Kai Dub Lines

[matt0044]

While DBZ Kai's dub is more accurate to the Japanese version, there have been lines that clearly weren't in the original version. Some here hate it due to it reminding us of those dreaded days but some don't mind. I, in fact, actually can like them and how FUNi rephrases the lines to make them sound more natural. For things like Nappa's dislike of the media and Kami's lookout having internet connection, well, I can ignore them but I tend to just roll along with it. Sure, the internet wasn't invented in the 80s but this is Dragon Ball where their Earth ISN'T the same world as ours. Goku was probably making some casual light humor too. However, Kai's dub manages to be on a middle ground between accuracy to the original version and rearranging the words for their script unlike BACK THEN, if you ask me. It's not perfect but I enjoy every minute of it, putting the original version out of mind.

What do you think?

[Pokewhiz7]

They should stay as close to the original script as possible. All they need to do is translate it to English and reword it slightly to make it sound more natural. That being said, those types of lines don't pop up very often, so I don't really mind them. (And I kinda like that internet connection joke.)

[TheBlackPaladin]

Different people will feel differently about different lines. That's the most all-encompassing thing I can think to say. Personally, I didn't mind the "I hate the media" bit. Yeah, it took me out of the moment, but I was able to get back in a half-second afterwords. Also, I wondered if it was a vague reference to TFS Nappa in Episode 7 when he attacks "the paparazzi" in the interest of "protecting his image." It probably wasn't, but the thought crossed my mind.

Not to say there weren't lines that I didn't like. I was most turned off by Freeza's "hope you aren't afraid of heights" comment to Krillin before he launched him into the sky. I thought that was going to be a TV edit line for something darker like, "You will not evade your death this time." Or perhaps they could have just translated the line loyally (it was a laugh, not dialogue). Lord knows Chris Ayres can do an awesome evil laugh.

[matt0044]

Not to say there weren't lines that I didn't like. I was most turned off by Freeza's "hope you aren't afraid of heights" comment to Krillin before he launched him into the sky. I thought that was going to be a TV edit line for something darker like, "You will not evade your death this time." Or perhaps they could have just translated the line loyally (it was a laugh, not dialogue). Lord knows Chris Ayres can do an awesome evil laugh.

I guess they thought that a laugh wouldn't have gone well with that shot but that "You won't evade your death/doom this time" line you typed would've been better. But the "heights" thing did fit with Freeza's sadistic nature and lord knows that even "sadistic" is too soft to suit him. At least it wasn't Linda Young.

[penguintruth]

The Kai line that bothered me the most was Bulma's speculation that Vegeta might hold Goku's friends hostage. In that scene she's just supposed to talk about how Vegeta isn't used to their type of clothing. The line came in completely out of the blue and was even unlike Bulma, because it's extremely stupid to begin with. If Vegeta held them hostage to get Goku back to Earth, Goku wouldn't even know until he came back to Earth, which is what Vegeta wants to begin with.

[matt0044]

The Kai line that bothered me the most was Bulma's speculation that Vegeta might hold Goku's friends hostage. In that scene she's just supposed to talk about how Vegeta isn't used to their type of clothing. The line came in completely out of the blue and was even unlike Bulma, because it's extremely stupid to begin with. If Vegeta held them hostage to get Goku back to Earth, Goku wouldn't even know until he came back to Earth, which is what Vegeta wants to begin with.

Well, the Uncut did have her ask if Vegeta would just up and kill them all which I wouldn't really put pass her to ask. The NT version had that line you mentioned since they wanted to remove "kill."

[Gonstead]

One line I REALLY hate is the part when Frieza is stepping on Gohan.

"I think it's about time I put my foot down"

Ugh, I'd expect that type of dialogue from the 1999 dub, not Kai.

[matt0044]

One line I REALLY hate is the part when Frieza is stepping on Gohan.

"I think it's about time I put my foot down"

Ugh, I'd expect that type of dialogue from the 1999 dub, not Kai.

I'm not sure why they mix in these lines with the better improved dialogue.

[Jackal puFF]

There was something about Goku mentioning internet connection.. I really doubt Goku would know anything about that kind of stuff.

[matt0044]

There was something about Goku mentioning internet connection.. I really doubt Goku would know anything about that kind of stuff.

Well, Goku may've heard of it since he's been sorta civilized (well, close to it) and he's friends with Bulma who's a techie all the way.

[Akumaito Beam]

I just find Funi's sense of humor really unfunny. Back in the old dub it reminded me of my uncle trying to relate to me at 5 by making terrible puns and knock knock jokes and now it reminds me of my uncle trying to relate to me by being "hip and with it". "Charlie Sheen and the internet, am I right Akumaito!? WINNING ha ha right? What's WITH the paparazzi always harassing that Lady Ga Ga!? I mean would they harass Dr.Doom like that!? He'd be all like "OVER 9,000!!! Ha ha ha alright buddy. DODGE ha ha like Collaboration Four Start! That Mr.Popo is scary! Hahahaha"

I feel like if you're a major anime dubbing company in the year 2012 and you're STILL adding jokes to your script you must find yourself pretty darn hilarious and if you actually are a knee slapping absolute riot I'm fine with it but if your humor boils down to pop culture asides you should probably just stick to the translation you were handed.

That being said I really don't mind updating certain aspects. I believe they changed Mr.Satan's line about setting his VHS to setting his DVR, that sort of modernization I'm fine with. It makes me raise an eyebrow only because I know that episode originally aired in the early 90's but if I was a first time viewer and I heard "VHS" it would jar me a lot more than what they changed it to.

Then we have shit like Yamucha's "Future Trunks" ordeal which is a whole other can of worms that boils down to an issue that could have been avoided if they weren't toying around with the translation.

