Ocean Studios' "Dragon Ball Kai" Dub Turns 16; Still Unreleased

[TheBlackPaladin]

It's a matter of principle. Doing things like changing up a script or swapping music to be "better" is not the dubber's job, and is a big taboo nowadays. Their job is to present the same material, just in a different language. That's all.

Then again, Funi seems more concerned with making sure enough voices are carried over from their old shit dub than "presenting the same material in a different language", so it's not like they're doing an overly good job either.

How is "changing the music because we think people will like it better this way" any worse a crime than "casting Sean Schemmel as Kaiou and telling him to act like a retard because we think people will like it better this way"?
Funi aren't doing a good job presenting the same material in a different language when they insist on using the same miscasted actors from before just because that's what they did before.

That's not a fair comparison. Bruce Faulconer's music caught far more flack than Sean Schemmel's Kaiou voice ever did (and rightfully so). You also have to keep in mind that they have lost a significant number of viewers already from the scant few re-casts that they've done. They're trying to compromise with what two different groups of fans want to see. Not to mention that it all comes back to this: if you don't like the dub, the sub will always be there.

Also, let's keep things in perspective. You don't have to like Schemmel's Kaiou, but they never once told him to "act like a retard." They told him to imitate Don Brown.

[Duo]

It'd be interesting to see what "Ocean" does with it. Changing the music would be pretty bad though. I don't want every scene to feel like I'm watching the mid-90's Mega Man cartoon.

Won't bother me much either way, I guess. This argument is rather silly.

[Attitudefan]

Except Down Brown's voice didn't sound awkward. Schemmels' sound just to weird.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Except Down Brown's voice didn't sound awkward. Schemmels' sound just to weird.

Really? To me they sound exactly the same, with Schemmel's just being a tad deeper. Regardless, they still never told Schemmel to "act like a retard." I feel it's important to point that out because sometimes passions run so high that we lose track of reality.

[Adamant]

Regardless, they still never told Schemmel to "act like a retard." I feel it's important to point that out because sometimes passions run so high that we lose track of reality.

No, no, they probably told him to "act this role as you've always done". Same thing.
Word choices aside, the point is that casting Schemmel as Kaiou and having him sound just as un-Kaiou-like as before is not exactly "presenting the same material as in the original". As I said, they care more about keeping the same actors than casting people who fit the actual roles their casting.

You can't both produce a good dub and please the fanbase of a terrible dub of the same material at the same time.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Regardless, they still never told Schemmel to "act like a retard." I feel it's important to point that out because sometimes passions run so high that we lose track of reality.

No, no, they probably told him to "act this role as you've always done". Same thing.
Word choices aside, the point is that casting Schemmel as Kaiou and having him sound just as un-Kaiou-like as before is not exactly "presenting the same material as in the original". As I said, they care more about keeping the same actors than casting people who fit the actual roles their casting.

You can't both produce a good dub and please the fanbase of a terrible dub of the same material at the same time.

I completely (but respectfully) disagree. I admit I lie on a weird part of the spectrum of DBZ fandom, but here's my stance on it. I love the dub voice cast of the old DBZ dub. They are the voices that brought the characters to life for me. As far as I'm concerned, they fit the characters completely (with the glaring exception of Linda Young as Freeza, which is no longer a problem anyway). I liked these voices even more when they stopped trying to impersonate the Ocean voices and do their own takes on their characters, like Sabat did with Vegeta and Piccolo. What I hated--and still hate--are the "reversioning" efforts that FUNimation undertook with its previous dub. The Japanese version had much better music and unbelievably better scripts. I've always wanted a dub of DBZ with the voices I love, but with the Japanese scripts and Japanese music. So, loosely speaking I'm a huge fan of the old dub, and I am LOVING the Kai dub. It's not impossible to please one without pleasing the other. Furthermore, the old dub fans that I've talked in to watching the Kai dub have all admitted they love it more.

[penguintruth]

Kaio never had a good English dub voice. It's just that Schemmel's Kaio is even less tolerable than the Ocean one.

