Current state of the Toonami Asia English dub?

[8000 Saiyan]

Looking forward to this dub more than Funi's. Sure, I'm pleased with Funi's recent DB dubs, but it's kind of refreshing hearing different actors. Can't wait to hear Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza and Beerus' voices.

[90sDBZ]

So I'm predicting we'll now see a new era of Youtube dub comparisons and potentially arguments too. Funimation vs Bang Zoom will become the new Funimation vs Ocean. Or things could get even crazier and they'll announce an Ocean dub for Canada too.

What really strikes me as strange is that Toonami Asia would go with an alternate dub now when they've used Funimation for all of Z and Kai and the movies up to this point. What makes it stranger is that they're impersonating the Funimation cast even though Funi's own dub is supposedly right around the corner. Perhaps it's another complex licensing problem like what happened here in the UK with the constant dub changes all those years ago.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

Actually, does anyone know if Bang Zoom's anime dubs are Union or non-Union dubs? If they are Union there is a slim chance they could hire some of the Ocean cast for roles where appropriate. I wouldn't count on it, but to be able to hear Brian Drummond or Scott McNeil again, even Richard Ian Cox to get an idea of what Ocean Kai Goku sounds like would be a dream.

They do both actually, even recently.

Doraemon and the Durarara!! shows were union dubs, but Hunter X Hunter and the new Gundam dub were non-union. Bang-Zoom doesn't have a signed agreement with the union, but non-union companies can still do union projects if they hire a third party company (called a "signatory," if we want to get technical) that has signed an agreement with the union, and that third party company basically supervises from afar, making sure all union rules are followed and all union rates paid. A lot of companies hire third-party signatories, since that allows them do union or non-union projects on a case-by-case basis...it's a little more expensive since they have to pay the third-party signatory, but between how many anime dubs are non-union and how big a union town LA is, many LA-based dubbing companies consider this a worthwhile expense since it affords them some options.

My guess is that the Dragon Ball Super dub is probably a non-union dub, because union dubs that get a TV deal have to pay residuals, which can really get expensive for the dubbing company over time. The residuals are based partially on how many episodes the actors appear in...so most super-long shows are non-union for that reason (not that there haven't been exceptions, like the Veronica Taylor-era Pokemon dub and the Naruto dubs). Having said that, to address your last point, a Canadian friend of mine said that ACTRA (the Canadian union) isn't quite as strict about working non-union out of the country, so while it's still highly unlikely, members of the original Ocean cast could theoretically appear. Scott McNeil had a part in a FUNimation dub of a One Piece movie, and that dub was non-union.

I guess we'll see. I'm hoping Toonami will drop a few teasers leading up to December 17th so we'll have an idea what to expect going in.

It would be nice for at least some of the Ocean cast to get another chance after all these years. As I say I wouldn't count on it but one can dream.

Thank you TheBlackPaladin, your knowledge of the dubbing industry is as always invaluable in a thread like this .

So I'm predicting we'll now see a new era of Youtube dub comparisons and potentially arguments too. Funimation vs Bang Zoom will become the new Funimation vs Ocean. Or things could get even crazier and they'll announce an Ocean dub for Canada too.

Having three unrelated English dubs of Dragon Ball Super would be remarkably crazy, although I wouldn't be against it if Ocean got the gig and their dub had accurate scripts, the Sumitomo score (preferably for countries outside Canada if content laws were to be applied) and solid direction.

What really strikes me as strange is that Toonami Asia would go with an alternate dub now when they've used Funimation for all of Z and Kai and the movies up to this point. What makes it stranger is that they're impersonating the Funimation cast even though Funi's own dub is supposedly right around the corner. Perhaps it's another complex licensing problem like what happened here in the UK with the constant dub changes all those years ago.

Perhaps the reason for the impersonating is because Toonami don't want to alienate their fanbase who are already used to the Funimation cast. As someone else said its basically the equivalent of 1999 Funimation from an established dubbing company.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Actually, does anyone know if Bang Zoom's anime dubs are Union or non-Union dubs? If they are Union there is a slim chance they could hire some of the Ocean cast for roles where appropriate. I wouldn't count on it, but to be able to hear Brian Drummond or Scott McNeil again, even Richard Ian Cox to get an idea of what Ocean Kai Goku sounds like would be a dream.

