What mix of dub versions will you introduce new fans to?

[Aoi]

I have Dragon ball very close to my heart. I love many new shows, but for me it's something special that I hope to introduce to my kids and loved ones some day.

An interesting this about the English dub is that there are just so many versions available.

For example, I have a friend who has shelved the series like this.
1. Saiyan Arc - Ocean Dub
2. Frieza Arc- Ocean/Funimation Dub
3. Android arc- Funimation
4. Buu arc- Funimation
*Basically the original release order in English.
- There are others who have replaced the first two arcs with the Remastered releases.
- Others who who have done so but refuse to listen to the new music, and prefer the original Japanese music.
- Others who love the English with the Japanese score.

I was wondering if anyone else has made a mix of the series (other than the Japanese original) that they prefer as the best way to introduce others to the show?

I actually own most releases, but at the centre of my shelf prefer to have the show in its order.
My order:

- Dragon Ball Box Sets
- Dragon Ball Kai Part 1-4 (will finish with the rest once they are released)
- History of Trunks, Bardock: Father of Goku
- Dragon Ball Z Seasons 7,8, 9 (Pure Falcouner)
- Dragon Ball GT Parts 1 and 2 . I need the bad to appreciate the good.

[jjgp1112]

Saiyan and Namek arc, Funi. For the Frieza saga, I'd be ridiculously confused. That shit's awful. I couldn't just hop to Kai, either. I wouldn't even show Garlic Jr. For the rest of the show, back to Funi.

[Savage68]

Funimation's Kai dub with Z's score composed by Kikuchi.

[Eddie]

Which dub would I introduce people to? Uh... can I pick none of the above? I would not use the dub to introduce new fans to the franchise. For older people, I would use the manga. When I have kids someday, I will likely introduce them to the subbed version.

[Cipher]

None. I started watching the series with my girlfriend from the very beginning of Dragon Ball ... in Japanese. I'll watch random episodes every once in a while with friends and cousins ... in Japanese.

No one's ever had a problem with it, so why bother switching over to a version where I'd have to constantly throw in little trivia about changes, etc? And this isn't me being a raging anti-dub fan or anything. I'll switch over to the English track every once in a while and enjoy it. But if I'm going to actually introduce a new person to the series, it just makes so much more sense to go with the original and FUNimation's excellent subtitles.

[Mountain]

I'm still not entirely sure of the best approach to introducing someone to the franchise. Each version has its own pros and cons.

For starters, I'd rather introduce someone to the beginning of the story with DragonBall; why start with the 'Z' portion? I'd probably show any newbie the manga first, but since this thread is specifically related to "dub versions", I will speak of the anime only. Here's my take (for today, that is...):

I personally find the Japanese versions of DragonBall and DragonBall Z to be completely enjoyable. I understand that many people are, for whatever reason, opposed to subtitles, but it's the best way to see the series. Give it a chance, because the Japanese version IS DragonBall; all other dubs are merely takes on this version.

Although FUNimation's dub of DragonBall isn't perfect, it's a masterpiece compared to their take on DragonBall Z, which I wouldn't show to anyone. If you hate subtitles, then FUNi's DragonBall dub may be the perfect starting place for you. If you still have no interest in subtitles by the end, then I would advise you to jump to FUNi's dub of DragonBall Kai, for the remainder of the series. This dub isn't without its flaws, either, but it's probably the closest an English version will ever be to the original.

I find GT to be boring in any version.

[Savage68]

I thought the purpose of Aoi creating this topic was to focus specifically on the dub. He didn't really give anyone any other options outside of that; that would be a separate topic.

[Eddie]

I thought the purpose of Aoi creating this topic was to focus specifically on the dub. He didn't really give anyone any other options outside of that; that would be a separate topic.

Whether we were given that option or not doesn't much matter. If someone finds the idea of introducing dub Dragon Ball to someone to be a poor replacement for the original, we have the right to say that. If you have specific questions as to why I would not use an English dub to introduce the franchise to people I'll gladly answer them.

[Savage68]

Will do. My mind isn't changed, though.

[Super Sonic]

The thing with introducing to your kids is that introducing subs will require them to be at a certain age while the dub not so much. I admit I don't know how much things have changed since I was little, but remember that while really young, you learn the alphabet from Sesame Street, literacy really happens around age 3-4 but you really learn more at later ages.

[penguintruth]

I will never reccommend watching Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z in anything but Japanese with subtitles. Why expose people to the horrors of terrible script rewrites, bad casting, and comically bad acting?

