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Subs vs. Dubs Introduction
CA: When I started watching the Digimon Adventure anime on Kids WB as a kid, the only option was to watch the dubbed
version by Saban Entertainment.
CA: The anime premiered in 1999, and the culture of localzing anime was very different than it is currently.
CA: Famously, Pokemon: Indigo League includes one of the main characters, Brock, referring to a rice ball as a "jelly-filled donut," and all Japanese text within the early seasons were removed, often replaced with very basic English text, if it was replaced at all.
CA: This didn't start with either Digimon nor Pokemon; the practice of heavily editing anime series also affected the DiC distribution of Sailor Moon on Cartoon Network in 1995.
CA: I won't get into the entire history of anime dubbing here, as I wasn't culturally aware of what was happening during the era that I'm discussing, and I don't feel like a full history is necessary for this opinion piece.
CA: I just want to get across that the idea that the dubs that came out around that time were far less invested in preserving the original intention or culture of the series.
CA: So, let's say that you're a teenager or adult who has just learned that the show you like is likely changed from its source material, and you're interested in seeing the show in a context closer to the intended reading.
CA: Enter the Subs vs. Dubs Debate.
CA: The anime premiered in 1999, and the culture of localzing anime was very different than it is currently.
CA: Famously, Pokemon: Indigo League includes one of the main characters, Brock, referring to a rice ball as a "jelly-filled donut," and all Japanese text within the early seasons were removed, often replaced with very basic English text, if it was replaced at all.
CA: This didn't start with either Digimon nor Pokemon; the practice of heavily editing anime series also affected the DiC distribution of Sailor Moon on Cartoon Network in 1995.
CA: I won't get into the entire history of anime dubbing here, as I wasn't culturally aware of what was happening during the era that I'm discussing, and I don't feel like a full history is necessary for this opinion piece.
CA: I just want to get across that the idea that the dubs that came out around that time were far less invested in preserving the original intention or culture of the series.
CA: So, let's say that you're a teenager or adult who has just learned that the show you like is likely changed from its source material, and you're interested in seeing the show in a context closer to the intended reading.
CA: Enter the Subs vs. Dubs Debate.
:: computerAdministrator ::
Subs vs. Dubs - Pros and Cons
CA: With the context provided above, it can be easy to join the Subs vs. Dubs debate on the side of Subs.
CA: Subs tend to be closer to the original source material and tend to include things from the original culture that don't necessarily directly translate into the target culture, which is fascinating from an audience's perspective.
CA: However, there are definitely reasons to enjoy the Dub of a show, even if you have access to Subs as well.
CA: For starters, there is a nostalgia factor if you saw the dubbed version of a show first that cannot be replaced by the subbed version.
CA: If you have dyslexia or have difficulty keeping track of the subtitles at the same time as the visuals, then the dubbed version is likely to be more accessible.
CA: Dubs can allow people to hear the subtleties of the voice acting, and the word choices in the localized language can help inform the audience about the characters' personalities and beliefs.
CA: There is a difference between a character saying "You maniac!" versus "You monster!" versus "You madman!" and other variations, for example, even though they all express a feeling of disgust and opposition.
CA: Depending on the context, there can be characterizations that are missed through a sub that a dub may adapt, such as local accents being changed to a more immediately recognizeable accent that conveys a similar personality.
CA: All of these point for Subs vs. Dubs are ultimately a personal opinion, and there are reasons to prefer one over another, but it's not necessary to paint with a wide brush; one can enjoy the sub of one anime while enjoying the dub of another.
CA: Or one can enjoy the sub and dub of the same anime!
CA: That all being said, this is my opinion on the Sub vs. Dub of Digimon.
CA: Subs tend to be closer to the original source material and tend to include things from the original culture that don't necessarily directly translate into the target culture, which is fascinating from an audience's perspective.
CA: However, there are definitely reasons to enjoy the Dub of a show, even if you have access to Subs as well.
CA: For starters, there is a nostalgia factor if you saw the dubbed version of a show first that cannot be replaced by the subbed version.
CA: If you have dyslexia or have difficulty keeping track of the subtitles at the same time as the visuals, then the dubbed version is likely to be more accessible.
CA: Dubs can allow people to hear the subtleties of the voice acting, and the word choices in the localized language can help inform the audience about the characters' personalities and beliefs.
