Hi, there. First off, I'd like to say that your e-zine is one of my most worn-out bookmarks. I wandered over to EX after AMPlus died. Anyway, I simply wanted to thank everybody involved for making such an enjoyable, informative publication.
Concerning the question of whether subbing or dubbing is better, I prefer subtitles. I just think that anime is a form of art and should be treated as such. I believe that dubbing is akin to taking a classical painting and changing the colour scheme, or taking the sculpture of a person, for example, and changing the face. The artists, writers, producers, AND voice-actors/actresses work together to produce a piece of art. If, instead of changing the voice actors, one changed the artists or writers involved in the making of anime, it would be something totally different from the original. That's not what I'm after, I like authenticity, and subtitles are the closest I can get to the original and still understand it.
Aside from taking away the authenticity of anime, dubbing almost always sounds strange. I don't know why, but the Japanese voice-actors/actresses just seem to do a better job at portraying their characters than English-speaking ones.
All in all, it is merely a matter of personal opinion. From what I've heard from friends, most people like dubbing because of the simplicity. Personally, though, I enjoy anime much more if I cannot understand a word I hear!
Keep up the great work! And thanks again!

From: Jason Glasco (sglasco@juno.com)

Dear EX,

I just discovered your online magazine and I think it is great! I am one of those new people in the anime world but I am writing about the topic subs vs dubs. Personally I think subs are much better because the voices seem to suit the characters much better. To me RANMA is the perfect example. Ranma-chan sounds very lady like in Ranma U.S but in the Japanese Ranma-chan seems to act much more like the regular Ranma would. And to me the voice is the biggest part of the anime, because without it the character could not come to life. And to me the worst thing you can do to an anime is change the music. Sony got STREET FIGHTER II and ruined it. I have been also trying to get people in my school to watch anime but nobody wants to read subs! I hate this.
Thanks and keep up the great work!

From: Wilfung Martono (martono@cae.wisc.edu)

In your fourth EX magazine edition, you said that you are conducting a survey whether one prefer subtitling films or dubbed films better. I prefer subtitled films than dubbed ones. My reasons are:

a. In dubbed version, there are many times that the writer of the script has to edit what the character really said to fit the time of mouth movement in the film. b. Sometimes, the voice actor used in the film is not good enough or probably it because the editing process is not good enough. Example: Around one month ago, there is a debate whether TENCHI MUYO IN LOVE! dubbed version is good or not. Many said it was not good enough. c. Listening to the real Japanese voice actor (seiyuu) feels more like watching the same version of the film that is distributed in Japan. d. It can improve your hearing over Japanese language. (Probably, because I am learning Japanese now)

I think there are more good reasons that what I have stated above. I thank you for allowing me to express my opinions in this survey.

From: Jerry Hsu (jh32@cornell.edu)

In the sub vs dub war, I have to say I'm overwhelmingly for subtitles. I will actually go on record to say that I am not against dubs and will actually watch good ones. Thus far, the only unwatchable dubs I've seen have been BGC and RANMA (not that I have seen dubbed versions of everything I've seen subtitled nor would I go out of my way to do so.) Among the dubs I have seen that I consider good (ie, acting such that it wasn't distracting me) are TOTORO, GHOST IN THE SHELL, TENCHI MUYO IN LOVE!, and even, yes, AKIRA. The best dub I've probably heard thus far (I haven't heard the YUA dub yet) is about 5 minutes of GENESIS SURVIVOR GAIARTH 3 which saddens me a bit that the talent couldn't have been used on a better anime like say BGC. However, while I'm not an avid dub hater, I'll never buy a dubbed tape and the digital track on my Pioneer LDs will on average be used once. I simply cannot foresee a day when I will see the acting in a dubbed being better than the original Japanese so thusly, subtitles win out.

From: Daniel Baird (dbaird@mail.usyd.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia

Well, here is my two cents worth. To put it simply, I find the disruption caused by little words on the bottom of the screen far less intrusive and annoying than English speaking voice actors with American accents (no offence meant). If you live in North America this would of course sound perfectly normal but to the rest of the world it sounds odd. I know for a fact that here in Australia dubs are very much disliked by nearly all fans. Personally I quite like the dubbed version of "MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO" that I have but I haven't liked any others. I suppose if dubs were of a higher standard I would like them better. Ideally I would like a "Babelfish" (as in 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy') to pop in my ear so that I could instantly understand Japanese and do away with the sub vs. dub problem once and for all. (continued)