Favorite Dubbed Anime

Anime is Japanese animation. I prefer to watch my anime dubbed into English, if the dub is well done. All of these titles qualify: they have good translations and competent voice acting. Most feature plots and situations that should be readily accessable to American viewers.

Of these, the two Miyazaki films, My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service are the most appropriate for viewers of all ages (in fact, these films are both great "family" movies), and I highly recommend them. The Disney dub of Kiki's Delivery Service should be available at most local video stores nationwide.

Ranma 1/2 and Oh! My Goddess! are both comedies, and intended primarily for teens and adults. If you don't mind brief nudity (in Ranma), they are both quite good. Not for younger children.

Gunsmith Cats is an crime action/adventure story about a bounty hunter named Rally Vincent. There are plenty of car chases, gunfights, and explosions (but not more than in an American movie of the same genre). This level of violence may be inappropriate for younger kids, but all in all this title should be easy for Americans to understand.

Revolutionary Girl Utena is definitely the most surreal of the ones listed, and almost defies categorization (is it humor, romance, action, or mystery?). Suffice it to say that the main character, Utena, is a popular girl at an exclusive boarding school. She dreams of becoming a prince and rescuing princesses, and has sword-duels with the vaguely sinister members of the student council. To lighten things up, the series is sprinkled with truly weird comedic episodes. The duels are bloodless and the music is engaging. My girls both think this this series is the greatest thing since Sailor Moon (little wonder, since Utena is the latest project from the same director).