FUNimation/Viz poking fun at the original

[Rory]

So I was reading voluime 33 of Dragonball today (17 of Z technically, as it was Viz's translated novel), and I was suprised to see a little passage which referenced the original (Yes, I made Herculé sound like a Pokémon because I want to get past that annoying filter):
"The great combatant Herculé-- formerly known as the wrestler "Mr.Satan" has announced he will enter the Cell Game!"
Now, I used to simply think the H word was a way to not annoy soccer moms or something, but here's the S word, in all it's glory in Viz print.
I came to the conclusion that they were poking fun at the original name, since FUNimation has already used this term so long, they considered the original name a thing of the past.

My question! Has anybody here come across moments where either of these American distributors have poked fun, or outright made fun of the original?

[The Tori-bot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLO6hp_-Tw8

[Saiyavenger2941]

Am I the only person who likes "Step Into The Grand Tour", if only for its absolute lolariousness?

[The Tori-bot]

Am I the only person who likes "Step Into The Grand Tour", if only for its absolute lolariousness?

Yes. Yes, you are.

[Herms]

Now, I used to simply think the H word was a way to not annoy soccer moms or something, but here's the S word, in all it's glory in Viz print.
I came to the conclusion that they were poking fun at the original name, since FUNimation has already used this term so long, they considered the original name a thing of the past.

I don't get the logic here. Yeah, Viz acknowledges his original name a few times (his "who's who" bio at the start of each Viz volume mentions it, for instance), but that doesn't contradict the fact that they went with "Hercule" because of the trouble using "Mr. Satan" would cause. Referencing "Mr. Satan" in passing once or twice isn't the same as having it appear all the time, or having crowds of adoring fans shout "Satan!" over and over again, or Goku saying "Well done Satan, you might just be the Earth's true savior!".

[Big Momma]

or Goku saying "Well done Satan, you might just be the Earth's true savior!".

You know, now that I remember that line...I can see why VIZ used Hercule...


...I wouldn't be suprised if there WAS some kind of big soccer-mom outburst after that line.

[LeprikanGT]

Hercule sort of makes sense since it's an English/American thing.

I love the "Grand Tour" song; it wasn't the original Japanese song, but I liked it none the less.

[Innagadadavida]

I came to the conclusion that they were poking fun at the original name, since FUNimation has already used this term so long, they considered the original name a thing of the past.

Eh? FUNimation calls him Mr. Satan. They only say Hercule a couple of times. In the broadcast edit he's called Hercule, but in all the DVDs everybody refers to him by his original name.

[VenomSymbiote]

Am I the only person who likes "Step Into The Grand Tour", if only for its absolute lolariousness?

Yes. Yes, you are.

Wrong. I LOVE Step Into The Grand Tour, regardless of how others feel about it.

[VegettoEX]

Wrong. I LOVE Step Into The Grand Tour, regardless of how others feel about it.

I think you know me well enough by now to know that when I ask these kinds of questions, I'm being serious and honest. Nothing derogatory is being said about you. So here's my question:

Why do you like being told that you're a moron?

Quite frankly, that's what "Step Into The Grand Tour" was, and it's nothing more than that. It was created at a point in FUNimation's existence when plenty of other properties were already being treated with respect... and so were their audiences. Not so with DB (surprise, surprise).

With GT, FUNimation actively kept telling the fans what this was they wanted, how they wanted it, and gosh darn it, there is nothing else you should expect. You shouldn't want accuracy. You shouldn't want faithfulness. You want lowest-common-denominator pandering, because that's exactly what you are - lowest-common-denominator. You have no mind of your own, and you will gobble up anything the company throws at you. You have no spine to stand up to us, and we are going to hold things back from you because there's not a chance you will speak up.

Thankfully, they were proven wrong (see: current DBGT season sets).

So what it is? Just that you're so much younger compared to everyone else, and it's recent memories of your childhood (which you're still in, honestly)...? I don't know that you have the capacity to analyze that in the same way others here twice your age are able to do (again, nothing against you... you're just young, is all).

So... yeah? I don't know...?

[B]

Am I the only person who likes "Step Into The Grand Tour", if only for its absolute lolariousness?

I think it's catchy and I like it more than Dan Dan. I know I'm alone on that train. Well, not really, but I'd rather not be on the same train with your typical ill-informed YouTube commenting Dragon Ball fan, since they're the only other ones who like it.

[Raki]

Am I the only person who likes "Step Into The Grand Tour", if only for its absolute lolariousness?

Yes. Yes, you are.

Wrong. I LOVE Step Into The Grand Tour, regardless of how others feel about it.

It was okay, but not as a Dragonball opening song. Looking back it was just Funimation saying "We know what's HIP!!! We'll throw rap in GT and the kids will eat it up. For good measure, Menza will do the score!". Quite insulting when you think about it.

[Taku128]

Am I the only person who likes "Step Into The Grand Tour", if only for its absolute lolariousness?

I've always secretly found it catchy, but it doesn't fit the series at all. Dan Dan is a much more appropriate intro, and a much better song.

