Did FUNimation overstep their bounds?

[Rocketman]

Also ballsack.

[Rukura]

Also ballsack.

Yup, Goku's ballsack, Bulma lifting up her own skirt to get his Ball. Good stuff. Alas, they decided to start with a poor attempt at skipping 153 episodes. But I digress.

[Innagadadavida]

No, they started with the first 13 episodes of Dragon Ball, but it didn't catch on. They didn't give up, and thank Kami they didn't.

[Rukura]

No, they started with the first 13 episodes of Dragon Ball, but it didn't catch on. They didn't give up, and thank Kami they didn't.

From what I've heard, those aired at the butt-crack of dawn, though. Skipping all of it doesn't seem like it was the only solution. (specially given the acceptance of other series these days)

[Innagadadavida]

No, they started with the first 13 episodes of Dragon Ball, but it didn't catch on. They didn't give up, and thank Kami they didn't.

From what I've heard, those aired at the butt-crack of dawn, though. Skipping all of it doesn't seem like it was the only solution. (specially given the acceptance of other series these days)

It's not like anybody was out to intentionally fuck anyone over. Networks speak in one language: money. What made money was not Dragon Ball. DBZ did and we eventually got the original series with an accurate enough dub, dubbed opening, and as uncensored as it gets on kids TV here. Rocky start, but it all worked out. It's hardy worth criticizing at this point.

[Rukura]

No, they started with the first 13 episodes of Dragon Ball, but it didn't catch on. They didn't give up, and thank Kami they didn't.

From what I've heard, those aired at the butt-crack of dawn, though. Skipping all of it doesn't seem like it was the only solution. (specially given the acceptance of other series these days)

It's not like anybody was out to intentionally fuck anyone over. Networks speak in one language: money. What made money was not Dragon Ball. DBZ did and we eventually got the original series with an accurate enough dub, dubbed opening, and as uncensored as it gets on kids TV here. Rocky start, but it all worked out. It's hardy worth criticizing at this point.

That's true, fair point.
A part of the group that became fans of the resulting product still continue to make everyone else look bad, though. And while that's neither here nor there, it still affect the rest of us all the same at some point.

[Gaffer Tape]

An unedited first episode would've turned a lot of people off, accurate or no.

Now on that, at least, I can agree with you. The first episode of Z, which is what I assume you're referring to, is not a good start to a series. As the 154th episode of Dragon Ball it does okay, but as an entry point to a new series, it is pretty damned terrible, and I can't blame 1996 FUNimation for combining the first two episodes into what was essentially is manga content anyway.

[dbboxkaifan]

Brazil with unedited or "Brazilianated" dub did a successful DBZ dub, Spain (Castellano / Catalán / others), Portugal (well, the PT dub is based off the French script which isn't all accurate but still a better than FUNi's DBZ Dub).

The "An unedited first episode would've turned a lot of people off, accurate or no." probably would work, people just like to think otherwise.

FUNi's Kai dub is what DBZ's FUNi dub should've been!

[thedarkuniter]

I agree with Phil (dbboxkaifan), having the Kai dub is a blessing. Plus the faster pace really helps with sagas that drag too long like the Freeza saga. I pretty much consider the Kai dub as replacement dub for all the sagas and then for the Majin Boo saga, I watch the Z dub since its almost near Kai level.

[AgitoZ]

[It's not like anybody was out to intentionally fuck anyone over. Networks speak in one language: money. What made money was not Dragon Ball. DBZ did and we eventually got the original series with an accurate enough dub, dubbed opening, and as uncensored as it gets on kids TV here. Rocky start, but it all worked out. It's hardy worth criticizing at this point.

DBZ didn't air at the crack of dawn. Getting on Cartoon Network and being given a decent time slot was the best thing to happen to it.

[Rocketman]

Also just because something works for the rest of the world doesn't mean it'll work in the US.

See also: metric, soccer.

[dbboxkaifan]

Also just because something works for the rest of the world doesn't mean it'll work in the US.

In the end, it's just another country.

[OutlawTorn]

I love how people interpret "FUNimation didn't translate the show properly" as "You're a poopy pants and your mother is a poopy pants, too, you dub-watching poopy pants!" Honestly, I have to wonder how people take 1980s foreign television so damn seriously in all the wrong ways.

