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

B · Post by B » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:58 pm

Rocketman wrote:As opposed to JPN Goku, who sounds like a cat hacking up a hairball.

You are wrong. Nozawa-san brings out the innocence and naivety of Goku like no other could possibly do, especially not some baka gaijin like Shawn Shamu or whatever his name is.

JulieYBM · Post by **JulieYBM** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:00 pm

B wrote:
Rocketman wrote:As opposed to JPN Goku, who sounds like a cat hacking up a hairball.
You are wrong. Nozawa-san brings out the innocence and naivety of Goku like no other could possibly do, especially not some baka gaijin like Shawn Shamu or whatever his name is.

Sort of just shot your credibility to hell right there.

Saiyavenger2941 · Post by **Saiyavenger2941** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:00 pm

NYEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:01 pm

Why is it that anytime dub Goku is brought up, the only thing people can seem to bring up as a positive is Sean Schemmel's ability to scream?

Shouldn't the ability to make the character likable and nailing their personality to a T be the most important aspects?

Dr. Casey · Post by **Dr. Casey** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:05 pm

And the funny thing is, Sean's screaming is just as underwhelming and irritating as anyone else from the FUNi cast. I think his normal speaking voice was pleasant enough to listen to, and he did make the character seem likable. I found him much more tolerable than the voice Chibi Goku had for most of Dragon Ball's dub.

B · Post by B » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:06 pm

Dr. Casey wrote:I found him much more tolerable than the voice Chibi Goku had for most of Dragon Ball's dub.

Sort of just shot your credibility to hell right there.

obiwan23s · Post by **obiwan23s** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:09 pm

I actually have a problem with a number of voices in the English dub of Z, as well as the script writing. I found the Cell Saga to be the best dub work FUNi did on Z, with the only exception being #19. But everything else was below par as far as I'm concerned (especially when retroactively compared to FUNi's dub work on current shows). English dubbed DBZ was cool when I was a kid but once you develop a respect for the Japanese language (or learn it, as I did), the dub becomes disgusting. If I watch the dub now, it's for nostalgia factor or pure boredom. I once owned all of the 4:3 single DVDs that Funimation released of Z and I'd estimate I never even watched the dub tracks on them for over 90% of the discs.

I can't even remember being put off whatsoever by Nozawa's Goku voice, and I always and still do find the "sounds like a woman" excuse to be a cop out for someone who's resistant to change.

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:09 pm

B wrote:Sort of just shot your credibility to hell right there.

Yeah, agreed. Even I enjoy lil' Goku's dub voice.

B · Post by B » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:14 pm

obiwan23s wrote:But everything else was below par as far as I'm concerned (especially when retroactively compared to FUNi's dub work on current shows).

I love how there is a video on YouTube where Chris Sabat blatantly says "None of us really knew how to write for the show, and we had no idea what we were doing back then." He was talking about the scene were Piccolo fuses with Nail, and lets out "I. CAN. DO. THIS. I CAN. WIN. I FEEL. GREAT."

Vekurotto · Post by **Vekurotto** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:21 pm

B wrote:I love how there is a video on YouTube where Chris Sabat blatantly says "None of us really knew how to write for the show, and we had no idea what we were doing back then." He was talking about the scene were Piccolo fuses with Nail, and lets out "I. CAN. DO. THIS. I CAN. WIN. I FEEL. GREAT."

It's been a long time....SINCE I SNAPPED SOMEONE'S NECK!!!!!" Dub Bojack.

SparkyPantsMcGee · Post by **SparkyPantsMcGee** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:23 pm

Tsukento wrote:Why is it that anytime dub Goku is brought up, the only thing people can seem to bring up as a positive is Sean Schemmel's ability to scream?

Shouldn't the ability to make the character likable and nailing their personality to a T be the most important aspects?

you are absolutely right! Sean did a great job with that too, He really brought out the child in Goku and made him so inocent and carefree. One of my favorite moments that really brings this out is in the beginning of the Broly movie where Chi-Chi makes him dress up for Gohan's Private school...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drkpOTJQOQk

He also brings out a more serious Goku, A sort of father figure and teacher, a perfect example of this is when Goku and Gohan are in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber...I always love this scene, Sean really captures Goku's true Intelligence(when it comes to fighting that is)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lik4xc0 ... re=related

Rocketman · Post by **Rocketman** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:33 pm

Tsukento wrote:Why is it that anytime dub Goku is brought up, the only thing people can seem to bring up as a positive is Sean Schemmel's ability to scream?

