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The English dub of High School DxD is widely celebrated for its unique approach, often described by fans as a "professional abridged series" due to its heavy localization and added humor. While the Japanese original maintains a balance of action and fanservice, the English version leans heavily into comedy, frequently rewriting dialogue to be more raunchy or absurd than the literal translation. Overview of the English Dub The series is primarily available on Crunchyroll Prime Video , featuring a cast that fans credit with bringing a "special" energy to the show. Localization Style : The dub script is known for taking creative liberties, often adding jokes, innuendos, and slang that are not present in the original sub. : Viewers often find the dub to have a lighter, funnier feel that enhances the "perverted" nature of the protagonist, Issei Hyoudou. Controversies & Changes Dialogue Accuracy : Some purists argue the dub "butchers" specific terms (like "Boost") or makes the content "needlessly" kinkier than the source material. Cast Changes : There have been notable voice actor replacements throughout the seasons, including for major characters like Issei and Akeno, which some fans found jarring. Key Voice Cast The dub's popularity is largely tied to the performance of its lead actors: Issei Hyoudou : Voiced by Scott Freeman (Seasons 1-2) and later Josh Grelle (Season 3 onwards). Rias Gremory : Voiced by Jamie Marchi, whose performance is frequently praised for fitting the character's "sexy" and authoritative tone. Akeno Himejima : Initially voiced by Teri Rogers, who fans often cite as a standout in the early seasons. How to Watch The English dub is available across four seasons: High School DxD Prime Video
The High School DxD English dub is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and unhinged "over-the-top" localizations in anime history . Unlike many standard dubs that prioritize word-for-word accuracy, the High School DxD dub is famous for taking massive creative liberties with its script, injecting meta-humor, modern slang, and "trash talk" that often outshines the original Japanese dialogue. Why the High School DxD Dub is a Top Recommendation While the sub is praised for its faithfulness to the original light novels, the dub has reached "legendary" status for several key reasons: Comedic Interpretation : The English script leans heavily into comedic "punch-up." It introduces unexpected lines like "that's what she said" and uncalled-for fourth-wall breaks that catch viewers off guard. Balance of Tone : Despite the wild humor, fans note that the dub successfully maintains the story's serious stakes and emotional weight. Moments like Kiba's character arc are cited as being just as powerful, if not more so, in English. Voice Actor Synergy : The cast is often described as sounding like they are having "the time of their lives". The chemistry between lead characters makes the harem-comedy elements feel more natural and engaging. Essential English Voice Cast The series saw a major casting shift after the first two seasons, but the quality remained high according to community consensus. English Voice Actor (Seasons 1-2) English Voice Actor (Seasons 3-4) Issei Hyodo Scott Freeman Josh Grelle Rias Gremory Jamie Marchi Jamie Marchi Akeno Himejima Teri Rogers Kelly Angel Asia Argento Chloe Daniels Leah Clark (Season 4) Koneko Tojo Jad Saxton Jad Saxton Yuto Kiba Sean O'Connor Sean O'Connor Note: The lead role of Issei was recast starting with "High School DxD BorN" (Season 3) with Josh Grelle taking over the role permanently. Iconic Quotes & "Gag" Moments The dub is essentially a highlight reel of memorable one-liners that have become internet memes: Issei’s Outbursts : From threatening to destroy anyone who reduces Rias's bust size to the infamous "You can Juggernaut deez nutz!". Koneko’s Deadpan Delivery : Often considered the MVP of the dub, her flatly delivered insults like "Because you are the enemy to all women" are fan favorites. Meta References : Lines like "eat those words like a teen doing the tide pod challenge" demonstrate how the dubbers modernized the script for Western audiences. Where to Watch You can find the official English dub on major streaming platforms and through retail editions: Streaming : Available on Crunchyroll (which absorbed Funimation's library) and sometimes featured on Hulu . Home Video : Uncensored Blu-ray and DVD sets are frequently sold at retailers like Amazon , RightStuf/Crunchyroll Store , and Walmart .
