Is adult Goku's Japanese voice keeping dub fans away?

[Dogasu]

There are a lot of people out there who prefer the English version of Dragon Ball Z to the Japanese version. Some of them like it because that's all they know, but there's also a percentage that's watched the Japanese version and decided that they still like the dub better. When it comes time to explain why these fans feel the way they do, I've noticed that the only issue a lot of them seem to have is with adult Goku's voice.

We've heard it all before. "Goku sounds like a woman!" "He doesn't sound the way a big, muscley guy should!" "His voice is too screechy and high-pitched!" And from a fan who's used to hearing Goku sound like Sean Schemmel, the vast contrast in the ways he and Nozawa Masako approach the role can be jarring. But the thing is - I never hear any complaints about anything else in the Japanese version. I never hear any dub fans complain about any of the other VAs, the background music, the theme songs, or the overall feel of the show. The only problem is with adult Goku's voice, and it seems that that one aspect alone is keeping people from getting into the Japanese version.

So my question is this: If Son Goku was played by a male voice actor from Dragon Ball Z onward, do you think dub fans would be more receptive of the Japanese version? Do you think they'd give that version of the show more of a chance? Or do you think it wouldn't make any difference one way or the other?

[Kendamu]

Definitely. It works in reverse, too. There are so many fans of the Japanese version who turn down the dub because of at least one voice, one music piece, one conversation that was different in the dub, or whatever. It wouldn't be unheard of that dub fans would be the same way about the Japanese version.

[The Time Traveller]

For me it's never "Goku sounds like a woman" it's always "Everyone sounds like a woman!"

Even the guys voiced by men...

[MajinVejitaXV]

For me it's never "Goku sounds like a woman" it's always "Everyone sounds like a woman!"

Even the guys voiced by men...

Daisuke Gôri sounds like a woman? Methinks you need to start checking your dates ala Crocodile Dundee

-Corey

[Chuquita]

I guess I can see that. Though my initial reaction to Ms. Nozawa's adult Goku back when I was a newbie fan was pretty much "OMG his Japanese voice is SOOOOO cute!".

But cute in the way a bunny or a baby puppy is cute, not cute in the hot definition.

Vegeta's Japanese voice is cute in the hot definition.
(I'm still disappointed the dub didn't take cues from the Japanese seiyuu when dubbing Vegeta. I prefer the deep, smooth voice Mr. Horikawa gives him.)


So yah; some guys probably don't to see the a voice like that on an adult male character. ^^;;

[VenomSymbiote]

I'm not really a fan of the Japanese version. I love it, but to me, it isn't DBZ. I'm a true dubbie. This also applies to Masako Nozawa. Now, I don't nesscarily despise her portrayal of Goku. It isn't that Goku sounds like a woman, but I find that best way to describe it is, compared to Schemmel, who's portrayal of Goku I know and love, Masako's Goku sounds too much like a woman. Not is, just too much like. This is the main reason why Nozawa's Goku will never be the Goku that is Goku to me. Her VA is just... not male enough.

On the flip side, the Japanese fans can be like, "I don't like Chibi Trunks voice because he's voiced by a girl."

[Vekurotto]

I didn't even notice that Nozawa was a woman until I looked. I just thought, "Hey he's got the same voice as a chibi and as an adult so they didn't change it."

....Quote from me in 2004.

Why does this matter ???????

[Dogasu]

I'm not really a fan of the Japanese version. I love it, but to me, it isn't DBZ. I'm a true dubbie. This also applies to Masako Nozawa. Now, I don't nesscarily despise her portrayal of Goku. It isn't that Goku sounds like a woman, but I find that best way to describe it is, compared to Schemmel, who's portrayal of Goku I know and love, Masako's Goku sounds too much like a woman. Not is, just too much like. This is the main reason why Nozawa's Goku will never be the Goku that is Goku to me. Her VA is just... not male enough.

So for you, is Nozawa's voice the main reason you just can't get into the Japanese version? Would the show feel more like DBZ to you if he was voiced by a man?

[Rod]

To be honest, I grew up with the Spanish version, the actors are perfect for the characters and they FEEL like DB
I have never liked FUNI's, because that one is just plain horrible, but I remember the first time I heard Goku's Japanese voice I was a little thrown off (although I eventually got used to it), I didn't want a very deep man voice, but at least have a man voice him, but the rest of the cast is fine.

[Castor Troy]

For me it's never "Goku sounds like a woman" it's always "Everyone sounds like a woman!"

Even the guys voiced by men...

Daisuke Gôri sounds like a woman? Methinks you need to start checking your dates ala Crocodile Dundee

-Corey

I'm sure Japan has their share of manly butch women too.

[Tweaker]

I admit that upon discovering the Japanese version of Dragon Ball Z, I was also extremely skeptical of Goku's voice as an adult. It didn't seem "right" or particularly fitting to the character, as I had spent years growing up listening to Schemmel play that role in a way that "defined" Goku's personality and soundscape for me. That's how, to me, he was supposed to sound. How did I rectify this uncertain interpretation of Goku's voice, then?

