Ever feel like it's difficult to return to the English dub?

[dprez]

Yes I do. Though I strongly prefer the original I really don't have a problem watching it in english and could easily get into it if I had to. I'm sure one day I'll feel like watching it that way after seeing it in japanese so many times.

[KaiserNeko]

When I was a kid, I grew up with the Japanese version and the dub of the Freeza saga nearly side by side. I watched it through fansubs and raw on the International Channel, while buying the VHS release from FUNi, desperately wanting to see it in English. I remember, as a kid, finding myself a lot more tolerant of the bad jokes, bad acting, bad music, but I knew in my mind something was really off about it.

At some point, I stopped watching the dub altogether when the DVDs started coming out, but ended up picking it up AGAIN when the Buu saga rolled around and I wanted to see the improvement they'd made. For some reason, it felt like, while there was improvement, it WASN'T that much better than the Freeza saga. In my mind, I think that made Season 3 seem better to me, actually, than it would prove to be later, when I'd return to watch it again.

See, for the most part, I've been watching Kai or the Japanese version of Z for the Freeza saga the last few years. But since we're knee deep in the Freeza stuff right now, we decided we'd all have to sit down and watch all of the material post-Ginyu's together as so we could script out the upcoming, rather large, fight scenes. We found some streams online (do note that we OWN the show, but syncing that sort of thing up is nigh impossible to keep track of) and holy mother of GOD. The Freeza saga has some of the absolute worst dialogue and acting I have ever sat through in my life.

Takahata101 and Lanipator are bigger fans of the dub than the Japanese version, essentially. Not because they necessarily believe it's better, no, but because they grew up with it. Unlike me, who was raised from the ground up with both and ended up preferring the original. So when we sat down the watch the entirety of the Goku VS. Freeza fight before SSJ, you can only imagine my shit eating grin to hear them groaning and facepalming at every line muttered by Linda Young, Sean Schemmel, Stephany Nadolny, and half of Chris Sabat (we were watching the remastered dub, where Sabat had redone all of his Vegeta lines... but none of his Piccolo lines. Which were -awful-.) I can only imagine the horror we would have been faced with if it were the original dub, with Sonny Strait's Kuririn and Sabat's Vegeta still as-were.

Might I also say that I will never, ever understand why anyone would prefer Young as Freeza. The acting is awful and the voice is just... just... no, guys, no. C'mon guys. Guys, c'mon. Same with Nadolny as Gohan.

I'd also like to point out that Sabat has come -miles-, as has Strait and Schemmel. These guys have become top notch voice actors. The dub of DragonBall Z is more an anomaly because of it's history in the U.S. and the people controlling the company early on.

[ricecake]

As someone who's never watched the Japanese, this topic interests me. I am waiting to watch the Japanese version until after I have finished watching the dub on the Dragon Boxes (I might watch the Kai dub first), and I'm looking forward to the experience.

[dbboxkaifan]

As someone who's never watched the Japanese, this topic interests me. I am waiting to watch the Japanese version until after I have finished watching the dub on the Dragon Boxes (I might watch the Kai dub first), and I'm looking forward to the experience.

That's the way to go!

Japanese voice acting is definitely better without doubt on DBZ than Kai, I was kind of frustrated to see they couldn't keep the same epicness they had for DBZ, but nonetheless, they've done a brilliant job, regardless!

For the English dub I'd recommend Z Kai Saiyan-Cell arc and Dragon Box FUNi Majin Boo arc.

[Bejiita]

Since I watched the dub first, I always get that feeling of nostalgia when watching it, so I can watch it without cringing, but do get a bit concerned with most of the laughs from the VA's as they sound too put on (for example, Piccolo's laugh when he's in the theme park when Satan get's the world to give their ki, completely destroys the moment, even with the original score in the background, plus mainly all of Vegeta's laughs). Then again even some of Gohan's whining in the Japanese version for me can get too much as well. But I do not watch the dub, if any DBZ material is to be viewed it's strictly in Japanese.

Ever since I introduced the show to my younger sister when she was about 7 (now she's 13), she refuses to watch any dub material even to a point where certain episodes I have don't work, and she will completely skip that episode (in which case the dub version does work) just to avoid watching it dubbed. I guess it goes to show. At least reading the subtitles on all the 400+ episodes she's watched was quite beneficial in regards to her reading skills (well that's what I say to my Dad when he asks why I showed my sister this nonsense, but what to parents know ). I believe she can read and write better due to all that reading, I even think there's certain words that she wouldn't have picked up unless she didn't watch the show, as any fans know some hard to translate Japanese speech results in some odd words we don't generally use a lot that make sense, especially when you consider the context in which it's being used!!

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Ever since I've started watching DBZ in Japanese with English subtitles back in mid-2006, it had been impossible for me to get back into the dub, no matter how hard I tried.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Might I also say that I will never, ever understand why anyone would prefer Young as Freeza. The acting is awful and the voice is just... just... no, guys, no. C'mon guys. Guys, c'mon. Same with Nadolny as Gohan.

