Akira Subtitles

[Dashonn Moulton]

I do have a theory: Maybe the foreign-language subtitles were done first, and then, when the voice was dubbed, they had to change the translation to match the mouth movements. But if that is the case, why did they do the subtitles first? And even if there is a good reason to do the subtitles first, why didn't they replace them after dubbing the voice? Should be easy - it's just text, right?)

Overdubs must match the mouth and face movements of the actor if they are visible, and must at least be rhythmically plausible even if the actor's face is not visible. This may sometimes require rephrasing a sentence in such a way that it no longer perfectly matches the original meaning but better matches the original rhythm and movements.

However their cheap price gives them some consideration, the translation although poor, are often enough to convey the message, just keep in mind most of the impact of the dialog is lost, especially in some movies where what and how the speech is said is important.

I think a Danish and a Finnish release are also available. But at least the Finnish DVD is of sub-standard quality and has no English subtitles, of course. There are probably others floating around as well.

There was a Criterion version of Dodesukaden released, on Laserdisc. There must be something with the rights that has not allowed it to be released on DVD. It is possible you saw a print of that Criterion on TCM. Also, there are 35 mm prints out there that were produced for the American market, they are shown at film festivals from time to time. So there are much better quality dubs out there. I also am sure it was released on VHS years ago with proper subs.

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Yeah I have to personally disagree. I've seen the original dub, subtitles and the new version, and either way I don't give a shit. Given, I saw the original dub when I was like 13 and don't even remember it all that well, but stuff like that has never been a big concern of mine.

I think the only thing that I feel wildly different about is Shogun Assassin / Lone Wolf and Cub. I still like Shogun Assassin, but the Long Wolf and Sub story is around 10,000 times better.

Still, "Shogun Assassin 2" is just a redub of "Lone Wolf an Cub 3" (I know this is nohere near the official titles), and it's kind of weak, even though the dubbing stays somewhat faithful. Maybe if they got the badass sounding dude to redub Shogun 2, it would have been better though.

I dislike the new version, not that it is really that bad, I'm sure had I watched this version before the other I would not have had any problems with it. But, I am so used to the original dialog that it takes me away from the movie to experience the new stuff. I can't even watch it all the way through.

So it's finally coming out on Blu-Ray..

With the new dub.

:(

Another anime I really liked the dub was 3x3 eyes. When that came out on dvd they did a re-dub as well. I still have my vhs of Akira and 3x3 eyes with the original dubs.

Completely 100% agree. I fall into the 90s student category and yeah, we did the quotes too. But we also listened to a lot of hardcore techno at the time and there were a couple favoruite tracks had excellent Akira quotes in there. So now thos tracks are also null and void.

I disagree strongly about subs over dubs. I want to enjoy the animation on screen, not spend the whole movie reading shitty little sentences at the bottom of the screen and missing the eye-candy.

Fine if you speak Japanese, but otherwise I don't see the big deal about sub versions, other than they're the original. But if you don't speak Japanese you're just being a pretentious prick saying the sub is better than the dub.

I know this post is old, but I just have to put my two cents. I personally like the new dub, some voices do fit better than the original(like the guy who has the red grenade who's going to kill himself for"the revolution" is flawless compared to the original), the thing that bugs and really pisses me off is that girl who looks like an old lady, she sounds horrible! the original voice of hers was so much smoother. that's why I returned my copy and just streamed it online because I can't accept something if I feel totally ripped off. even if it was a few minor things, it irritates me to the point where I just can't enjoy it no more. okay that's it, i'm done

So many years later and with the release of the Blu_Ray version I was so hoping now that they had the space they would include the original Dub.. but no go. I never had the VHS version, I bought the Criterion Collection LD version that also has the original Dub on it. I think I am going to rip the Blu-Ray and LD Audio and try to splice them, then re-burn it to Blu_Ray because THAT is how it should be watched. I agree with your post entirely. They never should of changed it.

