MovieChat Forums > Majo no takkyûbin (1990) Discussion > I feel sorry for everyone who watched th...

I feel sorry for everyone who watched this movie...

posted 13 years ago by jktomas
34 replies | jump to latest

... in english dub. It's terrible: voices don't fit the characters, jokes are corny as hell, Jiji is annoying and talk too much, even when it's better for him to shut the *beep* up. Songs are terrible too. Compare them to these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYbfzFCnnzU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-5-lH8BHc8

All in all, english version shouldn't exist, because it makes people believe that this masterpiece isn't as good as it really is.

By the way, I just watched it in japanese with subtitles. I tried to watch it several days ago in english, but it was no use - I had to turn it off after about 10 minutes, when Jiji said "First, be careful. Second - be careful. And third - did I mention being careful" or something like that. It was such a bad joke, I couldn't keep on watching. When I got a normal subtitled version, I was happy to hear stunning and beautiful silent instead of a corny joke.

Definitely the worst dubbing in the istory of bad dubbing! TERRIBLE!

On the other hand, I think that an english version of Mononoke-Hime is very decent, but God, save us from this horrible abomination of mankind!

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[–] suz-mal 13 years ago

I know, right? It's f*&ing awful. The songs are definitely better in the Jap version too. I think it's because Hollywood market Ghibli films for a younger audience. I guess because it has relatively no adult content and its an animation, they think only a child would watch it, and in a sense that's the truth, though it's the Studio systems fault for that very reason. Sort of a chicken and egg thing. In reality, I think an older viewer who has actually lived life would relate to the story and characters much more, and be able to appreciate the film for its beauty and nostalgic feel good-ness. For a kid, the only thing of interest would be the dumb jokes and maybe the little bit of action towards the end. This is definitely the worst of the English dubs of the Ghibli films, but they should all be watched in Jap, because its a totally different experience.

[–] smilie_face_23 12 years ago

Not true that the only thing that would be of interest to a kid would be the jokes and the action, maybe to a little boy, but not a little girl. I saw this for the first time on the Disney Channel when it first came out and I loved it! I was probably about 10 and I remember wishing and dreaming that I could do something cool like that when I turned 13! Kiki seemed to be so cool and I wanted to be just like her.

[–] sarahc-23 13 years ago

I never watch the English version of any foreign film. I go straight to the Audio set up and set it to the native language and read the English subtitles. I can't imagine watching any of Miyazaki's films in any other language but Japanese. I think you lose the "feeling" of the movie when watching dubbed versions.

[–] girl_on_wire 13 years ago

I don't disagree with you. I first watched this movie dubbed, however, and didn't mind or notice-- maybe because I was much younger, and was blown away by the animation and liked the storyline. By contrast, when I watched the original Japanese audio with subtitles, I thought that Kiki's voice was too high-pitched and corny. I think it depends on which version you watch first, since that is when you first fall in love with a movie. Since then, I've *evolved* and came to appreciate the Japanese audio much more. And I never likeed the English-language songs.

One interesting thing is how they changed tiny aspects of the plot through the dubbing: at the end in the English-dubbed version, after Kiki rescues the boy and Jiji runs to her, Jiji does a dramatic "Meow!" to let the viewer know that Kiki can understand Jiji again. In the Japanese audio, he didn't-- Miyazaki wanted to show that Kiki was growing up, and therefore could never recover communicating with Jiji the way she did before.

[–] jktomas 13 years ago

"I thought that Kiki's voice was too high-pitched and corny"

Well, she's a little girl, so she sounds like a little girl. How is that corny?
Kirsten Dunst sounds too perky for a girl like Kiki. She would have been great as one of those friends of Tombo or as the other witch girl from the beginning of the film.

