Question for Original JP Fans: Any Good Dub Voices?

[DBZfan29]

This question is for fans of the original Japanese version of the series. It isn't directed toward dub fans since you won't give me the answer I'm looking for. Probably...

Anyway, I want to hear some of your opinions. Do you think any dub voice actors did a good job voicing any characters. For me, it would have to be Mr. Satan's dub voice. He sounds like the original... And some might disagree with me... but... maybe Freeza's. Don't get me wrong, it's horrible, but I see what they were trying to do. I should just ask if any dub voices resemble the original (even a little)... like Mr. Satan and (sorta) Freeza.

[Adamant]

I've seen very little of the Funi dub, but someone linked to their version of the scene where Ginyu is turned into a frog here once - while Goku and Vegeta's voices were horrendously bad, Ginyu himself was actually pretty damn good.

[SonGokuGT]

Chris Rager as Mr. Satan. Brilliant!

[Hao_Kaiser]

Yes, I'll agree that Mr. Satan's dub voice was quite fantastic, and by the end of the series, Krillin was pretty good, and I kinda liked Sabat's Piccolo. I liked Goten's voice actress, too.

Beyond that, I think most of the roles that were cast after the Freeza arc were filled pretty well. Sure, #19's voice was a little... grating, as was #16's (though I see what they were trying to do), but I can't think of any other voices that were really, really out of place.

Of course, I haven't seen anything dub related since Z finished it's original run on Toonami, so, take my opinion with a grain of salt.

[Ununbium]

I thought Schemmel's Goku was great by the time he got used to the role.

[DBZfan29]

I thought Schemmel's Goku was great by the time he got used to the role.

I should re-word the question. Do you think he sounded like Nozawa? OK, this is what I'll do: Tell me who you think is good and also mention if they sound like the original voice actors. This is getting sort of confusing to say the least.

[CashmanX]

Off the top of my head:

Mr. Satan
Dabra(DAMN near perfect...)
#17
#18
Pilaf
Babidi
Pui Pui
Mr. announcer

That's all I can think of...

[Sebastian (SB)]

My favorites are Peter Kelamis as Goku, Daemon Clarke as Cell, Eric Vale as Trunks, Meredith McCoy as No. 18, Chris Rager as Mr. Satan, and that guy who voiced Fat Buu. His name escapes me.

I'm mostly fond of the supporting character voices of the FUNi Cell arc, mainly out of nostalgia.

[Ununbium]

I thought Schemmel's Goku was great by the time he got used to the role.

I should re-word the question. Do you think he sounded like Nozawa? OK, this is what I'll do: Tell me who you think is good and also mention if they sound like the original voice actors. This is getting sort of confusing to say the least.

Ah. I see what you are trying to say.
I believe Schemmel plays the role of Goku well. He can do kindhearted/"innocent" Goku as well as angry Goku(though I don't really like his SSJ4 voice in GT, reminds me of Christian Bale's Batman) well.
But do I think he sounds like Nozawa? No.

[penguintruth]

I thought Schemmel's Goku was great by the time he got used to the role.

I should re-word the question. Do you think he sounded like Nozawa? OK, this is what I'll do: Tell me who you think is good and also mention if they sound like the original voice actors. This is getting sort of confusing to say the least.

The only Goku that's ever sounded a bit like Nozawa's is MasakoX from DBZ Abridged. And perhaps Peter Kelamis at times. Ian Corlett sounds too stiff and Sean Schemmel just isn't doing Goku. He's good at whatever character he imagines Goku to be, but that's not Goku. Not in the script, and not in his voice.

It's a mistake to insist that the English voice sound exactly like the Japanese one, I realize, but they could have at least chosen somebody who knew how to act in line with Goku's personality, somebody with a sort of airy, carefree, chipper voice. They could have even gone with a slight hillbilly accent. It's really like they missed the point of the character entirely.

But, despite my neverending distaste for the English dub, there were a few performances that almost overcame the bad script with their talent.

Chuck Huber and Meredith McCoy as Androids 17 and 18, for instance, were fine. Chris Rager's Mr. Satan, as has been mentioned. Kara Edwards' Videl was decent. Even Kyle Herbert did an older version of Gohan that was okay after you heard it enough.

I always had a preference for Scott McNeil's Piccolo to Chris Sabat's, but that's not saying much. The Budoukai announcer guy has a good voice. Tao Pai Pai's is acceptable.

There aren't any brilliant, stand-out performances, though. The Japanese cast beats all of them down.

[Herms]

Let's see...Here's the ones I could think of off the top of my head. Whether or not they sound like the Japanese voices is in brackets. These are all from the Funi dub.

Adult Goku; mostly going by video games (no)
Kid Goku (no)
Pilaf and co. (kinda)
Tenshinhan (no)
TB Announcer (yes)
DB Yamcha (kinda)
DB Narrator (not really, but I think they have the same general spirit)
Mr. Satan (yes)
No.17 and 18 (I suppose)
Kami (no)

[DBZfan29]

I thought Schemmel's Goku was great by the time he got used to the role.

I should re-word the question. Do you think he sounded like Nozawa? OK, this is what I'll do: Tell me who you think is good and also mention if they sound like the original voice actors. This is getting sort of confusing to say the least.

