Should Vegeta ever transition into saying Goku instead of Kakarot?

[nickzambuto]

Fan fictions used to do this all the time, when imagining a world after the end of the series. The idea is that Vegeta eventually becomes so accustomed to Earth and so used to Goku and the rest of the team as his comrades, that he drops the saiyan name and starts calling him by his real name. Would this be cheesy or is it a good idea to represent more character development?

[The Time Traveller]

I watched Battle of Gods the other day and the part where Chichi appears and says "Goku-sa!" everyone else appears right after yelling "Goku!" I think Vegeta did too.

[JohnnyCashKami]

In Modern Dragon Ball anything is possible and they're always rewriting history so, who knows.

[DragonBallFoodie]

I doubt it. Vegeta will address a Saiyan by their Saiyan name, and probably won't accept any other title.

[90sDBZ]

I remember a scene in the Westwood dub during the final struggle with Kid Buu where Vegeta says to Mr Satan "Goku's totally drained!". When I first saw it I thought it was due to his newfound respect, but later he reverts to saying "Kakarot" so I guess it was just a script oversight.

[PacificOceanDub]

Didn’t Vegeta refer to him as Goku really early on in the Funi Dub? I think it was after he ditches Goku, and heads back to Freeza’s ship. Anyway, I just remember it being awkward as hell, especially since I was hearing Sabat’s voice for the first time, and on top of it, he wasn’t saying “Kakarot” all smug, like I was used to.

[JohnnyCashKami]

Didn’t Vegeta refer to him as Goku really early on in the Funi Dub? I think it was after he ditches Goku, and heads back to Freeza’s ship. Anyway, I just remember it being awkward as hell, especially since I was hearing Sabat’s voice for the first time, and on top of it, he wasn’t saying “Kakarot” all smug, like I was used to.

Dunno about that but in FUNi's dub of Super they made the mistake of Vegeta calling Kakarotto as "Goku" which he never does.

[PacificOceanDub]

Dunno about that but in FUNi's dub of Super they made the mistake of Vegeta calling Kakarotto as "Goku" which he never does.

Okay, I found it. I had to bust out the singles. It’s while Kuririn and Gohan are fighting Goku’s body. Vegeta says “Goku” while thinking to himself

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Another time he actually says "Goku" in some form is in the original Japanese Z/Kai and old in house Z dub versions of the episode after Trunks kills Mecha Freeza and King Cold before the aforementioned arrives in three hours, when he says the following in each.

Japanese Z

"Counting me and Kakarot-- or Son Goku as he's known here on Earth-- and that earthling half-breed kid there, there aren't any Saiyans left but us three!"


English Z

"Kakarot, the one you call Goku and myself are the only Saiyans left alive."



Japanese Kai (In English Kai Vegeta doesn't actually mention his Earth name)

"The Saiyans consist of me and Kakarot, who goes by the name Son Goku here on Earth, and the earthling half-breed kid there There aren't any Saiyans left besides us three!"

[Puto]

He says "Goku" once in GT too, during the Super 17 arc.

[funrush]

I'd be fine either way. If they change it it's cool character progression, if they don't then it's just a cool little part of Goku and Vegeta's dynamic.

[Danfun64]

I remember a scene in the Westwood dub during the final struggle with Kid Buu where Vegeta says to Mr Satan "Goku's totally drained!". When I first saw it I thought it was due to his newfound respect, but later he reverts to saying "Kakarot" so I guess it was just a script oversight.

Did that happen in the Funi dub? The script of the Westwood dub of Z in its entirety is literally the Funi script with some variations.

[Robo4900]

I don't want to say definitely not, because I can imagine it's possible there's a scenario in which it would be appropriate as a one-off thing, but in general, I really don't think so.

Spoiler:

Of course, Goku does refer to himself as Kakarot at the end of the new movie when telling Broly his name, so perhaps he's cool with Saiyans using his original Saiyan name if they wish.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

I remember a scene in the Westwood dub during the final struggle with Kid Buu where Vegeta says to Mr Satan "Goku's totally drained!". When I first saw it I thought it was due to his newfound respect, but later he reverts to saying "Kakarot" so I guess it was just a script oversight.

Did that happen in the Funi dub? The script of the Westwood dub of Z in its entirety is literally the Funi script with some variations.

No, in the Funimation dub Vegeta just referred to Goku as "He". Guess it just goes to show the direction wasn't the only aspect of the Westwood dub that could have benefitted from more than one take. Having said that Funimation made the same mistake of Vegeta using "Goku" in the Universe 6 Tournament saga of Super.

[Robo4900]

I remember a scene in the Westwood dub during the final struggle with Kid Buu where Vegeta says to Mr Satan "Goku's totally drained!". When I first saw it I thought it was due to his newfound respect, but later he reverts to saying "Kakarot" so I guess it was just a script oversight.

Did that happen in the Funi dub? The script of the Westwood dub of Z in its entirety is literally the Funi script with some variations.

No, in the Funimation dub Vegeta just referred to Goku as "He". Guess it just goes to show the direction wasn't the only aspect of the Westwood dub that could have benefitted from more than one take. Having said that Funimation made the same mistake of Vegeta using "Goku" in the Universe 6 Tournament saga of Super.

The "One take only" thing is a myth people throw around based on an assumption that things being done as quickly as they were must mean it was all one take per line. There's not a shred of evidence for it.

But yes, the Westwood dub was definitely produced in a crazy rush, and mistakes like that did show up as a consequence of that.

[Apslup]

Don't think so, not in the near future at least. He was very adamant in Super of thinking of a Saiyan name for Bulla, so I don't think he'll stop calling Goku "Kakarot" anytime soon.

[Thanos]

It feels like, at least at this point, it’s a kind of respect from Vegeta’s perspective, referring to him by his true name.

I wouldn’t like it at all if he started calling him Goku—it’s a really cool unique dynamic between the two, and a nice holdover from their days as enemies.

[FoolsGil]

Whether he should or not, he'd be giving up the last shred of Saiyan heritage left if he did that.

[Doctor.]

I liked the way DBM handled it.

Spoiler:

He said it to make a point and make the contrast between Kakarotto and Son Goku that much more powerful. In the actual series, I think if they ever face a fully evil Saiyan again, that it could work. Goku Black was a good opportunity, as well. It doesn't mean Vegeta has to call him Son Goku forever.

[saiyanhajime]

I personally think it's too far of a deviation from what people like about his character at that point. But, I can see him "slipping up" and accidentally calling him Goku and that in itself reflecting his progression without him actually letting go. It's a bit like how you always want a character to basically look the same, or wear the same outfit as a whole. You don't want them to change too much.