Dragon Ball Kai can be enjoyed in Japanese or in English, and (so far) there's one English dub, of good quality, so I have no trouble reccommending either version, though my personal preference is still the Japanese version.

As far as the soundtracks are concerned, people who are new to the franchise probably won't care so much about the difference between the Kikuchi and Yamamoto soundtracks. To be honest, though, I haven't even figured out which music I prefer with Kai. I guess it depends on the episode or even scene.

[DemonRin]

I consistently do tell people to steer far clear of any Dragon Ball Property's dub... at least I did before Kai.

Now, I reap praise upon Kai's dub, still telling people to run for the Hills as far as anything else DB is concerned.

[Eddie]

The thing with introducing to your kids is that introducing subs will require them to be at a certain age while the dub not so much. I admit I don't know how much things have changed since I was little, but remember that while really young, you learn the alphabet from Sesame Street, literacy really happens around age 3-4 but you really learn more at later ages.

Eh, kids are smarter than most people think. I was already reading chapter books at five years old. I had a highschool graduate reading level by sixth grade. I'm also not that bright. If I can do it, anyone can. Besides, I doubt I'll show my children Dragon Ball when they're toddlers. By the time they're old enough to give Dragon Ball a chance, I'll have made sure they're literate.

[roidrage]

I will never reccommend watching Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z in anything but Japanese with subtitles. Why expose people to the horrors of terrible script rewrites, bad casting, and comically bad acting?

For entertainment of a "so bad it's good" variety?

[Metalwario64]

I would advise you to jump to FUNi's dub of DragonBall Kai, for the remainder of the series.

What about the Boo-arc?

[Kuwabara]

I would forego Dragon Ball Z entirely and introduce new fans to Kai via the first four Blu-ray sets with Kenji Yamamoto's score, then scrape together whatever I can find left of any dubbed content that still retains Yamamoto's score (Nicktoons.com recordings, TV rips, fan subs etc.)

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

Even if I consider the Freeza fight a whole different low than the rest of the dub, as I'm pretty lenient on the whole thing, Kai is the proper answer. Problem for me specifically is that I don't own any Kai, I decided to go Dbox, and with Kai's ending the whole thing is inconsistent. Leaving the original dub, which is something I myself can watch, but wouldn't trust a decent portion of it to shape someone's impression of the series.

[Cipher]

The thing with introducing to your kids is that introducing subs will require them to be at a certain age while the dub not so much. I admit I don't know how much things have changed since I was little, but remember that while really young, you learn the alphabet from Sesame Street, literacy really happens around age 3-4 but you really learn more at later ages.

Why would you be trying to push Dragon Ball on a child who couldn't read yet anyway? It's a kids' show, sure, but remember it's based on a manga. Children below the age of reading comprehension have never been the target audience, and honestly a lot of the humor and even plot would be lost on them. A lot of kids will be capable of following along with subtitles by first grade, which is about as young as they should possibly be watching it anyway.

Leaving the original dub, which is something I myself can watch, but wouldn't trust a decent portion of it to shape someone's impression of the series.

This is basically how I feel. I still watch it myself from time to time, but I would never use it to introduce someone to the series.

On that note, I would also never start anyone on Z. And really, let's be honest, when introducing someone to the series in Japanese, there are only two possible problems (unless they just don't like it; that's whatever). Goku's voice and reading subtitles. If they aren't comfortable reading subtitles, I don't even know (I don't think I've ever actually met a single person who straight-up refused to watch something with subtitles). But Goku's voice isn't a problem if you start from the beginning.

Again, I'm not sure if most of us sound like pretentious anti-dub elitists or something, who can't stand the idea of proliferating Dragon Ball in English. It just makes the most sense for new viewers, as it's far more consistent and better scripted. (It is. You can't argue about the scripting.)

For entertainment of a "so bad it's good" variety?

The thing is, it's not even bad enough to hit that mark. And I group-watch hilariously bad movies like it's my hobby.

[Kuwabara]

It just makes the most sense for new viewers, as it's far more consistent and better scripted. (It is. You can't argue about the scripting.)

Yes I can. There are several lines in the Kai dub that sound way more natural and nuanced than the wooden, stilted subtitles.

[Cipher]

Yes I can. There are several lines in the Kai dub that sound way more natural and nuanced than the wooden, stilted subtitles.

Oh, I meant in context of the original Z dub only.