[Choujin Daizenshuu]

Be honest, what would you prefer more: "Step Into the Grand Tour" or "Set Sail for One Piece"?

[NeptuneKai]

Narrator (manga): Is this the end of Goku...then how do you explain Dragonball Z!?

Super Buu (Funi): Super Buu...Super Vegetto..we have such great titles don't we? We may as well just call ourselves invincible!

Puar (manga): Kamehameha? Isn't that the name of a Hawaiian king?

[B]

Be honest, what would you prefer more: "Step Into the Grand Tour" or "Set Sail for One Piece"?

Actually, both are catchy as fuck, just not fitting of their respective series in the slightest.

Though I would probably pick Grand Tour...

And to get on topic, Oolong talking about tuckered out lil' Goku: What is he, an alien or something?

[Choujin Daizenshuu]

If Viz is gonna reprint Z again in the future and they still decide to not use Mr. Satan, they can just go with his real first name:

...Mark.

*guffaw*

[Thanos]

Wrong. I LOVE Step Into The Grand Tour, regardless of how others feel about it.

I think you know me well enough by now to know that when I ask these kinds of questions, I'm being serious and honest. Nothing derogatory is being said about you. So here's my question:

Why do you like being told that you're a moron?

Quite frankly, that's what "Step Into The Grand Tour" was, and it's nothing more than that. It was created at a point in FUNimation's existence when plenty of other properties were already being treated with respect... and so were their audiences. Not so with DB (surprise, surprise).

With GT, FUNimation actively kept telling the fans what this was they wanted, how they wanted it, and gosh darn it, there is nothing else you should expect. You shouldn't want accuracy. You shouldn't want faithfulness. You want lowest-common-denominator pandering, because that's exactly what you are - lowest-common-denominator. You have no mind of your own, and you will gobble up anything the company throws at you. You have no spine to stand up to us, and we are going to hold things back from you because there's not a chance you will speak up.

Thankfully, they were proven wrong (see: current DBGT season sets).

So what it is? Just that you're so much younger compared to everyone else, and it's recent memories of your childhood (which you're still in, honestly)...? I don't know that you have the capacity to analyze that in the same way others here twice your age are able to do (again, nothing against you... you're just young, is all).

So... yeah? I don't know...?

W-while maybe a little harsh, Mike, I guess I agree. The posts by this user, I've noticed, have definitely fallen into the category of someone with unpopular views and the kind of person FUNimation's wet dreams are made of.

Also, here's something that I thought was a funny little nod to the original (listen to what Boo says):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMCCLQvcQjg#t=0m13s

I think it's catchy and I like it more than Dan Dan.

I'm all for personal opinions, but... this is just offensive.

I can hear the corporate fakeness and marketing dishonesty bleeding through when I hear the "Step into the Grand Tour" bullshit. Plus it's like... a droning combination of rap/metal. Ick.

Dan Dan is endearing and innocent as hell. It's poppy, which is fantastic, and what should be in Dragon Ball. Fuck FUNimation's metal/rock/rap impositions.

[fps_anth]

Wrong. I LOVE Step Into The Grand Tour, regardless of how others feel about it.

I think you know me well enough by now to know that when I ask these kinds of questions, I'm being serious and honest. Nothing derogatory is being said about you. So here's my question:

Why do you like being told that you're a moron?

Quite frankly, that's what "Step Into The Grand Tour" was, and it's nothing more than that. It was created at a point in FUNimation's existence when plenty of other properties were already being treated with respect... and so were their audiences. Not so with DB (surprise, surprise).

With GT, FUNimation actively kept telling the fans what this was they wanted, how they wanted it, and gosh darn it, there is nothing else you should expect. You shouldn't want accuracy. You shouldn't want faithfulness. You want lowest-common-denominator pandering, because that's exactly what you are - lowest-common-denominator. You have no mind of your own, and you will gobble up anything the company throws at you. You have no spine to stand up to us, and we are going to hold things back from you because there's not a chance you will speak up.

Thankfully, they were proven wrong (see: current DBGT season sets).

So what it is? Just that you're so much younger compared to everyone else, and it's recent memories of your childhood (which you're still in, honestly)...? I don't know that you have the capacity to analyze that in the same way others here twice your age are able to do (again, nothing against you... you're just young, is all).

So... yeah? I don't know...?

Fucking sigged.

You, sir, are a legend.

[VegettoEX]

W-while maybe a little harsh, Mike, I guess I agree. The posts by this user, I've noticed, have definitely fallen into the category of someone with unpopular views and the kind of person FUNimation's wet dreams are made of.

Oh, I'm sure VS knows I'm not coming down hard on him (in fact, it's less about him and more about the company). They're legitimate questions, especially for a younger guy like him who was really (comparatively speaking) only recently exposed to the show (through FUNimation's version), and while he knows the Japanese version is out there... hey, he knows what he likes, and that's totally cool. I'm just wondering what the reasoning is for that (if there is any), since I'm pretty sure my assessment of FUNimation was fairly accurate for the company they were at the time.