Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Complaint About Audio Description On Netflix (self.Blind)
submitted by BlindWarriorGurl
Not sure if this is the right place to post this but just needed to vent a little. There's an anime on Netflix I want to watch because it's something I think I'd be into, but it doesn't have audio description in English, just Japanese! What is with that? I don't speak Japanese and can't use subtitles for obvious reasons, so what were they even thinking? That's just about it, thanks for reading.
BlindGuyNW 3 points 3y ago
I can totally see where OP is coming from here. I've often wondered how audio-described anime might work, and to see this amount of negativity displayed towards a reasonable point is a little disappointing.
That being said, I worry about how well it would work if only because the describer would not only have to describe scenes, but presumably read the English subtitles as well. I presume there is a way to avoid the latter but am not sufficiently familiar with anime to know what that might be.
All in all, I wish folks would stop jumping on OP for being "entitled," when the complaint is valid, albeit perhaps poorly-phrased.
That being said, I worry about how well it would work if only because the describer would not only have to describe scenes, but presumably read the English subtitles as well. I presume there is a way to avoid the latter but am not sufficiently familiar with anime to know what that might be.
All in all, I wish folks would stop jumping on OP for being "entitled," when the complaint is valid, albeit perhaps poorly-phrased.
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
Have a look at Full Metal Alchemist to see an audio-described anime. Interestingly, Deluxe US, the company who made the AD, chose to read the subtitles themselves rather than using the official English dub.
pitermach 1 points 3y ago
FMA has description? I don’t see it on Netflix here. Where can you find it?
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
Netflix only has distribution rights for it in a few countries.
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
BlindWarriorGurl [OP] 1 points 3y ago
They have an English dub. They could just put the description with that.
Prefect316 2 points 3y ago
Japanese people understand Japanese so the AD track was for them, not you. Usually they will do the AD in the native language of the series.
ginsenshi 2 points 3y ago
I think if there’s only say a japanese AD track maybe they should do a english subtitles with the AD translated .
Or at least that’s my idea.
Or at least that’s my idea.
BlindWarriorGurl [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Even if they did I wouldn’t be able to read it.
ginsenshi 1 points 3y ago
I’m talking about under the subtitle selection have English with audio description and then enable the setting where voiceover can read subtitles/captions at least on iOS devices.
FiverNZen 1 points 3y ago
If you’re using an iPhone and voiceover, I believe itsv possible to have it read subtitles as you watch...haven’t tried it with anime though. If you’re interested I can try it out and let you know :)
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
Many animes have English dubs. The problem is that, because they are cartoons, they are very heavy on action, which is why AD is so handy.
CloudsOfMagellan 2 points 3y ago
Voiceover itself will read the subtitles so dubbing isn't needed
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
No. I was just saying that Netflix tries to dub all foreign-language content because they have found that some sighted people prefer it to reading subtitles.
BlindWarriorGurl [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I would really appreciate that.
cookieinaloop 1 points 3y ago
Has it ever occurred to you that this is how everyone else has it all the time?
razzretina 1 points 3y ago
Er... has it occurred to you that everyone else can at least read the subs so they know what's going on? I'm with OP here. I love anime and it would be nice to be able to follow along more than just having to suck up listening to bad English dubs. Having the Japanese audio description only is kind of just spitting in our faces. "Look what we're too lazy to bother giving you in English! :D"
cookieinaloop 5 points 3y ago
You have to be kidding me.
You know how many US shows on Netflix only have English audio description?
All of them.
Requiring everyone in the world to add English audio description just because you guys can't speak other languages is typical, and hilarious.
You know how many US shows on Netflix only have English audio description?
All of them.
Requiring everyone in the world to add English audio description just because you guys can't speak other languages is typical, and hilarious.
BlindWarriorGurl [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that it was a crime to want to be able to enjoy a show like everyone else. Please forgive my serious transgression, I will be sure to be more careful in the future.
razzretina 1 points 3y ago
Someone hasn't done any research at all ever. They don't even have audio description for Breaking Bad, their flagship series. Not even half of their shows and films have audio description and they're tragically one of the more accessible services. They're also an American company. If they can provide an English dub, they can provide an English description, end of story. Just because you are spoiled and have access to everything doesn't mean you get to tell people who don't that we should be happy with whatever crumbs get thrown our way.
cookieinaloop 3 points 3y ago
I'm blind as well. And I'm Brazilian. Having you tell me I'm spoiled and that I have everything easy has me wheezing here.