Same goes for my "team" here. There's no reason to get so into trying to change someone's mind about DBZ. They're gonna watch the dub whether you like it or not. Yes, it's a horrible mess of a dub but this debate is just gonna make them want to watch it not only out of enjoyment, but also spite!

To add. Some sub fans here are overly zealous, I admit. Though on the other hand, some dub fans here are quick to play the victim and act like they're being persecuted when (most of the time) people are simply disagreeing with them and challenging their views, which is just as bad.

Agreeing or disagreeing with one another isn't a problem, I think, but why should anybody have their views challenged? Why should a dubbie challenge a subbie on why they choose to watch the show subtitled and vice versa? Neither group is wrong for watching the show in either format and neither has to justify why they watch it as such.

As for me, personally, I could watch it subtitled just fine and I have done so for a number of episodes but, as a whole, I prefer to watch it in English (with the Kikuchi score). Yeah, the dub isn't great but so what? I don't give a flying rat's ass if somebody I'll never meet in person doesn't like that I don't prefer to watch the Japanese version, just as I don't give a damn whether others loathe the dub. But as bad as the FUNimation dub may be (and the "Ocean" dub by extension), it is at least watchable... well, now it is since there were revisions made and we don't have to listen to the Faulconer score, I freely admit there were times I had to either mute or change the channel during the original broadcast.

The dubs which exist for the Japanese exclusive Transformers series in the 80s are so horrendously bad that not only does Hasbro not want to be associated with it in any way, but I do watch those shows in Japanese and subtitled. Some people like those dubs because they are so bad and say it makes the shows more enjoyable, so mileage may vary.

So why don't I want to stick with subbed Dragon Ball for the long haul? Well, like others I am not willing to put up with Nozawa for 508 episodes, 17 movies, 4 specials and whatnot. I honestly think, at least in part due to how much of a pedestal she's been put upon that she's just a tad overrated. More power to you if you enjoy her performance but don't expect everyone to share those opinions.

[KiddoCabbusses]

DBZ didn't air at the crack of dawn. Getting on Cartoon Network and being given a decent time slot was the best thing to happen to it.

When DBZ aired on syndication here, it -did- play early in the morning when it seemed like no kid would actually be able to watch it. I literally caught the later Namek arc by complete accident and then struggled to get up early to watch later eps.

Thank GOODNESS it moved to Toonami in the afternoon there. It was the first time I was able to see dubbed Z from Raditz to Ginyu without missing an episode.

[Levlik]

I vividly remember in Philadelphia DBZ would air on the WB channel on weekday mornings around 6 to 6:30. I didn't really mind it; was great for watching before school.

[Fionordequester]

Agreeing or disagreeing with one another isn't a problem, I think, but why should anybody have their views challenged?

So that they don't live their lives in a constant haze of ignorance on a subject they care much about, like those cultures who think having sex with virgins will cure you of sickness. Having your views challenged isn't really a bad thing in and of itself, it's only when the argument becomes unnecesarily hurtful, either because the listener doesn't handle the challenge well, or when the challenger is a jerk (or both), that it becomes damaging. At least, that's what I think.

[Thanos]

Goddamn... this thread really exploded.

Anyway, I'm almost offended when people criticize the Japanese version. I can easily handle preferring the dub, but to sing the dub's praises with subsequent shots to the original just irks me. I know it's a petty and baseless frustration, but, hey. Sue me.

As for Son Goku's voice, it goes without saying that I prefer Masako. She's the original... handpicked by Akira Toriyama himself. I do not share the opinion that his adult voice doesn't fit. Maybe it's because I'm used to it, but to me, he sounds like a guy with a slightly higher-than-normal voice; that's it. If anyone's voice should be criticized, it should be Kuririn or Yajirobe's. Even so, I think we've all encountered a number of men throughout our lives that have voices that sound prepubescent at best. It happens.

[Fionordequester]

Like Mike Tyson, right? But to me, it's one of those things where I know it's realistic, but I still don't like it.

[Attitudefan]

It fits because that was the original intention. Why do people not understand this?

[Saiga]

It fits because that was the original intention. Why do people not understand this?

Whether it fits or not is entirely up to the viewer.