Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[ohaimynameiserik]

If I may offer a counterpoint to this analogy. To some, FUNi's version of DBZ would be the "Special Editions," the version that was tinkered with endlessly when they didn't think the original needed fixing. At this point, FUNi taking a more serious approach to dubbing Kai is basically an long overdue error fix.

Hits the nail on the head!

And yes, as immature as it sounds, cursing WOULD make the dub better.

I can't take Vegeta seriously after learning he killed himself for nothing and responds to it by yelling "DARN YOUUUU!!"

Get what I'm saying?

[Amigo Ten]

You can't say cursing is purely added flare on the translator's part. It's just part of making it sound natural in English. Having the villain scream out "Oh poo!" or something just isn't going to feel right, even if it's a perfectly valid translation.

[penguintruth]

Business perspective? Dub fans will buy anything.

You say this a lot but it's not true. It's actually an extremely ignorant blanket statement.

They bought the orange brick sets. And as much as they griped, many of them are buying the Dragon Boxes, even though they lack the dub soundtrack.

If Funimation replaced most or all the cast, they'd still buy Kai, because its DBZ. Funimation should take advantage of their dominance and do some real changes.

[SSVegetto]

No, there isn't, and no, they don't. The Japanese have no such thing as swear words. Kuso, for instance, only means excrement. What matters in Japanese is intonation, no the word. You can be just as rude and impolite in Japanese without using kuso or bakayaro or so forth as you can with them. Any swearing you see or hear in dubs or subs purely added color on the part of the translator(s).

You can't say cursing is purely added flare on the translator's part. It's just part of making it sound natural in English. Having the villain scream out "Oh poo!" or something just isn't going to feel right, even if it's a perfectly valid translation.

I agree with Amigo Ten, it just sounds very corny if they didn't use swear words. Because in America, swear words is how we express ourselves. So they have to be added, or it will just sound corny. What makes sense in their language, sometimes doesn't make sense in ours. Think about it this way, if the anime was made in America, and the language was English. Would they not use actual swear words? Of course they would. That's why they have to be added. Hence, that is why fansubs use them.

And yes, I would say it will help the English dub. And they should be used, otherwise it will seem very flat and unconvincing when they are expressing their selves. Xyex, I think you are being way too obessed with accuracy that you are forgetting about the difference of cultures, and some instances should be Americanized.

[DemonRin]

Xyex, What do you mean they don't curse in Japanese dub?! Yes, they do! They say damn, shit, and bastard. They better have some swearing in it.

Also, I wouldn't go this far, but it's a matter of preference, I have seen fansubs, use their own synonyms such as "asshole", and "fuck" too. That's Americanizing it though I think, because that's how we swear and not how they swear. And that's probably not accurate.

No, there isn't, and no, they don't. The Japanese have no such thing as swear words. Kuso, for instance, only means excrement. What matters in Japanese is intonation, no the word. You can be just as rude and impolite in Japanese without using kuso or bakayaro or so forth as you can with them. Any swearing you see or hear in dubs or subs purely added color on the part of the translator(s).

Yes there is, and Yes they do. You're somewhat right, but the rudeness is also inherent in the word. Just like "Shit" is a rude way to say "Excrement" here, "Kuso" is a rude way over there. You could also say "Fun" or "Daiben" to be less rude about it. "Kuso" is seen to be rude, and therefore a curse word would be more appropriate.

Another example is "Kisama". Kisama literally means "You" but it's a very rude and considered vulgar way to say it. Characters will also use it as an exclamation such as "Kisama!"
Simply translating it as "You" loses the intended vulgarity. Most professional translators would translate it as "You Bastard" or "Bastard" as something like "Curse you" in English would be considered too weak.

Now, to throw something as hardcore as "Fuck" or even worse, a certain 4-letter word that starts with the letter C would be WAY Overboard for a Shounen Like Dragonball, and that's where most fansubbers mess up. (see Anime Labs, "Candy Ass Faggot" or for a more recent example, Franky House's One Piece translation "Oh my Fucking god! I fucking have a fucking cockpit in my fucking stomach! this is so fucking cool! its like I'm a fucking robot!")
Certain words like "Hell", "Damn", "Bitch", "Bastard" and even "Shit" are usually perfectly acceptable to throw into conversation provided the words and inflection being used are sufficiently rude to allow it.

There's also the situation to take into account too. If you just got your arm punched off by a big bald alien, you're not gonna be going "Well Dang it!"

