What's the Problem: the New Mix, or the Old Music?

[TheBlackPaladin]

Needless to say, nobody is universally happy with the Kikhuci-Kai mix (the music composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi currently being used in Kai's episodes). However, I don't see many people complaining about the Kikuchi-Z mix (the music composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi as it is heard in DBZ). I find myself in the exact same position. I LOVED Kikhuci's music in Z, and when I heard that Yamamoto's pretty good but very repetitive score would be replaced with Kikuchi's material, I was actually very damned excited.

And then I heard it.

My problem with the Kikuchi-Kai mix is not the music itself, but the mix. It just seems that a lot of the music does not fit the scenes that they're playing for. That's my personal beef with it...but what about everyone else's? I've read some people complaining about the music itself, saying that Kikuchi's material sounds "dated." So, is the problem the music, or the mix and the way it has been utilized? Does the music sound dated to you, or does it sound fine, just like it was used improperly? Just curious what everybody else thinks.

[MugiMikey]

I have three problems with it.

1. Poor placing.

2. They only use the same few tracks over and over.

3. Kai wasn't made to have Kikuchi's music. I don't think it would feel right even if it was placed properly.

[Makaioshin]

I have three problems with it.

1. Poor placing.

2. They only use the same few tracks over and over.

3. Kai wasn't made to have Kikuchi's music. I don't think it would feel right even if it was placed properly.

I agree with your first two points but not your third. Kikuchi's score goes with Z very well and Kai is simply a glorified rebroadcasting of the Z.

[KaiserNeko]

I have three problems with it.

1. Poor placing.

2. They only use the same few tracks over and over.

3. Kai wasn't made to have Kikuchi's music. I don't think it would feel right even if it was placed properly.

I agree with your first two points but not your third. Kikuchi's score goes with Z very well and Kai is simply a glorified rebroadcasting of the Z.

Except that the pacing is drastically different. Even the tone is effected heavily from the way these scenes have been re-edited. There's a lot that goes into making music that match the pace and structure of a visual medium.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

Agreed. Sometimes it feels like they're just playing a CD throughout the episode. Like one song fades out and another song comes on, just like a CD playing with no regard for what's on the screen or what track's plays.

I mean, this isn't always the case but, sometimes this is what it feels like to me. To give you a good example of what I mean, go here: http://www.4kids.tv/show/dragon-ball-z-kai click on the episode "The Final Trump Card! Goku's Ultimate Spirit Bomb". At about 16:29 one piece ends in the middle of Piccolo talking and then another piece begins, then guess what happens at about 17:07 when that piece ends.

[Ashura]

I've only seen some of the Toonzai stuff, but a lot of it probably stems from people hearing and knowing these songs from Z, and seeing them used in completely different and strange places during Kai. This, and just using weird choices in general.

[kei17]

I have three problems with it.

1. Poor placing.

2. They only use the same few tracks over and over.

3. Kai wasn't made to have Kikuchi's music. I don't think it would feel right even if it was placed properly.

I agree with your first two points but not your third. Kikuchi's score goes with Z very well and Kai is simply a glorified rebroadcasting of the Z.

Agreed. There are people who say that Yamamoto's score fits Kai because it is fastpaced, but I doubt it. I find Kikuchi's score more fast-paced. The only problem of the music itself is that it sounds dated for the less instruments.

[MugiMikey]

Well, I don't think it would fit with proper placing because it would feel too much like a "scattered" version of the original. Yamamoto's music made it feel new and fresh, and Kikuchi's score makes the show feel like even more of a rehash.

If I want to watch Dragon Ball Z with Kikuchi music I'd rather watch it with the version it was made for.

[sangofe]

The placement and the choices of tracks...

[sumpter360]

The problem with this is the same reason I can't stand the FUNiDub/JPN BGM mix for DBZ. The dub in both cases, was not meant to be paired with this particular BGM.

While I dislike the FUNi Dub of Z, I feel that it sounds MUCH better with the Faulconer music because they had that dub in mind while making the music. Likewise, the Kai Dub's music was made with that dub in mind.

It's really a shame that there is no 100% correct and accurate English dub for Z or Kai as far as music/dub mix goes

[TVfan721]

What a mess this situation is. I wonder if the young audiences that are watching this on Nicktoons are noticing the change in music or if they even care.

[Ani-Nation7]

Its the fact that Kikuchi's music feels dated and It doesn't fit with the faster pace of Kai.