Who could replace Nozawa & Schemmel?

[TheBlackPaladin]

I think anyone from Speedy Dub could replace Schemmel. Haha! Kidding lol. Just wasn't a fan of his generic-Marvel SuperHero kinda dialogue delivery.

Granted, everybody hears different things, but I would argue that the whole "superhero delivery" thing was gone as of Kai, if not earlier.

I don't know what's so hard about pronouncing Saiyan correctly (Sai-yan), it's no different than saying Science or Cyan.

I don't think it's a problem of difficult pronounciation, I think it's just that they continue to use "Say-in" because that's how most fans of the English dub recognize the word to be pronounced now. Granted, they did correctly change "Kay-oh-ken" to "Kai-oh-ken," which had the same problem, and it is a tad odd that they'd change one and not the other. And why they changed it to begin with....I'm not sure.

For me personally, though, pronunciation has never been a huge deal. If I were to make a list of the most important things to me personally when judging a dub, the acting would be first, and the writing second. Pronunciation would be.......pretty far down the list. Not irrelevant by any means, but not extremely important to me either.

[WittyUsername]

Once again, I still don't understand this argument that Sean Schemmel makes Goku sound like a "superhero." I mean yeah, some of the dialogue he had back in the day may have given off that impression, but there is really nothing "superhero" sounding about the voice itself.

[Super Sonic]

Uhhh... when did this happen?

"Seiyen" is how people/dub fans usually say Saiyan in English.

On Baby's arc I remember hearing "Saiya People" although later on they swapped for "Seiyen People".

I don't know what's so hard about pronouncing Saiyan correctly (Sai-yan), it's no different than saying Science or Cyan.

It's just stuck, similar to how native English speakers don't say "Mosura" or "Gojira". Or how you Europeans like "Hero Turtles".

[dbboxkaifan]

You could argue that but they made other changes:

* Keyoken to Kaioh-ken
* Destructo Disc to Kienzan
* Special Beam Cannon to Makankosappo
* 9000 to 8000

These changes are a bit more demanding than the simple modification of the pronunciation Saiyan and yet they were done.

[Prylum]

To me, no one could replace Nozawa, she just defines the role of Goku. With Schemmel, in my opinion, it would be weird to hear a different Goku in English even if I consider him replaceable. I don't particularly like Schemmel in DBZ but when it comes to Kai, I really enjoy his role as Goku and his voice is so recognisable now within English dubbed DBZ, it would just be strange to hear a replacement voice.

[Big Momma]

Uhhh... when did this happen?

"Seiyen" is how people/dub fans usually say Saiyan in English.

On Baby's arc I remember hearing "Saiya People" although later on they swapped for "Seiyen People".

I don't know what's so hard about pronouncing Saiyan correctly (Sai-yan), it's no different than saying Science or Cyan.

It's just stuck, similar to how native English speakers don't say "Mosura" or "Gojira". Or how you Europeans like "Hero Turtles".

I just mark it as it Simply being the "English way to say it". On the Japanese side, it'd be the difference between saying "Hamburger" or "Hanbaagu".

[Prylum]

Once again, I still don't understand this argument that Sean Schemmel makes Goku sound like a "superhero." I mean yeah, some of the dialogue he had back in the day may have given off that impression, but there is really nothing "superhero" sounding about the voice itself.

I know how you already talked about how the dialogue could give the impression but it really is down to the mix between the two. Schemmel's voice in the original DBZ had that kind of 'powerful with a straight, empowered tone' (?, I really can't explain it well) voice in serious situations. A voice you'd expect, well, a superhero to have. Mixed with that, his dialogue in DBZ consisted of really generic superhero speeches (see: his 'I am' speech) and his personality was somewhat adjusted to be that of a typical superhero. Its really more of a blend of different things that transformed Goku within the Americanised DBZ rather than just his voice alone (at least how I think).