"One interesting thing is how they changed tiny aspects of the plot through the dubbing: at the end in the English-dubbed version, after Kiki rescues the boy and Jiji runs to her, Jiji does a dramatic "Meow!" to let the viewer know that Kiki can understand Jiji again. In the Japanese audio, he didn't-- Miyazaki wanted to show that Kiki was growing up, and therefore could never recover communicating with Jiji the way she did before."

It's not a tiny aspect. It's one of the main ideas of the film. And in dubbed version it's completely ruined. This just shows that people from Disney misunderstood the film and had no rights in dubbing it.

Before watching this film I really believed that dubbed versions are just as good, but some people don't like them because they watched the original version first. For example I like Mononoke-Hime in english much more that in the original language because I got use to it and japanese doesn't sound right to me. Kiki's Delivery service proved me wrong. As I said, for the first time I watched it with dubs, but after ten minutes had to turn it off because of how terrible it was.

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[–] girl_on_wire 13 years ago

"Well, she's a little girl, so she sounds like a little girl. How is that corny?
Kirsten Dunst sounds too perky for a girl like Kiki."

I know that now, but like I said, you get used to what you hear first. I thought the original sounded worse at the time, but think the reverse now.

[–] Sixxlet 11 years ago

Disney's dub of Totoro was also TERRIBLE!

"The first time I saw you, I knew that I wanted to eat candy bricks out of your neck hole."

[–] holographica 12 years ago

I think it depends on which version you watch first, since that is when you first fall in love with a movie.

Agreed...for most of the time, at least.

[–] Naive-Melody 13 years ago

The English version is the version I grew up with so naturally, it's the one I prefer. Phil Hartman IS Jiji to me, I don't care what anyone says.

"Life goes on within you and without you." - George Harrison

[–] legendlength 13 years ago

Phil was awesome and is missed very much by all of us.

I'm convinced the dubbed versions of all these types of films are mainly for western children who'd struggle to read subtitles.

At least, when I try to watch subbed versions compared to original, it's nearly unwatchable. I know it sounds elitist and maybe it's just a matter of taste. Maybe they it's because the original animation was done by japanese so the voices fit better. Or maybe it's the mystique and foreign-ness of the japanese culture. But it really is painful to watch the subbed versions.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] redpetals 13 years ago

As I cannot always replay scenes, hearing dubbed versions are a rescue for me. Particularly since this animation is so beautiful, I want to keep my eyes more on the characters and backgrounds than subtitles beneath them. But when the animation is not too particularly interesting or I only care to immerse my whole myself in the dialogue, I don't hesitate to hear the original language and read the subs.

But I am shocked to find out that Kiki never regained her ability to understand Jiji. That definitely feels like Miyazaki, not afraid to maintain what the character has lost: it is part of growing up, after all. Oh, Disney! They truly love the happiest happy-endings...

[–] smilie_face_23 12 years ago

I understand what you mean because I watch a lot of regular anime and absolutely cannot stand to watch the english dub. However, many of Miyazaki's films like Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and Ponyo take me to a nostalgic place, where I can feel like I am a part of the story. In order to be a part of the story, like it might be able to happen in my own life, it helps greatly to have characters that sound and talk like me. When I watch typical anime like say, my favorite Clannad, it makes sense to watch it in Japanese with english sub because these are high school kids living in a totally different world than me. My high school never will be anything like the high schools in Japan and the situations will never be remotely the same, like making a big deal over holding hands.

I think that not only does it depend on which you watched first as to which you might prefer, english dub or japanese with english sub, but it also depends on what experience you want from watching the film. Miyazaki's films are something I dream of watching someday with my children, just as we will watch other films I grew up with like Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, and all Disney classics, so in order to watch with children someday, I better like and enjoy the dubbed.

[–] randyhndrsn 13 years ago

Phil Hartman wins, best voice casting in any Miyazaki dub ever.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] seifer999 12 years ago

In Cat years, though, the cat would be 40. Cats and Dogs aren't perpetually little kids, ya know.

I always pictured my cats and dogs speaking in adult voices. They're adults after all.