You can find me on any given day praising VIZ's manga translation so in reality I'm just a big dumb hypocrite. Different strokes n' all that.

[matt0044]

I just find Funi's sense of humor really unfunny. Back in the old dub it reminded me of my uncle trying to relate to me at 5 by making terrible puns and knock knock jokes and now it reminds me of my uncle trying to relate to me by trying to be "hip and with it". "Charlie Sheen and the internet, am I right Akumaito!? WINNING ha ha right? What's WITH the paparazzi always harassing that Lady Ga Ga!? I mean would they harass Dr.Doom like that!? He'd be all like "OVER 9,000!!! Ha ha ha alright buddy. DODGE ha ha like Collaboration Four Start! That Mr.Popo is scary! Hahahaha"

I feel like if you're a major anime dubbing company in the year 2012 and you're STILL adding jokes to your script you must find yourself pretty darn hilarious and if you actually are a knee slapping absolute riot I'm fine with it but if your humor boils down to pop culture asides you should probably just stick to the translation you were handed.

Yeah, I don't think you should add your own joke but with Kai, FUNi never seem to go any farther than the occasional one-liner and even then, I usually find some of the funny. I guess I don't mind since we're not being bombarded with them like in the old Z dub and getting much less of them. I'm grateful for that.

And SGT Frog and Shin Chan aside, FUNi does write humorous lines without referencing pop culture (too much) in Kai. School Rumble is proof too. But again, not everyone finds the same things funny.

[TheBlackPaladin]

But again, not everyone finds the same things funny.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it brings up bad memories of the previous dub, so people are much more sensitive about it than they normally would be. I have no way of knowing this, but I'd be willing to bet that if FUNimation dubbed DBZ as effectively as they did Kai, including the rare, previously non-existent one-liners, people wouldn't be nearly as bothered by it. Because of the less-than-stellar job they did with DBZ though, any time one of those one-liners are added, people automatically think, "NO, NO, NO, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DUBBING IT LOYALLY THIS TIME AROUND, DO NOT JUST GO OFF AND HAVE FUN LIKE YOU DID WITH THE LAST DUB, BAD FUNIMATION, BAD!"

[Akumaito Beam]

And SGT Frog and Shin Chan aside, FUNi does write humorous lines without referencing pop culture (too much) in Kai. School Rumble is proof too. But again, not everyone finds the same things funny.

Yeah, I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this Funi being humorous thing. I know the sorts of jokes you're talking about and I want to call it "internet humor" but in reality it's more like cliched "NOOOOOOW YOU TELL ME!" sitcom humor. "TALKTALKTALKTALK... HEEEEY WAIT A MOMENT!", "I'm not an X!...well maybe a little X...", etc. It's the kind of humor that I feel is being directed squarely at people that find the comedy stylings of Doug Walker and Yugioh Abridged hilarious (be that a good or bad thing).

Not that Toriyama was always the epitome of wit but I've always held the position there's no need to stack problems on top of problems.

[matt0044]

Not that Toriyama was always the epitome of wit but I've always held the position there's no need to stack problems on top of problems.

Yeah, I know what you mean. But we can still rest assure that the script for Kai's dub reflects the original JPN version in story and characterization (at least TONS more than those OTHER dubs).

[Hades]

I think that people will be reminded of the Dark Age of Anime (Which was when DBZ first aired) when Funi do their own take on certain things. Although it can work well, like the Fusion Speech by Goku, it's generally not a good idea to take liberties with the script.

[matt0044]

Yeah, I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this Funi being humorous thing. I know the sorts of jokes you're talking about and I want to call it "internet humor" but in reality it's more like cliched "NOOOOOOW YOU TELL ME!" sitcom humor. "TALKTALKTALKTALK... HEEEEY WAIT A MOMENT!", "I'm not an X!...well maybe a little X...", etc. It's the kind of humor that I feel is being directed squarely at people that find the comedy stylings of Doug Walker and Yugioh Abridged hilarious (be that a good or bad thing).

It's like the saying goes, "You can't please everyone." What you despise could be beloved by others (for legit and/or personal reasons) and what you love could likely be hated by others. Kai's dub is a textbook example of this and DBZ in general too. You may hate TGWTG and YGO Abridged's humor but there are many who find them legitimately funny whether you like/understand it or not. One of those many being me. But if you feel that way truly, I won't hold it against you or even think of forcing you to like it.

As for FUNi's humor, I honestly just laugh at how stupid and random they can be with Shin Chan and SGT Frog. Yeah, there's pop culture references and "cliched" humor that'd give Family Guy a run for McFarlane's money but I don't care what others think, I like their dubs and their humor.

Hence, the saying: "Agree to disagree."

[Akumaito Beam]

Kay', I'm pretty aware about how opinions work though. I was just explaining why I felt the way I do so my post wouldn't only be a sentence long. I hope you weren't offended.

[matt0044]

Kay', I'm pretty aware about how opinions work though. I was just explaining why I felt the way I do so my post wouldn't only be a sentence long. I hope you weren't offended.

You didn't. Don't worry.

[matt0044]

I honestly think that the dub lines and Woolseyisms for Kai like "It's time I put my foot down" and "Hope your not afraid of heights" work when they are actually befitting of the characters who speak them. Those two lines of Freeza in particular fit the character since he's sadistic and is enjoying himself as he slowly tortures Gohan and begins to blow up Krillin. He's laughing to so he can clearly joke to himself. Therefore it fits the character to say such things. How can he know such phrases? The same reason why aliens can speak English/Japanese and even use honorifics for the latter languages.

I think the reason there's hate for those is our past experiences with Woolseyisms and Dragon Ball Z wasn't a very good one. Thankfully with Kai's dub, they don't clutter up the whole script.