[TheBlackPaladin]

Mixed with that, his dialogue in DBZ consisted of really generic superhero speeches (see: his 'I am' speech) and his personality was somewhat adjusted to be that of a typical superhero. Its really more of a blend of different things that transformed Goku within the Americanised DBZ rather than just his voice alone (at least how I think).

It's interesting that you mention the "I Am" scene....because honestly, looking back on it, I think that scene is the most iconic scene of all DBZ when it comes to the history of the English dub. That brief scene works as a great summary/encapsulation of everything that the DBZ dub did horribly wrong, and everything the Kai dub did beautifully right.

[WittyUsername]

Once again, I still don't understand this argument that Sean Schemmel makes Goku sound like a "superhero." I mean yeah, some of the dialogue he had back in the day may have given off that impression, but there is really nothing "superhero" sounding about the voice itself.

I know how you already talked about how the dialogue could give the impression but it really is down to the mix between the two. Schemmel's voice in the original DBZ had that kind of 'powerful with a straight, empowered tone' (?, I really can't explain it well) voice in serious situations. A voice you'd expect, well, a superhero to have. Mixed with that, his dialogue in DBZ consisted of really generic superhero speeches (see: his 'I am' speech) and his personality was somewhat adjusted to be that of a typical superhero. Its really more of a blend of different things that transformed Goku within the Americanised DBZ rather than just his voice alone (at least how I think).

I don't really think his Goku voice sounded empowering, it was actually pretty nasally when he first started voicing the character. Besides, what exactly is a superhero supposed to sound like anyway?

[Super Sonic]

These guys think superheros as sounding like Silver-age cheesiness or Superfriends instead of modern or bronze-age forward.

[samuraix123]

In my opinion I think sean schemmel's Goku does have a super hero voice. I know people have said that ''Goku isn't a super hero'' and I disagree. I think people are looking at him in different way than I am. Goku wears his gi and he loves to fight and will not put up with the bad guys trying to hurt his friends or anyone else regardless if he keeps giving them a chance to change. That in my opinion is what makes him a super hero. super heroes don't have to be running around in capes saving the day. they can be anyone from a military guy helping out people to police etc etc. I actually love his p'd off serious voice. I also like how each stage of super saiyan he goes into it's like his voice gets deeper and deeper like.

[Prylum]

Once again, I still don't understand this argument that Sean Schemmel makes Goku sound like a "superhero." I mean yeah, some of the dialogue he had back in the day may have given off that impression, but there is really nothing "superhero" sounding about the voice itself.

I know how you already talked about how the dialogue could give the impression but it really is down to the mix between the two. Schemmel's voice in the original DBZ had that kind of 'powerful with a straight, empowered tone' (?, I really can't explain it well) voice in serious situations. A voice you'd expect, well, a superhero to have. Mixed with that, his dialogue in DBZ consisted of really generic superhero speeches (see: his 'I am' speech) and his personality was somewhat adjusted to be that of a typical superhero. Its really more of a blend of different things that transformed Goku within the Americanised DBZ rather than just his voice alone (at least how I think).

I don't really think his Goku voice sounded empowering, it was actually pretty nasally when he first started voicing the character. Besides, what exactly is a superhero supposed to sound like anyway?

Maybe empowering wasn't the right word.. I really can't think of the right word that goes with what I'm thinking in my head Thinking about why other people might say it, could they maybe have thought that because of the line-reading from the V.A's (especially Schemmel) that often plagued DBZ? Occasionally showing more of a straight, louder tone in his voice rather than invoking more of a natural, more paced voice that included much more emotion within his script (Kai)?

[ABED]

These guys think superheros as sounding like Silver-age cheesiness or Superfriends instead of modern or bronze-age forward.

That's my impression as well.

[sangofe]

Schemmel would be just anyone. Nozawa... I have no idea!

[KentalSSJ6]

I really dont understand the Schemmel hate here. Yeah, he was pretty bad when he first started doing Goku but he knocked it out of the park in my opinion with the Kai dub. I really dont hear a Superman or Superhero like tone with him anymore, at least not in Kai. I just hear Goku.

