"Which is better—sub or dub?" has been a long, ongoing debate within the anime community. While a couple of English dubs may be better than the original subs for some, it's pretty much just an "each to their own" thing. But for Ghost Stories, which was released in 2000, the English dub of this title did a complete 180 on the vibe of this supernatural anime—turning into a cult classic.
Ghost Stories, also known as Gakkō no Kaidan, is an anime series based on a book of the same title by Tōru Tsunemitsu. The story follows a couple of elementary school kids—Satsuki, Hajime, Leo, Momoko, and Satsuki's younger brother Keiichiro—and the paranormal encounters within their town. Alongside them is a demon named Amanojaku, sealed within Satsuki's cat.
Unfortunately, the series flopped in Japan. In 2005, Animax approached ADV Films for a North American release. According to Greg Ayres (the voice of Leo) in a Q&A video last 2007, they were only given three rules:
1. They couldn't change the name of the characters.
2. They couldn't change the names of the ghosts because they're based on real Asian legends.
3. They couldn't change how the ghost was killed.
This inevitably gave the studio a whole lot of freedom. Considering the free rein they had, the whole script was given a makeover. The kids were cursing, dropping f-bombs, making pop culture references (a running gag was Christian Slater's career), and used crude, offensive humor. Occasionally the voice actors would also break the fourth wall and make fun of anime tropes, such as the "standard anime elbows up pose".
Ghost Stories' script contains things we don't usually see in English dubs. A common question might be, "Wait, is this dub legit?" Surprisingly, yes. Yes, it is.
Ghost Stories has one season with a total of 20 episodes. So where can we watch this seemingly unofficial but totally official English dub with inappropriate humor?
Is Ghost Stories on Crunchyroll?
Yes, Ghost Stories is available on Crunchyroll. A premium subscription starts at $7.99 per month. A 14-day free trial is also available.
Is Ghost Stories on Netflix?
Unfortunately, no. Ghost Stories is not on Netflix. Even so, there are numerous anime titles, shows, and movies you can browse on this streaming platform. A basic plan starts at $8.99 per month.
Is Ghost Stories on Funimation?
Ghost Stories is not on Funimation either. Still, this is also a well-known streaming platform for anime. A subscription starts at $5.99 per month or $59.99 a year.
Is Ghost Stories on Hulu?
Sadly, Ghost Stories is not on Hulu. Nevertheless, this streaming platform has a wide range of shows and movies to choose from. A plan starts at $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
As for other streaming platforms, Ghost Stories is available on VRV. A premium subscription starts at $9.99 per month. Ghost Stories is also available on Amazon Prime. The membership fee starts at $12.99 per month, while a Prime Video membership is at $8.99 per month.
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