Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Discussion regarding the entirety of the franchise in a general (meta) sense, including such aspects as: production, trends, merchandise, fan culture, and more.
User avatar
floofychan333
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1378
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:03 pm
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by floofychan333 » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:15 am

I liked Takeshi Kusao as Future Trunks but having him continue to voice Kid Trunks is kind of creepy for me. Why didn't they change the voice actor?
If I had to make a conclusion now I'd say it's because Toei hates changing the voice actors (Nozawa)
"All of you. All of you must have KILL all the SEASONS!" -Dough (Tenshinhan), Speedy Dub of Movie 9.

"My opinion of Norihito's Sumitomo's new score is... well, very mixed. The stuff that's good is pretty darn good, but the stuff that's bad makes elevator music sound like Jerry freaking Goldsmith." -Kenisu

Dbzfan94
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 5744
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:16 pm
Location: Mt. Paozu

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Dbzfan94 » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:30 am

I don't mind it, but when him and Goten fuse into Gotebks it's REALLY annoying. And Gotenks is one of my favorite characters too. I highly prefer the dub in this case.

But ya gotta give Mr. Kusao props for pulling it off rather well for so long

User avatar
Lunatic Fringe
Regular
Posts: 557
Joined: Fri May 15, 2015 6:54 pm

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Lunatic Fringe » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:32 am

Because it works? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

User avatar
VegettoEX
Kanzenshuu Co-Owner & Administrator
Posts: 17809
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 3:10 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by VegettoEX » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:34 am

floofychan333 wrote:I liked Takeshi Kusao as Future Trunks but having him continue to voice Kid Trunks is kind of creepy for me.
Why is it creepy? That seems like a strange word to use.

He's the voice of the character. He's a talented actor that can use a range of pitches and tones to act the various ages of the character that we've seen in the series, from a young child to a teenager to an adult. Consistency to a character's voice adds an immense amount to the role. I really don't see what the issue here is.

Quite frankly, the opposite is what weirds me out: I have a hard time believing "Goku" is the same character through and through beginning to end in the English dub when approximately seventy people have voiced him even within the same cast.
:: [| Mike "VegettoEX" LaBrie |] ::
:: [| Kanzenshuu - Co-Founder/Administrator, Podcast Host, News Manager (note: our "job" titles are arbitrary and meaningless) |] ::
:: [| Website: January 1998 |] :: [| Podcast: November 2005 |] :: [| Fusion: April 2012 |] :: [| Wiki: April 2026 |] ::

User avatar
Bansho64
I Live Here
Posts: 2036
Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 12:59 am

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Bansho64 » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:55 am

Because, imo, he's great at it? I don't know what's so weird with him doing it. He's got the range and he's gotten better and better with it over the years. And he was great to start with! I don't get what's even remotely creepy about it at all :?

User avatar
Gaffer Tape
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 6131
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:25 pm
Contact:

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Gaffer Tape » Thu Nov 17, 2016 10:04 am

Haha, it seems the poor Japanese version can never win. A woman playing a man? Terrible! A man playing a boy? Creepy! Now the English dub? That has it exactly right, and actors play roles they were biologically designed to play. Except for women playing boys, of course. That's just totally natural.

I love Kusao as Trunks... as all ages of Trunks. He's fantastic. The way your original post is worded, floofychan333, makes Toei sound like a bunch of hoarders who can't stand to part with their trinkets. But it's as what's already been stated: character consistency. You can actually believe it's the same person because it IS the same person! You never have to get used to a new voice portraying your favorite character or feel like you're starting over with a new interpretation. It's just a seamless transition through the character's life. Now obviously changing the actor has its own advantages, and it all depends on what form of "realism" you are more comfortable with. But if the actor can pull it off, why in the world would you recast them?
Do you follow the most comprehensive and entertaining Dragon Ball analysis series on YouTube? If you do, you're smart and awesome and fairly attractive. If not, see what all the fuss is about without even having to leave Kanzenshuu:

MistareFusion's Dragon Ball Dissection Series Discussion Thread! (Updated 3/16/26!)
Current Episode: Course-Correcting the Movies - Dragon Ball Dissection: The Resurrection 'F' Arc Part 2

User avatar
sangofe
Kicks it Old-School
Posts: 8088
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 3:39 pm

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by sangofe » Thu Nov 17, 2016 10:43 am

floofychan333 wrote:I liked Takeshi Kusao as Future Trunks but having him continue to voice Kid Trunks is kind of creepy for me. Why didn't they change the voice actor?
If I had to make a conclusion now I'd say it's because Toei hates changing the voice actors (Nozawa)
Why do you think it's creepy? I bet if you didn't know, you wouldn't have reacted at all because the voice fits perfectly.

