Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[penguintruth]

I never said the English Goku has to sound exactly like Nozawa's Goku, but he certainly should channel aspects of that performance because it is the voice that was chosen for him to represent Goku in the original production of this show, and should certainly count.

MasakoX and Peter Kelamis both do a great job capturing aspects of Goku's personality that Sean Schemmel frankly doesn't, or at least, more often doesn't than does. I never said Kelamis was a perfect Goku, but clearly better than Schemmel, or Corlett, really (Corlett is too stiff).

Schemmel is perfect for the Goku represented in Funimation's previous scripts. But as Son Goku as he really is? He's now just barely moved into "tolerable" levels.

[Blue]

Schemmel is perfect for the Goku represented in Funimation's previous scripts. But as Son Goku as he really is? He's now just barely moved into "tolerable" levels.

Wow that's being a lil' harsh. I really disliked Seans performances in the past too but with Kai I think he far outstrips those other guys. He has the perfect level of childishness in his voice for the majority of the time now. I really, really think he's doing a stellar job with Kai.

[penguintruth]

Schemmel is perfect for the Goku represented in Funimation's previous scripts. But as Son Goku as he really is? He's now just barely moved into "tolerable" levels.

Wow that's being a lil' harsh. I really disliked Seans performances in the past too but with Kai I think he far outstrips those other guys. He has the perfect level of childishness in his voice for the majority of the time now. I really, really think he's doing a stellar job with Kai.

Far outstrips? I really disagree. He's not painful to listen to anymore, but I still don't hear Goku when he speaks. I can listen to him just fine, without constantly rolling my eyes at his peformance, but I'm not really hearing Goku, I'm hearing some guy. Luckily the script is better so at least "some guy" says Goku's actual lines.

Anyway, I won't belabor the point anymore. I do, in fact, think Schemmel has improved for Kai, but really not so much as to be great in the role.

[Mewzard]

Schemmel is perfect for the Goku represented in Funimation's previous scripts. But as Son Goku as he really is? He's now just barely moved into "tolerable" levels.

Wow that's being a lil' harsh. I really disliked Seans performances in the past too but with Kai I think he far outstrips those other guys. He has the perfect level of childishness in his voice for the majority of the time now. I really, really think he's doing a stellar job with Kai.

I agree, he captures a lot of the charm in Goku's innocent, goofy nature that he has normally. Especially now, with an improved script and better direction towards it. He certainly can be a lot more subtle than Kelamis, lol.

At this point, Sean is the best an English dub has to offer as Goku by far. His voice is calm and collected when the situation calls for it, and it can pick up a bit when mad.

I just wonder if he'll do what he did with the transformations for Kai. He tried to change up his voice slightly as the forms progress. I first really noticed it with SSJ3, where he was rather relaxed in tone.

[jjgp1112]

Schemmel is perfect for the Goku represented in Funimation's previous scripts. But as Son Goku as he really is? He's now just barely moved into "tolerable" levels.

Wow that's being a lil' harsh. I really disliked Seans performances in the past too but with Kai I think he far outstrips those other guys. He has the perfect level of childishness in his voice for the majority of the time now. I really, really think he's doing a stellar job with Kai.

I agree, and he's able to actually appropriately change his emotions depending on the situation, rather than having the "LOLZ HAI GAIZ I'M GOKU" voice at all times. If it's a serious moment, he'll talk in a serious voice. If he's mad, he'll sound mad. If he's happy, he'll talk in a happy voice. He actually has some goddamn range.

[linkdude20002001]

It doesn't seem like it's possible for Schemmel to fit Gokuh 100%. He may be vastly improved acting wise and even sound wise (about half the time), but he doesn't "channel Nozawa" like Kelamis does. Some may dislike the constant "fighting" voice, but that's probably the fault of the voice director. If he were being directed by Sabat for Kai, I can only dream of how amazing it would be. His voice in general just has that unique sound/accent to it that makes Gokuh sound unique. (Here's his speaking voice). The way he portrays Gokuh gives a feeling of Gokuh, and more specifically, a feeling of Nozawa's Gokuh. Even his "Kaio-ken" in Movie 2 sounds just like how Nozawa says it.