[Daimo-Rukiri]

Actually no kaio has had a good English voice

[Attitudefan]

Kaio never had a good English dub voice. It's just that Schemmel's Kaio is even less tolerable than the Ocean one.

I agree, but Ocean's was a little less awkward. That being said, Kai changed many characters other than Schemmel's roles. I just think it's a suck Sean's dick dub really. I have nothing against Schemmel but even Sabat was willing to let go; but I was never at the studio where the casting took place so I can't say really, just opinion.

[Mewzard]

Kaio never had a good English dub voice. It's just that Schemmel's Kaio is even less tolerable than the Ocean one.

I agree, but Ocean's was a little less awkward. That being said, Kai changed many characters other than Schemmel's roles. I just think it's a suck Sean's dick dub really. I have nothing against Schemmel but even Sabat was willing to let go; but I was never at the studio where the casting took place so I can't say really, just opinion.

Schemmel only ever had 3 roles in the DB: Adult Goku, Kaio, and Nail. That's it, to my knowledge (minus various forms for Goku, like SSJ4 in GT, when he's still a kid).

Sabat didn't mind giving up half a dozen rolls, because he still had the other half dozen, lol. Schemmel's only Texas voice work these days *and, with 4Kids, the only real uncut dubbing he gets to do anymore* is DBZ Kai, as I believe they fly him out from New York for it. I think the voice would be far more acceptable if he only toned down the bubbly feel to it. Would make it far less annoying for most.

[Attitudefan]

Kaio never had a good English dub voice. It's just that Schemmel's Kaio is even less tolerable than the Ocean one.

I agree, but Ocean's was a little less awkward. That being said, Kai changed many characters other than Schemmel's roles. I just think it's a suck Sean's dick dub really. I have nothing against Schemmel but even Sabat was willing to let go; but I was never at the studio where the casting took place so I can't say really, just opinion.

Schemmel only ever had 3 roles in the DB: Adult Goku, Kaio, and Nail. That's it, to my knowledge (minus various forms for Goku, like SSJ4 in GT, when he's still a kid).

Sabat didn't mind giving up half a dozen rolls, because he still had the other half dozen, lol. Schemmel's only Texas voice work these days *and, with 4Kids, the only real uncut dubbing he gets to do anymore* is DBZ Kai, as I believe they fly him out from New York for it. I think the voice would be far more acceptable if he only toned down the bubbly feel to it. Would make it far less annoying for most.

He may only have 3 roles but others only have 1.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

He may only have 3 roles but others only have 1.

Masako Nozawa played three roles. Just saying.

[penguintruth]

He may only have 3 roles but others only have 1.

Masako Nozawa played three roles. Just saying.

Touche.

But that's a whole theme casting thing.

[Attitudefan]

He may only have 3 roles but others only have 1.

Masako Nozawa played three roles. Just saying.

I see your point but Nozawa is excellent and I and many of you have no complaint. On the other hand.....

[batistabus]

On the subject of English Kaio, neither is really better. While Ocean Kaio is toned down, the delivery isn't as comedic as Schemmel's.

Basically, I don't understand why anyone would want the return of the previous Ocean voice of Kaio. If it were me, I'd just hope for them to do it right.

[NeoKING]

Does this mean more Peter Kelamis? I'd hope so. Never knew my favorite VA for Goku was Rolf from Ed, Edd, and Eddy. I think that's why the Ocean Group(most of them) and just Canadian VAs has such talent in acting - they have varied experience outside of anime. Some are even TV and movie actors.

[Puto]

Kaio never had a good English dub voice. It's just that Schemmel's Kaio is even less tolerable than the Ocean one.

Big Green Kaiô was cool =P

[MR.Mark]

You know, to me Sean's Nail in Kai is like a grittier version of the Kai dub Narrator. So, if Sean was so hell bent on still having the Kaio role, couldn't he of put on a happy jolly version of his Nail voice?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Does this mean more Peter Kelamis?

He's stopped voice acting to pursue a career in comedy.

[nathantheguitarist]

He's stopped voice acting to pursue a career in comedy.

Yes. It was hilarious when he hit that guy with his car...

...on Stargate Universe.