User avatar
8000 Saiyan
I Live Here
Posts: 2844
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2016 9:03 am

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by 8000 Saiyan » Thu Nov 17, 2016 1:01 pm

I don't see anything creepy with Kusao doing the voice for Kid Trunks. Besides, he was probably cast because of character consistency or because he could do a convicting boy voice.

I love Kusao's voice as Kid Trunks. It shows his range.
"It was deemed to be too awesome." - Scott McNeil on Dragon Ball Kai not being aired yet in Canada.

MyVisionity
Banned
Posts: 1834
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:51 pm
Location: US

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by MyVisionity » Thu Nov 17, 2016 6:47 pm

floofychan333 wrote:I liked Takeshi Kusao as Future Trunks but having him continue to voice Kid Trunks is kind of creepy for me.
Yeah, I really like Kusao as the younger Trunks, but "creepy" is a good way to describe it. It's almost like a grown man hiding himself inside a child's body, lying in wait for his opportunity to strike or something unnerving like that. I think it's hilarious sometimes, but I guess Kusao does have good range.

I think it might feel a little bit odd when you have a male actor voicing an adult character return to voice the child-version of the character, as with Trunks. The case of Goku is different because he started as a child and then became an adult.

User avatar
Soppa Saia People
I Live Here
Posts: 3068
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:26 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Soppa Saia People » Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:12 pm

Because Takeshi Kusao has range 8)
floofychan333 wrote:I liked Takeshi Kusao as Future Trunks but having him continue to voice Kid Trunks is kind of creepy for me. Why didn't they change the voice actor?
If I had to make a conclusion now I'd say it's because Toei hates changing the voice actors (Nozawa)
Nozawa was gonna get recast after Piccolo, but Toei gave her another chance and they liked her as adult Goku so she stuck around, IIRC.
She/Her

User avatar
Metalwario64
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 6277
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:02 am
Location: Namek

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Metalwario64 » Thu Nov 17, 2016 9:12 pm

MyVisionity wrote:Yeah, I really like Kusao as the younger Trunks, but "creepy" is a good way to describe it. It's almost like a grown man hiding himself inside a child's body, lying in wait for his opportunity to strike or something unnerving like that.
Haha, what the hell? :lol:
"Kenshi is sitting down right now drawing his mutated spaghetti monsters thinking he's the shit..."--Neptune Kai
"90% of you here don't even know what you're talking about (there are a few that do). But the things you say about these releases are nonsense and just plain dumb. Like you Metalwario64"--final_flash

Dbzfan94
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 5744
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:16 pm
Location: Mt. Paozu

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Dbzfan94 » Thu Nov 17, 2016 10:17 pm

VegettoEX wrote:
floofychan333 wrote:approximately seventy people have voiced him even within the same cast.
Come on, this is a gross exaggeration. Excluding Kai, we have two. One voice as a kid and one as an adult.

MyVisionity
Banned
Posts: 1834
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:51 pm
Location: US

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by MyVisionity » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:41 pm

Metalwario64 wrote:
MyVisionity wrote:Yeah, I really like Kusao as the younger Trunks, but "creepy" is a good way to describe it. It's almost like a grown man hiding himself inside a child's body, lying in wait for his opportunity to strike or something unnerving like that.
Haha, what the hell? :lol:
That's just the first image that popped into my mind, I dunno. Like he's gonna steal one of Bulma's smokes or hit on Videl when Gohan's not around or something sketchy.
Dbzfan94 wrote:
VegettoEX wrote:
floofychan333 wrote:approximately seventy people have voiced him even within the same cast.
Come on, this is a gross exaggeration. Excluding Kai, we have two. One voice as a kid and one as an adult.
I think he may be including the Ocean cast as well, Saffron, Kelamis and the like. Also I think maybe the Dende actress did a Goku once?

Dbzfan94
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 5744
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:16 pm
Location: Mt. Paozu

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Dbzfan94 » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:55 pm

MyVisionity wrote:
I think he may be including the Ocean cast as well, Saffron, Kelamis and the like. Also I think maybe the Dende actress did a Goku once?
Well he said "just with the same cast" so I thought that limited it just to in-house Funimation.

User avatar
Nejishiki
I Live Here
Posts: 2406
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2016 11:45 am

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Nejishiki » Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:34 am

Soppa Saia People wrote:Nozawa was gonna get recast after Piccolo, but Toei gave her another chance and they liked her as adult Goku so she stuck around, IIRC.
You must be confusing that between the struggle of casting Gohan. Nothing is documented about her Goku being considered for replacement in any point in history.

