My Neighbour Totoro

[Shippou-Sensei]

I never have a problem with subtitles in live action films, but for some reason I can't watch animated films with them on. I tried with Spirited Away but found them a bit too distracting with all the amazing visuals going on.

Having said that, it probably would've been better with than watching the version of Totoro I watched. Dakota and Ellie Fanning were voicing Satsuki and Mei.

it takes a bit of effort but i do believe that you loose so much when you listen to the dub

the japanese voice actors just really know how to do the characters... there is so much communication in the tone of voice... the dubs just don't cut it

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

the mononoke hime dub is filled with some proper voice acting talent... they even have the guy who does bender...

but it's just not the same... the characters just don't have the same tone

plus it's not a translation of the script it's an adaptation... that means some of the dialogue is somewhat different

 

[Augie March]

Yeah, think I might see if my copy has the original Japanese version on there and try watching it again without the 'brat sisters' involved.

The good thing about the dubbed version though is that Frank Welker voices Totoro in it and he's a voice acting legend.

 

[Idaho]

The dubs completely change the dialogue. The subtitles do a little as well - but nearly as much. Satsuke and Mei are not two little American girls with american manners - and their vocal style and habits are part of the charm of the original.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

... this is the thing though... totoro doesn't actually have any dialogue and doesn't need to be re-done... in fact in the first dub they did they used the original japanese recording for totoro


so if you don't have to change it... why would you?

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

The dubs completely change the dialogue. The subtitles do a little as well - but nearly as much. Satsuke and Mei are not two little American girls with american manners - and their vocal style and habits are part of the charm of the original.

gahhhh i hate it when translations replace japanisms with americanisms

not only does it fuck up the atmosphere i tend not to get the americanisms and i do get a lot of the japanisms

 

[Idaho]

the err raccoon one is pom poko and it's tanuki not raccoons...

is it ture they edited the translation to obscure the fact they all have giant testicals?

Mochiron ne. Demo - nihonjin wa tanuki ga "racoon-dog" imasu.

 

[LJo]

Though bear in mind that the dubbed version is what makes it possible for my little boy to watch it! He's nearly two and we decided that this should be his first ever film.

He sat through the whole thing absolutely fascinated and loved it to bits and now he talks about 'To-ro' and 'catbus' all the time. And has insisted on watching it again, three times. Miyazaki ain't just for adult enthusiasts, y'know!

Now all I have to do is try and find a Totoro poster for his Christmas present. And decide which one to show him next. I reckon Kiki.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Mochiron ne. Demo - nihonjin wa tanuki ga "racoon-dog" imasu.

although raccon-dog can be used as a english translation of tanuki in japan ....

i don't think i's a stretch to call a tanuki a tanuki

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

i do understand the use of dubs for those to young to read i do think that if it's possible not to dub... don't

for instance any adult orientated anime (no not that kind of adult) has no need to be dubbed... ever...

plus starting younger kids off on subtitles stuff isn't to bad... might improve their reading

 

[LJo]

Oh, as soon as he can read he'll be watching the subtitled versions that I watched. TBH I hate most dubbing too but I'm just happy that it makes films for small ones who can't read yet more accessible. And I've seen far, far worse dubs than the Miyazaki ones...

 

[Idaho]

although raccon-dog can be used as a english translation of tanuki in japan ....

i don't think i's a stretch to call a tanuki a tanuki

It's not a stretch. Just that racoon or racoon dog is a common translation. And indeed the translation on the subtitles is something like super racoon battle.

Little kids don't need dubs or translation. They can watch it in Japanese and they get the jist.

 

[Augie March]

I feel a tad inferior for watching the dubbed versions now.

 

[Brainaddict]

I usually hate dubbing but as someone else said above, I get distracted by subtitles in animated films in a way that I don't with live action. Add to that the fact that I usually watch animated films when stoned (when I can only focus on one thing at a time), and its easier to watch the dubbed. I can understand why it would annoy true appreciators of the artform though.

 

[Idaho]

Not so much the artform, more the story that is lost. The dubs always seem a bit inexplicable.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

it takes a bit of effort but i do believe that you loose so much when you listen to the dub

the japanese voice actors just really know how to do the characters... there is so much communication in the tone of voice... the dubs just don't cut it

I agree - the first time we saw "Spirited Away" it was the dubbed version and though I really enjoyed the film seeing it again with subtitles and the voices of the Japanese actors enhanced the feel of the film even more.

Since then - with the exception of "Howl's Moving Castle" which we could only see dubbed at out local cinema - we've stuck to subtitles.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

it's a pain trying to find cinemas that do the subs

not that i have that problem

 

[LJo]

Little kids don't need dubs or translation. They can watch it in Japanese and they get the jist.

Not sure about that. MiniLJo is just learning to talk and he loves it when he hears familiar words on the TV. He repeats them. I'm not sure he'd be able to appreciate it fully if it was in a language he didn't understand.

 

[Idaho]

Not sure about that. MiniLJo is just learning to talk and he loves it when he hears familiar words on the TV. He repeats them. I'm not sure he'd be able to appreciate it fully if it was in a language he didn't understand.

Try it.

Most things are a foreign language to kids. They get into it.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

the emotions of the characters are clearer in the original audio.. he may well respond to that just as much or even more than the use of words


though i don't have much experiance with kids

 

[LJo]

Well, I shall give it a try then!

Though everyone I know will now laugh at me for showing MiniLJo classic Japanese animation in the original, and will make cracks about how I'm going to make him sit through Dogville next.

 

[fen_boy]

bumpity bump,

I watched this for the first time with my four year old today. He absolutely loved it.

It was probably the most charming film I've ever seen and the bus stop scene in particular is magical.

 

[g force]

Yep...it's nigh on perfect from start to finish

 

[Dillinger4]

Catbus!!!!!

 

[idioteque]

I wanted to make a Snotoro earlier in the week but didn't get the chance

 

[Crispy]

I have watched the first half of this movie several times but for many reasons have never finished it

 

[Melinda]

I wanted to make a Snotoro earlier in the week but didn't get the chance

*melts*

 

[Dillinger4]

Did I mention Catbus?

Catbus!!!!!

 

[The Groke]

Catbus!!!!

 

[Dillinger4]