5. Neon Genesis Evangelion

The Evangelion dub is really something of a mixed bag, but it's clear that a great deal of effort was put into it. Also admirable is the fact that most (if not all) of the series' dubbed voice actors returned to voice the movies as well, despite the change in production companies. Perhaps the level of acting talent here isn't always up to par with others on this list, but it doesn't make me wince, and when it comes to dubbed anime, that's saying something.

4. Princess Mononoke

Miyazaki films are generally well-dubbed, simply because the director commands a great deal of respect even from people who dislike anime. Both the Japanese and English language tracks have their flaws. Some voice actors seem inappropriately chosen for their roles, while others are excellent. The English dub is aided greatly by Neil Gaiman's adapted script, but the overall effect would have been better if Minnie Driver and Gillian Anderson had been cast in opposite roles.

3. Key The Metal Idol

Another anime where, as in Princess Mononoke, the most memorable roles (in this case Ajo, Sergei and the Maestro, possibly the three most unsettling and complex villains in all of anime) are forgettable in Japanese and unexpectedly well-cast in English. One of my favorite anime, and one I still prefer to watch dubbed.

2. Spirited Away

Spirited Away boasts an English-language dub that's both more consistent and less memorable than that of Princess Mononoke. No one seems particularly out of place here, nor does anyone excel. Some of the younger actors (most notably Daveigh Chase, the creepy little girl in the disappointing American remake of The Ring, as Chihiro) turn in fine performances.

1. Hellsing

As one of the few anime fans who enjoyed Hellsing immensely, the amazing quality of the dub caught me completely by surprise. I actually flipped over to the English-language track because I was curious to see whether the American voice actors could say "Arucard" without bursting out laughing, and ended up watching the rest of the series in English. Not only is Alucard's name not insultingly and offensively mistranslated, but the English cast consists primarily of talented European actors like Victoria Harwood, JB Blanc and Steven Brand (Memnon in The Scorpion King), to name a few. It's a shame Alucard himself isn't on the same level as the supporting cast, but it's better than suffering through the uniformly bland Japanese voice acting and Pioneer's Babel Fish-quality translation. Speaking of which, the English script is nothing short of a complete rewrite - and a good one, at that.