I don't know nearly enough Japanese to know how to ask where I can find a bathroom. English is my primary language. I am not one of those people who will only listen to the original language of a product regardless of what that language might be. So why did I become a Japanese/sub-only guy? I believe one of Piro's rants from some time ago concerned the subject of why he listened to Japanese despite being similarly lacking in Japanese (although he knows a fair bit more than I do ). He suggested that although he didn't know the words, he could still understand the acting and differentiate between what was good and what was bad. Even if I'm actually quoting someone else ( ), these sentiments are my own.
I initially watched a good twenty shows with English dubs first and then Japanese/subtitled releases after that. In each and every case, I vastly preferred the job the Japanese actors did, some shows to the point that I liked them when listening to the Japanese version (namely Ninja Scroll). After that point, I pretty much stopped watching any English dubs. This point has been further confirmed by a quote from an English VA - Wendee Lee, I believe (although my memory may again be playing tricks on me). She suggested that English VAs could improve on the job of the Japanese VAs by having better lip synching. If that's what English VAs are aspiring for, that may be the reason I have such a different opinion of the two languages. On the first episode of the post-Kyoto arc of Kenshin, there was a guest VA who was totally off in lip synching (I'm talking Godzilla dub off here). But you know what? The acting itself was superb. In just this way, I find that Japanese acting "clicks" with me more. I laugh a lot more at some Japanese acting (especially in Gokudo) when I have no response to the English track. I've been brought to tears by the performances in shows like the RK OVAs when I feel nothing in the English adaptation.
So what if I don't "understand" everything that's being said? If it is one of the main reasons why I love anime so much, is that not enough reason for me to listen to the Japanese track?
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