[Taku128]

Business perspective? Dub fans will buy anything.

You say this a lot but it's not true. It's actually an extremely ignorant blanket statement.

They bought the orange brick sets. And as much as they griped, many of them are buying the Dragon Boxes, even though they lack the dub soundtrack.

If Funimation replaced most or all the cast, they'd still buy Kai, because its DBZ. Funimation should take advantage of their dominance and do some real changes.

And why exactly is it they should change everything the dub fans know? Because "the anime community" wants a better dub? If you're going to just make the blanket statement that dub fans will buy anything then I'll make the blanket statement that "anime fans" pirate everything. Anime fans don't even watch dubs anyways. After all, the translations are never as good as their precious fansubs. Baka gaijin aren't faithful enough to glorious Nippon!

[ThunderPX]

There's also the situation to take into account too. If you just got your arm punched off by a big bald alien, you're not gonna be going "Well Dang it!"

Well yeah, but I think Tenshinhan was mainly like "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHH" there.

Or "Just wait 'til it grows back," but that doesn't count.

[linkdude20002001]

Well, to correct myself, FUNimation's scripts for the original Ocean cast dub of the first 13 episodes wasn't as faithful as the episodes that were dubbed years later with the in-house cast and different script writers.

Sorry to correct you again, but it bothers me when people keep saying this. The Ocean Group had absolutely nothing to do with the first 13 episodes of Dragon Ball. They only worked on DBZ. For DB, FUNimation used BLT Productions.

[jjgp1112]

Business perspective? Dub fans will buy anything.

You say this a lot but it's not true. It's actually an extremely ignorant blanket statement.

They bought the orange brick sets. And as much as they griped, many of them are buying the Dragon Boxes, even though they lack the dub soundtrack.

If Funimation replaced most or all the cast, they'd still buy Kai, because its DBZ. Funimation should take advantage of their dominance and do some real changes.

Boxsets are different from dubs. And not only that, but which dub fans are you talking about? Because the Dragon Box's sales are pretty low compared to the remastered sets. Shit, I wouldn't be surprised if besides me, only a few other dub fans bought that. If you go on the Funi forums, or IGN's DBZ forum, or any other forum filled with dub fans, there's not really that much discussion about the Dragon Box. Hell, on the IGN DB Board I made a thread about it and it got 1 reply.

[Adamant]

Now, to throw something as hardcore as "Fuck" or even worse, a certain 4-letter word that starts with the letter C would be WAY Overboard for a Shounen Like Dragonball, and that's where most fansubbers mess up.

I disagree. Of course characters like Gohan aren't going to be flinging f-bombs all over the place at a regular basis, but I say "fuck" is pretty appropriate to use during Vegeta's extreme anger outbursts.

[JulieYBM]

Now, to throw something as hardcore as "Fuck" or even worse, a certain 4-letter word that starts with the letter C would be WAY Overboard for a Shounen Like Dragonball, and that's where most fansubbers mess up.

I disagree. Of course characters like Gohan aren't going to be flinging f-bombs all over the place at a regular basis, but I say "fuck" is pretty appropriate to use during Vegeta's extreme anger outbursts.

Or Cell's maximum power scene after recovering from Gohan's KameHame-Ha? Then again I think simply making the last one a 'f-bomb' and the first ones 'damn it' would work too. Alas, I don't have the degree in Japanese, soo...:p

[Amigo Ten]

It might be appropriate for the situation, doesn't mean it's appropriate for the show. I don't think "shit" is even needed really, since "crap" suffices for just any situation where "shit" would be used.

[DemonRin]

Now, to throw something as hardcore as "Fuck" or even worse, a certain 4-letter word that starts with the letter C would be WAY Overboard for a Shounen Like Dragonball, and that's where most fansubbers mess up.

I disagree. Of course characters like Gohan aren't going to be flinging f-bombs all over the place at a regular basis, but I say "fuck" is pretty appropriate to use during Vegeta's extreme anger outbursts.

Dragon Ball is a Shounen series. As in, for young boys. If you throw F-bombs into it, that makes it R-rated by America's standards.
That takes Dragon Ball entirely away from its target demographic, it just doesn't fit.

[ohaimynameiserik]

Now, to throw something as hardcore as "Fuck" or even worse, a certain 4-letter word that starts with the letter C would be WAY Overboard for a Shounen Like Dragonball, and that's where most fansubbers mess up.

