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Subs versus dubs is one of the oldest and most heated debates in anime fan communities. Some argue that the original Japanese voice acting with subtitles is the superior way to watch anime, while others say that the dubs are just as good, if not better. In most cases, the argument of “subs or dubs” has shifted from being about all anime, to being about specific anime.
Everyone can watch anime their own way, that’s what’s so great about subs and dubs and all the new streaming services that provide access to massive anime libraries. In other words, the final call will always come down to the individual viewer. That said, there are some anime that work much better when subbed, whereas others need to be dubbed.
Updated on April 3, 2023 by Ajay Aravind: The pop-cultural war between subbed and dubbed anime will likely continue as long as the medium exists. Some viewers prefer watching their shows in the original Japanese, whereas others would rather experience them in English (or their native language). While there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to watching anime, the audience will inevitably end up deciding how they want to experience their favorite programs.
Better Subbed
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is arguably one of the most popular shonen anime series out there, perhaps even a contender for the Big Three. This show is much better with its original Japanese audio, despite the hard work put in by the dub team and the English-language voice actors.
For one thing, the acting is phenomenal, allowing viewers to hear how the manga characters should sound. Further, the original is superior because the dub seems to make a point of casting the characters with VAs similar to their Japanese voices. More importantly, the subbed anime is released much earlier, which is a huge plus point in its favor.
Kill La Kill
Kill La Kill is another anime where the dub cast did a fantastic job. It features a wide range of English VAs filling the role, all of whom put out some exceptional performances. Although it might be tempting to watch the dub, the sub wins out for multiple reasons.
The Japanese cast brings out some truly masterful voice acting, with poignant deliveries and a complete control over the show’s comedic and dramatic elements. Additionally, the original language fits better because Kill la Kill is set in a Japanese high school.
Attack On Titan
Not every anime in a Euro-esque setting works better as a dub, as is the case with Attack on Titan. Though this series lost a bit of steam when it entered its fourth season, the first three seasons are explosive and savage and remarkable all at once. As such, the show is best enjoyed with its original Japanese voice acting.
The reason for this is that the yelling and dramatic acting hit much harder in Japanese, especially the brutal scenes in which humans are devoured by the mindless Titans. There’s just something much more devastating about the dramatic highs and lows in the sub rather than in the dub.
Durarara!!
Durarara!! follows several characters as they deal with the goings-on in Ikebukuro, a city plagued by crime, gangs, and supernatural happenings. What makes this series so interesting is that the perspective changes with each episode, almost as though the plot is the main protagonist that subsequently encounters other characters as it unfolds.
One might think that this would result in a confusing series to watch in Japanese with subtitles, but this really isn’t the case. Not only is the sub of Durarara!! the opposite of confusing, it is also a great way to experience the sheer breadth and scope of this underrated anime program.
Blue Exorcist
Blue Exorcist has been described as “Hellboy in high school,” a statement that still holds up. The series follows Rin, the spawn of Satan, who aims to become a demon-fighting exorcist. Blue Exorcist could be viewed as a dub, but the themes and concepts in this anime are better served in sub format.
The Japanese-language casting is far more apt — each voice actor fits perfectly in the sub, their vocal inflections and timbre pairing nicely with the characters they’re playing. Although the VAs in the dub are clearly very talented, the casting choices just don’t seem to make sense, especially after watching the sub.
Food Wars!
Food Wars! was the sleeper hit of the last few anime seasons, coming out from under the radar to become one of the most memorable series of all time. This cooking-based shonen series deserves to be watched in its authentic language, considering the show’s partial focus on Japanese cuisine.
For one thing, the descriptions of and reactions to the food — a major comedic aspect of the series—work better in Japanese. Secondly, the acting in general seems to be a bit better in the sub, hitting all the right comedic and dramatic beats.
Little Witch Academia
Little Witch Academia revolves around Atsuko Kagari’s desire to become a witch, but she struggles to keep up with her classmates at the prestigious Luna Nova Academy. She eventually rises to the occasion and proves herself, but not before undergoing a series of trials and tribulations.
This anime seriesis wonderful in both Japanese and English but after much consideration, viewers should reserve their attention for the subbed version of the anime. In Little Witch Academia, which has Trigger’s signature style, something just clicks better with the original voice tracks.
Death Note
The dub cast of Death Note gave a stellar performance, coming close to the quality of the sub. However, at the end of the day, the dub just can’t compete with the sub, which has some wonderfully tense and emotionally complex performances from its voice-acting cast.