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[–] seifer999 13 years ago

I found it to be one of the best dubs I've ever listened to. The characters are really really charming and funny, and the emotion is there in every scene.

And I'm sorry, but I am pro dubbing when it comes to japanese animation. The japanese versions are dubs too! And Miyazaki has them record the lines AFTER the animation is already there, not before. Everything is a dub. It's not like you're putting someone else's voice over another actor's physical performance, and the dub is in studio whereas the original was on set!

Plus, this allows CHILDREN to enjoy these movies. And everything Miyazaki puts out, other than Mononoke I guess, is a family film for all ages.

And Phil Hartman rocked! He was really really funny. And I loved the music.

Also...for those of you arguing cultural authenticity, She's in Europe! Why would people in Europe be speaking Japanese?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt2i3PGfLEc&feature=channel_video_t itle

[–] heishiro 13 years ago

For the same reason everyone speaks modern English in 18th century France.

[–] seifer999 12 years ago

Umm, Kiki's Delivery Service takes place in the 1980s, not the 1700s.

Check out my film: http://vimeo.com/23181301

[–] heishiro 12 years ago

"Also...for those of you arguing cultural authenticity, She's in Europe! Why would people in Europe be speaking Japanese? "

For the same reason people in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette speak English and not French. It doesn't mattery what century it is.

[–] seifer999 12 years ago

Speaking English, a European language, makes a lot more sense than Japanese.

Check out my film: http://vimeo.com/23181301

[–] heishiro 12 years ago

No, it doesn't, unless all the characters are supposed to be English/American/Australian/New-Zealander/Canadian/Irish/South-African immigrants or tourists.

[–] seifer999 12 years ago

English is a European language that is commonly spoken in Europe and is commonly spoken by Caucasians. It's a common second language in Europe.

Japanese is none of these things.

Check out my film: http://vimeo.com/23181301

[–] jtf1986 12 years ago

Its supposed to be 18th century France? Then why are people driving cars and speaking in English on the radio in the subtitled version?

[–] DCI77 12 years ago

For the same reason everyone speaks modern English in 18th century France.

It's not set in France. The city Kiki takes as her adoptive home is inspired by a Tasmania city.

The Interrupters, Le Havre, Chan-wook Park - Stoker (2012)

[–] PimpSmackersGOM 12 years ago

I agree, I'd watch the original if it was a live action foreign movie but for an animated movie I don't think it matters. But still, in the dubbed version that I saw the songs were still in Japanese.

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[–] DCI77 12 years ago

You need to grow up. It's a freaking anime.

I liked the English dub and I thought Hartman's JiJi was awesome.

All in all, english version shouldn't exist, because it makes people believe that this masterpiece isn't as good as it really is.

They should exist and right rightfully so or else only those who know Japanese or like anime will watch it. Anime is an acquired taste of art in which people in the Western world aren't too familiar with. Without dubbing there wouldn't be a market for Anglo-anime fanatics to purchase or see their beloved animations on screen.

By the way, I just watched it in japanese with subtitles. I tried to watch it several days ago in english, but it was no use - I had to turn it off after about 10 minutes, when Jiji said "First, be careful. Second - be careful. And third - did I mention being careful" or something like that. It was such a bad joke, I couldn't keep on watching. When I got a normal subtitled version, I was happy to hear stunning and beautiful silent instead of a corny joke.

You got all upset over that? You need to get out more.

Definitely the worst dubbing in the istory of bad dubbing! TERRIBLE!

That's your opinion but I can't take it seriously.

On the other hand, I think that an english version of Mononoke-Hime is very decent, but God, save us from this horrible abomination of mankind!

Disney usual puts in effort when choosing their actors, so if your ears bleed when you watch a US dub version I suggest you not watch them and refer to the original language that they were intended in.

The Interrupters, Le Havre, Chan-wook Park - Stoker (2012)

[–] 12 years ago

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