Sub vs dub for Cowboy Bebop is not even close

I finally got around to rewatching Cowboy Bebop last month after about 10 years. First time I watched it dubbed because that was all Netflix had at the time. This time I tried the sub and honestly the difference is night and day. The Japanese voice actors bring way more grit and emotion to Spike and Jet. The English cast is fine but the pacing and delivery in the sub just hits different for certain scenes. Has anyone else gone back and swapped languages on an old favorite?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_james10d ago

Hate to be that guy but I gotta gently correct something. The English dub was actually the original way the show aired in the US on Adult Swim back in 2001. Netflix didn't make it, they just streamed it later. But yeah I hear you on the sub vs dub thing. I first saw it dubbed like 15 years ago and when I tried the sub a few years back I honestly preferred the English voices because that's what my brain grew up with. Spike's voice in English has this cool laid back swagger that works for me personally. But the Japanese cast really nails the emotional weight in episodes like Ballad of Fallen Angels. I think it comes down to whatever version you saw first honestly.

evan15110d ago

Watched the sub first by accident and now dubs sound weird to me...