Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[Metalwario64]

So....Kirbopher...can you at least tell us if Vic's rendition of "Dragon Soul" is the big news or not?

Wait, Vic did a rendition of Dragon Soul?

Where have you been all day? It was for the NickToons broadcast, and there is discussion going on in the NickToons talkback thread.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

So....Kirbopher...can you at least tell us if Vic's rendition of "Dragon Soul" is the big news or not?

Wait, Vic did a rendition of Dragon Soul?

Where have you been all day? It was for the NickToons broadcast, and there is discussion going on in the NickToons talkback thread.

I've been at school all day.


But yeah, I found a link to the video on another thread, after I posted the question.

[RazorX]

Lads, just stop and think about what you're saying for a minute. There's probably no one in Funimation's cast who can act for Freeza as well as Linda can. If Freeza is recast, chances are it will be worse and then people would want the old voice back.

As long as they apply the voice filter to make Linda's voice deeper, Freeza's voice is fine.

What they needed to do was recast Kaio, preferably with the same voice actor who does the new narrator now that Funimation have got a decent narrator, to make it similar to the Japanese version.

[VegettoEX]

You're saying that they can recast one of their characters (Kaio) with someone else from their current pool of actors (Doc Morgan)... so... remind me why again they couldn't re-cast one of their characters (Freeza) with someone else from their current pool of actors...?

It seems like you're just holding on to Linda Young for no apparent reason.

[jjgp1112]

Well, there is the fact that Linda Young's voice has a much greater presence in the US fanbase than King Kai's. At this point, why replace her when her voice is synonymous with the character to most of the US fanbase?

[Kaboom]

At this point, why replace her when her voice is synonymous with the character to most of the US fanbase?

Because it's an objectively horribly inappropriate voice for the character and should have been at the top of the list of things that desperately needed changing for the sake of producing an "ideal" dub instead of just a "very good" one.

[jjgp1112]

At this point, why replace her when her voice is synonymous with the character to most of the US fanbase?

Because it's an objectively horribly inappropriate voice for the character and should have been at the top of the list of things that desperately needed changing for the sake of producing an "ideal" dub instead of just a "very good" one.

But why? Because 3 people don't like it? They still have another large audience to try and cater too, and that end of the day, it's all about the Benjamins.

[ThunderPX]

At this point, why replace her when her voice is synonymous with the character to most of the US fanbase?

Because it's an objectively horribly inappropriate voice for the character and should have been at the top of the list of things that desperately needed changing for the sake of producing an "ideal" dub instead of just a "very good" one.

But why? Because 3 people don't like it? They still have another large audience to try and cater too, and that end of the day, it's all about the Benjamins.

Yeah, but they had no qualms about dropping Stephanie Nadolny as Gohan, who's a much bigger character in the show than Freeza.

[Kaboom]

But why? Because 3 people don't like it?

No, because unlike when they were dubbing the original Z, they actually seem to give a damn this time around about preserving any amount of the material's artistic integrity. If loyal dubbies can deal with Gohan having a new, better, more appropriate voice, then the same holds true for a character in even more drastic need of one like Freeza.

[VegettoEX]

But why? Because 3 people don't like it? They still have another large audience to try and cater too, and that end of the day, it's all about the Benjamins.

If you're going to toss out completely unscientific stats that back up your own thoughts, I'll do the same in reverse.

Only three people appear to want the voice to stay, so at the end of the day, it's all about catering to the majority of the audience -- the one that doesn't care if the voice is replaced.

[TheGreatness25]

I think I'd look at it the same way I've looked at Gohan and Bulma's voice changes. Not really wanting them to change, wanting to preserve the same voice, not really sure about how the change will be, but once it's done, eh, no qualms about it.

I think people are just afraid of change, especially to something they grew up watching. But once it's done, it's done. And it could even be better.

[JulieYBM]

As it seems Mignogna wasn't the big surprise, I'd say it's still ~99% likely that Freeza was suppose to be the big surprise. I suppose we'll see once #19 arrives.

Lads, just stop and think about what you're saying for a minute. There's probably no one in Funimation's cast who can act for Freeza as well as Linda can. If Freeza is recast, chances are it will be worse and then people would want the old voice back.

As long as they apply the voice filter to make Linda's voice deeper, Freeza's voice is fine.

What they needed to do was recast Kaio, preferably with the same voice actor who does the new narrator now that Funimation have got a decent narrator, to make it similar to the Japanese version.

Wait, wait, wait, wait a second...

You're not very familiar with FUNimation's talent pool are you?

Troy Baker, J. Michael Tatum, Kent Williams, Jason Liebrecht, anyone of these actors could do incredible things with Freeza. And even then, they've hundreds of other actors to choose from.

[DemonRin]

As it seems Mignogna wasn't the big surprise, I'd say it's still ~99% likely that Freeza was suppose to be the big surprise. I suppose we'll see once #19 arrives.

If it does indeed end up being a Freeza recast, then remember that the TV Broadcast seems to be made to placate dubbies. "Special Beam Cannon", "Destructo Disc" and "Over 9000".

Even if Freeza gets the much needed Recast for the DVDs and BDs, We may still hear Young on Nicktoons.

Wait, wait, wait, wait a second...

You're not very familiar with FUNimation's talent pool are you?

Troy Baker, J. Michael Tatum, Kent Williams, Jason Liebrecht, anyone of these actors could do incredible things with Freeza. And even then, they've hundreds of other actors to choose from.

There's also Jerry Jewell (Suzaku in Yu Yu Hakusho) Chris Ayres (Johnny in One Piece) or even Vic Mignogna. Any of them would make a good Freeza as well.

Also, I used to think Tatum would make a good Freeza, but I'm not so sure anymore. He has a rather Grandiose voice most often, I don't know if he could pull off Freeza's polite faux-mocking right. You know, his "I'm so sorry I'm killing you" attitude.
Tatum would actually make a better Zarbon.

[ohaimynameiserik]

Anyone who is not Linda Young, basically.

If Freeza were recast I would never miss the old voice. If anything, I'd try my hardest to forget it ever existed.

[Gozar]

It seems like you're just holding on to Linda Young for no apparent reason.

Of course he is. All Dub fans are. Dub Freeza is like a dear old grandma to us all. Lame dialogue and all. Would you just wanna let your grandma go? I know after my grandma passed away, Freeza served as somewhat of a cushion. Like a second grandma Obviously I'm joking around. But my point is. Sometimes when you grew up with something and love it. It doesn't matter what faults it has, you love it anyway.

And on the note of Freeza being replaced Vs. Gohan being replaced. You have to realize, at least Gohan is in the same genre of voice. If Freeza is recast, that'll be something completely new and different. The polar opposite of Linda Young's Freeza.

Besides, one other thing. I don't think it's Freeza being recast. Because when they made the actual initial cast announcement, they specifically listed Linda Young as Freeza even though he only laughs in Episode 1 and doesn't appear again until Episode 19.

Tatum would actually make a better Zarbon.

It's funny you should say that. I actually just said that on my Twitter last night.

[ohaimynameiserik]

It seems like you're just holding on to Linda Young for no apparent reason.

Of course he is. All Dub fans are. Dub Freeza is like a dear old grandma to us all. Lame dialogue and all. Would you just wanna let your grandma go? I know after my grandma passed away, Freeza served as somewhat of a cushion. Like a second grandma Obviously I'm joking around. But my point is. Sometimes when you grew up with something and love it. It doesn't matter what faults it has, you love it anyway.

And on the note of Freeza being replaced Vs. Gohan being replaced. You have to realize, at least Gohan is in the same genre of voice. If Freeza is recast, that'll be something completely new and different. The polar opposite of Linda Young's Freeza.

Besides, one other thing. I don't think it's Freeza being recast. Because when they made the actual initial cast announcement, they specifically listed Linda Young as Freeza even though he only laughs in Episode 1 and doesn't appear again until Episode 19.

You and I agree on a lot of things... but to me I feel like Linda Young's Freeza is not like a second grandma, but rather a very embarrassing relationship I had that I'd rather everyone just forget it ever happened. Myself included.

[Kaboom]

If Freeza is recast, that'll be something completely new and different. The polar opposite of Linda Young's Freeza.

And... this would be a good thing. Which is why so many people want it so badly.

[DemonRin]

My cousin is a dubbie through and through.
Grew up on the English dub, can't stand the Japanese version, even makes the token dubbie "Goku Sounds like a Girl in Japanese" complaint.

I told him today not to get his hopes up, but we think they might be recasting Freeza, and he was excited.

"Finally, he wont sound like f$&@ing Genkai"

That was his reaction.

So I think, between ALL of the fans of the Japanese version who have been hoping for a new Freeza and those dub fans like my cousin who ALSO want a New Freeza, I think the Majority is gonna be for it if it happens.

[Gaffer Tape]

Heh, I'm beginning to wonder if American youth in general is just "Girls are grody! I don't want my characters sounding like them! Bleh!"

[MetalMadness]

I'm a huge dub fan, and I love Bruce Faulconer, and I visit Diazex everyday. (dont kill me)

I have a great knowledge of the Japanese version but I still prefer the dub.

That being said, I think a Freeza recast would be great. I don't hate Linda Young's Freeza, but I don't like it either, I just don't mind it.

I used to hate Freeza, he was my least favourite villain. But after learning about the original Japanese version and Freeza more, I've come to really appreciate him as a villain. And it disappoints me that I couldn't see that through the dub, because the character just isn't portrayed right.

To this day my friends still make fun of Freeza's voice. Hell, the other day I watched the first ep of Z Kai with my GF and the first thing she asked me was if Freeza was a man or a woman.

So, I'd like a recast, to give the character more respect and credibility.