The English dub of High School DxD is widely considered one of the most unique and entertaining localizations in anime, often praised for its comedic liberty and high-energy performances . Unlike many standard dubs, it frequently "plays up" the humor, leading some fans to compare its entertainment value to that of an official abridged series . Main Dub Cast

The English dub of High School DxD isn’t just a translation—it’s widely regarded by fans as one of the funniest, most character-driven dubs in anime. Here’s what puts it at the top.

Scenes that were meant to be purely serious or fanservice-heavy in Japanese became laugh-out-loud comedy segments in English. Top Character Performances in the Dub

A great dub lives and dies by its cast, and "High School DxD" has assembled a lineup of Funimation's finest. Here's a look at some of the key players who bring the characters of Kuoh Academy to life:

Scott Freeman originally voiced Issei for the first two seasons, perfectly capturing the chaotic, high-energy screaming and the legendary "pervert logic" of the character. When Josh Grelle took over the role for High School DxD BorN and Hero , they stepped into massive shoes and delivered flawlessly. Grelle brought their signature leading-man energy while maintaining the frantic, unhinged passion required for Issei’s signature moves like "Dress Break." Both actors ensured that beneath Issei’s crass exterior, his golden heart and burning determination always shined through, making him an incredibly sympathetic hero. 2. Jamie Marchi – Rias Gremory

The verbal sparing between characters like Koneko and Issei is sharper, faster, and more engaging in English.

: Despite the jokes, fans note it doesn't quite cross into being a full "gag dub" because it still handles emotional arcs and serious battle sequences with genuine intensity.

Despite the jokes, the voice actors are praised for knowing when to "turn it on" for serious moments, ensuring the emotional weight of character arcs (like Kiba’s) remains intact.

While the Japanese voice acting is excellent, the dub offers a different, arguably more engaging experience for those who prefer to focus on the animation.

"High School DxD" is infamous for its fanservice, and this naturally leads to questions about censorship. The answer is that it depends entirely on you watch it. The versions that air on broadcast TV or are streamed on certain platforms are almost always censored. This means that any nudity is typically hidden by "steam, fog, [or] magical light". The version of the dub that airs with this censorship is effectively a "PG-13" version of an "R-rated" show.

Why the High School DxD Dub Reigns Supreme: A Deep Dive Into Aniplex and Funimation’s Masterpiece

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.