The English dub of High School DxD is famously regarded for its "unhinged" and comedic approach, often departing from the original script to add extra layers of humor and slang. Fans often rank it as a "must-watch" dub because it leans heavily into the show's over-the-top, ecchi (sexual comedy) nature. Why the Dub Stands Out Creative Liberties : Unlike the more literal Japanese subtitles, the English script by Funimation (now under Crunchyroll) adds modern slang, witty banter, and even more perverted jokes for the protagonist, Issei. Iconic Voice Acting : Issei Hyoudou (Josh Grelle) : Delivers a high-energy performance that perfectly captures the character's "Harem King" ambitions. Rias Gremory (Jamie Marchi) : Noted for her authoritative yet sultry tone that matches her status as a high-level devil. "Gag Dub" Vibes : While not a full parody like Ghost Stories , the script often treats serious moments with a wink to the audience, making it a "guilty pleasure" for many. Watching Guide For the full experience, most fans recommend the Uncut/Blu-ray versions, as the broadcast/TV edits often include "holy light" censorship that covers visual content. High School DxD (TV Series 2012–2018) - Parents guide
The High School DxD English dub is widely considered "iconic" and unique within the anime community because it functions almost like an official gag dub . While the core story of Issei Hyoudou becoming a devil servant to Rias Gremory remains intact, the dub significantly alters the dialogue to lean into raunchy, improvised-style humor. Dub Highlights and Features Creative Scripting : The dub writers took massive liberties with the translation, adding jokes, fourth-wall breaks, and modern slang that weren't in the original Japanese script. Fans often cite lines like "Deodora the Explorer" or "Kentucky Fried Princess" as legendary comedic additions. Voice Acting Synergy : Many viewers feel the voice actors—particularly Jamie Marchi (Rias) and Scott Freeman/Josh Grelle (Issei)—delivered performances that elevated the material through perfect comedic timing. The "It Factor" : Unlike the Ghost Stories dub, which was changed because the original show was considered poor, the DxD dub enhances a show that was already popular, creating a balance between serious action and over-the-top comedy. Cast Changes and Context You should be aware of a few significant shifts in the English production over the series' four seasons: Issei Hyoudou : Originally voiced by Scott Freeman (Seasons 1-2). He was replaced by Josh Grelle for later seasons following Freeman's legal issues. Akeno Himejima : Originally voiced by Teri Rogers (Seasons 1-2), who left voice acting and was replaced by Kelly Angel. Series Tone Shift : Season 4 ( High School DxD Hero ) saw a change in animation studio and a slight shift toward a script that was more faithful to the original Japanese dialogue, which some dub-only fans found less "wild" than previous seasons. Watchability Report The High School DxD Dub Is Iconic high school dxd dub top
The Ultimate Ranking: Top High School DxD Dub Performances When fans discuss the pantheon of great English dubs in anime, a few titles always rise to the top: Cowboy Bebop , Fullmetal Alchemist , and surprisingly, High School DxD . While the franchise is infamous for its “plot” (both literal and figurative), the English dub for High School DxD has achieved legendary status. It isn’t just a translation; it is a comedic reimagining that amplifies the source material’s personality tenfold. For viewers searching for the High School DxD dub top performances, you aren’t just looking for who sounds cool—you’re looking for who delivers the most iconic one-liners, the most emotional battle cries, and the most absurdly hilarious lewd jokes. After binging all four seasons ( Hero included), here is the definitive ranking of the top English dub voice actors in the High School DxD universe. Why the Dub Surpasses the Subtitle Before we rank the stars, it’s important to understand why the High School DxD dub is specifically beloved. Japanese voice acting is legendary for its emotional range, but the English dub (produced by Funimation) takes a massive risk: improvisation . The script writers injected Western pop culture references, sarcastic fourth-wall breaks, and vocabulary you’d never find in a standard shonen anime. The result is a show that feels less like a serious supernatural battle series and more like an R-rated Scooby-Doo meets John Wick . The actors understood the assignment: treat the ecchi with over-the-top seriousness, but treat the action and drama with genuine heart. Tier 1: The Untouchable Top Spot 1. Josh Grelle as Issei Hyoudou If you search for High School DxD dub top performances, every list begins and ends with Josh Grelle. Casting Grelle as the perverted protagonist was a stroke of genius. Grelle is usually typecast as charismatic leads (Armin in Attack on Titan , Shido in Date A Live ), so hearing him scream about breasts with the same intensity as a shonen hero yelling a power-up is hilarious. Signature Moment: Issei’s "Dress Break" chant. Grelle goes from a trembling, nervous teenager to a commanding king mid-chant. His delivery of "I don't care if I go to Hell... because I'm taking you with me!" during the Riser Phenex fight is genuinely chilling. He balances pathetic simp and heroic demon lord perfectly. Why they are #1: Grelle makes the monologues about oppai feel spiritually profound. He treats the absurd premise with absolute sincerity, which is the secret sauce of the entire series. Tier 2: The Scene Stealers Coming in second on the High School DxD dub top list are the actors who turn every scene they are in into gold, even when they aren't the focus. 