[jjgp1112]

It doesn't seem like it's possible for Schemmel to fit Gokuh 100%. He may be vastly improved acting wise and even sound wise (about half the time), but he doesn't "channel Nozawa" like Kelamis does. Some may dislike the constant "fighting" voice, but that's probably the fault of the voice director. If he were being directed by Sabat for Kai, I can only dream of how amazing it would be. His voice in general just has that unique sound/accent to it that makes Gokuh sound unique. (Here's his speaking voice). The way he portrays Gokuh gives a feeling of Gokuh, and more specifically, a feeling of Nozawa's Gokuh. Even his "Kaio-ken" in Movie 2 sounds just like how Nozawa says it.

But certain things just don't translate well into another language. Peter Kelamis' Goku just sounds like a complete idiot to me and it's a grating voice, no matter how "fitting" it is. You shouldn't sacrifice a pleasant sounding voice for the sake of finding a voice that "fits."

[penguintruth]

You shouldn't sacrifice a pleasant sounding voice for the sake of finding a voice that "fits."

Uh, yes you should. Whoever fits the role better is the right voice for the role.

[jjgp1112]

You shouldn't sacrifice a pleasant sounding voice for the sake of finding a voice that "fits."

Uh, yes you should. Whoever fits the role better is the right voice for the role.

If the voice ends up sounding like shit, what's the point? It'll fit, but it'll be through a crappy filter. Who cares if it fits if the sound produced from it is horrible?

[penguintruth]

You shouldn't sacrifice a pleasant sounding voice for the sake of finding a voice that "fits."

Uh, yes you should. Whoever fits the role better is the right voice for the role.

If the voice ends up sounding like shit, what's the point? It'll fit, but it'll be through a crappy filter. Who cares if it fits if the sound produced from it is horrible?

Then you have to learn to live with the fact that the character themself has an annoying voice. That's just how that character is.

You don't change the character just so they can sound pleasant.

[Mewzard]

I do agree, a fitting voice is always nice.

I just happen to think that Schemmel's voice (particularly now) fits rather neatly with Goku. It captures Goku to me, and it's the voice I hear in my head, without any complaint, when I read the manga.

This is what I love about the internet. Not only can you talk to a lot of people about something you love, but you can see how many different ways a person can love it, and what things differ from your own view.

And it's funny, that statement says a fitting voice is more important than a nice sounding voice, when some dub voices that people hate did fit characters a touch more than their nicer sounding Japanese voices.

[penguintruth]

And it's funny, that statement says a fitting voice is more important than a nice sounding voice, when some dub voices that people hate did fit characters a touch more than their nicer sounding Japanese voices.

Name some.

[jjgp1112]

If the voice ends up sounding like shit, what's the point? It'll fit, but it'll be through a crappy filter. Who cares if it fits if the sound produced from it is horrible?

Then you have to learn to live with the fact that the character themself has an annoying voice. That's just how that character is.

You don't change the character just so they can sound pleasant.

You should be able to find a middle ground and find a voice that fits a character while not making it sound better. You can find a happy cheery voice for Goku without making him sound like he's in the Special Olympics. I'm sorry, but I have no interest in watching a show full of characters with awful sounding voices. Even in the Japanese version, at least the voices actually sound good, even if I don't think they all fit.

Case in point, I actually think Schemmel's Season 3 voice fit the character, BUT he hadn't learned how to actually act and he didn't quite grasped how to modify his normal speaking voice, thus producing a really grating effect and why I have no interest in watching his Season 3 stuff.

[penguintruth]

You should be able to find a middle ground and find a voice that fits a character while not making it sound better. You can find a happy cheery voice for Goku without making him sound like he's in the Special Olympics

Except that Sean Schemmel isn't that voice. And thus the argument makes a full circle.