I disagree. Of course characters like Gohan aren't going to be flinging f-bombs all over the place at a regular basis, but I say "fuck" is pretty appropriate to use during Vegeta's extreme anger outbursts.

Dragon Ball is a Shounen series. As in, for young boys. If you throw F-bombs into it, that makes it R-rated by America's standards.
That takes Dragon Ball entirely away from its target demographic, it just doesn't fit.

Agreed.

Hell, I'm 18, and I'd be completely offset if Vegeta's all freaking out yelling "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! KAKARROT, HOLY SHIT BALLS!!"

[Big Momma]

Hell, I'm 18, and I'd be completely offset if Vegeta's all freaking out yelling "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! KAKARROT, HOLY SHIT BALLS!!"

Haha, you mean like this?


I'm gonna have to disagree on some points though. I'm not saying there should be zero cursing, because I do believe there are times when it would be appropriate to the situation/character. However, saying that there's no "non-corny" alternative is a bit far.

You can't say cursing is purely added flare on the translator's part. It's just part of making it sound natural in English. Having the villain scream out "Oh poo!" or something just isn't going to feel right, even if it's a perfectly valid translation.

I'm sure you know this, but of course they wouldn't substitute "Oh poo!" for it.

I agree with Amigo Ten, it just sounds very corny if they didn't use swear words. Because in America, swear words is how we express ourselves. So they have to be added, or it will just sound corny. What makes sense in their language, sometimes doesn't make sense in ours. Think about it this way, if the anime was made in America, and the language was English. Would they not use actual swear words? Of course they would. That's why they have to be added. Hence, that is why fansubs use them.

Maybe where you live, but I and many other people I know rarely swear to express themselves, even at their angriest. They get their point across fine without them.


I'm not saying there aren't times when cursing would fit, there would be. But even if they didn't use any, it wouldn't lower the quality for me. It's just what was said before about the audience this show was made for. And I think it also depends on what character it is. Besides villains, I can see Vegeta, Piccolo, Ten, and Yamcha swearing. Possibly Krillin. But I can't imagine anyone else doing it. Maybe Goku when he's really mad or during his first SS(J) transformation.

[Adamant]

Now, to throw something as hardcore as "Fuck" or even worse, a certain 4-letter word that starts with the letter C would be WAY Overboard for a Shounen Like Dragonball, and that's where most fansubbers mess up.

I disagree. Of course characters like Gohan aren't going to be flinging f-bombs all over the place at a regular basis, but I say "fuck" is pretty appropriate to use during Vegeta's extreme anger outbursts.

Dragon Ball is a Shounen series. As in, for young boys. If you throw F-bombs into it, that makes it R-rated by America's standards.
That takes Dragon Ball entirely away from its target demographic, it just doesn't fit.

Fansubs aren't operating under America's standards.


This official translation is rated "Appropriate for ages 9+", by the way.

[Super Sonic]

Fansubs aren't operating under America's standards.


This official translation is rated "Appropriate for ages 9+", by the way.

Fansubs tend to not do that. Heck, they tend to misread/mishear Engrish words and mistake Japanese words for "death for Japanese words for "pain".

[DemonRin]

*snip*
This official translation is rated "Appropriate for ages 9+", by the way.

Is that version the American Version? Because if that's Viz, then WHOA I misjudged them.
I'm talking about the "American" standard. Wherever that came out, obviously "Fuck" is treated with different weight because it's rated 9+.
If that came out where "Fuck" is ok for a 9 year old audience, then it still fits perfectly within Dragon Ball's target demographic of "Young Boys".

Whatever standards that goes by doesn't apply here, we're talking about the level of swearing in FUNimation's dub, which is aimed at an American audience.

[Adamant]

Is that version the American Version? Because if that's Viz, then WHOA I misjudged them.

No, it's the Danish version, by Carlsen Comics.

I'm talking about the "American" standard. Wherever that came out, obviously "Fuck" is treated with different weight because it's rated 9+.
If that came out where "Fuck" is ok for a 9 year old audience, then it still fits perfectly within Dragon Ball's target demographic of "Young Boys".

Correct.

Whatever standards that goes by doesn't apply here, we're talking about the level of swearing in FUNimation's dub, which is aimed at an American audience.

Also correct. But that doesn't mean they're inappropriate to use in fansubs, which don't have to apply to any such standards, but can go with what the translators find appropriate rather than what Bob McCensor does.

[Blue]

I think we found who was responsible for scanlating a good portion of Thriller Bark.