Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[SaiyamanMS]

Since we've reached the end of the Saiyan arc on Nicktoons, I figure I'll share some of my opinions on the new cast members. I kinda wrote these up as part of a post on another forum, and I figure... Might as well copy 'em over to here too. Besides, maybe it'll give someone something to argue about other than whether Schemmel is better than Kelamis or if Kelamis is better than Nozawa or if Nozawa could beat your mom in a fight.

Monica Rial is a fantastic replacement for Tiffany Vollmer. I never cared much for Vollmer's Bulma, I didn't actively dislike it, but... it was just there. Rial's voice is in a somewhat similar vein to Vollmer's, so it isn't a jarring change if you were to say... watch the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai in Dragon Ball before starting into Dragon Ball Z Kai, but it's just much much better.

Colleen Clinkenbeard as Gohan... Why couldn't we have had her as Gohan in the "Ultimate Uncut" episodes a few years back? As much as I love Stephanie Nadolny's work around the time of the Cell Game, she never sounded like a passable four year old. Or even a "four and a half" year old as the DBZ dub claims. Clinkenbeard just nails it and really does sound like a really young kid.

As for other voice recasts, Brina Palencia is fantastic as Puar and Chaozu and is essentially indistinguishable from their old voice, not particularly surprising though anyway as she's been playing them the last few years in the video games anyway.

Chris Cason as Mr. Popo is... well, good? If I recall correctly, he was originally Popo back in '99 or something but somehow the role changed to Sabat at some point. I'll be the first person to admit that Sabat had way too many roles in Dragon Ball Z, but... I think I liked his Popo better. Of course, Cason's Popo is in the same vein as Sabat's anyway, so it's not a massive shift. (And honestly, Popo really isn't an important character by any stretch of the imagination.) Oh, and Cason is Master Roshi's Turtle too now. Not much to say there.

Bryan Massey as Oolong is... honestly, Oolong? Nobody really cares about him by this part of the series. Some people seem to feel that he's a poor attempt at an imitation of Brad Jackson's Oolong (or in some cases, a decent imitation), but... I don't hear it. He sounds nothing like Brad Jackson at all. Although he isn't bad by any means and... well, it's Oolong, no-one cares anyway.

Anyway, special mention has to go to Korin. Chris Sabat played him in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z and he still plays him in Dragon Ball Z Kai. Except he sounds like he finally coughed up the dozen furballs stuck in his throat, making him sound completely different than before.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Chris Cason as Mr. Popo is... well, good? If I recall correctly, he was originally Popo back in '99 or something but somehow the role changed to Sabat at some point. I'll be the first person to admit that Sabat had way too many roles in Dragon Ball Z, but... I think I liked his Popo better. Of course, Cason's Popo is in the same vein as Sabat's anyway, so it's not a massive shift. (And honestly, Popo really isn't an important character by any stretch of the imagination.) Oh, and Cason is Master Roshi's Turtle too now. Not much to say there.

I agree, Popo doesn't have much of a purpose by this point. I actually think Lanipator is my favorite Popo ever. "Hiiiiii...."

Anyway, special mention has to go to Karin. Chris Sabat played him in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z and he still plays him in Dragon Ball Z Kai. Except he sounds like he finally coughed up the dozen furballs stuck in his throat, making him sound completely different than before.

Agreed. I was actually wondering if it was still Sabat or not.

[Codarik]

Does anyone else think in the TV airing of Kai, Mr Satan's name will be changed to Hercule again?

[Big Momma]

Does anyone else think in the TV airing of Kai, Mr Satan's name will be changed to (the H-word) again?

I'm almost certain they will. But, here's hoping they find some way to incorporate "Mark" in.

[MR.Mark]

Does anyone else think in the TV airing of Kai, Mr Satan's name will be changed to (the H-word) again?

I'm almost certain they will. But, here's hoping they find some way to incorporate "Mark" in.

YES, I'd absolutely love that, I hope Funi does there homework. Beacuse if they they HAVE to feel compelled to "punch up" the translation from time to time, fan nods would be absolutely awesome. It'd make the dubbed Kai feel all the more special for the fans. Let's have less "I hate the Media" and more "let's mention a character's height or weight" , trivia only die hard fans would know, etc.

[Gaffer Tape]

Eh. I'd prefer less of both and more of "just stick to the script" and "leave irrelevant bits of trivia in guidebooks where they belong."

[Mewzard]

I'm waiting for:

"The wrestler formerly known as Mr. Satan, the World Martial Arts Champion, Mark Hercule!"

I'd at least get a chuckle out of that, throw the whole gambit in for one episode, then go on.

[Mewzard]

During the original dub, Schemmel made an effort to alter his voice progressively through the SSJ changes, most notable with SSJ3 (hasn't seen much of GT and SSJ4):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv4xYhjwZc0#t=5m09s

Would anyone be interested if that was something done again (albeit, in a more controlled manner)?

[DB_Fan1991]

Since people are talking about Ayres' Freeza in the other thread. I can confirm that Dodoria has a new voice too. He is now played by John Swasey, and Kui is still Bill Townsley.

[MR.Mark]

Eh. I'd prefer less of both and more of "just stick to the script" and "leave irrelevant bits of trivia in guidebooks where they belong."

I know, but if given the choice, I'd take that over I hate the media any day.

[penguintruth]

Freeza aside, everyone else seemed to be running at high capacity in this episode. Sabat's Vegeta was great and Monica Rial's Bulma was amazing.

[Rad Raddish]

Kui probably impressed me the most.

[MR.Mark]

Indeed, anyone still claiming Monica Rial sounds similar to Tiffany's Bulma, there ears are simply on crack.

[Metalwario64]

Indeed, anyone still claiming Monica Rial sounds similar to Tiffany's Bulma, there ears are simply on crack.

Yeah seriously. From the beginning I though she sounded entirely different, and younger as well (whereas Volmer's voice sounded about 10 years older than Bulma) so I was baffled when even "sub fans" were going on about how she's better, but sounds like Volmer and sounds older as well...

[jjgp1112]

I really dislike Monica Rial's Bulma performance. Way too ditzy sounding. Like a toned down version of that awful Maron redub voice.

[MR.Mark]

Indeed, anyone still claiming Monica Rial sounds similar to Tiffany's Bulma, there ears are simply on crack.

Yeah seriously. From the beginning I though she sounded entirely different, and younger as well (whereas Volmer's voice sounded about 10 years older than Bulma) so I was baffled when even "sub fans" were going on about how she's better, but sounds like Volmer and sounds older as well...

Not only that, I am somewhat confused by some saying that she sounds like Ocean Bulma, I don't hear it. What it does channel though, are qualities of Hiromi Tsuru's spunky and shrill deliveries, so kudos to Monica. Volmer's air-headed lack of range will not be missed by me.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Does anyone else think in the TV airing of Kai, Mr Satan's name will be changed to (the H-word) again?

I'm almost certain they will. But, here's hoping they find some way to incorporate "Mark" in.

Does FUNi even know about that? Someone wanna give them a "heads up"?

[Clockwork00]

Mark? I'm fairly new to the online community, so does anyone wanna explain?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Mark? I'm fairly new to the online community, so does anyone wanna explain?

Akira Toriyama announced in a guidebook released last year that Mr. Satan's real name was "Mark".

[Clockwork00]

Mark? I'm fairly new to the online community, so does anyone wanna explain?

Akira Toriyama announced in a guidebook released last year that Mr. Satan's real name was "Mark".

Ah. I always find it funny when he seemingly purposefully does something to contradict liberties he didn't approve of (like DBO compared to most of GT, for instance).