My hatred of Dragonball Kai

[funrush]

I initially had mixed feelings towards Gohan and Friez­a's voices, but I've really grown to love Fri­eza's. Definitely the best voice he's had. Gohan's I can tolerate but I'd still rather have Nadolny's. Dating back to when I was kid and Gohan had easily become my favorite character, his voice always stood out to me, and I have a hard time imagining Gohan without it. I can still deal with Clinkenbeard's voice with no problem though, even if it's not the "real" voice to me. Bulma's new voice, though I just don't like (for her).

Yeah, I really like Freeza's new VA too. The old VA, Linda Young, also voiced Genkai in Yu Yu Hakusho, and her performance for both characters is exactly the same. That's not good when you consider the fact that Genkai is an old lady.

[XanatosVanBadass]

Eh, Kai has its strengths and weaknesses. For the most part, the pacing works better for me (especially in the Freeza arc, barring a few missed beats IMHO), as well as the far better english dub as far as translation and performances (objectively speaking). I do dislike a lot of the redrawn scenes though and would have prefered a straight on remake. Still, for what it is it is pretty damned good and I was actually suprised that, properly restored, a lot of the better animation in DBZ holds up very well to modern sensibilities.

I also generally prefer the older Z performances in the Japanese version.

[Akumaito Beam]

I’ve always admitted Kai could have been a lot more. I won’t argue with anyone that says it was a lazy cash grab. That being said I felt it turned out to be something really nice. For what it is, it’s pretty enjoyable. I’m not rushing out to buy the DVDs as soon as they’re released but it’s really nice to see a version of the show without a bucket load of muddled filler.

The stunt casting on the Japanese side can certainly get on my nerves. If someone dies I can understand filling their roles, but to fill up the Ginyu Force with random pretty boy pop idols “just because” is obnoxious. They’re minor roles but the principal alone makes me question if I even want to bother watching this show. Contrary to popular opinion I feel like the Japanese voice work isn’t terrible. We do have things like Nozawa’s disgusting, wet sounding Kamehameha against Vegeta which genuinely sounds like a weird bizarreo world “Sean Schemmel Kamehameha dump” but for the most part I think it’s just as good as the original. Then again I’m not really one for directly comparing lines so I’m biased in that fashion.

On the dub side I’m glad kids are finally getting what is more or less an accurate script. I wish I knew why they handled some recasts the way they did. I don’t understand hiring new voice actors just to do an impression of the old voices when the person that played the old voice is right next to them. It feels like they were trying to pander to the fans that wanted a voice overhaul but they really didn't want to commit to any huge change. The two main voices they recasted turned out excellent and are leagues above the others. Despite my opinion on the the voices themselves everyone does a pretty solid acting job.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

I have much to say on this subject, perhaps I'll post something big (ish) when I have time.

[Dark Vegeta-Sama]

Also how come they could not get the same voice actors for Gohan and Freeza? That really made me mad.

They were intentionally recast because the original actors in those roles were terribly miscast.

[SaiyamanMS]

I wish I knew why they handled some recasts the way they did. I don’t understand hiring new voice actors just to do an impression of the old voices when the person that played the old voice is right next to them. It feels like they were trying to pander to the fans that wanted a voice overhaul but they really didn't want to commit to any huge change.

I'm curious as to who you're talking about here? Off the top of my head, most of the recasts that aren't Freeza are either some of Chris Sabat's old roles or people who don't work with Funi anymore...

[rereboy]

Kai really has no point. Its just an edited DBZ with the purpose of filling Toei's pockets with minimum effort.

And it saddens me that many fans don't see it for what it really is. If all the fans had been outraged from the start with what they decided to do, maybe in the future they would be more inclined to do worthwhile things with the franchise to earn their money.

[Akumaito Beam]

I'm curious as to who you're talking about here? Off the top of my head, most of the recasts that aren't Freeza are either some of Chris Sabat's old roles or people who don't work with Funi anymore...

I am mainly talking about Sabat's roles. I understand the mentality that he plays too many parts but why recast those parts if the new VAs are just going to mimic Sabat? I can think of Jheese, Butta, Popo and Zarbon off the top of my head. They sound (to me anyway) like someone doing an off impression of the old voices. These aren't big roles but I still feel like the concept of replacing yourself with someone else just to have them do an impression of your voice is strange and in the end makes neither dub fans nor sub fans fully happy.

Edit: Oolong and Nappa sound like imitation voices too although I'm not sure what their former voice actor's relationship with Funimation is.

Double Edit: For the record I'm not trying to take the piss out of any of the voices. The way they handled this situation just seems odd to me.

[SaiyamanMS]

Nappa is actually Phil Parsons in both DBZ and Kai.

As for Oolong, I haven't heard of Brad Jackson being involved with Funi on anything recently, also supported by the fact that King Cold has been recast as well.

[Akumaito Beam]

Nappa is actually Phil Parsons in both DBZ and Kai.

As for Oolong, I haven't heard of Brad Jackson being involved with Funi on anything recently, also supported by the fact that King Cold has been recast as well.

Oh, I didn't know that about Nappa. Parson has improved a lot if that's the case. Yeah, I wasn't entirely sure about Jackson I just remembered him from a relatively recent video game (I think an Oolong voice clip was in The Revenge of Demon King Piccolo if I'm not mistaken) but I think that's a different ball game anyway.

[jjgp1112]

I'm curious as to who you're talking about here? Off the top of my head, most of the recasts that aren't Freeza are either some of Chris Sabat's old roles or people who don't work with Funi anymore...