Dragon Ball. I made it a point to watch the original series from beginning to end in Japanese in order to get a fresh, from-the-start feel for each character how they were supposed to really sound. Through the original voice acting an accurate translation of the original dialogue, I came to learn that the Goku--and, hell, everyone else, for that matter--that I thought I knew was almost wildly different in the original Japanese version of the show. As the story progressed, I grew to know and love the very familiar, consistent voice acting present throughout the series; as Goku grew up, his voice changed ever so slightly to represent the test of time.

Suddenly, everything felt... natural. See, I'd like to say that I've had a similar voice throughout the course of my life. Yes, it varied and became deeper as I matured, but at 18 years old I still feel like I sound much younger. That's a point, though--it represents Goku's childlike, largely immature and carefree nature. It's not only a genetic thing, as it seems, but an aesthetic quality that helps define Goku as a character. Upon realizing this, I found myself to have much deeper respect for this once "deplorable" voice acting for a very familiar character.

What do I think the problem is? I'd say it's exactly what I went through--unfamiliarity associated with the dub's portrayal of the characters that people grew up with. There needs to be a particular level of both incentive and understanding to drive people to accept this new voice, whether the original portrayal is superior or not.

Now that I've become used to the Japanese voices, I can't bring myself to listen to the dub's comparatively horrible dialogue anymore. I imagine more people, given this experience, would go through a similar "revelation," if you will. It's just all about finding that driving factor.

[Dogasu]

Just to be clear, guys; this isn't meant to be a "Is Nozawa Masako a good Goku?" threads. Because there's been plenty of those in the past.

The main intent of this thread is to ask whether or not fans in the West would give the Japanese version more of a chance if Nozawa was replaced by a male voice actor by the time Z came around.

[B]

Eh, I don't know. I don't really think many dub fans give the original version much of a chance at all, if any. The more-often-than-not scenario is they saw a couple clips on YouTube and formed an opinion just from that. But, in that regard, if all they saw was 13 seconds of Nozawa's performance and decided they didn't like it, then I would say yes to your original question, if only because the majority of the people with that complaint don't know anything beyond that argument because they haven't cared to actually sit down and watch a couple of Japanese episodes.

[Saiyan-Professor]

Since I am the one that the super fans scream at when I provide my reasons for my dislike of the Japanese version of Dragonball, I will add my two cents to the discussion. The only voice I like in the Japanese version is that woman’s rendition of Super Saiyan 4 Kakarrot in GT. I think she should have used that voice for adult Kakarrot throughout the series. Vegeta sounds a little weird to me but it is no big deal. In addition, I dislike the Hanna-Barbera/70’s porn background music. Strangely enough from watching the so-called “Orange Bricks”, I have grown to enjoy Head cha- la or whatever it is called.

[Oolong215]

I do not like the FUNimation dub at all, and to me, the japanese version will always be number one. But Masako isn't my favorite Adult Goku, though she is my second favorite. I think Ian Corlett nailed the role perfectly, far better than any of the othger english VA's, including Schemmel. But Masako is amazing, and I love her performance of Goku, kid and adult.

[Velasa]

I have to admit pretty much the same opinion as Oolong above me- Nozawa is absolutely wonderful, but Ian would honestly be my favorite. He takes all of the gentleness, lightness, the naiveté and the charm Nozawa gives Son, and does add a touch more masculinity.

I don't know if the voice turns off dub fans though. When I first heard her I already knew the 'pure of heart' sort of character was always voiced by a woman so it wasn't really a surprise. I'd have to hope something like that wouldn't be enough to turn someone away from the original though o_O Seriously. It's such a small thing, and it's not as if she ever puts on a bad performance.

[Dr. Casey]

The only voice I like in the Japanese version is that woman’s rendition of Super Saiyan 4 Kakarrot in GT.

... wait. Is that seriously the only voice in the entire Japanese version you enjoy? I mean, even if you just can't accept that voice from Adult Goku, what's wrong with Masako's performance when Goku's a kid? And there's Bulma, Master Roshi, Android 18... the older versions of the Son family members are the only characters that come to mind whose voices don't match what's typical of their biological age and gender, and there's so many masterful performances in the Japanese version that I have to wonder if you either made a typo, or just forgot some other voices that you like.

[BrollysKin]

Yes it does.

[Saiyan-Professor]

The only voice I like in the Japanese version is that woman’s rendition of Super Saiyan 4 Kakarrot in GT.

... wait. Is that seriously the only voice in the entire Japanese version you enjoy? I mean, even if you just can't accept that voice from Adult Goku, what's wrong with Masako's performance when Goku's a kid? And there's Bulma, Master Roshi, Android 18... the older versions of the Son family members are the only characters that come to mind whose voices don't match what's typical of their biological age and gender, and there's so many masterful performances in the Japanese version that I have to wonder if you either made a typo, or just forgot some other voices that you like.

I am sorry but I cannot determine what a masterful performance is when we are dealing with a language I cannot understand. To me it just translates into people talking and whether a voice is annoying or not.

[Dr. Casey]

So every voice in the Japanese version except SSJ4 Goku annoys you?

That's just as completely incomprehensible, but okay.