Why is Bardock's voice high pitched in Japanese?

[TheMightyOzaru]

Yeah I would like to know why. Bardock is not naive and child-like like his son so as you can imagine I find the high pitched thing odd since he is a ruthless killing machine of a Saiyajin.

[VegettoEX]

He's played completely straight. He doesn't speak with any of the hickness that's present in Goku, and he even talks somewhat slyly (though not quite at Tullece's level) when he's snickering, which totally brings out that "ruthless" side you just mentioned.

It's a drastically different performance, so I don't feel the pitch really has any relevance.

[TheMightyOzaru]

He's played completely straight. He doesn't speak with any of the hickness that's present in Goku, and he even talks somewhat slyly (though not quite at Tullece's level) when he's snickering, which totally brings out that "ruthless" side you just mentioned.

It's a drastically different performance, so I don't feel the pitch really has any relevance.

I see your point but the high pitched voice still reflects a child-like tone. I really like Masako's take on Goku but this just seems off.

[mattymoron]

I like Nozawa as much as the next guy, but why they felt the need to have her play EVERY MALE MEMBER OF THE SON FAMILY is beyond me.

[VegettoEX]

but the high pitched voice still reflects a child-like tone.

I don't get that at all. The actual pitch of the voice is only a tiny part of the character interpretation. The performance outweighs everything else, and nothing in the performance says "child" to me.

[TheMightyOzaru]

but the high pitched voice still reflects a child-like tone.

I don't get that at all. The actual pitch of the voice is only a tiny part of the character interpretation. The performance outweighs everything else, and nothing in the performance says "child" to me.

How so? Its still a prepubescent voice on a grown man. You certainly have a point and I like your answer it makes me respect the role more but I certainly dont see how you miss the child voice.

[VegettoEX]

I don't see why the pitch inherently infers "child". Again, nothing about the performance says "child".

Nakao's performance of Chilled? THAT screams "child".

[DoomieDoomie911]

but the high pitched voice still reflects a child-like tone.

I don't get that at all.

I don't either... I love Nozawa's performance as Bardock. Her voice really fits the character as it does Goku, Gohan, Goten, etc.

[chaosakita]

I like Nozawa as much as the next guy, but why they felt the need to have her play EVERY MALE MEMBER OF THE SON FAMILY is beyond me.

I totally agree, word for word. However, I can understand why some people might like her doing Bardock's voice (although I'm probably missing out a lot on it because I don't really understand Japanese that well), but I don't get why those who do can't understand why others might not feel the same way. Personally, her rendition of Bardock is totally unconvincing to me and treating me as if I have no idea what ever is going on isn't going to change that.

[TheMightyOzaru]

I don't see why the pitch inherently infers "child". Again, nothing about the performance says "child".

Nakao's performance of Chilled? THAT screams "child".

I dont see how you can't to be honest. The high pitched tone reflects the prepubescent voice of a child. Look at Raditz he has a perfectly normal adult tone of voice not to mention he is Bardock's son. Now compare that to Bardock,a grown man, and what do you see? The speech pattern may reflect that of a ruthless Saiyan but the tone of voice doesnt. My question is why his tone of voice is this way. Its clearly abnormal compared to the other grown men in the series. Goku and Gohan aside.

[dbzfan7]

I like Nozawa as much as the next guy, but why they felt the need to have her play EVERY MALE MEMBER OF THE SON FAMILY is beyond me.

I totally agree, word for word. However, I can understand why some people might like her doing Bardock's voice (although I'm probably missing out a lot on it because I don't really understand Japanese that well), but I don't get why those who do can't understand why others might not feel the same way. Personally, her rendition of Bardock is totally unconvincing to me and treating me as if I have no idea what ever is going on isn't going to change that.

Probably cause I don't understand Japanese tone differently enough yet, but her Bardock sounds too similar to Goku, especially when he yells. Same with Gohan, Goten, etc. They feel too similar.

[Zephyr]

In addition to being the same pitch, both voices also share the same timbre. This, I could see as being off-putting, despite the variations in performance.

[songohan619]

I`m guessing this just comes back to the fact that Bardock is played by a woman... (not that I have anything against that!!)

[Gonstead]

I`m guessing this just comes back to the fact that Bardock is played by a woman... (not that I have anything against that!!)

It's not that he's played by a woman, it's the fact of putting an unfitting (IMO) voice to the character.

[VegettoEX]

I dont see how you can't to be honest.

I'm super confused. What am I being dishonest about? Are you inferring that I secretly know and believe that every high pitched voice must be intended for a child, but refuse to acknowledge it for... some... reason...?

The high pitched tone reflects the prepubescent voice of a child.

I don't see how or why it MUST mean that, absolutely, 100%, in every single case. I don't want to just keep repeating the same things over and over, but I can't help it -- there's not a single thing in Bardock's voice performance that even remotely indicates he's a child.

