“Having a dual-monitor set up is gonna make me tons more productive! When coding I can have a reference image to work off of; when trying to crack an algorithm I can use the second monitor to perform multiple simulations; when doing photoshop and doing minor edits I can work off the other image! We got this this!”
So, uh. . . is half watching anime in the background while grinding in video games productive? I suppose that’s a matter of, nebulous, perspective.
Point is after having a second monitor for a few months now, I’ve taken to watching a lot more anime, specifically dubbed, to listen/half-watch in the background on late nights while spacing out monotonously grinding away with pixels, A.K.A, playing Destiny 2. The standard fair was first, rewatching my favorite series that I always watched dubbed; Berserk; Hellsing & Ultimate; Devil May Cry; Trigun; Wolf’s Rain; Kino’s Journey. Then I took a step into more recent times and decided to rewatch some anime series dubbed that I had never listened to. Turns out they’re pretty good, and I wish I gave more of a chance.
The Konosuba dub? Just as hilarious, in my opinion, as the Japanese. Hunter x Hunter? Pretty damn good if I do say so myself, Keith Silverstein's Hisoka is masterful. Btoom. Chunnibyou. Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Bladeworks. None of these dubs were really bad at all, I wouldn’t even say generic.
This makes me wonder and be skeptical at “sub purist”, as it were, even more? I’ve heard the same arguments again and again and again, especially since I’m someone who most of the time leans towards the Japanese audio, but still find the notion overzealous.
“It’s the way the show was meant to be watched.” Really? You’re telling me Japan meant for you to be reading subtitles as well as watching the show? O-o Something tells me that wasn’t the case, that’s like saying you have to read Dracula instead of listening to it via audiobook because Bram Stoker didn’t originally intend for you to enjoy it that way. How drenched in semantics is such a thing?
“Subs have better voices.” Um, hate to burst your bubble, but how can you, someone I’m assuming who is not just unable to speak fluently, but wasn’t raised in any part of Japan understanding of such a dialectic that, once again, you cannot fluently speak? Some things are universal, surely, but you know the nuances of and vocal patterns of an entirely different language and tongue from your own? No offense, but I don’t exactly believe you. This seems to be a matter of linguistic bias as well as perspective bias, we are able to pinpoint what is “bad voice acting” in dubs because we are raised in a language and culture that is speaks, in majority, English, so we’re fit to judge it in a very nuanced way, the same cannot be applied to subs because many, I’d say most of us, do not understand in full the extent of the dialectic.
While any of the arguments made fall over like a house of cards with the slightest threat of opposition, I will refrain, as that’s a topic for another day. Point is, I’m giving dubs more of a chance now for more recent shows, as due to exploring slightly more recent ones, seems they’re not all that bad, I’d dare say pretty good.
Perhaps this is productive, in its own way. Till next time.
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