For those who like the original better...

[Kendamu]

I'm assuming that the majority of us here like the original Japanese version of the Dragonball and Dragonball Z anime more than the American dub as done by FUNimation. That's not the question. However, I was just thinking about certain things I do and do not like and it made me wonder: Do people like the original just because its the original or do people like the original because they truly think its better?

Personally, if the entirety of Dragonball Z were to have been done in the style of the Pioneer release of the first three movies (with my preferred English cast and the original music) I'd probably have a hard time choosing if I liked the dub or the original better. Sometimes, while reading the manga, the FUNimation voices will get into my head for the characters but with the dialog being a lot more accurate I actually don't really have a problem with most of the voices as I imagine them.

So, for you, is it an issue of the integrity of the original or is it an issue of actually liking one more than the other.

This can apply to dub fans, too. I've seen plenty of dub fans like the dub better just because its "in a language I can understand" or because "nobody speaks Japanese in real life" (yes, I have actually heard that one before). So, do you who like the dub like it because its American or do you like it for some other reason? An example would be that a friend of mine likes to watch the American version of the Trunks special because he likes the heavy metal insert songs better than in the Japanese version.

Your thoughts?

[Pain]

I myself like the original better(Hard to believe, huh?). But I also like the FUNi dub. I like the original better because of the cinematic feel to it and great music...and proper scripts, as well.

[Storm]

The Japanese version is, without a doubt, better than the dub we currently have. In fact, almost no anime's dub is ever better than the original (the only exception that comes to mind is Cowboy Bebop). But from personal preference, especially in an action anime...I generally prefer watching a dub, because I like hearing it in my own language. The music and script changes are without a doubt annoying, and there's plenty of scenes I just flat-out refuse to watch dubbed in comparison to the Japanese version (Majin Vegeta blowing up the stadium comes to mind; it's just fucking scary in the Japanese version). But I don't have a problem with (most) of the voices, so I adjust.

Long story short...the Japanese version is definitely superior, but for the most part out of personal preferences, I will watch the dub. But certainly not only the dub.

[dchan316]

Overall, I like the original Japanese the best, because its a proper script, and well acted. I really do like the Ocean voices a lot, as they fit the characters pretty well, and the acting is also really good, just the problem of the weird editting. "I see their parachutes, they're okay."

And the current Funimation dub, it was really hard for me at first, especially seeing as how they were quite an inexperienced group at the time. However, they have gotten a lot better, and I have no problem watching it nowadays (save for instances like Recoom's goofy voice, *shivers).

And as far as music, Japanese all the way.

[Raki]

I prefer the original Japanese due to the fact that it's closer to the author's original intent. Accurate scripts along with music that doesn't force me to mute the TV screen. I don't really have a problem with Funi's cast, it's just they got a raw deal. How can you do a good job on a dub that has a horrible script? It's not like the concepts in Dragonball don't translate well.

[Chuquita]

While I do admit I liked Ocean's dub of the first three movies (I like Funi too--Mr. Schemmel especially has really stepped it up in the past couple years in an impressive way--but Ocean's VA's are a bit crisper. It's like eating fresh celery compared to lasanga; both are good, but everyone's voices are heavier in Funi's--though I always liked Funi's Chi-Chi better than Ocean's).
I'd have really enjoyed a hodge-podge dub that has VA's from both Ocean and Funi in it.


I don't know why I'm comparing voices to food.



Anyways, the Japanese version is my favorite, and I've only ever heard one seiyuu who could even come close to Ryo Horikawa's awesomeness before.

Also I love the little quirks in Goku's Japanese voice; those things that you can't replicate in english. <3

[Pain]

There is also one MAJOR reason why I prefer the original over the FUNi and Ocean Voice Actors: Ryūsei Nakao. He is one of THE smoothest seiyu that I've heard of.

[LSSJ4]

I am sort of a Dub fan, yet I think very highly of the original. I mostly watch DB in English with the Funimation cast( Inever understood why so what to like about Drummond, I personally hate his voice.). Yet, I'd rather listen to the JP voice ( I love Ms.Nozawa's acting). Essentially I like both dubs, yet I tend to lean of the dub side. I've heard those voices for a majority if watching DBZ, so I'm used to it. I understand a majority of the scripts and dialogue have been changed. I still enjoy it though. What makes me upset though, is that people assume that the syle of fan I am "Do not understand" what DBZ is, simply because I like the Dub. Another example is the Live Action Movie. Original dub fans tell me that Dub fans don't get the changes being made in the movie, simply because I enjoy the dub. I don't cal Mr.Satan H e r c u l e. I call King Piccolo Piccolo Daimaou. Then why are people telling me I that I don't get the story?, sorry If I prefer Mr.Sabat's Piccolo to Mr. Furukawa's. Gah, sorry about that ramble, it's something that's been bothering me for a while.

Edit: Sorry If I come off as whiny, It's justt something that irks me. Also sorry if I kinda fell off topic.

[Kendamu]

I never understood why so what to like about Drummond, I personally hate his voice.

That's because you're stupid.

I'm kidding.

