Top 20 Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time
Top 20 Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time
Top 10 Best English Dubbed Anime
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time. For this list, we’ll be looking at the series with top-tier English-language versions. What are your favorite English dub performances? Let us know in the comments!
#20: “The Big O” (1999-2003)
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Adapting a show as tonally weird as this means walking a very fine line. As a loving blend of film noir and mecha anime, the performances need to be serious, but not dramatized. Fun, but not teasing or mean-spirited. Yeah, kind of a tough ask. Luckily, the bustling skyline of Paradigm City is a prime candidate for naturalistic English voices. After receiving a tepid response in its native Japan, the pitch-perfect delivery of the Western version gave this pulpy crime story the praise it deserves. The dub’s success even played a pivotal role in greenlighting a second season. Now, that’s a big W.
#19: “Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works” (2014-15)
Talk about an embarrassment of riches, this voice cast couldn’t do a bad line read if they wanted to. The drama and gravitas of the weighty story is given the proper respect through standout voicework from leads Bryce Papenbrook and Kari Wahlgren. Those two are anime veterans, and it shows. Even the smaller, recurring roles like Shinji are expertly brought to life by commited performers, proving that there really are no small parts. Of course, we’d be remiss not to mention Kaiji Tang’s imposing turn as Archer, who can definitely stand up to Shirou and Saber in the show and in the soundbooth.
#18: “Mobile Fighter G Gundam” (1994-95)
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The darkly political bend of this mecha franchise had never quite formed the perfect Gundam with Western censors. This season’s subversive storylines made it divisive among the hardcore crowd, but it succeeded in delivering the series’ best English dub yet. It never leans too far into hammy, but the performers are clearly relishing every second of these dramatic monologues. The legacy of this show’s excellent adaptation comes in the form of memes, remixes, and inside jokes about its memorable declarations. But, that’s what happens when you have a script that glows with as much power as Domon’s hand.
#17: “Berserk” (1997-98)
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The darkest of fantasies deserves the most mature of dubs, and while more recent adaptations and sequels did their darndest to recapture the magic, nothing could top the luster of the original. While the supporting cast also delivered in spades, looking at you Zodd, it’s the lead trinity of voice actors who truly elevated this dub to legendary status. Marc Diraison was born to play Guts, capturing his fury, loss and struggles, all of which shine during the beautiful interactions he shares with Carrie Keranen’s pitch perfect take on Casca. Then there’s Kevin T Collins as Griffith, who effortlessly brings out the would-be-ruler’s lucifarian qualities and raises to Shakespearian proportions. This dub was truly lightning in a bottle, and how we miss it.
#16: “Hellsing Ultimate” (2006-12)
Since its characters are supposed to have English accents anyways, it’s no wonder why this gory anime is so well suited for a dub. There was a lot riding on this interpretation, since it followed the manga more closely than the original. It’s a show that could have very easily been phoned in, but at every turn, the excellent returning cast elevates the material with emotional voicework. Chief among them is, of course, Crispin Freeman, who practically owns Alucard as far as we’re concerned. Just listen to his demented voice and try to tell us he isn’t perfectly cast.
#15: “The Rising of The Shield Hero” (2019-)
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It’s something of a rite of passage for voice actors to rake their vocal cords through a scream-heavy battle anime, and leading man - the late and oh so great Billy Kametz - totally owned it. Better yet, he’s supported by a cast that each manage to stand out among the crowded ensemble. It includes the likes of Erica Mendez and Brianna Knickerbocker - need we say more? Despite releasing episodes only a few weeks behind the Japanese release, this dub was clearly given the care it needed to really rise up.
#14: “Trigun” (1998)
It’s frustratingly easy to lose comedic timing in translation. Since dub actors are often dealing with scenes that are already animated, it’s extraordinary when someone like Johnny Yong Bosch can still make this kind of role his own. His expertly dry delivery easily captures the humorous spirit of the original “Trigun,” but there’s a lot more to this dub than its clever comedy. Yong Bosch and the rest of the crew can conjure a gut-busting laugh moment, and then make you cry in the next. The layered voicework here is a masterclass of how to balance opposing tones without losing a character’s essence.
#13: “Bleach” (2004-12; 2022-)
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This shonen’s English release earns its stripes on account of its screams alone. Yeah, the cast totally shredded their voices for this one, and it’s very appreciated. The flawless trifecta of leading performances from Johnny Yong Bosch, Michelle Ruff, and Stephanie Sheh easily proves why they’re some of the industry’s best. Rest assured, the rest of the cast are just as great. Even a decade later, most of them are still prevalent enough in the business to reprise their roles for the anime’s continuation. Apparently, they haven’t blown out their voices just yet.
#12: “Inuyasha” (2000-04; 2009-10)
More so than most fantasy anime, this jewel-hunting expedition leans heavily upon the relationships of its characters. Thankfully, the excellent chemistry between its leads make it easy to invest in Inuyasha and Kagome’s relationship. That extends to the rest of the characters, too, but not always in a good way. Don’t get us wrong, the dub is fantastic, but it’s so good that the show’s tragic moments hit a bit too hard. Though, in a way, that’s kind of a badge of honor. It alone verifies that the English dub somehow captured the heart that makes “Inuyasha” one of the greats.
#11: “Gurren Lagann” (2007)
Yuri Lowenthal never turns in a bad performance, but he really outdid himself this time around. His brotherly dynamic with Kyle Hebert’s Kamina is a thing of beauty, even though it contends with some outstandingly quirky supporting roles. Yet, in the end, Lowenthal ties it all together by portraying Simon’s journey with a remarkable amount of vulnerability. Oh, and the occasional power-up scream, of course. The conviction Lowenthal delivers in a few specific moments are worthy of their own award, but for now, we’ll just say that Lagann easily drilled iself a spot as one of anime’s best dubs.
