Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[DemonRin]

I was looking on Youtube earlier for DBKai videos from Sakura con but couldn't find anything.

Makankosappo
Dub Ending
Dub Opening

From the dub opening :

i believe Freddy Krueger doesn't like the English dub of DB KAI ^^

*Image snip*

I THINK that's V from V for Vendetta...

[Mewzard]

^
Actually, I think it's V from V for Vendetta, but I might be wrong.

In any case, I'm excited for these changes. While I do like the original dubbing from Japan, I also liked several of the American voices (Still disappointed about Dameon Clarke not voice acting anymore). I always felt they could rise to their full potential if they were only given an accurate script and good voice direction. Here is my hope at last reached, via Kai (still wish original anime too).

Hopefully, I won't be disappointed.

[The Time Traveller]

The Makankosappo video is pretty cool, but is Piccolo saying Seiyan or Saiyan? It can't make it out...

[Makaioshin]

The Makankosappo video is pretty cool, but is Piccolo saying Seiyan or Saiyan? It can't make it out...

It's the same way the dub always pronounced it.

[jjgp1112]

Lastly, do his screams still sound like "rrgggaAARRGHH!" or do they sound more Nozawa-esque with a more "Kyaaaah!" sound?

I must know this. Nozawa's screams set my teeth on edge and I'm hoping they weren't emulated.

lol, I was just thinking this. I was actually watching the Ginyu episodes in Japanese yesterday and Nozawa's scream just sounded...really...nasty, I guess. I definitely don't like her screams at all.

[penguintruth]

Yeah, Goku should definitely have deep, manly screams.

Oh wait, no he shouldn't.

[Kendamu]

Yeah, Goku should definitely have deep, manly screams.

Oh wait, no he shouldn't.

Since Schemmel actually is a dude, I'd at least like for them to take advantage of this when Goku turns Super Saiyan for the first time and have him do a deep-voiced scream.

[Rocketman]

Yeah, Goku should definitely have deep, manly screams.

Oh wait, no he shouldn't.

Well he certainly shouldn't sound like a squawking bird.

[jjgp1112]

Yeah, Goku should definitely have deep, manly screams.

Oh wait, no he shouldn't.

Yup, because you're the judge of everything.

Anyway, all I was doing was just saying that I just don't like Nozawa's screams at all. They sound like she's trying to cough up a bunch of stuff out of her throat. My main problem with Goku's Japanese voice isn't that it's a girl, but because of the fact he sounds like a 10 year old boy. You can say all of the stuff about how Goku never grew up and all that jazz, but the truth is that by the Saiyan saga, he is FAR more mature and serious than he ever was as a kid in Dragon Ball. I like Schemmel's voice because he does capture the light-hearted and cheery side of Goku's personality while still making him actually sound like an adult male.

[Kendamu]

Yeah, Goku should definitely have deep, manly screams.

Oh wait, no he shouldn't.

Yup, because you're the judge of everything.

Anyway, all I was doing was just saying that I just don't like Nozawa's screams at all. They sound like she's trying to cough up a bunch of stuff out of her throat. My main problem with Goku's Japanese voice isn't that it's a girl, but because of the fact he sounds like a 10 year old boy. You can say all of the stuff about how Goku never grew up and all that jazz, but the truth is that by the Saiyan saga, he is FAR more mature and serious than he ever was as a kid in Dragon Ball. I like Schemmel's voice because he does capture the light-hearted and cheery side of Goku's personality while still making him actually sound like an adult male.

Meh. Saiyan voices are odd. Vegeta sounded like he was in his mid-20s in the Bardock special.

[penguintruth]

Yeah, Goku should definitely have deep, manly screams.

Oh wait, no he shouldn't.

Yup, because you're the judge of everything.

Anyway, all I was doing was just saying that I just don't like Nozawa's screams at all. They sound like she's trying to cough up a bunch of stuff out of her throat. My main problem with Goku's Japanese voice isn't that it's a girl, but because of the fact he sounds like a 10 year old boy. You can say all of the stuff about how Goku never grew up and all that jazz, but the truth is that by the Saiyan saga, he is FAR more mature and serious than he ever was as a kid in Dragon Ball. I like Schemmel's voice because he does capture the light-hearted and cheery side of Goku's personality while still making him actually sound like an adult male.

No he doesn't. He sounds extremely forced, like the VA is trying to do a voice that's way different from his own and it's hurting him. The only thing Schemmel captures is how bad he is at voice acting. He comes across as just some guy imitating Goku without understanding the character.

And yeah, Goku is a bit more mature in his adulthood, but he still has that childlike approach to every new thing and naivete. Voice aside, Nozawa brings a folksy charm to Goku that no English VA has been able to capture, certainly not Sean Schemmel, the weakest of the Goku voices (aside from Kirby Morrow, who is just miscast). She brings a sense of shameless wonder and excitement to Goku that is unsurpassed.

The only English VA to come close to capturing some of his cheery, childish side and remain male-sounding is Peter Kelamis, who Schemmel pales in comparison to. And even he was too inconsistent to be great.

[Kendamu]

No he doesn't. He sounds extremely forced, like the VA is trying to do a voice that's way different from his own and it's hurting him. The only thing Schemmel captures is how bad he is at voice acting.