[Raki]

I never understood why so what to like about Drummond, I personally hate his voice.

That's because you're stupid.

I'm kidding.

I also never really cared for Drummond's voice. It felt extremely out of place, even for the early dub.

[Kendamu]

I never understood why so what to like about Drummond, I personally hate his voice.

That's because you're stupid.

I'm kidding.

I also never really cared for Drummond's voice. It felt extremely out of place, even for the early dub.

You're also quite dumb.

Still kidding.

[LSSJ4]

I never understood why so what to like about Drummond, I personally hate his voice.

That's because you're stupid.

I'm kidding.

Heh, see I like that. The DB community seems so tense these days.

[Pain]

I also agree. Drummond's voice only fits for early Vegeta.

[SSJ2bardock]

I used to be a fan of the dub because it was in a language that a can understand. Now that I've seen the show through and through at least three times and know what is supposed to happen in every important scene I've started to go back and watch bits and pieces in the orignal Japanese version. While I can't stand most of the music in the original version I do prefer most of the voices over the Funimation dub. Ryusei Nakao has got to be the coolest cat on the planet when he goes into his Freeza voice and he was the reason I really turned around on my preference.

Bear with me here people:

These are two videos of the same scene in Burst limit, the first being Funi's dub and the second being Japanese ( I put the Funi dub first so you can see how drastically better the Japanese version is by watching it after the English )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ipObsdR ... re=related
Personally, I thought this version was terrible with the exception being when Schemmel says, "Now I'm truly angry, FRIEZA!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7rXEV9Q ... re=related
Right off the bat this version has such a higher quality of acting from Kuririn and nobody does Freeza better than Ryusei Nakao.

So, comparing the two scenes I definitely prefer the Japanese cast. However, I still don't like the Japanese score.

[mrkaizoku]

Well, when it comes to anything foreign I go with the original. No dubs. Ever. If I need them I'll get subs, but as a general rule I go with how something was originally done. This goes for any language. If it is a German show I want to watch it in German. If it's an English show I want to watch it in English.

I feel like dubs are hardly trying most of the time. It always seems like a bunch of guy lazily reading scripts. And now for something that really bugs me! It seems, at least in English dubs (this is dubbing far and wide of all languages to English) they always give everybody a "voice". If there is an old man give him a really goofy voice. If there is a big guy dub him like Arnold Schwarzenegger. If there is a little kid make him sound like an adult woman puking up gravel. It is always regardless to how they actually sound in the original. I don't think that I have ever seen a dub that I thought was exceptional. The dub for "Cowboy Bebop" does come close however.

[Saiyan BayBays]

First and foremost, the original just cannot be beat with all the little idiosyncrasies tied to it. There is nothing like hearing Japanese Goku with all his hick-like mannerisms or the bad ass-ity of Ryûsei Nakao's Freeza. With that said, I agree that if the dub had stuck with the Pioneer movie format, I would most likely be watching that the majority of the time.

Personally I do not like reading subtitles too much; especially for an anime with a lot of action. If the dub has an accurate script with voices that make an effort to sound like their Japanese counterparts, I have no problem with it. Though Ocean's DBZ voices were not the most faithful (Oh God, anyone remember Pauline Newstone?), I grew up with it and a lot of them are actually pretty good. Besides, anyone who has played the DBZ video games can hear the difference an accurate script can make .

P.S. All Brian Drummond needed to do was smooth out his voice a bit. Throw in a little bit of Zechs Merquise deepness to it and less of the "puny" prince sounding crap, and it could be pretty damn good.

[Pain]

Drummond tends to drag out his "A"s too long. That gets a little annoying.

[Snail]

Are you making fun of Canadians sir? EH?!!?!?

[Pain]

Are you making fun of Canadians sir? EH?!!?!?

My father lived in Canada once......that was very off topic . But no, in any word that he uses excitement or anger in that has an "A" in it, he drags in out. Like "Nine Thousaaaand" and "You Understaaaaand". See what I mean?

[Terra-jin]

I think it's mostly that people focus on the bad sides of the dub why you'd have the feeling that people like the original simply because it's original. As for me, I indeed like the original better on average, because of its better music and voices. Especially the Funi Freeza saga is a lot worse in the dub.

However, I grew up with the Pioneer dub, so I like that one as much as the original Saiyan and Namek sagas. Their voices and music was good, too, and it got me into DB. And by the time the Funi dub reached the Cell sagas, they really gained anough experience to make it good in my book.

Lastly, and I think what I have to say here is probably gonna sound controversial because of the reason I described above, I actually like the Funi dub better than the original during the whole Buu arc. The Japanese version changes music in the Buu arc, which I like less, while the Funi dub got better throughout the whole series. I think Funi's music in the Buu arc is better than the Japanese music.
Another reason why I like Funi Buu better than the Japanese arc is that in the Japanese version, Buu has just one, bland sounding voice. Funi created a new voice for each of his (major) forms, which fits perfectly with the different characters of Buu. Also, they added phase-shifting to his voices which make them sound eerily artificial. This is one thing I love very much about Majin Buu in the Funi dub: he sounds like an ominous, impossible being.