Perhaps the best example of this comes in comparing the final scenes of the dub and sub. Light’s tragic cries of pain and his evil speech feel so much more guttural and hit much harder in Japanese. That’s not to say his dying moments are any less profound in English, but viewers would rather experience Light’s downfall in his native tongue.
One-Punch Man
Though it has a superhero motif, One-Punch Man is a parody of the shonen battle genre of anime and manga. The story playfully subverts the overpowered hero trope by making Saitama too strong to have fun fighting, which tends to be a Shonen protagonist’s favorite thing to do.
As the show is such a surreal satire of anime and manga as a whole, the original Japanese dialogue seems much more fitting. Moreover, the numerous gags, comedic high points, and parody elements scattered across the series pack a stronger punch in the original version of the series.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is seriously weird, so anime newcomers should leave this one alone before they watch at least a few gateway anime. On the other hand, fans who love anime and want a hilariously complicated series to obsess over would prefer watching JoJo in its subtitled format.
The wacky nature of the series feels more unique and fun in Japanese. That said, another good reason to watch the sub is that characters with names based on American trademarks aren’t forced to have their names changed, thereby preserving more of the show’s original flavor.
One Piece
Some fans might argue that the sheer number of episodes in One Piece would automatically make it dub-worthy, but this isn’t exactly the case. Although the dub is slightly more accessible for those trying to get into the series, it’s also somewhat incoherent.
Problems with consistency began cropping up after 4Kids stopped dubbing One Piece and new voice actors were brought in. The show maintains its unique approach throughout, mirroring Oda’s manga storyline with near-perfect faithfulness, but the sub is just a shade more consistent than the dub.
Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Z was pretty serious, but when Dragon Ball Super came around, comedy made a return to the franchise. As such, the original Japanese VAs felt right at home in the newest Dragon Ball Series, but that’s not the only reason why Super is better as a sub.
For one thing, the series is finished in Japan, so viewers can watch the entire thing instead of waiting for the dub. Another reason to watch the sub is to see just how dramatic Goku’s Japanese voice, Masako Nozawa, can get in her iconic role.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball was more adventure and comedy-focused than Dragon Ball Z, so it wouldn’t be that farfetched to assume that the Japanese VAs were cast with the intent of filling those comedic adventurer roles. Regardless if this is the case, the Japanese cast of Dragon Ball seems much more fitting to the early comedy-adventure days of the series.
Although both versions are great, fans are likely to enjoy watching the original Dragon Ball series in Japanese. Another reason to watch the subs is to get some variety in watching all the entries in the franchise, especially since DBZ works much better in its dubbed format.
Better Dubbed
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric as they seek to find the philosopher’s stone and restore their bodies back to normal. They eventually win in the end, but not Edward pays the ultimate price to save his little brother.
The series’ setting is partly why this anime worked better dubbed. The country of Amestris was inspired by industrial Europe, so hearing these characters speak English fits very well. It’s that the characters can’t speak Japanese, since it’s a fantasy world after all. However, the dub cast really brought their A-game, making for the superior version of the series.
Tiger And Bunny
Tiger & Bunny is a superhero anime about an old veteran of the game and a rookie who he is forced to partner with, creating a buddy-cop superhero series with the added twist of the protagonists competing on a reality show.
This series works better as a dub because of the setting, which takes place in a multicultural, melting-pot city known as Sternbild. Though the country of Sternbild is never stated, the fact that the megalopolis is so diverse and based on New York really makes the English dub work.
Trigun
Trigun is easily one of the coolest anime series of all time, standing as one of the best space western stories in all of pop culture. The series follows Vash the Stampede, a gunman with a huge bounty on his head for how much destruction he leaves in his wake.
This series can be watched in either sub or dub format, but the dub is much funnier. Also, Johnny Yong Bosch’s voice acting as Vash is nothing short of delightful, as is the rest of the dub cast in their respective roles.
Fairy Tail
Fairy Tail is a series about Natsu Dragneel, a fire wizard of the Fairy Tail guild. He and his friends adventure and quest across the land, inevitably saving the world along the way. The series is a whole lot of fun and worth checking out for fans who want a magic-heavy One Piece.
As for which version to check out, the dub is superior for two main reasons. First, the cast is great, and each character feels unique and refreshing. On top of this, the dub makes the series easier for English speakers to binge-watch, which is necessary given its massive episode count.
