Sorry, I don’t really know how to phrase my question. For example, we know that over here in the USA, a box set of dragon ball z contains the English dub and the original Japanese track. If someone from somewhere else wanted to watch, let’s say SpongeBob on DVD, could they expect the original English track or was it commonplace to only have the local dub? ETA: Of course I’m referring to the time period before streaming, and I mean any type of popular cartoon.

  • JustMy2c@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    In the Netherlands, we all basically knew (very basic) English BEFORE we could READ ( the subtitles)

    • DepthCharge@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Indeed. Infact every smaller country utilizes subtitles. Bigger countries dub their movies and shows. Dubbing is too expensive for smaller countries.

      • TwanHE@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        We have a shit ton of dubbed shows and films as well. Some were even way better than the English dub.

        • DepthCharge@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          True yeah, the ones aimed at younger children. I was talking more in general. Like in Germany for instance where they dub almost everything, for the children and adults alike.

          Source: I’m also Dutch ;)

    • linearchaos@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I traveled through the Netherlands briefly. It’s one of the few places where I’ve ever felt uncomfortable with my English. I’m American, an English is my first language.

      The homeless people in Amsterdam have better diction than I do.

        • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
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          1 year ago

          I think it says more about the role of English in the world today.

          You can travel across a large part of the world only knowing English. It is a Lingua Franca for international trade, even between two countries that don’t speak English.

          And along with that, there are local dialects of English that are different an international standard. It is a lot harder to correct the use of a language learned in a community than that you learn from media and education.

    • Sir_Fridge@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Cartoons for kids are usually dubbed though. I say for kids because stuff like the simpsons and rick and morty is still just subbed.

      • TwanHE@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Nickelodeon stopped being dubbed after 10 pm iirc. And there were some shows on Jetix that had subs for the first seasons and we’re only dubbed later.