I mean, going by your logic, I could just suggest that anyone with a super deep voice is supposed to be an extremely old man. That tosses Tenshinhan right out the window (both Hirotaka Suzuoki's and Hikaru Midorikawa's performances) -- yet I don't get a single hint of "old man" from either performance.

Sometimes a voice is just a voice. Sometimes there's no deeper meaning to it. The creators felt that a straight, collected, non-hick-ad-libbed performance from Nozawa fit what they created with Bardock, and they went with it.

If you want to even take it in-universe, look at something like Tullece's claim that there “weren’t that many types” of “expendable lower-level warriors” like themselves. Maybe if they all look the same, they all sound the same.

Look, I don't have a problem debating that maybe good grief give someone other than Nozawa a role to play every once in a while. That's fine. We'll go with that.

But -- again -- nothing in her performance of Bardock hints that the character has any "child"-like qualities.

[TheMightyOzaru]

I dont see how you can't to be honest.

I'm super confused. What am I being dishonest about? Are you inferring that I secretly know and believe that every high pitched voice must be intended for a child, but refuse to acknowledge it for... some... reason...?

The high pitched tone reflects the prepubescent voice of a child.

I don't see how or why it MUST mean that, absolutely, 100%, in every single case. I don't want to just keep repeating the same things over and over, but I can't help it -- there's not a single thing in Bardock's voice performance that even remotely indicates he's a child.

I mean, going by your logic, I could just suggest that anyone with a super deep voice is supposed to be an extremely old man. That tosses Tenshinhan right out the window (both Hirotaka Suzuoki's and Hikaru Midorikawa's performances) -- yet I don't get a single hint of "old man" from either performance.

Sometimes a voice is just a voice. Sometimes there's no deeper meaning to it. The creators felt that a straight, collected, non-hick-ad-libbed performance from Nozawa fit what they created with Bardock, and they went with it.

If you want to even take it in-universe, look at something like Tullece's claim that there “weren’t that many types” of “expendable lower-level warriors” like themselves. Maybe if they all look the same, they all sound the same.

Look, I don't have a problem debating that maybe good grief give someone other than Nozawa a role to play every once in a while. That's fine. We'll go with that.

But -- again -- nothing in her performance of Bardock hints that the character has any "child"-like qualities.

I'm saying its abnormal. Again look at Raditz and most other adult male characters. They dont have high pitched voices. Masako's Goku is supposed to reflect that of a child and it does for tone and pattern. The thing is Bardock adopts the tone of Goku which was intended to be child-like. It clearly resembles a childs tone and that is just wierd to me.

[songohan619]

I dont see how you can't to be honest.

I'm super confused. What am I being dishonest about? Are you inferring that I secretly know and believe that every high pitched voice must be intended for a child, but refuse to acknowledge it for... some... reason...?

The high pitched tone reflects the prepubescent voice of a child.

I don't see how or why it MUST mean that, absolutely, 100%, in every single case. I don't want to just keep repeating the same things over and over, but I can't help it -- there's not a single thing in Bardock's voice performance that even remotely indicates he's a child.

I mean, going by your logic, I could just suggest that anyone with a super deep voice is supposed to be an extremely old man. That tosses Tenshinhan right out the window (both Hirotaka Suzuoki's and Hikaru Midorikawa's performances) -- yet I don't get a single hint of "old man" from either performance.

Sometimes a voice is just a voice. Sometimes there's no deeper meaning to it. The creators felt that a straight, collected, non-hick-ad-libbed performance from Nozawa fit what they created with Bardock, and they went with it.

If you want to even take it in-universe, look at something like Tullece's claim that there “weren’t that many types” of “expendable lower-level warriors” like themselves. Maybe if they all look the same, they all sound the same.

Look, I don't have a problem debating that maybe good grief give someone other than Nozawa a role to play every once in a while. That's fine. We'll go with that.

But -- again -- nothing in her performance of Bardock hints that the character has any "child"-like qualities.

I'm saying its abnormal. Again look at Raditz and most other adult male characters. They dont have high pitched voices. Masako's Goku is supposed to reflect that of a child and it does for tone and pattern. The thing is Bardock adopts the tone of Goku which was intended to be child-like. It clearly resembles a childs tone and that is just wierd to me.

Nonononono. Just becuase he has a high voice, does not mean he has a "childish" tone. Way off there, buddy!

[TheMightyOzaru]

Nonononono. Just becuase he has a high voice, does not mean he has a "childish" tone. Way off there, buddy![/quote]
Bardocks voice matches the tone of Goku's which is supposed to be childish. His speech patterns are the only non childish aspects to his voice.

[JulieYBM]

Bardocks voice matches the tone of Goku's which is supposed to be childish. His speech patterns are the only non childish aspects to his voice.

His 'tone' doesn't match at all. 'Tone' is something like 'cheery' or 'sad'. What you mean is 'pitch', and even then Nozawa's deepens her voices for Bardock.

[TheMightyOzaru]

Yes pitch is what I'm referring to. I'm aware that it deepens but it still reflects that of a child.