The Harry Potter Series: Stephen Fry v Jim Dale Comparison: A Small Case Study

By Tyler



There has been much debate on whom did it better, so lets gain a deeper understanding. This will also bring to light the importance of narrators, and their relationship with best selling novels.

Check out this youtube video with a side-by-side comparison first!

[kad_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJobfh62WAo” width=500 height=500 maxwidth=500 ]

Let’s compare using our ears!

While Jim Dale is obviously talented, it is clear, that he is a little bit over dramatic and exaggerated on every point. Some people argue this is a good thing, but it is our view it’s a little too much all the time, and he can sometime miss the point a bit. Dale is more of a “voice artist”, his Hermione is higher pitched and piercing, Draco’s more cartoonishly evil, Trelawney more spooky and ditzy, McGonagle sterner, and Hagrid more bumbling, etc. Although I think Dale nails the ‘magical speak’ – the spells and so on over Fry, but it’s still close.

In comparison Stephen Fry sounds far more natural, realistic and familiar – I feel as though I was able to immerse myself deeper in the Audiobook with his extensive but realistic range. His range is so amazing, his throw away characters such as Bert and Ernie are just as amazing as the core characters, and he is also able to inject a little more humour into them.

Let’s compare using review data!

Jim Dale

At the time of writing this post on the 3rd October 2015, the Harry Potter series on Amazon.com (US) as read by Jim Dale had a total of 57,630 reviews with an weighted average score across the series of 94.29%, or about 4.71 out of 5 using their scoring system. The amount of reviews, in proportion to the total US population is about 0.018%.

Just to add context to the number, this rating also carries the weightings of the book reviews. Individual reviews on the audio content are not available due to how amazon.com reviews are set up to review all platforms. We have taken the view that this will act as a proxy for the Audiobooks, as this represents the best data available.

Stephen Fry

In comparison, the Audio CD series on Amazon.co.uk (UK) as narrated by Stephen Fry had a total of 9,589 views across all the series. This had a weighted average of 92.98%, or 4.65 out of 5. Which is only a scratch lower than that above. The reviews in proportion to the total UK population in comparison are about 0.015%, which suggests the series, as a whole is more popular in the US.

My Opinion

Stephen Fry is undoubtedly up there in everyone’s hearts as the man who nailed the Harry Potter series, but I am biased, as this was the first one I listened to. The range is just so impressive, all due respect to Jim Dale who narrated the US versions (who is also amazing), but in my opinion, Stephen did it better. I would think with the exaggerations, the Dale version would be more suited to a younger audience, while the Fry version is a bit more universal.

Conclusion

While the jury is not completely out without definitive data, as both are expert narrators it is clear, we can definitely come to some conclusions.

While the difference between the two ratings is very small, the US version narrated by Jim Dale is slightly ahead. Although, I would bet the weighted average on the specific reviews in relation to just audiobooks would likely be somewhat different (my bets are on Fry).

It is clear, that there is a very strong relationship between the skill of a narrator and the popularity of an audiobook.

Which ever you pick, you’re clearly going to have a good time!

But what else have they done and is it any good? Let’s take a look.

What else has Stephen Fry Narrated?

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy:

Another familiar best seller, 4.4 out of 5 based on 9,715 customer reviews on Audible.com.

A Bear Called Paddington:

An absolute classic best seller for children, 4.5 out of 5 based on 319 customer reviews on Audible.com.

Winnie The Pooh:

I think you are starting to get the picture, 4.5 out of 5, based on 105 reviews on Audible.com. It is clear this man has some talent.

But What about Jim Dale?

Peter and the Starcatchers: The Starcatchers series

This epic four part series has weighted average score based on Audible.com of 4.33 out of 5 across the series, with the series increasing in quality each book, click on the picture above to find out more.

Around the World in 80 days

A Jules Verne classic, read by Jim Dale, this comes to 4.4 out of 5, on audible based on 718 reviews.

Jim Dale is one of the most accomplished narrators there is. Dale has narrated so many best sellers it is almost unbelievable, check out more here.