LogFAQs > #980079355

The closest thing I watch to subs, would be the Japanese subs on a broadcast. I have heard English dubs before though and especially in games am familiar with English voice acting. The quality is often worse in English, but that's because the industry isn't taken seriously for the most part. I encourage you to watch a documentary on voice acting in Japan. It isn't reading lines in a booth. You have the whole cast together in a big room reacting off each other and a director giving guidance. They do multiple takes, the actors have read the lines many times ahead of time and thought about how their character acts, they are familiar with the show and extremely engaged with the fan base. Most importantly they are paid a lot more.

So the issue with English dubs is you really need someone to naturally be good and self-motivated because the actual production is bare bones and the pay is shit. I was at an anime convention where Steve Blum had a panel. Someone asked him what he thought about Cowboy Bebop. He said he hasn't ever seen it, or any of the anime he voice acts in because he doesn't have the time. And he's a pretty good English actor. A statement like that in Japan would end your career. Fans would be outraged. It's just a totally different industry here.