I personally think part of the problem with Young's Freeza was the scripts, but we'll never know for sure how different she might have played him since she was ousted from the Kai dubbing (the manner of which, still annoys me). That said though, she will DEFINITELY be the hardest thing for me to go back to in the original dub...it's hard enough hearing her as Freeza again now that I'm replaying Budokai 3.

As for Nadolny as Gohan, I do still like her quite a bit, but if you're mostly talking about her season three performance...yeah...

As someone who's never watched the Japanese, this topic interests me. I am waiting to watch the Japanese version until after I have finished watching the dub on the Dragon Boxes (I might watch the Kai dub first), and I'm looking forward to the experience.

That's kind of what I did. I waited until I had the entire franchise (barring Kai, which may not have even entered the picture on the US side yet by then, I can't remember) on DVD, via the Season Sets, so I could slowly burn my way through it all again, subbed for the first time ever on a majority of it.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

For a while I was certain it would happen, but it didn't. The Freeza fight is a different beast from just about everything else. I do spot where the dub gaffes, but it hasn't repulsed me.

Big ol' edit.

So when we sat down the watch the entirety of the Goku VS. Freeza fight before SSJ, you can only imagine my shit eating grin to hear them groaning and facepalming at every line muttered by Linda Young, Sean Schemmel, Stephany Nadolny, and half of Chris Sabat (we were watching the remastered dub, where Sabat had redone all of his Vegeta lines... but none of his Piccolo lines. Which were -awful-.)

I was waiting for this!

[Kaboom]

It's impossible for me to return to the OLD English dub(s), at least. But Kai and other newer material that has the same higher standards and effort behind it from FUNimation? Naw, man, I can watch that just as easily as anything by the original Japanese cast. I suppose I'm a rare case in that I like both casts (aside from a few small annoyances in both realms), but what I outgrew and got turned off to in the old was not the voices themselves, but the other shoddy aspects like the acting and scripts. Those elements have vastly improved over the years, so (most) newer English-dubbed material sits just fine with me.

[Aoi]

I've thought about doing this actually if I were to ever watch the FUNI dub

1. Saiyan arc - Remasterd- It's solid and serious when it needs to be.
2. Frieza arc- A) Remastered until the infamous "change" during the initial Ginyu fight, and B) Pop in DB "Kai" Part 3 and 4 to finish up the Frieza arc. At least it stays true to the spirit of the series. Also, funny enough, I own a rare Part 4 Blu Ray with the Kikuchi score that I got off Amazon here in Canada. Apparently there aren't many available, so I got lucky.

3. Cell- FUNI original dub- Passable - Good (to great at times)
4. Buu- FUNI original dub- Great , IMO. I love the Buu dub. Thought they were 100% on the ball.

[dprez]

The english dub being so nostalgic helps a lot. I've never heard the Kai FUNi dub, but from what I hear it's much better than the first. Nostalgia plays a big role in enjoying the english dub these days (Even when I first started reading the manga, and before I had watched all of Z in Japanese, the english voices would a lot of times be in my head, ), but I'm lucky because the japanese dub (specifically the Boo-arc) is also nostalgic to me since I watched it on the International Channel back in the day. I thought about this as I was finishing up Box 7, how this very version was just as nostalgic as the Toonami version. I thought that was pretty cool.

[Aoi]

The english dub being so nostalgic helps a lot. I've never heard the Kai FUNi dub, but from what I hear it's much better than the first. Nostalgia plays a big role in enjoying the english dub these days (Even when I first started reading the manga, and before I had watched all of Z in Japanese, the english voices would a lot of times be in my head, ), but I'm lucky because the japanese dub (specifically the Boo-arc) is also nostalgic to me since I watched it on the International Channel back in the day. I thought about this as I was finishing up Box 7, how this very version was just as nostalgic as the Toonami version. I thought that was pretty cool.

You know, I used to think of nostalgia as a negative thing. I don't think it clouds our judgement on what's good or bad. For example, I can't really watch Power Rangers now without rolling my eyes. However, with Dragon Ball I think it's a bit different: When a show gets an emotional reaction out of us, I'm convinced that we start to become more attached to the character the way he/she was conveyed to us. They start to become so familiar that it becomes difficult to change to even a superior dub of the show.

I think this is where some of the (illogical) "Kai dub bashing" comes from. You'd be surprised how many people really don't like Gohan or Frieza's new voices, or the dub changes. When I was a kid, I forgave the horrible dub during the Frieza fight, but as an adult it's intolerable. However, I did experience the show's greatest moments during the Cell/Buu arcs first with the FUNI dub, so I've grown attached to those voices.

Unless we're talking about a horrible dub (ie: Frieza fight dub- Season 3), then I think people will forever be forgiving and biased towards the first version of the show that provoked an emotional response from them.

PS.
dprez, I can relate to your experience, since for me DBZ Movie 9 is unwatchable in English, since it was my first memorable experience listening to the Japanese voices.

