Sub vs Dub debate: I watched Akira both ways and the gap is huge

I finally sat down and watched Akira for the first time last weekend. Did the dub first because I was multitasking yard work. Sounded flat. Like they were reading lines in a booth. Then I watched it subbed the next night. Completely different movie. The emotion hit harder. The timing matched the animation way better. The original voice actors put real grit into Kaneda and Tetsuo. The dub felt like a budget version. I know some people swear by dubs for action scenes. But after comparing both versions back to back I can't see how anyone picks the dub for this one. Is it just nostalgia for the old Streamline dub or do people genuinely think it holds up?

3 comments

3 Comments

jana_henderson5211d ago

Sub vs dub is like asking someone if they prefer a homemade meal or fast food.

tessacarter1mo ago

I used to be a dub lifer for everything, but the "TETSUOOOO" scream in the sub made me switch teams for good on Akira.

henderson.kim1mo ago

Wait, wait, wait. I mean, I gotta stop you right there @tessacarter. That scream is definitely iconic but I can't believe you would just drop dubs completely over one line. Like, that scene hits hard in both versions, you know? The dub actor kills the emotional weight too, even if it's not a raw, unhinged scream. I've watched Akira in sub maybe three times and I still prefer the dub for the overall vibe and the voice cast. Maybe it's just me but that one moment doesn't make the whole sub superior for me.