Almost every single show on Netflix has Portuguese dub. Please find me one that has Portuguese audiodescription.
People do audiodescription in the original language of the show. And not everyone on Earth speaks English. If you're requiring English audiodescription for every show that has ENG dub, I hope you also require audiodescription in every single language in which a show happens to be dubbed.
Almost every single show on Netflix has Portuguese dub. Please find me one that has Portuguese audiodescription.
People do audiodescription in the original language of the show. And not everyone on Earth speaks English. If you're requiring English audiodescription for every show that has ENG dub, I hope you also require audiodescription in every single language in which a show happens to be dubbed.
bradley22 0 points 3y ago
I’d recommend listening to it and use a wiki or Wikipedia.
I’m not a fan of netflix, I find their lack of audio description to be bad but I’ve never came across a Japanese audio description track so good on them.
I’m not a fan of netflix, I find their lack of audio description to be bad but I’ve never came across a Japanese audio description track so good on them.
TrippingWithNoSight -1 points 3y ago
Call Aira or BeMyEyes, have them describe the movie.
End of story.
End of story.
Superfreq2 2 points 3y ago
Ahahaha you make it sound so easy!
Yes, because most people can afford that much Irah time, and wish to use a month's worth in one go. And still only get a few episodes described for a whole month, maximum.
And taking that much of a random person's time on be my eyes is totally reasonable.
Don't be freaking ridiculous.
Yes, because most people can afford that much Irah time, and wish to use a month's worth in one go. And still only get a few episodes described for a whole month, maximum.
And taking that much of a random person's time on be my eyes is totally reasonable.
Don't be freaking ridiculous.
TrippingWithNoSight 1 points 3y ago
Lol oh well. Let's see you find a better workaround, then. :/
Superfreq2 2 points 3y ago
Oh I can't, it's just, this isn't one period. So it's kinda hard to compete with something that doesn't exist you know?
Look, in all seriousness, I guess you could use it for specific parts your really confused by, if the Wiki isn't good enough. But if the person on the other end doesn't know the characters or lore, they probably won't even know what they are looking at. I mean anime is confusing at the best of times.... But maybe if you somehow cultivated a relationship with someone who was also into it and requested them? Would only work with Irah though.
You can also use Team Viewer with Irah, somehting which allot of people don't know as it's berried at the very bottom of the explorer guide, but that would work much better than pointing your phone at the screen I'd imagine.
It's not completely shit, it's just that when you say (end of story) as if everything is covered, yeah.
Look, in all seriousness, I guess you could use it for specific parts your really confused by, if the Wiki isn't good enough. But if the person on the other end doesn't know the characters or lore, they probably won't even know what they are looking at. I mean anime is confusing at the best of times.... But maybe if you somehow cultivated a relationship with someone who was also into it and requested them? Would only work with Irah though.
You can also use Team Viewer with Irah, somehting which allot of people don't know as it's berried at the very bottom of the explorer guide, but that would work much better than pointing your phone at the screen I'd imagine.
It's not completely shit, it's just that when you say (end of story) as if everything is covered, yeah.
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
That wouldn't solve the real problem.
TrippingWithNoSight -1 points 3y ago
It's a workaround for now.
FartInsideMe -1 points 3y ago
Aren't they required by law to include English closed captioning?
BlindWarriorGurl [OP] 4 points 3y ago
I get the feeling that you don’t know what audio description is. It’s different than subtitles. Subtitles are when you put the words on the screen of what the characters are saying. Audio description is basically a person telling you what’s happening on the screen. They don’t have that in English though, only Japanese which I do not speak.
FartInsideMe 1 points 3y ago
Sorry! Thanks for the clarification
rkingett 2 points 3y ago
No. They are only required to provide an audio description track and only 1 AD track. If the initial anime was in Japanese, they only have to get that AD track in Japanese.
CloudyBeep 5 points 3y ago
Netflix is not required to make any AD tracks.
rkingett 2 points 3y ago
The terms of this settlement still apply, even after 2016. https://dralegal.org/case/netflix-settlement/
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
That's good, but it doesn't specify how much of the content must be described, nor for what languages AD must be created. I'd be interested in reading the full terms of the settlement if you can find them.
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
Netflix isn't required to have any subtitles, CC or AD.
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
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