91 Days
Anyone who likes gangster movies would enjoy watching 91 Days. A tale of revenge during the Prohibition era, this story follows Avilio Bruno/Angelo Lagusa as he infiltrates the gang that murdered his family in order to deliver justice to those who orphaned him.
The acting is phenomenal in both the dub and the sub, but the dub is ever so slightly better. While other anime taking place in America might include some over-the-top accents, 91 Days dub is subtle, wonderfully acted, and overall just top-notch —the English VAs really bring the characters and setting to life.
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt was patterned after 90s Cartoon Network shows, coming off as a much more dirty version of those childhood favorites. As such, the dub of the series is the superior version, since English is more fitting to the art style, which captures the American cartoon aesthetic perfectly.
Additionally, the dub gets a bit more creative with all the swearing and language that comes with this absurdly obscene and overtly absurd anime. The English-language voice actors offer hilarious performances that effectively blow the sub out of the water.
Bleach
As in Trigun, Johnny Yong Bosch is a fantastic dub VA, and it’s his voice that is the primary reason for watching Bleach in English. Not only does Bosch have great range while portraying Ichigo Kurosaki, the scruffy yet lovable protagonist, but there are also a lot of other great cast members of the dub.
In addition to the great cast and acting, Bleach holds a bit of a nostalgia factor for many American fans, since it was first broadcast on Adult Swim as a dubbed series. The anime’s final arc is currently being released.
Naruto
Countless future anime fans grew up watching the Naruto dub on Toonami. This nostalgia factor played a major part in these viewers lives, which is why this anime is simply better as a dub. However, there are a few more reasons to avoid the sub.
Naruto’s English VA, Maile Flanagan, is a much better fit for the character, mainly because she captures his stubborn but friendly nature while simultaneously giving him a grating but powerful voice. The voice of Sasuke, Yuri Lowenthal — who played Spider-Man in the PS4 game — is also a win for the dub.
Soul Eater
Soul Eater is like Harry Potter, if it was about a school that trained grim reapers rather than young wizards. As such, this anime is a great gateway series to get people into the medium. Soul Eater is even better for English-speaking newcomers to watch anime, as dubs are much more palatable and accessible than subs.
In the case of Soul Eater, the dubs are well done and do a good job of bringing the same energy from the sub into the English dialogue, not to mention improving upon the source material with diverse voices and great performances.
Gurren Lagann
The two main characters of Gurren Lagann, Kamina and Simon, are reason alone to watch it dubbed since they’re voiced by Kyle Herbert (adult Gohan) and Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10 and PS4’s Spider-Man). The rest of the cast is just as spectacular as these two protagonists, and the English dub in general is the superior version of this fantastic anime series.
The cheesiness of the English dialogue in Gurren Lagann actually works to the dub’s advantage, as the story is an over-the-top subversion of cheesy mecha and shonen anime, putting a lot of heart behind the ludicrously exaggerated action sequences.
Space Dandy
Space Dandy was directed by Shinchiro Watanabe, and it reads like a more comedic, outlandish version of Cowboy Bebop, arguably Watanabe’s crowning achievement. Even more interesting, however, is the fact that this series first aired in America before Japan.
The dub airing before the sub is practically unheard of, but this is exactly why the English-language version is the better option. Additionally, the humor of the series works better in the dub, and overall the English cast did a great job with all the outlandish characters in Space Dandy.
Dragon Ball Z
When it comes to the most popular entry in the Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball Z is unquestionably much better in English. Although subs are available much sooner, the English voice actors fit the hard action and dramatic shift that DBZ marked in Goku’s evolving character arc.
In other words, where the Japanese voice actors were cast for a comedy adventure, the English VAs were cast for an action series, and that’s why their voices fit so well. Plus, nostalgia plays more than a small role in this recommendation.
Cowboy Bebop
Shinchiro Watanabe’s Cowboy Bebop is much more popular in America than in Japan. Because of its iconic global status, the dub is a much more fitting way to watch the show. However, there are plenty of other reasons to watch the English version for anyone still unconvinced.
For one thing, the Quality of the dub is top-notch, despite it being produced before the current golden age of dubbing techniques and the like. Second, there is just absolutely no beating Steve Blum’s cool-as-ice portrayal of Spike Spiegel, Cowboy Bebop’s rebellious protagonist.
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