#10: “One Piece” - Funimation Dub (1999-)
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After a failed 4Kids version nearly sank Luffy’s western prospects for good, Funimation single-handedly put wind back in its sails. They started from scratch with a new script, a new cast, and a new reason to love “One Piece” all over again. Colleen Clinkenbeard’s mischievous Luffy is a highlight in her esteemed career, especially since she can flick on the battle yells like few others. But, she isn’t the only standout. In fact, in the entirety of this “One Piece” dub, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a single miscast actor. Since there are hundreds of named characters, that’s a big accomplishment.
#9: “Beyblade” Franchise
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Kid actors are often a headache for production staff, and anime is no different. As a result, adults usually step behind the mic for younger-sounding roles. But, not “Beyblade.” In a novel choice even by today’s standards, the dub of the original trilogy used actual kids for its youthful cast. Even though many of them hadn’t acted before, it paid off in “blades” with one of the most authentic-sounding dubs ever produced. No show may ever be able to replicate the sense of growth that comes from hearing an actor’s voice deepen alongside their aging character. Really, though, the dub is worth checking out just for that iconic theme song.
#8: “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” (2006-08)
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Once again, Johnny Yong Bosch is the well-cast leading man of a fantastic dub. At this point, you could also just call it a demo reel of his impeccable range, since Lelouch is as far away from Ichigo and Vash as you can get. This cutthroat mastermind is all the better when put up against Yuri Lowenthal’s youthful Suzaku. As the show deepens its complex morality, these two phenomenal actors are given enough material to forge some unforgettable scenes together. Add in the always-great Kate Higgins as C.C., and the reputation of this cast practically sells itself.
#7: “Outlaw Star” (1998)
Gene and Jim may be on the run, but their only crime was not getting a fair shot at success in the states. The banter between the brotherly duo practically leaps off the screen thanks to Robert Buchholz and Brianne Siddall. Their back-and-forth is unparalleled, but boy can they sell a dramatic scene, too. Unfortunately, despite its merits, these outlaws had a bumpy run-in with U.S. censors. Its original English release on Cartoon Network muddied the performances with mountains of unnecessary edits. But, since the uncut version is now readily accessible through streaming, there’s no longer any reason to avoid this awesome dub.
#6: “Death Note” (2006-07)
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Whoever cast this dub deserves a massive raise. After all, it doesn’t even take a full scene for Brian Drummond’s Ryuk to give us chills, just one line is enough. Alongside its performances, “Death Note” is difficult to adapt because its complex story relies on sleight of hand and hidden motivations to produce tension. The script needs to be airtight to make sense, which is why it’s so refreshing that a dub from this timeframe was able to stay so faithful to its disturbing source material. Even if it wasn't, though, we could still listen to Brad Swaile as Light all day. That laugh is iconic for a reason.
#5: “Fullmetal Alchemist” (2003-04) & “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009-10)
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One of anime’s best is deserving of an equally amazing dub, and that’s exactly what it got. Travis Willingham is a revelation as Mustang, J. Michael Tatum steals the show as Maes Hughes, and Caitlin Glass elevates Winry to fan-favorite status. The original even got a preteen Aaron Dismuke to play the young Al. While he understandably aged out of the armored suit by the time “Brotherhood” rolled around, Maxey Whitehead didn’t miss a beat and made the role her own. These characters come to life through some incredibly compelling performances, to the point we wonder if there’s actual alchemy involved.
#4: “Monster” (2004-05)
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It took a few years after its Japanese release for this to get dubbed, but the result was well worth the wait. The stellar voice actors take the subject matter incredibly seriously, and refuse to ham up a story that could easily lean into farce if not done right. Not that we expect anything different from the legend himself, Liam O'Brien. His commanding performance is basically impossible to live up to, but somehow, Keith Silverstein stands toe-to-toe with him as the madcap Johan. This psychological thriller’s dub has all the subtlety, emotional heft, and great casting that made it a hit in the first place.
#3: “Yu Yu Hakusho” (1992-95)
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At a time when anime dubbing wasn’t always given the dignity it deserved, Funimation’s take on this legendary shonen went the extra mile. If anything, this is a walking reminder that Justin Cook is one of the most criminally underrated voice actors on the market. His voice oozes leading man charm, and he absolutely nails some of Yusuke’s most iconic moments. You want more? How about Laura Bailey as Keiko? Or Chris Sabat as Kuwabara? There’s so much to love here, it’s easy to forget the dub is already twenty years old. Trust us, it definitely holds up.
#2: “Dragon Ball” Franchise
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It took a few tries for Shenron to wish up the perfect English cast, but eventually, the right team put on the gi for this iconic action series. While the older stuff definitely has its charm, the release of “Dragon Ball Z: Kai” has proved the Super Saiyan standard with a faithful script, modern acting sensibilities, and the fantastic Monica Rial as Bulma. But, outside of a few cast shakeups, most of the actors like Sean Schemmel have been stretching their lung capacity for over twenty five years straight. After hundreds of episodes, movies, and video games, it's just impressive any of them have a voice left at all.
#1: “Cowboy Bebop” (1998-99)
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It’s impossible to mention English dubs without bringing up what is quite possibly the crowning achievement of the whole industry. Look, we could fill a whole list of reasons why Steve Blum killed it as Spike, but we’ll let it speak for itself. The dub was directed by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, who also played Julia. With that in mind, it suddenly makes sense how this cast has so much chemistry. The person giving them direction was literally one of them. Thanks to some truly phenomenal performances, this English version is often credited for helping popularize anime in America. If that’s not the highest praise a dub can get, we don’t know what is.
