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Fans of dubbed anime often enjoy the casual feel of watching anime without needing to read subtitles. Some fans simply prefer the voice actors in one format over the other. It’s likely no fanbase will ever fully agree on which is better, but there are some notable dubs that really give the subbed versions a run for their money, for one reason or another.
Updated July 15, 2022, by John Charron: One of the cornerstones of a good anime is voice acting. There are numerous examples of good and bad in both the dub and sub-categories, but a good dub seems rarer than a good sub. That said, most anime fans can agree that some anime series have better dubs than others and vice versa. While watching with subtitles is more true to the original artistic vision, dubs can be just as fun. Personal taste plays the biggest factor in preferring a dub or sub, but there are some series in which fans seem to gravitate towards the dub over the sub. Availability is another factor, but many streaming services now include both when releasing an anime. Regardless, the debate will continue forever about which is the superior version.
15 Trigun
Trigun is a classic anime that follows the adventures of Vash the Stampede, a legendary gunman who is constantly being hunted by bounty hunters in the far-off future. The characters and storylines that encompass this series can now be considered iconic and influential.
The dub is on par with other late 90s anime, in that it is somewhat goofy and slightly awkward, but these inconsistencies only add to the show’s charm and make it all the more witty and fun.
14 The Devil Is A Part-Timer
A great light comedy anime, this hilarious show follows a demon who is thrust into the human world and must take up a low-paying job at a fast-food restaurant. The show is only one season, but the second season will be coming out Summer 2022.
The sub is great, but the dub has a lot to offer, namely top voice talent with seasoned professionals who know exactly how to convey the right emotions.
13 Dragon Ball Super
Considered by many to be one of the most influential anime of all time, Dragon Ball is still a name synonymous with high-octane action and crazy plot lines that only get wilder and wilder. This powerhouse anime franchise essentially established the world of action anime as we know it.
The dub of Super is as iconic as the previous iterations of the show and is one of the biggest draws to the show for audiences who prefer dubs. Hearing the voice actors shout out their fighting moves is utterly satisfying and the goofiness of the series is in full swing in Super.
12 Berserk
Another classic 90s anime, Berserk has been a legendary show since its inception, filled with twists and turns that likely no seasoned anime viewer could ever foresee.
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This medieval anime follows Guts, the insane swordsman who fights for himself and his merry band of misfits. The dub is beautifully done, with all the subtlety necessary for the story to unfold the way the manga intended. Each voice actor delivers and then some when giving their stellar performances.
11 Death Note
One of the most beloved anime of the past few decades, Death Note is still as legendary as it was when it came out in 2006. The show’s emotional highs and lows are integral to the intense story and the dub really doesn’t go the corny route that other anime dubs can sometimes fall into.
Quite the opposite actually, the dub feels natural and flows quite well from episode to episode. It is clear as day that the creators of the dub spent a lot of time making sure every line worked and was as true to the original story as possible.
10 Dragon Ball Z
Almost no anime has achieved the sheer amount of quotable lines that Dragon Ball Z has. The over-the-top dialogue is a perfect fit for the exhilarating fight scenes that the series is known for. Part of the reason the goofiness still works so well is thanks to the strong performances of the voice actors.
The Dragon Ball universe has always had a cast of colorful characters, each with a distinct voice and fighting style. There are several dubbed versions available, which has led to even further debate over which dub is best.
9 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Emotion is everything in an anime. Any scene’s emotional impact is as much achieved through the voice acting as it is through the writing and animation. This is where the dub of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood knocks it out of the park. The voice actors for this show’s English dub succeed in squeezing out every ounce of pain, love, and aggression into their voice acting.
Even the minor characters are memorable for this reason. Comedic moments hit just as hard as the heart-breaking ones, thanks to the stellar voice work of the dub’s actors.
8 Space Dandy
Space Dandy is unusual in that it premiered in the United States before it was broadcast in Japan, meaning the dub technically came first. Technicalities aside, Space Dandy is a great dub with lots of hilarious and surreal humor.
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Taking place in a space opera setting, the strange always finds a way of making its way into the heroes’ lives. What the series lacks in structure it makes up for in substance and absurdist jokes.
7 Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories is an odd dub, considering the voice actors completely changed the dialogue of the original show to make it much sillier. ADV Films had loose rules when charged with producing the western dub of the show, leading to one of the funniest dubs ever conjured up.
The original anime is a semi-serious adventure revolving around children solving paranormal mysteries. However, the dubbed version is a fourth-wall-breaking tornado of pop culture references and goofy, self-deprecating humor.
6 Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
A front-runner for the wildest anime ever, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is a surreal show that is beyond goofy in every aspect. Each episode is a disjointed mess of hilarious sight gags and puns that don’t have much to do with a central plot.
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Yet, most viewers don’t mind, because the show isn’t interested in the idea of structure in the slightest. The dub is hilarious and includes numerous anime voice actors stepping out of their usual character archetypes to act as silly as possible. It’s worth an anime fan’s time if they’re looking for a good laugh.
5 Parasyte: The Maxim
When it comes to horror anime, tension is the name of the game. Voice actors are key in ensuring characters seem genuinely scared, concerned, or disturbed. The talent behind the dub for the sci-fi horror anime, Parasyte, brings their A-game in every episode. The English dub’s actors ensure that the characters have honest emotions in their voices.
The voices of the inquisitive alien, Migi, and the paranoid protagonist, Shinichi, stand out in particular as brilliant performances worthy of an award.
4 FLCL
FLCL is still renowned to this day as a cult classic series that new generations of anime fans continue to rediscover time and again. The chaotic and often times surreal show follows the strange coming-of-age adventures of a young boy in a small town, where the abnormal is the norm.
Everything from giant alien mechs popping out of foreheads to aliens on mopeds appears in this comedy classic. The dub is fantastic, and the voice actors did a knock-out job. They manage to land all the jokes while retaining all the serious drama that resides in the show’s central themes.
3 Cowboy Bebop
Considered by many to be one of the most influential anime series of all time, Cowboy Bebop is a great starter show for anybody looking to take the plunge into anime. The dub in particular is exemplary and features a cast of immensely talented voice actors doing what they do best.
Each episode follows a rag-tag gang of bounty hunters making their way through outer space, discovering new things about themselves and each other. There’s something in this show for just about anyone to enjoy.
2 Yu-Gi-Oh!
If it wasn’t for the dub of Yu-Gi-Oh!, how else would fans know Joey is from Brooklyn? While the sub of the show certainly carries more emotional weight and is preferred among many die-hard fans, the dub still has an enduring quality to its goofiness.
The dialogue might not win any awards, but the cheesy deliveries are still as fun as the show itself. After all, it’s part of what makes the show entertaining.
1 Hellsing Ultimate
This dark fantasy classic follows a group of supernatural hunters who must fight the undead in an effort to save mankind. The show is immensely entertaining for the fights alone, but the dub in particular is a great match for the show’s aesthetic.
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