[linkdude20002001]

You should be able to find a middle ground and find a voice that fits a character while not making it sound better. You can find a happy cheery voice for Goku without making him sound like he's in the Special Olympics. I'm sorry, but I have no interest in watching a show full of characters with awful sounding voices. Even in the Japanese version, at least the voices actually sound good, even if I don't think they all fit.

Gokuh's voice doesn't sound as bad as you're saying it is (I mean Kelamis' Gokuh). He is, however, supposed to sound uneducated, 'cause that's what he is. He's a country bumpkin.

[jjgp1112]

You should be able to find a middle ground and find a voice that fits a character while not making it sound better. You can find a happy cheery voice for Goku without making him sound like he's in the Special Olympics

Except that Sean Schemmel isn't that voice. And thus the argument makes a full circle.

Indeed, it has. it's gone back to you stating everything as if it's a fact without actually explaining why.

"He doesn't sound like Goku" Why? because he doesn't sound the same as a another voice based on a comic book character, which means he doesn't even have a voice at all?

[penguintruth]

without actually explaining why.

I have explained every single time. But whatever.

I'm tired of talking about the English voice of Goku. There are so many other things about the new dub to talk about, like the actual good performances.

[jjgp1112]

without actually explaining why.

I have explained every single time. But whatever.

I'm tired of talking about the English voice of Goku. There are so many other things about the new dub to talk about, like the actual good performances.

All you've said in this whole thread is variations of, "he doesn't sound like Goku." Actually EXPLAIN WHY, please.

[Metalwario64]

Then you have to learn to live with the fact that the character themself has an annoying voice. That's just how that character is.

Except Nozawa actually emotes, and tones down the "happy-go-lucky cheerful Goku" when necessary, speaks softly when she needs to, and sounds desperate and sad when she needs to, unlike MasakoX and Peter Kelamis. Granted, we haven't really heard MasakoX's Goku outside of parodies, but just because he may possibly be able to get the other aspects doesn't make him automatically the best and I'm not going to say he can't either.

It's debatable whether or not Kelamis and MasakoX get the child-like innocence of Goku down better than Schemmel, but that is the only aspect they get down, leaving the other points in the shadows. Kelamis may be able to scream "like Nozawa", but he sounds pretty forced when doing so, while MasakoX's Goku is always in childlike, happy silly Goku mode which is, as stated before, likely due to the nature of DBZ Abridged, but I don't think that the fact that we haven't heard him properly tackle the other aspects makes him automatically the "best English Goku ever".

Schemmel in Kai is able to tap into all aspects of Goku's character, whether it be happy Goku, angry Goku, or hurt Goku while also sounding natural in terms of voice and delivery. His happy Goku sounds incredibly lighthearted and innocent, his desperate Goku sounds genuine, and his angry Goku sounds like he is truly angry. Overall, as it stands, I'd say he is at least "good" at capturing all of Goku's aspects, rather than being "great" at capturing only one or two.

[linkdude20002001]

Except Nozawa actually emotes, and tones down the "happy-go-lucky cheerful Goku" when necessary, speaks softly when she needs to, and sounds desperate and sad when she needs to, unlike MasakoX and Peter Kelamis. Granted, we haven't really heard MasakoX's Goku outside of parodies, but just because he may possibly be able to get the other aspects doesn't make him automatically the best and I'm not going to say he can't either.

It's debatable whether or not Kelamis and MasakoX get the child-like innocence of Goku down better than Schemmel, but that is the only aspect they get down, leaving the other points in the shadows. Kelamis may be able to scream "like Nozawa", but he sounds pretty forced when doing so, while MasakoX's Goku is always in childlike, happy silly Goku mode which is, as stated before, likely due to the nature of DBZ Abridged, but I don't think that the fact that we haven't heard him properly tackle the other aspects makes him automatically the "best English Goku ever".

Schemmel in Kai is able to tap into all aspects of Goku's character, whether it be happy Goku, angry Goku, or hurt Goku while also sounding natural in terms of voice and delivery.

Except those are the times when Schemmel doesn't sound like Gokuh at all. He can only keep up the Gokuh charade when he's portraying a "happy-go-lucky cheerful Gokuh".