I am mainly talking about Sabat's roles. I understand the mentality that he plays too many parts but why recast those parts if the new VAs are just going to mimic Sabat? I can think of Jheese, Butta, Popo and Zarbon off the top of my head. They sound (to me anyway) like someone doing an off impression of the old voices. These aren't big roles but I still feel like the concept of replacing yourself with someone else just to have them do an impression of your voice is strange and in the end makes neither dub fans nor sub fans fully happy.

Edit: Oolong and Nappa sound like imitation voices too although I'm not sure what their former voice actor's relationship with Funimation is.

Double Edit: For the record I'm not trying to take the piss out of any of the voices. The way they handled this situation just seems odd to me.

It seems that Sabat dropped the roles just so he could have less roles to do that would hinder his more important characters. I always noticed in the UUC episodes that Vegeta sounded unusually high pitched during both fights with Zarbon, probably so Sabat could avoid Vegeta and Zarbon sounding alike since they both have similar deep voices. It helps his range because he doesn't have to worry about sounding like so many other characters. And Oolong was replaced too. Brad Jackson always gave him a Brooklyn accent, whereas in Kai his new actor (forgot his name) gives him more of a Boston accent.

[Akumaito Beam]

Yeah, that makes sense. Mystery solved.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Kai really has no point. Its just an edited DBZ with the purpose of filling Toei's pockets with minimum effort.

And it saddens me that many fans don't see it for what it really is. If all the fans had been outraged from the start with what they decided to do, maybe in the future they would be more inclined to do worthwhile things with the franchise to earn their money.

I would agree that it has no point in Japan. And many other countries for that matter, where it is basically a rehashed version of something that already happened--and was done more effectively before--with minimal effort put into it. However, the English dub is another story. It was a chance for FUNimation to do it right this time, and I believe that they did (although the arguement could be made by others that they didn't do enough, it was enough for me). Somebody posted an interview recently with Chris Psaros, the former owner of DBZ Uncensored, and he said that Kai was essentially a wasted effort, but the one beautiful thing to come out of it was the English dub. Those are my thoughts exactly.

[penguintruth]

I wish Sabat had dropped Recoome instead of Jeice. I could tolerate his Jeice. His Recoome is still embarassing.

J Michael Tatum's Zarbon is better than Sabat's or Dobson's. He does what they were going for without the use of any silly accent.

[vegetaslegacy15]

I was watching it yesterday and the Cell saga is okay but I still wish they hadn't changed Gohan's voice actor.

They should do the Buu arc. I was watching with my brother who has never seen the Boo arc. What a shame.

My original reasons for hating it which I stated when I made the thread still stand, but the Cell saga is the best in it so far.

[rereboy]

Kai really has no point. Its just an edited DBZ with the purpose of filling Toei's pockets with minimum effort.

And it saddens me that many fans don't see it for what it really is. If all the fans had been outraged from the start with what they decided to do, maybe in the future they would be more inclined to do worthwhile things with the franchise to earn their money.

I would agree that it has no point in Japan. And many other countries for that matter, where it is basically a rehashed version of something that already happened--and was done more effectively before--with minimal effort put into it. However, the English dub is another story. It was a chance for FUNimation to do it right this time, and I believe that they did (although the arguement could be made by others that they didn't do enough, it was enough for me). Somebody posted an interview recently with Chris Psaros, the former owner of DBZ Uncensored, and he said that Kai was essentially a wasted effort, but the one beautiful thing to come out of it was the English dub. Those are my thoughts exactly.

They didn't need Kai for that. They could have done a brand new accurate dub for the Dragon Boxes or yet another release, like this bluray release.

[Luke Groundwalker]

I'd say most of the voices in Kai are a lot better than in the original dub. Vegeta and Freeza comes to mind, but a good portion of them are pretty sameish understandably.

I do however not really care for Bulma, Cell, and Android 18's new voices, I prefer the older ones and felt very in line with their personalities imo.

It really is a mixed bag, no matter how good the script is. I just hope one day the original series gets redubbed like this, even if the voices are different it'd be nice to see an spot-on accurate dub for once.

As for Kai's existence itself I can't help to agree that it's very underwhelming. It's still the original anime, only better paced. The worst part however is that it isn't complete. Not just the Boo Saga, but everything before Saiyan Saga should get a similar treatment imo.

[funrush]

I wish Sabat had dropped Recoome instead of Jeice. I could tolerate his Jeice. His Recoome is still embarassing.

J Michael Tatum's Zarbon is better than Sabat's or Dobson's. He does what they were going for without the use of any silly accent.

Well, as jjgp1112 said, some recasts against his characters were likely made because the voices between his characters would sound similar. Sabat's Vegeta sounds nothing like Recoome so they didn't really need to go to the point of recasting.

[Jackal puFF]

I used to be just like you when I first watched it.. But I gave it a chance and watched it.

The music is awesome. I didn't think that anyone would hate this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTlYlPQUYs You just know it's going down when you hear this one. The animation is fine as it is.. That new animation doesn't look that great imo. Freeza old voice actor sounded like he had a hairball stuck in his throat every time he spoke! I'm just whatever with Gohan's voice. But yeah I think it's great. Have you tried comparing some episodes with Kai and Z? Kai blasts Z out of the water.

[Mewzard]

I wish Sabat had dropped Recoome instead of Jeice. I could tolerate his Jeice. His Recoome is still embarassing.

J Michael Tatum's Zarbon is better than Sabat's or Dobson's. He does what they were going for without the use of any silly accent.

To be fair, his Recoome is far less, er..."special" sounding than it got at the peak of it's offensiveness, but still, I can understand. I'm surprised he didn't give some sort of take on his Major Armstrong voice from FMA and FMA: Brotherhood, if he wanted to give the guy a more stand out voice fitting of the bulk.