When Beelzebub first hit the anime scene in 2011, it was instantly hailed as one of the wildest shonen comedies of its era. The premise was absurdly simple yet brilliant: Tatsumi Oga, the toughest first-year at "Hell’s own juvenile detention center" (Ishiyama High), literally fishes a baby out of a river. That baby, however, turns out to be the son of the Demon Lord, and Oga is chosen to be his surrogate father. For years, fans of the subtitled version have worshipped the chaotic scream-laughs of the original. But for the uninitiated or re-watchers craving a fresh take, the English dub offers a surprisingly potent and hilarious alternative.
The soundtrack, composed by Yasuharu Takanashi (Fairy Tail, Naruto Shippuden), is a thumping mix of heavy metal riffs and orchestral chaos. The opening theme, “Dadada” by Gruv, remains intact and is one of the most infectious punk-rock anime OPs of the 2010s. The dub doesn’t interfere with any of this, so you get the best of both worlds: beautiful animation and an English script that makes you laugh out loud. If you’ve never seen Beelzebub , episode 1 of the dub is the ideal entry point. The show moves at a breakneck pace, introducing Oga’s rival (the perverted Himekawa), the demon baby’s strength, and the mysterious “Enma Ring” within 22 minutes. Subtitles can sometimes distract from the rapid-fire visual gags—like Baby Beel crawling across a face mid-punch. beelzebub anime dub episode 1
So, what makes a must-watch? Let’s dive into the delinquent-infested waters, analyze the voice performances, break down the plot, and see why this first dubbed episode remains a gateway drug for new fans. A Plot Recap: From Fistfights to Fatherhood The first episode of Beelzebub , titled "I Picked Up the Demon Lord" (or simply "I Found the Demon Lord" in some translations), wastes no time. We open on Tatsumi Oga, a first-year student whose reputation is so terrifying that even the upperclassmen part like the Red Sea when he walks down the hall. The show establishes its tone immediately: this is a world where violence is casual, hilarious, and hyper-stylized. When Beelzebub first hit the anime scene in
Sinclair is a legend in the dubbing world (known for Space Dandy and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. ). His Oga is a revelation. While the Japanese voice actor (Katsuyuki Konishi) plays Oga with a gravelly, intense machismo, Sinclair adds a layer of weary sarcasm. When Oga dryly mutters, “Great. A demon baby. My life is complete,” Sinclair’s timing turns a standard line into a gut-buster. He also nails the explosive rage moments, screaming “SHUT UP!” with the force of a freight train. For years, fans of the subtitled version have
This is the dub’s secret weapon. In Japanese, Beel’s laugh is a high-pitched “Dah-hah-hah!” Clinkenbeard—who also directs the dub—gives Beel a deeper, more guttural “HEH-heh-heh-heh.” It sounds like a tiny, demonic Dennis Hopper. It’s disarming, weird, and utterly perfect for a child who can destroy a city block.