Rypro 525

I just want to know what you all think is better. I got the 6 disc set from amazon yesterday. I have watched portions of this on cartoon network, and I have to say, the english dub is pretty impressive, but I want to watch one language and one language only.
Which one should it be?

Chew

I'm not going to vote, because I haven't seen a lot of the original language episodes. But, I don't have any problems with the English dubs, they sound fine to me.

Although I prefer to listen to original language tracks, it sure cuts down on the amount of action you get to see since you're reading all the time.

So the easy answer should be: English on the first viewing of the DVD set to catch all the action, then Japanese second to catch the story.

Jackskeleton

Though I will say that the voice work for this series is great. I still perfer the original language with subtitles.

Mark Holtz

IMHO, the English voice work for Cowboy Bebop is BETTER than the Japanese version, which is quite rare. Also, the movie is coming out on DVD in June.

~~ PAL ~~

You gotta go with the original Japanese lanuage, at least once.

littlefuzzy

I haven't heard the English Dub, although I have heard many people that don't normally enjoy dubs say that this one was very good.

Original Language (and music, Aspect Ratio, etc.) all the way...

MrBob

Personally I think the English voices fit the charatcters better than the japanese voices, possible execption might be Jet.

Rypro 525

Are the episodes uncut on dvd? The cartoon network version makes a few cuts here and there. Also the dubs are changed probably due to the fact that sometimes there are words you can't say on cartoon network that show up in the subtitled version. I prefer the subtitled version after flipping through diffrent scenes in session 1. I was morely paying attention to how the voice sounded then the actual episode so I'll watch it again soon.
Also, does this show have a high replay value?

RichC2

I think it has high replay, some episodes more than others.

And yeah, the DVDs are totally uncut (and came out about a year before it started airing on Cartoon Network).

Was part of the kickass animes from the '97 - '98 era, good stuff.

William Wallace

Best dub EVER!!

bdshort

Yes, the dub is EXCELLENT. I listened to some of the Japanese track, and I have to say that I also thought the English version was better. Obviously I have no idea how well it was translated, but the actual voice acting was better on the English track.

Feneant

Easily the best done dubbing job in any anime series, I watched it dubbed myself and loved it.

Surf Monkey

The dub is the best of any Japanese to English presentation I've ever heard. In this case and this case alone the English and Japanese tracks are interchangeable.

UWSarge

I just picked up the first disc yesterday after hearing so many positive comments on it. The english dub so far is really good and not distracting at all to listen to.

ZakVTA

Congratulations on your purchase! You will not be disappointed and I'm sure left with wanting more.

Preacher

Only one way to go.

wju2004

In my opinion, it doesn't matter either way. Depends on what sorta mood I'm in. They dub is probably one of the best dubs every, but the original language track w/ subs is also great. It's all about whether ur a purist or not I suppose.

Eric F

Someone once posted that the director liked the English voice actors so much, he went back and had the Japanese actors redo some of their parts to sound more like the English actors.

I think it's important to remember that Bebop is one of the few anime out of Japan steeped in western (ie- American) tradition- from the soundtrack, right down to the form itself (noir). It's a brilliant work all around, the English actors seem keyed into this fact and sound like they're enjoying themselves.

Tscott

With most anime it depends on my mood which version I watch. And I've watched Lain, Excel Saga, Boogiepop Phantom, Now and Then Here and Now, and many anime movies once with the dub, once with the sub (or vice virsa).

However after watching all of Cowboy Bebop with the English Dub, I tried watching with the original soundtrack but just couldn't. The English dub is just so good.

UWSarge

Yeah, I want to get the rest of the discs now, but it looks like it'll be cheaper to buy the whole 6 disc set instead of buying discs 2-5 seperately.

Rypro 525

The set is only 99.95 at amazon and amazon only.

littlefuzzy

Be careful when buying a set, there was a limited edition boxed set available called the Perfect Collection, however, that is NOT available, and there are some bootlegs out there (including at Half.com, & the Used Sellers at Amazon.)

There is also a compilation disc called the Best Sessions, but you will probably want the entire series.

Amazon does have a Complete Sessions collection which is just the 6 discs in a cheaper bundle, without a box, but again, beware of the used sellers.

Edit: Anime Bootleg warning signs:
Import, all-region - Legitimate R2, R3, or R4 copies of these discs will NOT be region free.
3-4 discs - a 26 episode anime series will not fit on 3/4 discs without some serious degradation. Cowboy Bebop was on 6 discs, and Escaflowne (another big bootleg) was on 8 discs.
Chinese Language or subtitles. - these would only be on a Region 3 disc, which wouldn't be all region.

FuzzyBallz

Putting an English dub on Japanese anime in general should be a crime. Doing a English cut with English dub should be considered trash... my freakings eyes and ears drums.

Philip Reuben

No offence, but you REALLY need to see the Cowboy Bebop dub

Rypro 525

I really like the dub. Just got done disc one and the dub is better all around.

Also, I really like the music to this. It seems like all the soundtracks I have looked at online either are too expensve, or don't have the songs I want. I want a small sample of the slow jazz or blues pieces, the theme song, and most importantly, the song at the end credits. Thankfully, they have subtitles even in japanese and I even tried to sing along, but it didn't sound pretty.