They do both actually, even recently.

Doraemon and the Durarara!! shows were union dubs, but Hunter X Hunter and the new Gundam dub were non-union. Bang-Zoom doesn't have a signed agreement with the union, but non-union companies can still do union projects if they hire a third party company (called a "signatory," if we want to get technical) that has signed an agreement with the union, and that third party company basically supervises from afar, making sure all union rules are followed and all union rates paid. A lot of companies hire third-party signatories, since that allows them do union or non-union projects on a case-by-case basis...it's a little more expensive since they have to pay the third-party signatory, but between how many anime dubs are non-union and how big a union town LA is, many LA-based dubbing companies consider this a worthwhile expense since it affords them some options.

My guess is that the Dragon Ball Super dub is probably a non-union dub, because union dubs that get a TV deal have to pay residuals, which can really get expensive for the dubbing company over time. The residuals are based partially on how many episodes the actors appear in...so most super-long shows are non-union for that reason (not that there haven't been exceptions, like the Veronica Taylor-era Pokemon dub and the Naruto dubs). Having said that, to address your last point, a Canadian friend of mine said that ACTRA (the Canadian union) isn't quite as strict about working non-union out of the country, so while it's still highly unlikely, members of the original Ocean cast could theoretically appear. Scott McNeil had a part in a FUNimation dub of a One Piece movie, and that dub was non-union.

I guess we'll see. I'm hoping Toonami will drop a few teasers leading up to December 17th so we'll have an idea what to expect going in.

It would be nice for at least some of the Ocean cast to get another chance after all these years. As I say I wouldn't count on it but one can dream.

Agreed. It really is a pity that Ocean dub of Kai will forever remain on a hard drive in Vancouver, never to be seen. Then again, who knows, until I see Super airing on Canadian TV, I'll hold out hope that perhaps we'll get an Ocean dub of Super. Hopefully this time nobody will pay for anything until a TV deal is secured, though.

Thank you TheBlackPaladin, your knowledge of the dubbing industry is as always invaluable in a thread like this .

Oh, thanks!

[8000 Saiyan]

They do both actually, even recently.

Doraemon and the Durarara!! shows were union dubs, but Hunter X Hunter and the new Gundam dub were non-union. Bang-Zoom doesn't have a signed agreement with the union, but non-union companies can still do union projects if they hire a third party company (called a "signatory," if we want to get technical) that has signed an agreement with the union, and that third party company basically supervises from afar, making sure all union rules are followed and all union rates paid. A lot of companies hire third-party signatories, since that allows them do union or non-union projects on a case-by-case basis...it's a little more expensive since they have to pay the third-party signatory, but between how many anime dubs are non-union and how big a union town LA is, many LA-based dubbing companies consider this a worthwhile expense since it affords them some options.

My guess is that the Dragon Ball Super dub is probably a non-union dub, because union dubs that get a TV deal have to pay residuals, which can really get expensive for the dubbing company over time. The residuals are based partially on how many episodes the actors appear in...so most super-long shows are non-union for that reason (not that there haven't been exceptions, like the Veronica Taylor-era Pokemon dub and the Naruto dubs). Having said that, to address your last point, a Canadian friend of mine said that ACTRA (the Canadian union) isn't quite as strict about working non-union out of the country, so while it's still highly unlikely, members of the original Ocean cast could theoretically appear. Scott McNeil had a part in a FUNimation dub of a One Piece movie, and that dub was non-union.

I guess we'll see. I'm hoping Toonami will drop a few teasers leading up to December 17th so we'll have an idea what to expect going in.

It would be nice for at least some of the Ocean cast to get another chance after all these years. As I say I wouldn't count on it but one can dream.

Agreed. It really is a pity that Ocean dub of Kai will forever remain on a hard drive in Vancouver, never to be seen. Then again, who knows, until I see Super airing on Canadian TV, I'll hold out hope that perhaps we'll get an Ocean dub of Super. Hopefully this time nobody will pay for anything until a TV deal is secured, though.

Thank you TheBlackPaladin, your knowledge of the dubbing industry is as always invaluable in a thread like this .

Oh, thanks!

Perhaps we could ask the producers to stream Ocean Kai, but that's likely impossible, which is a shame because they have nothing to lose with showing their work to the public.