2. Jamie Marchi as Rias Gremory Jamie Marchi is the queen of the snarky dub. Her Rias is not just the "clan princess"; she is a confident, slightly sadistic, seductive mastermind. While the Japanese Rias is elegant and noble, Marchi’s Rias sounds like she is always one step ahead of you and enjoying it immensely. Signature Moment: When she explains the "Rating Game" rules to Issei. Marchi uses a low, breathy register that is pure erotic authority. Her delivery of "You belong to me now" is iconic. 3. Scott Freeman (Season 1-2) as Issei (Minor roles) & The Writing Note: Tyrone Mahugh takes over in later seasons, but the "top" legacy was built here. Actually, let's pivot to Terri Doty as Koneko Toujou . Koneko is the silent, deadpan loli, which is a trope that can fail in dubs. Terri Doty makes it work by making Koneko sound less like a robot and more like an aggressively bored cat. When Koneko finally smirks and says, "You have the soul of a beast, Issei," the deadpan delivery crashes into absurdity perfectly. 4. Leah Clark as Koneko (Continued praise) & Asia Argento Leah Clark pulls double duty in DxD , but her Asia is the emotional anchor. Asia is the pure-hearted nun, and Clark avoids making her sound whiny. Instead, she gives Asia a soft, fragile voice that cracks beautifully during emotional breakdowns. When Asia cries, you feel guilty for laughing two seconds earlier. Tier 3: The Comedic Heavy Hitters 5. Joel McDonald as Kiba Yuuto 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. 6. Amber Lee Connors as Xenovia Xenovia is a holy swordswoman who loses her faith and decides to have a baby with Issei. Amber Lee Connors plays her with a blunt, socially unaware confidence. Her line, "I mean to have your child, Issei," delivered as casually as ordering coffee, is arguably the single funniest line reading in the entire dub. The Supporting Cast That Elevates the Show No High School DxD dub top list is complete without recognizing the chaos agents:
Chris Rager as Dohna Dohnaseek: The fallen angel. Rager plays him like a sleazy used car salesman. It is a brilliant subversion of a villain. Brittney Karbowski as Gasper Vladi: Cute, cross-dressing vampire boy with a stutter. Karbowski nails the anxiety-ridden, "Hampire" dialect that melts hearts. Ian Sinclair as Bikou: The monkey king descendant. Sinclair plays him as a laid-back bro who just wants a good fight. His casual charisma is infectious.
The "Riser Phenomenon" – A Case Study in Top-Tier Villainy We cannot ignore Robert McCollum as Riser Phenex. Riser is the arrogant phoenix nobleman you love to hate. McCollum gives him a smug, aristocratic drawl that makes you want to punch him through the screen. When Issei finally defeats him, the shift in Riser’s voice from arrogance to disbelief is masterclass voice acting. McCollum proves that a great dub actor can make you hate a character so much, you respect the actor. Verdict: Who holds the crown? After reviewing the High School DxD dub top contenders, the crown goes to Josh Grelle . While Jamie Marchi and Amber Lee Connors deliver more consistent comedy, Grelle has the hardest job. He has to be pathetic, heroic, perverted, and tragic—sometimes in the same monologue. His ability to scream "BOOST!" with legitimate hype while also whispering creepy pickup lines is unmatched. Final Thoughts: Where to Watch the Best Dub If you want to experience this top-tier cast, High School DxD (Seasons 1-4) is available on Crunchyroll (formerly Funimation) and Hulu . The English dub is specifically labeled under "English" in the audio settings. Warning: Season 4 ( DxD Hero ) had a studio change (Passione took over from TNK), which slightly changed the character art styles. However, the voice cast remained intact. The transition is jarring visually, but the audio performance remains consistent. Honorable Mention: The Outtakes Search for the High School DxD dub outtakes on YouTube. Hearing Josh Grelle scream "Dress Break" at a microphone while Jamie Marchi laughs in the background is the meta-humor that makes this fandom great. The English dub of High School DxD is
In summary, the High School DxD dub top performances are defined by three things: comedic timing, emotional sincerity, and the willingness to say the filthiest lines with a straight face. Whether you are watching for the action or the "culture," the English cast treats your time with respect and laughter. This isn't just a good ecchi dub; it is a historically great comedy dub. Boosto!