You were talking about Japanese voices so I decided to talk about Vegeta's (Japanese) voice in the Bardock Special. Now you're talking about Schemmel? I'm lost!

[jjgp1112]

No he doesn't. He sounds extremely forced, like the VA is trying to do a voice that's way different from his own and it's hurting him. The only thing Schemmel captures is how bad he is at voice acting.

And yeah, Goku is a bit more mature in his adulthood, but he still has that childlike approach to every new thing and naivete. Voice aside, Nozawa brings a folksy charm to Goku that no English VA has been able to capture, certainly not Sean Schemmel, the weakest of the Goku voices (aside from Kirby Morrow, who is just miscast).

Well, okay, that's just your opinion. I disagree with you, you disagree with me, let's leave it at that. But let's not try to start asserting our opinions as facts. And not only that, but I'm curious: have you seen anything from the Ultimate Uncut episodes at all? I'm talking about the scenes where Goku is just talking. Because I find it impossible not to get a "cheery" vibe from his voice, considering how high-pitched it is.

Meh. Saiyan voices are odd. Vegeta sounded like he was in his mid-20s in the Bardock special.

lol, that always threw me off. As odd as it is, most males really aren't good at doing little kid voices, even if it's a child version of their own voice. I couldn't for the life of me produce my voice from back when I was 5 years old now.

[penguintruth]

No he doesn't. He sounds extremely forced, like the VA is trying to do a voice that's way different from his own and it's hurting him. The only thing Schemmel captures is how bad he is at voice acting.

You were talking about Japanese voices so I decided to talk about Vegeta's (Japanese) voice in the Bardock Special. Now you're talking about Schemmel? I'm lost!

You posted too quickly for me to post directly after the previous jjgp1112 post, so I've gone back and quoted.

[Kendamu]

lol, that always threw me off. As odd as it is, most males really aren't good at doing little kid voices, even if it's a child version of their own voice. I couldn't for the life of me produce my voice from back when I was 5 years old now.

Oh, I totally understand. It was surprised to hear Peter Kelamis doing a pretty decent young Goku voice in the Ocean cast dub of the Artifical Human arc.

I just figured that, since it was there, I'd run with it as to why Saiyan voices seem to barely change.

[Gaffer Tape]

Sigh, I almost hate myself for admitting this, but, even as diehard a Nozawa Masako fan as I am, and how much I love her voice for Son Goku... on rare occasions, the screechiness of her screaming does get on my nerves. There. I said it. Japanese fans might call me a sellout, and dub fans might consider this a victory for their argument, but I don't see it as either. I think, in order to be a true fan, one must be willing to admit what they feel are shortcomings even amid all positive aspects.

That said, it's only the very rare performance that ellicits this reaction from me. Most of the time I'm more than satisfied with her performance during the fighting scenes. However, I feel where she shines the most is Goku just being Goku. It never fails to bring a smile to my face to hear her performances when Goku encounters a huge plate of food or does a trademark, "Wahoo!" or "Osu! Ora Goku!" And most of her screams are just hilarious.

So, yeah, that's my two cents.

[jjgp1112]

During the few times I switch to the Japanese version, Goku's voice just always ends up sounding completely out of place to me. I don't really have any problems with any of the other voices, but Goku's voice just doesn't sound right at all to me. Even thoguh he's an adult he sound like a little kid talking, and it just winds up being incredibly awkward. When I watch OG Dragon Ball, it's not weird at all because Goku actually is a kid, but hearing the exact same voice coming from an adult sounds really weird, no matter how you slice it.

Also, has anybody else constantly switched between the Japanese version and the dub and noticed the similarities between Japanese and dub versions of Piccolo's voice? I'm talking dub Piccolo's UUC voice. They sound exactly the same to me, although Japanese Piccolo's voice is higher when he's screaming.

[penguintruth]

That's part of the point. Goku IS awkward and out of the norm. He has an off-beat charm. That's what seperates him from being just another shonen superhero, that he's so weird. The voice reflecting that makes it all the better.

Scott McNeil sounds more like Furukawa's Piccolo than Chris Sabat's. More smug and self-confident sounding. Sabat's sounds like "generic demon guy voice".

[jjgp1112]

That's part of the point. Goku IS awkward and off-putting. He has an off-beat charm. That's what seperates him from being just another shonen superhero, that he's so weird.

Scott McNeil sounds more like Furukawa's Piccolo than Chris Sabat's. More smug and self-confident sounding. Sabat's sounds like "generic demon guy voice".

Y'see, the awkwardness is part of the problem from me. It just doesn't sound right, at all. And it makes it sound very bad to me, and then I run out of patience and switch back to the dub, where Goku actually sounds like a high pitched adult instead of a full blown kid. Different strokes for different folks.

[ohaimynameiserik]

Sean Schemmel's screams shouldn't be deep or manly, per se,

but they should be raw. Like him really screaming. I don't want him to try and emulate Nozawa, because that'd sound bad no matter what your preference.

Schemmel's in the booth, tell him his best friend was just killed in front of him and that he's over come with rage.

Not, "okay, watch this clip with the original voice, and try to emulate that".