User avatar
Soppa Saia People
I Live Here
Posts: 3068
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:26 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Soppa Saia People » Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:39 am

Nejishiki wrote:
Soppa Saia People wrote:Nozawa was gonna get recast after Piccolo, but Toei gave her another chance and they liked her as adult Goku so she stuck around, IIRC.
You must be confusing that between the struggle of casting Gohan. Nothing is documented about her Goku being considered for replacement in any point in history.
I didn't even know that. I see, I read about that like 4 years ago and just assumed that it was fact. I was a dumb 12 year old :lol:
She/Her

User avatar
Baggie_Saiyan
Namekian Warrior
Posts: 10315
Joined: Sat Mar 30, 2013 5:22 pm
Location: Atlantis.

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Baggie_Saiyan » Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:47 pm

Wait... Kid Trunks is voiced by same VA for Future Trunks in the Japanese? Didn't know that, the more you know!
Gaffer Tape wrote:Haha, it seems the poor Japanese version can never win. A woman playing a man? Terrible! A man playing a boy? Creepy! Now the English dub? That has it exactly right, and actors play roles they were biologically designed to play. Except for women playing boys, of course. That's just totally natural.

I love Kusao as Trunks... as all ages of Trunks. He's fantastic. The way your original post is worded, floofychan333, makes Toei sound like a bunch of hoarders who can't stand to part with their trinkets. But it's as what's already been stated: character consistency. You can actually believe it's the same person because it IS the same person! You never have to get used to a new voice portraying your favorite character or feel like you're starting over with a new interpretation. It's just a seamless transition through the character's life. Now obviously changing the actor has its own advantages, and it all depends on what form of "realism" you are more comfortable with. But if the actor can pull it off, why in the world would you recast them?
Whoa calm down my dude OP never mentioned anything about Nozawa being terrible or even the English dub. I understand that it's frustrating seeing people put down the Japanese version but I've noticed on my time here that people don't help themselves, that first paragraph was not necessary (for all we know the OP may never have seen DB English dubbed) at all and that is why dub and sub will never live in unison ever. Both as bad as each other.

User avatar
Bansho64
I Live Here
Posts: 2036
Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 12:59 am

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Bansho64 » Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:35 pm

Baggie_Saiyan wrote: Whoa calm down my dude OP never mentioned anything about Nozawa being terrible or even the English dub. I understand that it's frustrating seeing people put down the Japanese version but I've noticed on my time here that people don't help themselves, that first paragraph was not necessary (for all we know the OP may never have seen DB English dubbed) at all and that is why dub and sub will never live in unison ever. Both as bad as each other.
That first paragraph was absolutely necessary. It really reflected the views of how many believe that certain voices need to have actors or actresses of certain genders. If the opposite happens, then it's usually called "weird" or "creepy", as seen in this thread. Also, OP is an English Dub fan.

User avatar
Gaffer Tape
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 6131
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:25 pm
Contact:

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Gaffer Tape » Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:34 pm

Baggie_Saiyan wrote: Whoa calm down my dude OP never mentioned anything about Nozawa being terrible or even the English dub. I understand that it's frustrating seeing people put down the Japanese version but I've noticed on my time here that people don't help themselves, that first paragraph was not necessary (for all we know the OP may never have seen DB English dubbed) at all and that is why dub and sub will never live in unison ever. Both as bad as each other.
Clearly, starting a paragraph with "Haha" is no longer enough to keep some people from reading in whatever tone justifies their desire to go on a rant in which I have somehow become cast as the poster child for why sub fans and dub fans just can't get along...

So let me make myself clear: I was making a point about what I've noticed as a frequently-held double standard but couching it in very, very, very, very, very tongue-in-cheek language. There was no malice towards either the original poster or dub fans in general. There was no need for me to "calm down" because I was in quite pleasant spirits when I wrote it.
Do you follow the most comprehensive and entertaining Dragon Ball analysis series on YouTube? If you do, you're smart and awesome and fairly attractive. If not, see what all the fuss is about without even having to leave Kanzenshuu:

MistareFusion's Dragon Ball Dissection Series Discussion Thread! (Updated 3/16/26!)
Current Episode: Course-Correcting the Movies - Dragon Ball Dissection: The Resurrection 'F' Arc Part 2

User avatar
Cure Dragon 255
Banned
Posts: 5658
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 5:23 pm

Re: Why is Kid Trunks voiced by a grown man in the Japanese dub?

Post by Cure Dragon 255 » Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:38 pm

I dont know how "Ha-Ha" equals "Malice Free and Lighthearted". And keep in mind I love you and am on your side. But you could have phrased it better.

Post Reply