Dub localization

Dub localization , also often referred to as localization , is a form of a voice-over . It is the practice of voice-over translation altering a foreign language movie , art film or television series by voice actors .

Dub localization is a hot button issue in active cinephilia Amongst aficionados of foreign filmmaking and television programs , PARTICULARLY animates fans have dubs are still a popular form of translation of animated series. While some localization is certainly unavoidable in translation, the controversy surrounding how much localization is “too much” is often much-discussed in such communities, especially when the final product is significantly different from the original. Some frown on any local localization, while others expect it, to a degree, appreciate it.

Some dub localizations are considered to be very different.

Controversial dub localizations

Many localized dubs are the object of much controversy. One of the most popular examples of a controversial dub localization is the Sailor Moon series by DIC Entertainment , which was heavily edited to remove episodes, change the animation (such as flipping the animation in some scenes that were not driving on the “wrong” side of the road compared to US driving laws) [1] and extensively using the valley girl slang and other slanguage . [2] The first 65 episodes were the most famous for this. Later seasons had less editing on the Japanese cultural contents and virtually none of the animation. However, the Cloverway Inc.dub of the third and fourth seasons is still controversial due to multiple character name exchange, inconsistencies in things Including names of attacks plot-significant gold items, [3] the changing of a crossdressing character’s sex, [2] the making of Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptuneinto cousins ​​in an attempt to disguise their original lesbian relationship, [4] and the reference of Japanese kana in the context of “symbols” instead of the original context of having no Kanji . Despite these changes, many fans of the series like the dubbed version because of its nostalgicvalue. The first two seasons of Sailor Moon have been released, untitled, subtitled DVD box sets , and the third and fourth seasons had uncut dubbed, edited dubbed, and subtitled home video releases in addition to bilingual DVDs.

Many of the anime dubs by 4Kids Entertainment , such as those for Yu-Gi-Oh! Yu-Gi-Oh! GX , Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s , Sonic X , Tokyo Mew Mew , Pokemon , Shaman King , Kirby: Right Back at Ya! , and most notably One Piece are controversial among many anime fans of localization issues, including extensive and sometime weirdly censored (such as changing a gun to a pop gun or a cigarette to a lollipop) in order to release on American children’s television. Similar treatment Was Given To other foreign titles They Obtained the rights to Such As Winx Club , Kikoriki , and Tai Chi Chasers . Anime series they obtained broadcast rights to such as Dragon Ball Z Kai were often heavily edited as well. When Saban Brands obtained the broadcast rights to this series, they rewrite the 4Kids version of the dub with the original Funimation / Nicktoons one due to his bad reception during the series in the Vortexxprogramming block.

One series in Particular, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman , Was Given two Heavily localized English dubs in the form of Battle of the Planets from Sandy Frank , and G-Force: Guardians of Space from Ted Turner and Fred Ladd . The Battle of the Planets production added new animation to the series, changed the character of a young person to an artificial life, a new impediment, added a whole character, heavily edited for content. G-Forcewas still more accurate, but still has more character, and more edited footage for content than Battle of the Planets . The first localization was a mild success, the second was more popular overseas, but was still shown in the US. Its two sequel series, Gatchaman II and Gatchaman F were also heavily localized by Saban Entertainment in the form of Eagle Riders , and also experienced the same heavy censoring of episodes, and character names. This site was only partially shown in the United States, but was shown in full in Australia. The original Gatchamanseries was finally given a straight, uncut English dub years later by ADV Films .

Another highly controversial dubbed localization WB’s broadcast of Cardcaptors , the English dubbed adaptation of Cardcaptor Sakura from Nelvana , which not only Americanized the setting and names, but changed the personalities of the characters and the focus of the show, to the point Where the hero Was Syaoran Li INSTEAD of Sakura , and the series’ genre Was Effectively switched from shōjo (girl-oriented) magical girl , to ongoing Japanese (boy-oriented) Action fantasy – comedy; this alteration proved to be unpopular, with the American DVD and VHS releases of Cardcaptors being unrestricted . However UK and Australian broadcasts of Nelvana’s localization featured less edits, and even featured English adaptations of the original Japanese theme songs.

Popular dub localizations

Some dub localizations are quite popular in their own right, with a handful of greatly improved titles.

Several examples include Reviews some of ADV ‘s comedy dubs, Especially the “alternate”, dub for Super Milk-chan and the (admittedly still quite controversial) English dub for Ghost Stories , qui Contrary to the kind of the original show, Was adult in nature and a parody of the child’s work , and thus proved popular with a very different audience of the original children’s series.

However, the best example of a localization – indeed, an extreme localization – which is very popular and in-demand (even more than the original version), is likely Samurai Pizza Cats , the English version by Saban of which is still praised for its humor and often pointed to an example of an extreme localization that worked.

Robotech , the result of several series, dubbed, and merged, has formed its own fanbase, and has even spun off several movies and series. Macross , one of the series included in Robotech , dub by ADV Films . A similar production, Voltron , an English dub of Beast King GoLion and Armored Fleet Dairugger XV , has also been very successful in the United States, and has spun off its own franchise.

The only exception of this is the tokusatsu series Power Rangers , because of an adaptation of the fighting scenes of the Japanese series of the same kind; Super Sentai , but with different history and exclusive characters from the American version, such as Zordon and Lord Zedd of the first series .

A reference to localization Was done in a Futurama episode Reincarnation parodying dubbed anime Such as Speed Racer and Robotech .

See also

  • Dubbing (filmmaking)
  • Translation
  • Editing of anime in American distribution
  • Anime
  • 4Kids Entertainment
  • Voice-over translation


  1. Jump up^ Wheeler, Robert; Bednarski, Dan; Wood, Tiffany. “Sailor Moon Uncensored: Episode 10” . Retrieved 2007-06-18 . Full list of changes made for English dub
  2. ^ Jump up to:b Wheeler, Robert; Bednarski, Dan; Wood, Tiffany. “Sailor Moon Uncensored: Sailor Moon SuperS” . Retrieved 2007-06-18 . Full list of changes made for English dub
  3. Jump up^ Wheeler, Robert; Bednarski, Dan; Wood, Tiffany. “Sailor Moon Uncensored: Sailor Moon S” . Retrieved 2007-06-18 . Full list of changes made for English dub
  4. Jump up^ Sebert, Paul (2000-06-28). “Kissing cousins ​​can bring controversial controversial Networking controversial topics contained in the” Sailor Moon S “series” . The Daily Athenaeum Interactive . West Virginia University. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08 . Retrieved 2007-02-21 . Although the L-word has yet to be made by a single character, the gay subtext still exists. … the two girls referred to each other as “cousins”.