High School Dxd — Dub Top

A great script is nothing without the actors to deliver it, and the DxD dub boasts what many consider a perfect cast. The trio of Josh Grelle (Issei), Jamie Marchi (Rias Gremory), and Monica Rial (Akeno Himejima) forms the holy trinity of the dub’s success.

In the world of anime localization, there is a distinct tier list for English dubs. While some shows are merely serviceable, others achieve a level of quality and cultural impact that rivals, and occasionally surpasses, the original Japanese audio. High School DxD firmly belongs in the latter category. For many fans, the English dub is not just the preferred way to watch the series; it is the definitive version.

Here is a breakdown of why the High School DxD dub consistently ranks at the top. high school dxd dub top

The primary reason the DxD dub reigns supreme is its aggressive, irreverent script adaptation. A direct, literal translation of the Japanese script would yield a fairly standard shonen narrative filled with cries of "Yamete!" and "Ore no tsurugi!" The dub, however, treats the source material less like a sacred scroll and more like a rough blueprint for improvisation.

The writing team understood that High School DxD is, at its core, ridiculous. The protagonist, Issei Hyoudou, has a motivation that boils down to "creating a harem." The dub leans into this absurdity with reckless abandon. Japanese honorifics are replaced with modern slang; dramatic monologues are peppered with pop-culture references (from Star Wars to The Godfather); and characters speak like actual teenagers, not archetypes. When Issei laments his lack of luck, he doesn't sound like a generic anime hero—he sounds like a frustrated American high schooler. A great script is nothing without the actors

This is best exemplified by the "Oppai Dragon" song, Issei’s theme. In Japanese, it is a standard, slightly goofy children’s show jingle. In English, the voice actors perform it with the unhinged commitment of a death metal band, turning a cringe-worthy moment into a legendary, meme-able anthem. The dub doesn’t mock the show; it winks at the audience, inviting us to laugh with it rather than at it.

Kiba is the handsome swordsman, a boring archetype in most anime. Joel McDonald makes him hilarious by playing him as the "straight man" trapped in a circus. When Kiba sighs, "I’m surrounded by perverts," you can hear the actor’s actual exhaustion. It’s a subtle, brilliant performance. While some shows are merely serviceable, others achieve

One of the reasons the High School DxD dub is ranked so highly is the script adaptation handled largely by J. Michael Tatum and the Funimation team. Localization is an art form that requires translating not just words, but intent and humor.

The script for High School DxD is natural. It flows like actual conversation rather than a stilted translation. The comedic timing is adjusted to fit Western sensibilities, ensuring that jokes land effectively. The dialogue avoids the "sub-speak" (awkward sentence structures that mimic Japanese grammar) that plagues lesser dubs, allowing the viewer to immerse themselves in the world of devils and angels without being constantly reminded that they are watching a foreign product.