Shouldn't the ability to make the character likable and nailing their personality to a T be the most important aspects?

Except I think Schemmel does make Goku likable. His voice is the voice I hear when I read Goku's lines in the manga.

It's just his screaming is really, really good.

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:34 pm

Honestly, I felt Sean's portrayal of Goku was more among the lines of an idiotic, super hero pumped on the idea that there must be justice in the world.

Didn't help that was what FUNi was going for with the last lines by the narrator in GT, suggesting that Goku is in hiding, waiting for the world to need a savior and hero of justice or what not.

SparkyPantsMcGee · Post by **SparkyPantsMcGee** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:41 pm

Tsukento wrote:Honestly, I felt Sean's portrayal of Goku was more among the lines of an idiotic, super hero pumped on the idea that there must be justice in the world.

Didn't help that was what FUNi was going for with the last lines by the narrator in GT, suggesting that Goku is in hiding, waiting for the world to need a savior and hero of justice or what not.

well regardless of what version you watch, goku was never the shapest tool in the shed however that link I just posted of Sean as Goku in the hyperbolic time chamber really counters what you just said...that hes not some Muscle pumped idiot hero. I mean its not like Nozawa made him out to be super smart herself...it's the same carefree goku we all no and love.

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:41 pm

Sean Schemmel's really become a good Goku over time. As we can see from recent vidjamagames, when given a good script and good direction, he can really shine.

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:43 pm

SparkyPantsMcGee wrote:well regardless of what version you watch, goku was never the shapest tool in the shed however that link I just posted of Sean as Goku in the hyperbolic time chamber really counters what you just said...that hes not some Muscle pumped idiot hero. I mean its not like Nozawa made him out to be super smart herself...it's the same carefree goku we all no and love.

While Goku's not exactly brilliant, it's not like he's a moron. He's just naive in nature due to his upbringing and how he lived his life. There's a difference between being an idiot and just being naive.

SparkyPantsMcGee · Post by **SparkyPantsMcGee** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:58 pm

Tsukento wrote:
SparkyPantsMcGee wrote:well regardless of what version you watch, goku was never the shapest tool in the shed however that link I just posted of Sean as Goku in the hyperbolic time chamber really counters what you just said...that hes not some Muscle pumped idiot hero. I mean its not like Nozawa made him out to be super smart herself...it's the same carefree goku we all no and love.
While Goku's not exactly brilliant, it's not like he's a moron. He's just naive in nature due to his upbringing and how he lived his life. There's a difference between being an idiot and just being naive.

Yea but Sean's Goku wasnt an idiot either. His voice really captures Goku's innocence...his laugh I will agree was more on the goofball idiot side but not his role entirely. Now when it comes to the whole super hero thing and even some of the "idiot moments" a lot of that comes from the writing and direction and not the actor. Its like SSj Kaboom just said, with the right direction and script the actors can really shine and the evidence is clear with some of the later stuff Funi has been doing with Dragonball.

Saiyavenger2941 · Post by **Saiyavenger2941** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:19 am

B wrote:"I. CAN. DO. THIS. I CAN. WIN. I FEEL. GREAT."

How that quote hasn't become the next "9000!" baffles me.

Kingdom Heartless · Post by **Kingdom Heartless** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:33 am

I don't think Sean Schemmel is a terrible Goku. There are times when he does have an inocent, Goku-like voice... for example (even though this is a weird dub line... that I have a soft spot for, even though I haven't been a dubbie for years) when he pops out of Buu and says "People Popcorn!" I think if Funimation wrote him as more of an inocent character as he was originally, Schemmel may have done a better job.

Still, I can see why someone raised on him may be a bit taken aback by the inocence and such in Nozawa's performance. Personally, I can't remember my exact feelings on hearing it for the first time, but now, I love her as the Son family, and can't imagine anyone else voiceing them in Japanese.

BrollysKin · Post by **BrollysKin** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 3:27 am

I'll admit I haven't seen/heard many full episodes of the original japanese, I have been extremely impressed with some of the the clips of secondary characters Mike has played on the show.

But not Goku.

I don't know if it's because I heard the Funimation dub first, or because I like my males sounding like males, but I just can't get over that shrill obnoxious voice.

It's as simple as that.