There’s generally a war between anime fans who prefer subtitles and the ones who like their shows to be dubbed.
However, there’s a chance that even the ones who watch all their anime with subtitles will agree that some dubs are of high quality.
If you’re not sure where you stand on the “subs vs dubs” war then you can check out some series that have an impressive English dub before you make up your mind.
Navigation of Contents
1. Cowboy Bebop
This ’98 series makes its appearance not only on articles that list the best anime series ever, but also on the ones with the best dubs.
The quality of the dub definitely helped its popularity, given that it was one of the most featured show on Toonami in 2001, being the show that introduced many viewers to anime. Not only was the dub impressive at that time, but it still holds up today.
2. Trigun
If you were a fan of Cowboy Bebop, then there’s a chance you might like Trigun as well. The show spans 26 episodes and one film, and it features amazing voice talent that will definitely help you immerse yourself in the series.
The show a light-hearted and goofy side but also a harsh hedge to it, and the voice actors managed to pull things off brilliantly.
3. Dragon Ball Z
The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most well-known and popular franchises in the world, and there’s a big chance that the English dub helped it reach the popularity that it did in the West.
The history of the Dragon Ball Z English dub is a bit of a confusing one. The show had it’s first 67 episodes dubbed by a different cast of voice actors, but then it got redubbed by Funimation’s in-house team, with the episodes sticking close to the source material.
The initial dubbed episodes were more censored and cut for time, but you can check out both versions and see which one is for you.
4. Dragon Ball Super
If you’re a fan of the Dragon Ball series then you’ll be pleased to know that the most recent season of the franchise received an English dub as well.
Not only that, but given that Dragon Ball Super was also dubbed by Funimation (as was Dragon Ball Z), many cast members have reprised their older roles, so there won’t be a huge discrepancy between the way the characters sound.
5. Yu Yu Hakusho
If you’re into shonen anime and like your episodes to be action packed then Yu Yu Hakusho might be an ideal pick for you. The original series has 112 episodes and it’s considered to be a classic among anime fans.
When the show aired on Toonami in the early 2000s, some of the more edgy content was edited out, but Funimation’s uncut dub is available, which is more loyal to the actual anime.
6. My Hero Academia
If you’re looking for more recent shonen series, then My Hero Academia is one of the most popular ones at the moment. The show has 63 episodes out already, spanning 3 seasons, and a 6th season is coming soon in late 2022.
Not only is the series a hit in Japan, but it also reached a great level of success, in no small part due to the voice actors that brought the characters to life for the Western audience.
You may also interested:
7. Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Both this 2009 adaptation as well as the 2003 original series have impressive dubs. Moreover, both versions follow the same basic plot, but the Brotherhood adaptation sticks closer to the source material.
The show spans a wide range of emotions, and thus this type of series can only shine with a competent cast that can pull of the dramatic moments of the show as well as its sillier ones. Not only does the show have a superb English dub, but it’s also considered to be one of the best anime of all time.
8. Ghost Stories
The dub of the Ghost Stories anime stands out but for different reasons than the rest of the shows on this list. The dub is considered to be a cult classic because, while the episodes feature the basic storylines form the original series, the English version features jokes that are politically incorrect as well as ad-libbed lines.
The Ghost Stories dub is one of a kind, and while it’s somewhat infamous, the wild aspect of it makes it an interesting watch. You can check out the series and make up your mind about where you stand on this version.
9. Pokémon
4Kids Entertainment continues to be somewhat infamous among anime fans, due to its censorship and dubs. However, Pokémon was the first anime that the company dubbed, and for introducing the show to the States and for the memorable opening theme alone the company deserves more respect.
For a large part of the Western audience, the English version of the series is the only one that they are familiar with, having never heard the Japanese dub.
10. Honorable Mention: YGOTAS
Not an official dub, but an entertaining one. YGOTAS (or Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series) came at a time when abridged series were gaining popularity on YouTube.
The YouTube series follows the official story of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, but gives it a comedic spin, making fun of aspects of the anime while at the same time paying respect to the source material.
Read More: