Usually, there are a lot of things about a certain franchise that fans don’t agree with. The Harry Potter franchise is no different, of course. From the justification for changing Hermione’s dress for the Christmas dance to the exclusion of certain elements from the book series, there are a host of issues that fans are divided on. Perhaps the biggest of those themes is the battle between the legendary storytellers, Jim Dale and Stephen Fry. So which of these two is the better narrator?
Actually, there is no correct answer to this question. both narrators do an amazing job when it comes to storytelling, so ultimately this comes down to listener preference. If you want a more dramatic narrative, you prefer the Jim Dale audiobooks and if you want a more raw emotion, you prefer the Stephen Fry version.
You are reading: Harry potter audio books best narrator
If you’d like a more in-depth comparison of the two storytellers and their storytelling styles, be sure to keep reading, as the article is full of helpful information if you’re trying to find an answer to this question yourself.
who narrates the harry potter audiobooks?
Harry Potter series is narrated by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry. Both of them are beloved British actors best known for their narrator talents. Both Jim Dale and Stephen Fry narrated the Harry Potter series in its entirety and their audiobooks are available on both Amazon and Audible.
jim dale is an english actor, singer and songwriter, but he is best known for narrating the harry potter series. he began his work in the series and is praised for his work in the field.
he received two grammy awards for his work as a narrator and seven nominations. For his work on the Harry Potter series, he received “Audiobook of the Year” for his narration on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and a Benjamin Franklin Award for his work on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. /p>
stephen fry is one of the most popular British actors today. In addition to his extensive work in the film industry, he is also famous for his work in the theater, radio and, perhaps most of all, audiobook industry.
was chosen to narrate the harry potter series aimed at the united kingdom. He continued his work with many other popular titles like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and even different J. k. rowling as he narrates his children’s books the ickabog.
who narrated the harry potter books in the uk?
There are many other audiobook narrators who narrate the Harry Potter series, but these two are the most popular by far. This is also showcased in how their audiobooks are distributed.
jim dale audiobooks are most popular in the united states and the rest of the world, while the distribution of stephen fry audiobooks is focused on the united kingdom territory.
Despite this established strategy to market audiobooks, both storytellers also have a following in different parts of the world depending on the style of storytelling fans prefer.
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At first glance, this seems like a fairly common statement, but it actually describes an ongoing divide and debate among fans focused on finding the answer to one of the most controversial questions regarding the Harry Potter fandom; which of two narrators is the best.
Best Harry Potter Audiobook Narrator: Jim Dale Vs. stephen fry
As it was previously mentioned this question always seems to divides the fandom. Both of the narrators are extremely talented and bring the characters to life. The cause of this division seems to lay with the fact that Jim Dale’s audiobooks are more present in the UK and Stephen Fry’s in the rest of the world but primarily in America. This is why fans are usually biased towards the narrator which was more present in their area.
jim dale is often considered more of an actor than a narrator. Many of those who prefer him to Stephen Fry often mention that listening to Jim Dale’s audiobooks is like listening to a performance on stage.
This is one of the great positives attributed to its narration as it allows listeners to immerse themselves in the universe of the books much more easily. this effect is further amplified by its ability to create unique voices for characters.
He is best known for his vocal range while narrating and is praised by different audiences. From his ability to create different voices to his flawless application of different accents, Jim Dale is recognized as one of the world’s most talented voice actors.
However, this may be a bit of a stretch for certain listeners. Many people point out that Hermione’s voice is a bit exaggerated, which makes her annoying for some people. another example of this is the way she portrays draco as he can sound a bit cartoonish rather than evil or even petty.
This style works very well with the magical background of the book series and fits well with all of the comedic moments throughout. this works extremely well with the first two books, but as the story gets a bit darker and starts to deal with darker themes, this approach loses its appeal.
while this still works for a few moments, for example it manages to highlight the pain and vulnerability harry felt during the last battle, however on the other hand this focus moves away from voldemort and his state during the same scene.
All things considered, even if some people find Jim Dale’s performance a bit over the top, he ultimately takes more risks and pays off with people who might enjoy his style of storytelling.
Stephen fry’s narration, on the other hand, feels like a dramatic reading of the novel. he has a very good rhythm and does not exaggerate his voice when it comes to the different characters, which allows the listener to independently imagine the world in which the narrated story takes place.
this also easily builds suspense and often makes the reader feel like they are in the thick of the action. many moments that contain a lot of gravity and suspense carry the tone with which those scenes were written.
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This makes it easier for the listener to follow the story and switch between characters, which is a great alternative for people who find Jim’s narration too much.
The overall slower pacing and less dramatic changes in between different characters throughout the narration allow for the serious and emotional moments to lend perfectly and convey all the emotion they were written with.
as much as jim dale’s portrayal fits right in with certain characters who have a lot of comedic moments, fry perfectly captures more serious characters like snape, dumbledore and lupin.
In addition to the main characters, fans often praise fry for his portrayal of the less important characters. An oft-mentioned example is Stan and Earnie, throwaway characters Harry meets during his ride on the Knights’ bus during Prisoner of Azkaban.
Instead of focusing on different voices to convey the personality of the characters he narrates, he introduces them by conveying some of their most prominent characteristics
however, his skill with the more serious characters doesn’t affect how he indulges in the more comedic moments.
After this consideration, it’s clear that both storytellers do a fantastic job of bringing the world of Harry Potter to life through different methods.
jim dale delivers an immersive performance that transports listeners right to the heart of the plot. the characters depicted in the books are further emphasized by his excellent use of different exaggerated voices and different accents.
stephen fry, on the other hand, offers a tamer but equally entertaining look at the world of harry potter. his experience as a narrator makes it extremely easy for the listeners to feel the emotions written in the characters and the scenes.
Most fans weigh this question based on who they were exposed to first. Listening to a narrator’s book series first will have some sentimental value for some people, especially if the book series was a big part of their childhood.
Since there is no objective way to determine which one is better, it ultimately comes down to your audiobook preferences.
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