Now, the dub vs dub arguments will be no longer Funi vs Ocean, but Funi vs Bang Zoom. Let the games begin.

[Lord Beerus]

The wait is over and Dragon Ball is finally back!

The series debut of ‘Dragon Ball Super’ in Asia – and the international English-language premiere – is set for Saturday, January 21, 2017.
But Goku fans around Asia who can’t wait that long can also get a sneak peek on Saturday, December 17 at 10:35am, to watch the full first episode – only on Toonami Asia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znYqJim6Gwc

Well, this is something different and I'm sure as hell gonna keep track of this. The Bang Zoom cast has the potential to produce something even greater than what FUNimation are producing or have produced, for Dragon Ball. So it's all very exciting to see how this will pan out. Bang Zoom have done some fantastic dubbing work, and with the right casting, this could be spectacular. Unfortunately, I'm already seriously no liking Majin Boo's voice.

[NitroEX]

What really strikes me as strange is that Toonami Asia would go with an alternate dub now when they've used Funimation for all of Z and Kai and the movies up to this point. What makes it stranger is that they're impersonating the Funimation cast even though Funi's own dub is supposedly right around the corner. Perhaps it's another complex licensing problem like what happened here in the UK with the constant dub changes all those years ago.

Perhaps the reason for the impersonating is because Toonami don't want to alienate their fanbase who are already used to the Funimation cast. As someone else said its basically the equivalent of 1999 Funimation from an established dubbing company.

I personally want to hear what the main cast of characters sound like before making bold statements like these. Keep in mind we've only heard two voices so far and judging by the fact that this dub was being made before Funimation's they'll likely be plenty of original voices in there.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

I don't think there will be dub vs dub fights. We don't know how readily available this dub would be outside of Asia plus it's airing around where FUNi's Super is supposedly gonna air too so I think the Asia dub will go under the radar.

Looking forward to this dub more than Funi's. Sure, I'm pleased with Funi's recent DB dubs, but it's kind of refreshing hearing different actors. Can't wait to hear Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza and Beerus' voices.

So was I until this clip, sounds a like a bootleg FUNi dub don't have much hope for the other characters. /:

I personally want to hear what the main cast of characters sound like before making bold statements like these. Keep in mind we've only heard two voices so far and judging by the fact that this dub was being made before Funimation's they'll likely be plenty of original voices in there.

But for two arcs we aren't gonna get new characters tho, everyone else FUNi have established already.

[8000 Saiyan]

So was I until this clip, sounds a like a bootleg FUNi dub don't have much hope for the other characters. /:

I'll be seriously disappointed if this dub is nothing but an imitation of Funimation's dub. It just ruins the need for an alternate dub if the Bang Zoom voice actors are just going to imitate the Funimation voices.

[Super Sayian Prime]

If some of the Canadian VAs went to LA, I see no reason for them to go with that really strained Buu voice over McNeil's. His sounds natural compared to whoever is doing that one for Bang Zoom.

I was going to suggest Trevor Devall and David Kaye might show up, but I don't think they do non-prelay work now.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

What really strikes me as strange is that Toonami Asia would go with an alternate dub now when they've used Funimation for all of Z and Kai and the movies up to this point. What makes it stranger is that they're impersonating the Funimation cast even though Funi's own dub is supposedly right around the corner. Perhaps it's another complex licensing problem like what happened here in the UK with the constant dub changes all those years ago.

Perhaps the reason for the impersonating is because Toonami don't want to alienate their fanbase who are already used to the Funimation cast. As someone else said its basically the equivalent of 1999 Funimation from an established dubbing company.

I personally want to hear what the main cast of characters sound like before making bold statements like these. Keep in mind we've only heard two voices so far and judging by the fact that this dub was being made before Funimation's they'll likely be plenty of original voices in there.

I didn't intend to make a bold statement, I was suggesting a rationale for the dub's producers in the event that they will be taking this approach for every character. Regardless I'll be happy with this dub if it has good voice acting and solid direction. Funimation already dubbed the last two movies and some of the post-ROF characters in Xenoverse 2 so we can make educated guesses on how much of the Super dub will turn out, granted some tweeks may be made along the way. What would be interesting if Bang Zoom stays ahead of Funimation will be how they handle characters that don't have a Funimation equivalent yet.

