“Our first job is to stay true to what the movie is”: Real Reason Why Hayao Miyazaki’s Dubs Are So Good Is Deceptively Simple

SUMMARY

• The debate between dubs and subs have been going on since the beginning.
• However, Studio Ghibli's movies are the only ones who have equal reception for both subs and dubs.
• Gary Rydstrom once revealed the reason behind it and it is quite simple.

In the realm of anime, it is safe to say that no one can beat Hayao Miyazaki’s works. The Japanese filmmaker and chairman of Studio Ghibli has been dropping hit after hit for as long as the anime community can remember, and his projects are not only popular in Japan. He has a global fan following, and one of the main reasons behind it is that the dubs of his movies are as spectacular as the subs.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away | Credit: Studio Ghibli

The comparison between dub and sub has been an age-old debate, and the only one who is safe from it is Miyazaki and his anime movies. His dubs and subs are almost equal in comparison, and they are true to the core message that he tries to portray through his work. Aside from that, they also work because they feature some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

But the real secret behind the success of Miyazaki’s dubs is something else. Popular American sound designer and film director Gary Rydstrom, who has worked on the dubs of Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises, once revealed that they are so popular because of their simplicity in staying true to the original movie.

Popular celebrities who have worked in Hayao Miyazaki films

Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki’s popularity reflects the fact that many Hollywood actors want to work with him or voice the characters from his movies. And there are many who have evidently received this honor and have managed to nail the roles assigned to them. This way, they have also contributed to the success of these movies.

These names include Robert Pattinson as the Grey Heron in The Boy And The Heron, Christian Bale as Howl in Howl’s Moving Castle, Mark Hamill as Colonel Muska in Laputa: Castle In The Sky, Cate Blanchett as Granmamare in Ponyo, Emily Blunt as Nahoko Satomi in The Wind Rises, Minnie Driver as Lady Eboshi in Princess Mononoke, etc.

The Heron in The Boy and the Heron | Credit: Studio Ghibli

There are many other prominent names who have had the chance to work with Miyazaki and have majorly contributed to the dubs of his movies. They serve as one of the reasons why fans from all over the world watch his movies and understand the beauty behind them.

The reason behind the specialty of Hayao Miyazaki’s dubs

A few years ago, when The Wind Rises was released, Rydstrom gave a special behind-the-scene of the voice recording process of the dubs. His comment was later on shared by Inverse where he was seen talking about what makes the Miyazaki dubs so special.

The Wind Rises By Hayao Miyazaki | Credit: Studio Ghibli

Rydstrom stated:

Our first job is to stay true to what the movie is, to the characters, and to the script of the original movie

Rydstrom was the director of the English dub of The Wind Rises and he has also worked on other Studio Ghibli movies. He understands the essence of anime movies and how important it is to stay true to them.

That is why it is made sure that the dub is true to the core and sticks with the original script of the movie. Hayao Miyazaki’s dubs are the only anime movies where dubs and subs are equally preferred and the reason behind it is so simple.

Written by Tarun Kohli

Articles Published: 2095

Konichiwa! With a Master's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a 2-year experience in Digital media writing, I am on my way to becoming one of the biggest anime content writers in my country. My passion for writing and Anime has helped me connect with Fandomwire, and share my love and experience with the world.