delivery of a wealth of explicit language, street jargon, and criminal slang effectively establishes a genuine underworld ambiance.

The Japanese audio necessitates subtitles for global discussions, but the English dubbed version seems to offer a more immersive way of experiencing the story as originally envisioned by creator Rei Hiroe.

2. Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

Vulgar Angel Comedy

This over-the-top comedy revolves around angelic siblings Panty and Stocking, who were kicked out of heaven due to their misconduct. Their mission is to annihilate ghosts in Daten City, earning Heaven Coins that can help them regain entry into paradise. The show mimics the animation styles of American adult series such as The Powerpuff Girls and South Park, but takes crude humor to new heights.

The English version of the show maintains its deliberately Western style by using exaggerated acting and frank dialogue. Jamie Marchi portrays Panty in a suggestive manner, while Monica Rial voices Stocking, who has a strong affinity for sweets. Christopher Sabat brings an energetic flair to his role as the eccentric afro-wearing priest, Garterbelt, rounding out the primary cast.

This dub stands out due to its wholehearted embrace of the show’s satirical essence. Panty & Stocking purposefully spoofs American animation and culture, which makes the use of the English language more fitting for its tone and humor. The adaptation doesn’t just translate the abundant sexual innuendos and vulgarity, but elevates them with English puns and colloquialisms that better match the comedic pace.

The outcome seems less like viewing a Japanese program and more like immersing oneself in Western mature cartoons that it delightfully satirizes.

1. Space Dandy

Retro-Futuristic Comedy

Space Dandy, a show dreamt up by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, chronicles the galactic journeys of Dandy – an eccentric “alien hunter” accompanied by his robot companion QT and cat-like alien friend Meow. The series serves as a creative sandbox for diverse animation techniques and sci-fi ideas infused with humor.

In an unusual simultaneous release approach, the English dub of this series debuted prior to its Japanese airing, showcasing Ian Sinclair’s spot-on portrayal of the pompadoured main character.

1) The way Joel McDonald portrays Dandy’s narcissistic soliloquies and absurd philosophizing perfectly encapsulates the endearing mix of arrogance and obliviousness in the character. Joel McDonald as the level-headed QT and Alison Viktorin as the sluggish Meow round out the team with outstanding chemistry.

2) Joel McDonald’s portrayal of Dandy’s self-centered speeches and absurd philosophy beautifully conveys the endearing blend of swagger and cluelessness in the character. Joel McDonald as the pragmatic QT and Alison Viktorin as the idle Meow make up the crew with exceptional chemistry.

3) In his portrayal of Dandy, Joel McDonald captures the character’s endearing mix of bravado and cluelessness through his delivery of self-absorbed monologues and absurd philosophizing. Joel McDonald as the sensible QT and Alison Viktorin as the lazy Meow complete the team with superb chemistry.

4) The way Joel McDonald plays Dandy, with his narcissistic soliloquies and absurd philosophy, perfectly embodies the endearing combination of arrogance and obliviousness in the character. Joel McDonald as the down-to-earth QT and Alison Viktorin as the idle Meow bring the team together with fantastic chemistry.

5) Joel McDonald’s portrayal of Dandy, full of self-absorbed monologues and absurd philosophizing, beautifully illustrates the endearing mix of bravado and cluelessness in the character. Joel McDonald as the realistic QT and Alison Viktorin as the lazy Meow complete the team with excellent chemistry.

6) In his interpretation of Dandy, Joel McDonald skillfully captures the endearing blend of arrogance and obliviousness through his delivery of self-centered monologues and absurd philosophy. Joel McDonald as the rational QT and Alison Viktorin as the idle Meow make up the team with outstanding chemistry.

7) Joel McDonald’s acting as Dandy, where he delivers self-absorbed monologues and absurd philosophizing, perfectly showcases the endearing mix of bravado and cluelessness in the character. Joel McDonald as the prudent QT and Alison Viktorin as the lazy Meow complete the team with exceptional chemistry.

8) Joel McDonald’s performance as Dandy, filled with narcissistic soliloquies and absurd philosophy, beautifully expresses the endearing combination of arrogance and obliviousness in the character. Joel McDonald as the sensible QT and Alison Viktorin as the idle Meow round out the team with fantastic chemistry.

9) In his portrayal of Dandy, Joel McDonald masterfully captures the endearing blend of arrogance and obliviousness through his delivery of self-centered monologues and absurd philosophy. Joel McDonald as the pragmatic QT and Alison Viktorin as the lazy Meow make up the team with outstanding chemistry.

10) Joel McDonald’s acting as Dandy, where he delivers self-absorbed monologues and absurd philosophizing, perfectly portrays the endearing mix of bravado and cluelessness in the character. Joel McDonald as the practical QT and Alison Viktorin as the idle Meow complete the team with excellent chemistry.

The adjustment maintains the show’s physical comedy with a humorous twist, using everyday expressions and precise timing that align perfectly with the series’ comedic narrative style, which is typically filled with absurd situations.

2025-04-05 03:10