[the_abberration]

I never found it difficult to go back to the dub after watching the original Japanese version. I think it has something with being exposed to USA version of Robotech, then later seeing Macross, Southern Cross, and Mospeada. Much like those shows, I'm able to see the DB sub and dub as two separate interpretations of the same work.

While the DB sub is more accurate and the insert songs are untouched, I find the dubbed version, to be very comedic at times. At some points it even seems funnier, compared to moments when the original version is being comedic.

[Super Sonic]

Another thing is it hasn't aged as well, and that can make it hard to go back to. And for me, it's easier to ignore cheesy acting in a foreign tongue than it is in English my native tongue. I admit I'm kind of in a similar situation with my watching Voltron as I have all of it, and Go-Lion, but because I didn't want to hate on Voltron, I decided to watch it first and Go-Lion second. Though in a way I can see as 2 different shows, I have found it still entertaining, though now it's easier to tell in the eps when someone likely died that got covered up. And the coverups to me kinda make the Voltron force look more competant than the Go-Lion guys as they didn't let so many folks die.

[penguintruth]

I hate the whole, "I grew up with the dub, so that's what I like."

You grow up with a lot of things, but eventually your taste (hopefully) develops. Are you eating all the same foods now as you were as a child? I grew up watching G1 Transformers, GI Joe, and He-Man. Those shows are almost unwatchable to me now.

[Super Sonic]

I hate the whole, "I grew up with the dub, so that's what I like."

You grow up with a lot of things, but eventually your taste (hopefully) develops. Are you eating all the same foods now as you were as a child? I grew up watching G1 Transformers, GI Joe, and He-Man. Those shows are almost unwatchable to me now.

Those are still watchable for me, but know what you mean. Like how the Great Wakkorotti cartoons had me dying with laughter back in the day, but not so much now. That and belching isn't as funny when you're in your late 20s as it was when you're in fifth grade. In case any of you guys aren't sure what the Great Wakkorotti is, it's this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JJcJIiQq2A

[Pokewhiz7]

Pretty much. At this point, I have no desire whatsoever to watch Dragon Ball, Z, or GT in English. Now, Kai on the other hand, I can watch in English easily, and when I get it, will probably watch it exclusively in English.

[Kendamu]

I hate the whole, "I grew up with the dub, so that's what I like."

You grow up with a lot of things, but eventually your taste (hopefully) develops. Are you eating all the same foods now as you were as a child?

I love pizza!

I grew up watching G1 Transformers, GI Joe, and He-Man. Those shows are almost unwatchable to me now.

Oh, that's what you mean!

There's probably about three or four seasons of the original Ninja Turtles that I almost always avoid. Out of what I do watch, I watch it sporadically. Thankfully, the IDW material is good at being fresh and still hitting the nostalgia spot.

[Ringworm128]

I prefer the Japanese version but that doesn't mean I don't like the dub. I'm not very picky so the dialog and acting doesn't bother me. I think the voices fit well with the characters (yes even Linda Young as Freeza, Sean Schemmel as King Kai and Stephanie Nadalony as Gohan). Most peoples biggest complaint about the dub is that its cheesy and watered down but for me that's more reason to sometimes watch the dub, sometimes I don't want to watch The Dark Knight while I eat a fine meal with an exquisite drink, sometimes I just want to watch Batman Forever while I eat Skittles and drink Mountain Dew (if you get my point). Even though a few scenes were changed drastically for the most part the dialog gets the same point across as the original despite being cheesed/watered down so it annoys me when people say things like "you can barely tell its DBZ from all the changes". As for the Funi/Ocean dub I haven't seen much but I stay clear of it since the voice acting is so over the top that it's like something you would hear in a DBZ parody or from a bunch of friends doing DBZ voice impressions for shits and giggles. And the dialog is over written and over cheesy even for my tastes. Though the voices them selves are pretty good if only they could have gotten a better director. The Westwood Media/Ocean dub is complete crap the less I have to watch it the better. The acting is horrible even by my standards its like something out of a mediocre fandub. All the lines either sound akward, pathetic, like they delivered it in one take or all the above. Most of the voices are bland/generic or lot their touch from the Saban era. I would go as far to say the AB Group dub (Big Green dub) is better then the Westwood dub. As for Kai its fantastic in English. It has great voice acting, great scripts and great casting. Kai in English is awesome and I will take it over Kai in Japanese any time.

[Corporate_Nothing]

I prefer the Japanese version but that doesn't mean I don't like the dub. I'm not very picky so the dialog and acting doesn't bother me.

As for the Funi/Ocean dub I haven't seen much but I stay clear of it since the voice acting is so over the top that it's like something you would hear in a DBZ parody or from a bunch of friends doing DBZ voice impressions for shits and giggles.

Your post confused the hell out of me until I realized that you were saying that you don't mind Funimation's in-house dub, but that the Ocean dub of the first two seasons is bad, as is their dub of the later episodes in the series, after taking over at episode 108/123.