Gave the redub one shot when it was released back in 2001. I believe the 10 or so people I was with unanimously vetoed it and we shattered the disc in zealous rage. more accurate or not, the dialogue was merely a dumbed-down facsimile of the 89 version.

I grew up with the original English dub and I cant watch the new one because of it. The voice actor that did Kaneda was the same guy who did Leonardo in the old TMNT show and has a long career in voice acting. When i read the comic, its in his voice. For me, he will always be Kaneda.

As for dub vs sub, anything i grew up with, I stick to the format i originally watched it in. Now a days I go with both or subbed with anything new, English dubs tend to stray too far from the original dialogue. If it doesnt make sense in english, the subs will make more sense.

Ok. Seriously, the new dub is bad on soooo many levels. Part of the experience of the original was the absolute emotional IMPACT of the music. In the new dub it has been washed out so it blends in with the ambient noise. The script was waaaay better in the original too. You could see how everyone dismissed Tetsuo as a little kid and he was growing to resent it. In the new version there just isn't much emotional content at all.

I can watch the new version for about thirty seconds before I have to jump up and turn it off.

Ironically, I have the original VHS but can't find a VCR to play it on! Lol!

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I'm really glad that other people think the way i do. I'm a big film fan and for me the re-dub was like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa; unforgivable! I always try to educate someone if Akira ever comes up because they only ever seem to watch the new version and as far as i am concerned their watching a completely different film.

I'm sure the original dub is the same voices as the original teenage mutant hero turtles surfer talk and the dialogue has changed the original is much better as I've had to lend my original vhs version to re educate and convert people, I've even had to do old school double record and give them a copy

Back around 1990-91, my best friend, Joe, video taped himself doing stupid crap while Akira played in the background, which was the only VHS copy I had been able to hold onto, as my mother would throw away all my comics and anything with "Akira" or "manga" (including #1 and #2 before they all got compiled into the 5 books) stating 6th grade girls shouldn't read or watch "such filth." I guess she wanted me to glorify women with eating disorders and codependancy issues. Anyhow, it was either 2002 or 2003 when I found the DVD - I was SO excited to watch it. I CRIED when I heard what Pioneer had done.

Thank you for this post, even if I'm reading it so many years after the fact. I'd given up searching for the original English dub after years of looking, having totally lost all hope of ever hearing it again. It actually exists now! Fuck. Yes.

The re-dub made the movie! It's funny you say the original is more quotable because I think the original loses all the greats quotes of the film "You want a bike like this? Steal one your self!"

Such a great and simple way to illustrate Kaneda's character and his tough love treatment of Tetsuo. In the old version the teens sound like a 50s afterschool special, in the new dub they sound like actual teens, which is core to the meaning of this film. What will the youth of the future be like?

Seriously can't understand the original dub, but for nostalgia, the depth or the style is not there. The streamline version is anything but, it's clunky, ugly, and lacking in any realism.

Personally I think the new dub is far better. It's acted better, better synced to the image (it's easier to forget you're watching a dub, whilst the original dub often was very mismatched to the lip animation, though it is harder here, since AKIRA's facial animation was matched to the voice acting, like in western animation, instead of the usual anime "lip flap" which is animated before dialogue is recorded), and much, much closer to the Japanese version. I do find the shrivelled little girl's voice to be very grating, though. That being said I have such a major nostalgic soft-spot for the old dub, for sure, and I think it should be made available for people who do love it (perhaps licensing issues?)

I just went to watch akira on kodi. I have never seen the new dub, i didnt even know there was one because i had my own copy vhs which i converted to digital. I just thought id watch it through kodi. My partner hasn't seen it before so i was bigging it up. Hes only into dubs because he think subs are distracting.

So i put it on watched the begining hes intrigued...Then they spoke and oh my lawd....

Lipsync and emotion was terrible. Didnt suit the characters at all.

My partner said it was rubbish, my heart sank, this isnt the right one. I dont remember this....

Its a fake looked at the title akira 1988....remastered.. Wtf...

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