Netflix has been improving dubbed content to ensure that translations of non-English movies and series are as accurate as possible. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Netflix has already started offering classes to voice actors working on unscripted reality TV shows from South Korea, which feels like a crucial move for a genre that relies heavily on jokes, put-downs and other pop culture references.
The classes include lessons "on the perfect mix of authentic Korean nuance and accessible translations" to ensure better-quality dubbing and translations, so that content can be more widely understood around the world. It seems the best streaming service is trying to prioritise tone and delivery, which often isn't as clear in subtitles. Additionally, the workshops teach the Korean alphabet, pronunciation, expressions, emphasis, alongside culture.
"Dubbing should be like a magic trick for viewers," John DeMita, the head of Netflix’s English-language dubbing, told the WSJ. "We want them to relax and enjoy the show without effort. You want us to disappear." With Squid Game season 2 set to be another monumental success when it's released later this year, and other K-dramas like Sweet Home season 3 already so popular, it's great to see the streamer taking more care about how these series are translated for international audiences.
Which Netflix shows have had improved dubbing?
So far, the dubbing playbook has been successful with the intense fitness show Physical: 100, a South Korean reality series that saw 100 contestants hoping to be the last person standing after undertaking some tough challenges. The show was a hit, becoming the first non-English unscripted show to top Netflix's global most-watched list.
Los Angeles-based actor Austin Kuniyoshi gave the WSJ some insight into how he dubbed one of the Physical: 100 contestants, saying he studied the contestant’s physicality and his relationship with his body to replicate his persona and presence on the show. He told WSJ: "Like a Johnny Bravo kind of vibe. But maybe more toned down. Less exaggerated but still deep and self-confident."
Other popular South Korean productions include the dating series Single’s Inferno and game show The Devil’s Plan. And with streaming services increasingly focusing on producing more unscripted shows in general – analysis from Ampere Analysis as seen by the WSJ reveals that unscripted shows now account for half of the shows being greenlit – this is only going to get bigger.
DeMita also revealed that more than 40% of all viewings for South Korean unscripted shows are watched with dubbing, which explains why Netflix decided to focus on improving the translations for these shows first. As the new classes get more widely rolled out other productions, we hope that more non-English content can be part of the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies.
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Lucy Buglass
Senior Entertainment Writer
Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.
When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.
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