ADR, Dubbing, Looping & Walla 101

ADR, Looping, Dubbing & Walla: Voiceover Skills for Actors

Have you ever watched an anime or live action dub and thought, “Hey, I want to do that!”?

Maybe you grew up obsessed watching animes like Pokémon or Sailor Moon, where larger than life characters fought bad guys each week!

Or maybe you’re a lover of foreign films, and have always wondered how they get dubbed into English?

Welcome to the world of dubbing!

What Is Dubbing?

Dubbing refers to a project (anime, animation, or live action) that was originally created in one language, and then has its audio re-recorded (dubbed) into another language, so native speakers all over the world can enjoy the same story!

In the U.S., we export and dub tons of films and TV shows. Just look at Disney, which dubs its films into dozens of languages, allowing audiences around the world to enjoy the magic!

Here’s just one example of many! Listen to this beautiful rendition of “Let It Go” from Frozen below:

Let It Go in Multiple Languages

How Dubbing Works

Dubbing is a form of voiceover that is very technical - to be successful at it, an actor must not only master timing, but maintain the intention behind the original performance, whilst also making it their own!

Dubbing consists of recording to picture by cues, often using things called “bands”, or by using beeps to cue the actor to begin their line.

You will record small sections at a time (sometimes even line by line!), so that everything is as perfect timing and performance-wise as possible.

You rarely get your script ahead of time for dubbing, which can be nerve racking!

It requires focus, patience, and a consistent ability to perform a scene as close to exact timing as possible each time.

That learning curve is something our resident Voice Acting Coach, Coach Valerie, experienced firsthand. A BAFTA-nominated voiceover actor and MoCap performer, Valerie shares what it was like stepping into her first dubbing job:

“I was so scared for my first dubbing job, the thought of messing up all my cues and making more work for the creative team was a frightening possibility! But with practice, determination, and a genuine love for the art form, you can become a pro!”

Additional Dialogue Recording (ADR)

ADR, or Automated Dialogue Replacement, is the process of re-recording an actor's dialogue after filming has been completed. Unlike dubbing, where an actor is replacing dialogue originally performed in another language, ADR typically involves the original actor returning to replace or improve dialogue from their own performance.

ADR may be used when production needs to replace dialogue that was difficult to hear on set, change a line, fix a technical issue, or add new dialogue during post-production.

The goal is the same: to make the replacement dialogue feel completely natural within the original scene.

Walla & Looping

In addition to dubbing, something else you may run into in your session is called “walla” or “looping.” This is where you help fill out the world of a scene (usually a scene with a crowd/characters in the background), to make it sound realistic.

You will most often be totally improvising for walla, so make strong choices that feel right for the world you’re performing in.

For example: Stick to the tone of the show, don’t improv about your newest iPhone in a project that takes place in the 1920’s!

Why Dubbing Is a Great Opportunity for Actors

There are hundreds of projects being dubbed every year in the US, and for many actors it becomes a huge part of their career! It can be so fulfilling to hear yourself in a finished dub, and even cooler to know that you are part of a global cast, with each person in each language bringing something special to their version of the character!

Ready to Take Your Dubbing Skills Further?

Dubbing, ADR, and looping require more than a great voice—they require timing, precision, adaptability, and the ability to make strong choices all while recording to picture. Our ADR, Looping & Dubbing Intensive on Saturday, August 15th gives actors the opportunity to put those skills into practice and experience what the process is really like in the booth.

Whether you're new to dubbing or looking to strengthen your voiceover skills, this hands-on Intensive is a chance to build confidence and learn techniques you can take into your next audition or session. Or explore our Coaching, Kids/Teens and Adults training options for whatever path you're working toward.