CA: There is a difference between a character saying "You maniac!" versus "You monster!" versus "You madman!" and other variations, for example, even though they all express a feeling of disgust and opposition.
CA: Depending on the context, there can be characterizations that are missed through a sub that a dub may adapt, such as local accents being changed to a more immediately recognizeable accent that conveys a similar personality.
CA: All of these point for Subs vs. Dubs are ultimately a personal opinion, and there are reasons to prefer one over another, but it's not necessary to paint with a wide brush; one can enjoy the sub of one anime while enjoying the dub of another.
CA: Or one can enjoy the sub and dub of the same anime!
CA: That all being said, this is my opinion on the Sub vs. Dub of Digimon.
:: computerAdministrator ::
Digimon - Sub vs. Dub
CA: I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
CA: I prefer the sub of Digimon over the dub.
CA: Yes, I'm refering to Digimon as a series writ large, not just the Digimon Adventure anime.
CA: I watched the dub as a kid, and for a Saturday Morning Cartoon, this was awesome!
CA: However, re-visiting the series as an adult, there were some immediate issues that took me out of the show.
CA: For example, in the first episode, the world is being plagued by weird weather phenomena that is meant to herald the physical world and the Digital World coming into contact with one another.
CA: In the sub, this is narrated by a third-person omniscient narraitor who treats the situation with gravitas and a "matter-of-fact" detached personality.
CA: In the dub, this same situation is narrated by Yagami Taichi, known as Tai in the dub, and among other descriptions, he describes the Middle East as being "covered in huge floods, like chocolate sauce."
CA: ...I feel like I do not need to justify myself on why that specific wording made me swap to the sub.
CA: However, I also found other inconsistencies and translation weirdness that I'm not a fan of, and I wanted to talk about some of them.
CA: I prefer the sub of Digimon over the dub.
CA: Yes, I'm refering to Digimon as a series writ large, not just the Digimon Adventure anime.
CA: I watched the dub as a kid, and for a Saturday Morning Cartoon, this was awesome!
CA: However, re-visiting the series as an adult, there were some immediate issues that took me out of the show.
CA: For example, in the first episode, the world is being plagued by weird weather phenomena that is meant to herald the physical world and the Digital World coming into contact with one another.
CA: In the sub, this is narrated by a third-person omniscient narraitor who treats the situation with gravitas and a "matter-of-fact" detached personality.
CA: In the dub, this same situation is narrated by Yagami Taichi, known as Tai in the dub, and among other descriptions, he describes the Middle East as being "covered in huge floods, like chocolate sauce."
CA: ...I feel like I do not need to justify myself on why that specific wording made me swap to the sub.
CA: However, I also found other inconsistencies and translation weirdness that I'm not a fan of, and I wanted to talk about some of them.
:: computerAdministrator ::
Digivolution Stages
CA: When you compare the original Japanese Digivolution Stages versus the localized English stages, I feel like there's a stark difference
in how the series is portrayed.
CA: The original Japanese tends to emphasize how the Digimon is growing and entering different life stages.
CA: As a V-Pet released from the same company as Tamagotchi and meant to be a "boy's counterpart" to said Tamagotchi, it makes sense that the Digimon goes from Digitama (meaning Digi-Egg) to Baby to Child to Adult.
CA: The jump to Perfect is an interesting choice, but I read it as though the Digimon has perfected their battle techniques.
CA: Ending with Ultimate makes sense, as most Digimon lines don't get a Super Ultimate, and it's been said that the "Super Ultimate" classification is meant to be a designation of an Ultimate Digimon with a lot of power as opposed to a full Digivolution Stage.
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CA: The original Japanese tends to emphasize how the Digimon is growing and entering different life stages.
CA: As a V-Pet released from the same company as Tamagotchi and meant to be a "boy's counterpart" to said Tamagotchi, it makes sense that the Digimon goes from Digitama (meaning Digi-Egg) to Baby to Child to Adult.
CA: The jump to Perfect is an interesting choice, but I read it as though the Digimon has perfected their battle techniques.
CA: Ending with Ultimate makes sense, as most Digimon lines don't get a Super Ultimate, and it's been said that the "Super Ultimate" classification is meant to be a designation of an Ultimate Digimon with a lot of power as opposed to a full Digivolution Stage.
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