Mine:
Original Audio (Japanese) - Steins;Gate
Dub (English) - Hellsing Ultimate
I mean, I never really thought the acting was bad in anything to really see when it’s above and beyond in something else; it’s all just there? I mean, I already put anime above most Western cartoons because, I for one, like the exaggerated over-acting commonly done in anime.️
I’ve been annoyed by the voice they choose for Naruto (both English and Japanese), but, like, that was on purpose because he was supposed to be kind of annoying. The acting wasn’t bad, just the sound of the voice was grating.
On the other hand, I hear Steve Blum’s voice a lot. He pretty much only has the one voice and he uses it for every character he plays. IMO this isn’t good acting. It’s not bad, either. It’s just… Repetitive.
JP audio: Hibike! Euphonium and Lycoris Recoil.
EN audio: I admittedly don’t listen to EN dubs very often, but I’ve enjoyed the Konosuba dub from the bits I’ve seen.
Original Audio (Japanese) - There are a lot of series with great voice acting, but the one that always comes to my mind first is the Monogatari Series. The whole cast is outstanding, and it has some very memorable performances (Oikura Sodachi in Owarimonogatari, Sengoku Nadeko in Monogatari Series Second Season)
As for the dub, I have no idea. It’s been years since I watched an English dub
The Persona 4 English dub is funny (good) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIERguCzJD0
Dub (English) - Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
JPN - Made in Abyss
Where is the Inou Battle mention?
Don’t know about dubs.
(Japanese) I was blown away by Aoi Yuuki’s performance in “So I’m a Spider, So What?”
Fair warning for anyone looking to watch:
Spoiler
its only season started out really good, then seemed to run out of budget near the end
Exactly what I was going to say. Mess of an adaptation with the only saving grace being Aoi Yuuki carrying with VA alone. Really raised my already high opinion of her.
Original Audio (Japanese) - Ninja Scroll
Dub (English) - Ninja Scroll
I really loved cowboy bebop’s original actors. never got into the dub.
runner up - dungeon meshi
best dub - oooh… the big o was always a favorite english cast…
Best dub has to go to Kaguya-sama.
There are a lot of great classics and I don’t have the brain power to remember them all at the moment, so I’m gonna mention the most recent I think were great: Dandadan S1 in particular. They have a pretty great voice cast, but the guest actors on some of the episodes were amazing.
It’s honestly too difficult to resist just saying “anything with Takehito Koyasu in a major role”. Seriously, my mind can’t stray from his deep, hot guy voice.
edit: for dubs I’ve got to say Fullmetal Alchemist. Any time I hear the Japanese version I’m disappointed because the English performances, and especially those done for Major Armstrong and Colonel Mustang, are just too dang good.
Everyone knows it
I honestly like the English dub of sonny boy more than the original. It has it’s quirks, but fits rather well.
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t care for the English commentator in the Kaguya dub. I like the creativity, but I don’t vibe with it.
I think what makes it memetic is how distinct it is from both the Japanese dub and from other English dubs. He’s a rare kind of audience surrogate, cheering and booing when and where we would do the same, which allows him to break the fourth wall and get all tongue in cheek about the story. For a semi-satirical plot like Kaguya, that’s a great fit.
But yeah, that’s all well and good if you vibe with his eccentric personality. If not, you may as well watch the Japanese dub (for the record, I think both versions are excellent in their own ways).
I like most of the performances in the dub but the narration style kills it for me.