[RocktheDragon]

Let's just put it this way, and I don't mean my statement to be that deragatory or negative in regards to Schemmel, but I welcome the day that Schemmel's version of Goku is replaced. I just want to see all 291 episodes dubbed by another English voice actor. I appreciate what Schemmel has brought to the table, and though he might have improved since his original tenure on the show his overall performance has become a bit too grating for me.

Contrast that with Nozawa and it's the complete opposite! The day that she lives this earth will be tragic, and one of the many reasons for that tragedy will be because Goku will lose a lot of his original spirit and soul. She is Goku and Goku is Nozawa, there just isn't any other way to put it. I too am curious as to her future replacement though. Both for the facts that the shoes that must be filled are terrifyingly huge and also that I would prefer to see an original take on Goku rather than a forced emulation of Nozawa's performance. Unless they can find an actor or actress that can emulate her Goku in total perfection please don't try to give us a second tiered substitute.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I really dont understand the Schemmel hate here. Yeah, he was pretty bad when he first started doing Goku but he knocked it out of the park in my opinion with the Kai dub. I really dont hear a Superman or Superhero like tone with him anymore, at least not in Kai. I just hear Goku.

I mean, everyone's entitled to their opinion, and I don't have to get it......but I must admit, I don't get it either. Not now, anyway. I attribute it to the bad taste of "Season 3" not leaving people's minds. One could argue that those people are being too stubborn for not refusing to let "Season 3 go," or one could argue that "Season 3" really was that bad, or maybe it's a combo of both. But I don't hear a superhero anymore when I listen to Schemmel, and there's no "nostalgia-blinding" factor here, because the first time I ever heard Goku was with Ian Corlett's voice. To me, as of Kai--if not earlier, if you count the video games--Sean Schemmel sounds like a goofy, quirky, unintelligent but likeable man-child with a strong passion for fighting, eating, and his friends. Or, to put it in more simply...he sounds like Goku to me, and he has only sounded more Goku-like as time has gone on.

A combination of no prior voice acting experience and a poorly-adapted script had him playing a character that wasn't really Goku when he first started out, but come Kai, I can listen to Goku in either Japanese or English and completely believe that I'm listening to Goku.Would I listen to another Goku if he was replaced? Sure, I'm too big a fan of this franchise to just refuse to listen to whoever his (hypothetical) replacement would be, but for me, just like replacing Masako Nozawa, they'd have huge shoes to fill.

[Gokuden]

The cast of Ocean dub could replace Sean Schemmel, nobody can replace Nozawa.

Well, of course, he's just another VA of a foreign dub so he doesn't stand anywhere close to the importance that Masako Nozawa's replacement is going to have for Dragon Ball as a whole.

Hell if you included Schemmel alongside ten other voice actors who do superhero vocals it'd be hard to tell the difference because they're just so generic. Schemmel would do a better job as Batman than Goku.

I'm pretty sure Sean hit Scruffy McGruff vocals when he voiced SSJ3 Goku. Now that we have that Korean lady, I have no problems.

[Adamant]

There IS a very big difference between "the person who has always played the character in all his voiced appearances ever, and whom the creator both handpicked and thought of as the voice of the character as he wrote the extreme majority of the series" and "the fourth(?) English dubber to play the character in his later appearances only, and whom no one can seriously claim did a good job at it when he first started out".

That's why. Even if he's gone back and redubbed older material, for most of his career voicing the character in new episodes he was a replacement himself. Even implying he's "not replaceable" is ridiculous. Even if you like his performance for some reason, it'd be like saying no one but Christian Bale can play Batman in a movie.

[Prylum]

I really dont understand the Schemmel hate here. Yeah, he was pretty bad when he first started doing Goku but he knocked it out of the park in my opinion with the Kai dub. I really dont hear a Superman or Superhero like tone with him anymore, at least not in Kai. I just hear Goku.

I agree.. Schemmel's voice work in Kai was great. In DBZ, his voice often sounded forced and too line read-y. This is not the case with Kai and the differences between his DBZ and Kai performances really are night and day.