Most English-speaking anime fans, at some point, experience the crushing blow that comes from the realization that the dub for their favorite series has either been discontinued unexpectedly or was never finished, to begin with. Although many series may continue in Japanese past the point of English-dub's end, many dedicated anime fans simply prefer the experience of a dub over the subbed version.
Whether having the show play out in the viewer's native language is more convenient or efficient, or the viewer just appreciates American voice acting, English-dubbing is crucial for many fan's viewing experiences and it's unfortunate when the politics that surround television production end in disappointment for viewers.
10 it may come as a surprise that Hamtaro only aired a fraction of its dubbed episodes, much less the entire series
Anyone who had the pleasure of being a child in the early 2000s remembers kid's entertainment being absolutely dominated by Hamtaro and his Ham-Ham friends.
Airing on Cartoon Network's iconic Toonami block that introduced many a millennial to classic anime heavy-hitters like Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z, it may come as a surprise that Hamtaro only aired a fraction of its dubbed episodes, much less the entire series. Of Hamtaro's 296 episodes, only 105 were dubbed into English, of which only 52 were released.
9 Interspecies Reviewers' blatantly risqué content proved too much for producers of all kinds
Relatively new to be called a "classic," Interspecies Reviewers has definitely left its mark since its January 2020 debut. Following a randy group of adventurers who decide to start a blog rating the copious services available in a fantasy-themed red-light district, the series falls just outside of the realm of traditional hentai.
The show's blatantly risqué content proved too much for producers of all kinds since not only was it the first episode dubbed while most of the American VO cast remained anonymous, but the series was dropped entirely by FUNimation, Wakanim, Amazon Prime, and Japanese stations Tokyo MX and SUN.
8 die-hard fans were sad to see Digimon Fusion go since the third season saw the return of past protagonists
Digimon Fusion is the sixth installation of the powerhouse Pokémon-inspired franchise. Digimon follows the DigiDestined, a group of preordained children selected to tame and battle Digimon digital monsters to protect the Digital World. Of Digimon Fusion's three seasons and 79 episodes, only 50 episodes over two seasons were dubbed and released in the United States.
Although subpar viewership is reportedly to blame for the cancellation, die-hard fans were sad to see it go since the third season saw the return of past protagonists and the English cast housed some amazing VO talent, including about half the cast of Critical Role!
7 only 104 of Astro Boy's original 194 episodes were dubbed & released to American audiences
A milestone series for anime as a global art form, Astro Boy was the first animated Japanese TV series to be marketed and released internationally. Astro Boy, originally titled Tetsuwan Atom, paved the way for how Japanese animation would be translated for decades to come, even solidifying classic anime staples like featuring songs as intros.
Even though the show proved popular enough to jumpstart a cultural phenomenon, only 104 of the original 194 episodes were dubbed and released to American audiences.
6 26 of 143 episodes of Tamagotchi!'s first season were recorded & repeated for four years
In the late-1990s, computerized pets called Tamagotchis were the go-to toy for tweens around the world. Almost a decade after their heyday, Bandai Visuals partnered with OLM Incorporated to bring the iconic toys back to life in a slice-of-life anime series geared for a new generation.
Even though Tamagotchi! is only the first of four seasons, it was only dubbed and aired to Australian audiences. Twenty-six of 143 episodes of the show's first season were recorded and repeated for four years before the plug was pulled.
5 4Kids Entertainment scrapped Yu-Gi-Oh! GX's fourth season to later replace it with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is the successor to the hit anime and card game, Yu-Gi-Oh! that dominated the early 2000s, offering an edgier alternative to the classic Pokémon franchise. The sequel follows Judai Yuuki ten years after the original series as he attends the Duel Academia, where he trains alongside fellow aspiring duelists.
The show's English dub was produced by 4Kids Entertainment where it got the infamous 4Kids treatment undergoing extensive editing and censoring to create a more family-friendly product. In the end, only the first 155 episodes were dubbed of the available 180 after the network scrapped the fourth season to later replace it with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, which ultimately received similar treatment and was axed prematurely.
4 of 155 episodes from Lupin the 3rd Part II, only 81 were dubbed
Even though Lupin the 3rd is technically the second of a two-part series, it's the only one to be licensed for dubbing in the United States. The series follows the international master thief, Arsen Lupin III, on his various capers around the world. Originally a fairly gritty and violent anime, production studios preferred the second season's lighter comedic tone.
Initially, only the 145th and 155th episodes were picked up having been directed by renowned director Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli fame. These episodes were released as standalone VHS specials until the series was finally picked up in 2003, 26 years after the show's debut. Of 155 episodes, only 81 were dubbed.
3 Hopefully Tokyo Mew Mew can find redemption in its upcoming reboot
For English-speaking Sailor Moon fans, Tokyo Mew Mew was a welcome addition to both the magical girl and the sentai genres. The series follows a group of girls who have their DNA infused with that of different endangered animal species, turning them into "Mew Mews" with superhuman abilities. Along with their alien recruiters, they use their abilities to fight off extraterrestrial invaders who want to reclaim the Earth.
Tokyo Mew Mew aired on 4Kids Entertainment through 2002-2003. During its time it was heavily edited, including a title change to Mew Mew Power. Only 26 of 52 episodes were aired in the US and Canada, supposedly due to a failed merchandising agreement that led to 4Kids Entertainment releasing the project. Hopefully, the show can find redemption in the upcoming reboot.
2 it's unclear why Disney hasn't jumped at the chance to license more Doraemon content
Doraemon is a show that seems prone to getting the short end of the stick when it comes to successfully making the leap over to American audiences. Although currently airing as a popular children's show on Disney XD, only 52 episodes spanning two seasons were dubbed and released since its 2014 debut.
Since the series currently has over 537 episodes, it's unclear why Disney hasn't jumped at the chance to license more content. This isn't the blue robotic cat's first foray into the dubbing wars since the 1979 iteration of the series was produced as a limited release under the title "The Adventures of Albert and Sidney," where the show was heavily Westernized and never ended up being aired in the US, despite having a catalog of 1,787 available episodes.
1 Zatch Bell!'s entire 150-episode catalog was never fully dubbed & released
Zatch Bell! follows Kiyomaro Takamine, a sullen teenager, and his small demon boy Zatch Bell, as they become entangled in a battle royale against other demons and their Masters to determine who gets to rule the demon Mamodo realm. The show was dubbed and aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami between 2005-2007 before it was canceled after 55 episodes.
The series was picked back up by Canadian station YTV where it continued until episode 104. Unfortunately, the award-winning shonen's entire 150-episode catalog was never fully dubbed and released.