This whole debate is silly

I love ink running through water. It's just so gorgeous, laying something over the base and seeing where it runs. And let's be honest here, the debate of dub versus sub is much like adding colored ink to black water. Anime isn't meant to be viewed either way, when you really think about it. The purists say that anime should be watched in subtitles because the Japanese audio is the original track. That is certainly true.

But on the other hand, the anime was originally meant to be watched in the language of the audience, meaning that dubbed anime actually stays closer to the original feeling it was meant to provoke. You're not supposed to be shifting your eyes from text to story. You're supposed to watch and the meaning of their words should reach you without you having to give it too much thought.

So really, there is no solid, factual argument for which is better. It's all a matter of opinion. Personally I think the show should be watched in its original language, but that's unfair of me to say: I speak a fairly good amount of Japanese and do not have to rely on subs. But, the people who prefer the dub also have a point. I have noticed many things while watching Gurren Lagann in dub because I'm no longer busy watching the subtitles. (yes, I am lazy and rarely bother translating the show for myself)

So if you walk away from this remembering only one thing, remember that (when done right) neither way is any better than the other. One preserves the author's original script, but the other preserves the author's original intent.

Blue ink doesn't belong in black water, and when put there it branches in different ways. Much like anime, when brought to other countries, takes different directions when you try to impose another language upon it--either in subtitles or dubs. But the branches of ink are gorgeous, aren't they? Why should anime be any different?

So really, both sides deserve a fair chance and your attention.

(That having been said, the Gurren Lagann review will be up soon. I was unable to post after the episode due to technical problems.)