The only Goku that's ever sounded a bit like Nozawa's is MasakoX from DBZ Abridged. And perhaps Peter Kelamis at times. Ian Corlett sounds too stiff and Sean Schemmel just isn't doing Goku. He's good at whatever character he imagines Goku to be, but that's not Goku. Not in the script, and not in his voice.

It's a mistake to insist that the English voice sound exactly like the Japanese one, I realize, but they could have at least chosen somebody who knew how to act in line with Goku's personality, somebody with a sort of airy, carefree, chipper voice. They could have even gone with a slight hillbilly accent. It's really like they missed the point of the character entirely.

But, despite my neverending distaste for the English dub, there were a few performances that almost overcame the bad script with their talent.

Chuck Huber and Meredith McCoy as Androids 17 and 18, for instance, were fine. Chris Rager's Mr. Satan, as has been mentioned. Kara Edwards' Videl was decent. Even Kyle Herbert did an older version of Gohan that was okay after you heard it enough.

I always had a preference for Scott McNeil's Piccolo to Chris Sabat's, but that's not saying much. The Budoukai announcer guy has a good voice. Tao Pai Pai's is acceptable.

There aren't any brilliant, stand-out performances, though. The Japanese cast beats all of them down.

I never saw how people thought that MasakoX sounded like Nozawa. I don't know why I just don't see it...

[SSJ Helldog]

I remember someone saying once that Funi's King Kai was actually a good characterization. Didn't sound anything alike to me, though.

[Herms]

I never saw how people thought that MasakoX sounded like Nozawa. I don't know why I just don't see it...

I never really saw it either, not that MasakoX is a bad Goku or anything.

I remember someone saying once that Funi's King Kai was actually a good characterization. Didn't sound anything alike to me, though.

I'd put that voice at the very, very bottom personally. Not because it doesn't sound like the Japanese voice, but just because it...sucks. I know he's done by the same guy who does Funi Goku, who I actually like (in video games at least), but he just didn't do a good job in this case.

[penguintruth]

I never saw how people thought that MasakoX sounded like Nozawa. I don't know why I just don't see it...

He's got sort of a chirpy, chipper, carefree sound to him in the role. When I imagine Goku speaking in English, I imagine MasakoX's Goku.

It's funny that a voice for a parody dub would be so much better in the role than the ones in official, professionally produced ones.

[SSJ Helldog]

I never saw how people thought that MasakoX sounded like Nozawa. I don't know why I just don't see it...

I never really saw it either, not that MasakoX is a bad Goku or anything.

Same here. Love MasakoX's voice, but no one sounds like a screaming Japanese woman to me besides a screaming Japanese woman.

I remember someone saying once that Funi's King Kai was actually a good characterization. Didn't sound anything alike to me, though.

I'd put that voice at the very, very bottom personally. Not because it doesn't sound like the Japanese voice, but just because it...sucks. I know he's done by the same guy who does Funi Goku, who I actually like (in video games at least), but he just didn't do a good job in this case.

You seem to be a good person to ask: How would you characterize Kaio's Japanese voice? It always sounded warm and grandfatherly to me, maybe like Santa Claus.

[verto]

I don't understand why people have such a big problem with King Kai. Everyone says he doesn't sound like a god... but does he LOOK like a god to you? He reminds me of some sort of fish with ears and a lack of fins. (don't know why but he does).

[DBZfan29]

I never saw how people thought that MasakoX sounded like Nozawa. I don't know why I just don't see it...

I never really saw it either, not that MasakoX is a bad Goku or anything.

Same here. Love MasakoX's voice, but no one sounds like a screaming Japanese woman to me besides a screaming Japanese woman.

I remember someone saying once that Funi's King Kai was actually a good characterization. Didn't sound anything alike to me, though.

I'd put that voice at the very, very bottom personally. Not because it doesn't sound like the Japanese voice, but just because it...sucks. I know he's done by the same guy who does Funi Goku, who I actually like (in video games at least), but he just didn't do a good job in this case.

You seem to be a good person to ask: How would you characterize Kaio's Japanese voice? It always sounded warm and grandfatherly to me, maybe like Santa Claus.

I know you weren't directing that question to me, but I love Kaio-sama's voice in the Japanese version. It's so "professional" and how a narrator (well, not him) should sound. This reminds me, some people have wondered if Kaio is actually the narrator. There is evidence that he is since his seiyu is only credited as Kaio when both Kaio and the narrator are present in an episode or vise versa.

[JulieYBM]

I'm liking what Chris Sabat did in Raging Blast for Piccolo--basically use his natural voice--but otherwise, there aren't many more performances I like. Duncan Brannan did an awesome Babidi, as did Kent Williams Dr. Gero. Anything done by Brice Armstrong (DB narrator, Ginyû) is great, too. Rick Robertson did a pretty cool Dabra, now that I think about it. Phil Parsons' Nappa isn't bad, but isn't really all that rememberable. Sabat tries so hard as Vegeta, but until he uses his natural voice...I don't know if I can call it 'great'. Kara Edwards does a pretty great job as Goten and Videl, too. Laura Bailey's stuff is good too, but I can't help but feel her Trunks is a little...I don't know.

Everyone else is pretty...bad.


Wait a tick, I was a dub fan for years first!!

[MCDaveG]

I think that the dub pretty sucks so far