The Legacy of Lust and Laughter: Why the High School DxD Dub Reigns Supreme In the world of English-dubbed anime, few titles carry as much weight—or as much notoriety—as High School DxD . While the series is infamous for its "ecchi" content and unbridled fan service, seasoned anime fans often rank its English dub among the best in the genre. It is frequently cited as a "top tier" example of localization done right, transcending the language barrier to enhance the source material rather than simply translating it. Here is a breakdown of why the High School DxD dub is consistently placed at the top. 1. The Voice Acting Powerhouse The cornerstone of the dub’s success is the casting. Funimation (now Crunchyroll) assembled a veteran cast that understood the assignment perfectly.
Yuki Kaji vs. Scott Gibbs: In the Japanese sub, Issei Hyoudou is voiced by the legendary Yuki Kaji (also known for Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan ). He plays Issei with high-pitched, frantic energy. However, Scott Gibbs’ English portrayal offers a different flavor. Gibbs leans into Issei’s "scummy but lovable" persona with a deeper, grittier voice that grounds the character. Many Western fans argue that Gibbs’ performance makes Issei feel more like a genuine high school delinquent and less like a caricature. Rias Gremory: The performance of Rias is vital, as she shifts between the dignified Princess of Ruin and a vulnerable teenager. The English performance captures this duality seamlessly, commanding authority in battle scenes while nailing the comedic jealousy in slice-of-life moments. Localization Style : The dub script is known
2. The "Perv with a Heart of Gold" One of the biggest hurdles in localizing an anime like High School DxD is the protagonist. Issei is unapologetically perverted, a trait that can easily become grating or uncomfortable for Western audiences. The English dub succeeds by leaning into the comedy of his perversion rather than just the lewdness. The scriptwriting and line delivery treat Issei’s obsession with breasts as a form of absurd, heroic ambition. By treating his goals with such earnest seriousness, the dub transforms what could be a creepy character into a hilarious, rootable underdog. It perfectly captures the tone of a "shonen battle anime" that just happens to be about boobs. 3. Script Adaptation and Flow A top-tier dub requires more than good acting; it requires a script that sounds natural in English. High School DxD excels in "ADR" (Automated Dialogue Replacement) timing. The dialogue is punchy, fast-paced, and avoids the stiffness that plagues many direct translations. The localization team isn't afraid to inject Western humor or idioms where appropriate, ensuring the jokes land. The banter between Issei and his friends, Matsuda and Motohama, feels authentically like a group of teenage guys ribbing each other, which helps ground the supernatural setting. 4. The "Gateway" Factor For many anime fans in the 2010s, High School DxD served as a gateway into the medium. The English dub is often credited with keeping viewers hooked. Because the story is a mix of high-stakes supernatural action and harem comedy, the voice actors needed to switch tones on a dime. The ability of the dub to sell the intense action sequences—complete with shouted attacks and dramatic power-ups—gave the series a legitimacy that similar shows often lack. The Verdict The High School DxD English dub is considered "top" because it fully embraces the identity of the show. It doesn't shy away from the ridiculous premise, nor does it fail to deliver on the emotional beats. While purists will always argue for the Japanese original, the English dub holds a special place in the community for its casting choices, its spirited performances, and its ability to make a story about devils and demons feel incredibly human. It remains a gold standard for how to handle comedy-action anime in the West.
High School DxD English dub is widely known for its "unhinged" and comedic nature, often taking liberties with the original script to lean into more extreme humor. English Dub Main Cast While most of the cast remained consistent across the four seasons, a few major roles were recast during the series' run. Primary English Voice Actor Issei Hyoudou Scott Freeman Jessie James Grelle Recast due to legal issues involving Freeman. Rias Gremory Jamie Marchi Constant throughout all four seasons. Asia Argento Chloe Daniels Leah Clark Recast starting in the fourth season ( Akeno Himejima Teri Rogers Kelly Angel Recast after Rogers left voice acting work. Koneko Toujou Jad Saxton Constant throughout the series Yuuto Kiba Sean O'Connor Constant throughout the series. Watch Order for Dubbed Content To follow the story correctly (including the OVAs and the timeline shift in Season 4), follow this sequence according to the watch order on Reddit High School DxD (Season 1) High School DxD New (Season 2) High School DxD BorN (Season 3, Episodes 1–9) Note: Episodes 10–12 of BorN are largely anime-original and were later retconned. High School DxD Hero - Episode 0 (Retcons the end of Season 3) High School DxD Hero (Season 4) Where to Watch You can find the dubbed version on major anime platforms like Crunchyroll (which now hosts former Funimation content). Note that the fourth season (
