MovieChat Forums > Akira (1988) Discussion > when watching...

when watching...

posted 10 years ago by zorrofilms
4 replies | jump to latest

use Japanese audio and english subs or English audio and no subs? thanks

[–] ZacPensol 10 years ago

Boards like this are filled with aficionados and purists who insist that preserving the original Japanese audio is essential. HOWEVER, I've only ever seen it dubbed, multiple times - the 2001 version to be specific - and I thoroughly loved the movie. I have absolutely nothing against subs, but in my opinion, 'Akira' is such a visually significant movie that having to avert your eyes towards the words on screen even momentarily to read the subs can only serve to hurt the viewing experience.

So my recommendation is English audio, no subs. Especially if it's your first time watching the film. If you rewatch it, try your other options, but for a first viewing I think you'll have the best experience with English dub.

[–] gaijin_punch 10 years ago

I'm one of those aficionados. Always have been. Watch it in Japanese. I've heard the original dub many times, and pieces of the 2001. They both do not do the film justice. Sorry. There's just some things that a dub can't convey.

[–] ZacPensol 10 years ago

Please explain. I'm not antagonizing, but I really have yet to read a clear explanation from anyone saying exactly what the sub conveys that the dubs don't/can't. I mean, I've only seen the movie dubbed and I loved it, so I don't really see what the hang-up is. I understand that making the english dialogue fit the mouth movements in Japanese can force some of the wording to become compromised, but the movie is very clear to me and I just don't see what the sub can add other than hearing the original Japanese.

Plus, I maintain that Akira is such a visually impressive movie, anything that can be done to prevent distraction from the breathtaking animation is worth it.

[–] gaijin_punch 10 years ago

No antagonizing taken. ;)

As you stated, there are aficionados out there, and I admitted to being one.
Disclaimer 1: I accumulatively lived in Japan for 15 years, so in most cases I don't even use subtitles. Something like Ghost in the Shell is a massive exception.
Disclaimer 2: I'm a default whore. I want the original (as close as possible) in whatever I do, so even if it's a language I don't understand, I want subtitles.
Disclaimer 3: I'm not really an anime fan any more, but I was a diehard back in the analogue days (early 90's). So much that I used to subtitle off of LaserDisc (to SVHS) with an Amiga 1200.

That's basically it. You can fully understand the movie w/ the dub, but I'm an audio guy (to say the least). I am nuts over the soundtrack, which to me is what pushes this film from great to masterpiece. It is two pieces of art colliding into something beautiful. The voice track is a part of that. To me, anyway.

Further, this is such a multiple viewings movie, the issue of reading the subtitles shouldn't take away from what's going on on the screen (at some point). After the 2nd time I took a non-native speaking friend to see it (in the theaters in Japan) he said, "I knew the story, this time I could concentrate 100% on the visuals".

It's all preference. I get it that some people don't do subtitles. I just can't understand them. :)