[gokaiblue]

I wonder how many "dubisms " they'll keep.They'll probably keep most of them, but I'm not sure. This will be an interesting dub for sure, but my fear is that if Toei ends up liking the arrangement with Bang Zoom more, this cast may end up being used in all future Dragon Ball projects after Super. It's rather unlikely, but it still worries me.

[8000 Saiyan]

If some of the Canadian VAs went to LA, I see no reason for them to go with that really strained Buu voice over McNeil's. His sounds natural compared to whoever is doing that one for Bang Zoom.

I was going to suggest Trevor Devall and David Kaye might show up, but I don't think they do non-prelay work now.

Jillian Michaels got an agent in Los Angeles sometime ago, since there was little work in Vancouver at the time. It's possible she got a role in this dub.

[Nejishiki]

I'll be seriously disappointed if this dub is nothing but an imitation of Funimation's dub. It just ruins the need for an alternate dub if the Bang Zoom voice actors are just going to imitate the Funimation voices.

It's almost as if history repeats itself! I don't know if I'll follow this version of Dragon Ball Super or not, but I do hope the actors find their own way as the series progresses. It's always a shame (outside of necessary circumstances that Dragon Ball doesn't particularly subscribe to) when production feels as if they must pledge to precedence.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

So was I until this clip, sounds a like a bootleg FUNi dub don't have much hope for the other characters. /:

I'll be seriously disappointed if this dub is nothing but an imitation of Funimation's dub. It just ruins the need for an alternate dub if the Bang Zoom voice actors are just going to imitate the Funimation voices.

It kinda makes sense Toonami Asia have been airing FUNi dubbed DB so with no word of FUNi's dub of Super why net get another dubbing company to imitate FUNi. If this is the case then I reckon once they've dubbed the 52 eps they'll probably switch over.

Still though I hope this clip was an isolated incident.

I wonder how many "dubisms " they'll keep.They'll probably keep most of them, but I'm not sure. This will be an interesting dub for sure, but my fear is that if Toei ends up liking the arrangement with Bang Zoom more, this cast may end up being used in all future Dragon Ball projects after Super. It's rather unlikely, but it still worries me.

I needn't worry this is purely for international so the only thing that would happen would be that they'd use BZ for international dubs rather than take over FUNi.

[Hellspawn28]

I wonder why Toonami Asia hire Bang Zoom, not another company like Blue Water Studios, Ocean or Animax?

[Lord Beerus]

I wonder why Toonami Asia hire Bang Zoom, not another company like Blue Water Studios, Ocean or Animax?

Maybe because Bang Zoom actually produce good English dubbing?

[8000 Saiyan]

I wonder why Toonami Asia hire Bang Zoom, not another company like Blue Water Studios, Ocean or Animax?

I think it was likely Toei who hired Bang Zoom, not Toonami Asia.

Maybe because Bang Zoom actually produce good English dubbing?

Ocean also produces good English dubbing, but Blue Water and Animax...yeah they suck, although the former has some good actors.

[Azelf89]

I wonder why Toonami Asia hire Bang Zoom, not another company like Blue Water Studios, Ocean or Animax?

Maybe because Bang Zoom actually produce good English dubbing?

That implies that Blue Water, Ocean and Animax have NEVER produced any good English dubs, which is certainly not true. Every dubbing company (including Bang Zoom) has done their equal share of dubs that vary widely in quality, no matter what language it's in.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

Thank you TheBlackPaladin, your knowledge of the dubbing industry is as always invaluable in a thread like this .

Oh, thanks!

No problem.

I wonder how many "dubisms " they'll keep.They'll probably keep most of them, but I'm not sure. This will be an interesting dub for sure, but my fear is that if Toei ends up liking the arrangement with Bang Zoom more, this cast may end up being used in all future Dragon Ball projects after Super. It's rather unlikely, but it still worries me.

I doubt this will happen, and even if it did Chris Sabat owns Okratron so he could always get Schemmel et al to do their own dubbing independent of Funimation.

I wonder why Toonami Asia hire Bang Zoom, not another company like Blue Water Studios, Ocean or Animax?

Maybe because Bang Zoom actually produce good English dubbing?

Ocean produced good dubs with Black Lagoon, Death Note and others. Although as far as I'm aware Blue Water and Animax aren't well regarded. Personally I'm in the camp that feels Ocean and Blue Water were left out due to the absence of their Kai dub.