Some Dub Fans Only Care For Action?

[Super Sonic]

While I don't really get into the whole dub pros and cons, I was wondering do some dub fans only care for the action and action alone, and not story or acting? I was wondering this as a cousin of mine proudly mentioned he had the whole series and movies on computer. After resisting my urge to smack him for being a dirty filthy pirate, I asked which dub of Tree of Might he had. He said he didn't know it had multiple dubs, and didn't care about voices or changes and only had for the action. So I was wondering if this mindset was prevalent?

[DBZAOTA482]

I think it's because Toonami only promoted the action as they dubbed it "The Best Action Cartoon of All-Time" (it's not really but it's quite up there) but for other countries (well, at least Japan), it was balance between the action and watching Goku and friends develope as people.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Well, there's no poll out there saying why people like DBZ, but I wouldn't at all be surprised if a large number of people appreciate it only for the action. It also wouldn't surprise me if most of them are fans of one of the North American English dubs (either FUNimation or Ocean), because North America definitely marketed the show as being an "intense, hardcore, rock 'n roll action show."

[AgitoZ]

To be fair to Toonami (and I guess DBZ's American fans), it was billed as an attempt to make a better action cartoon show.

[thefatman13]

I like it for story and music and the animation. I have read the manga so the changed lines/missing scenes and other mess ups don't bother me since I know what it should be. I grew up with the Ocean Saiyan and Namek sagas and then The rest done by funimation (Dragon ball and GT included) And that's still the way I watch it today. I could care less about the action its just an added bonus. I prefer Dragon ball because it more about adventure and comedic aspects then just guys fighting. I do love a lot of action oriented anime but if the story is not good there is no point in watching.

[samuraix123]

I'm not going to lie I do love the action ''BUT'' I liked the martial arts aspect of it in the beginning(Which in my opinion the longer the series went, the less Martial arts fighting there was) I loved watching Goku use fighting stances and ect in ''The Dead Zone'' but then Dragonball Z became this Roar! More Power!!!! Boom planet explodes kinda thing and I really didn't dig that. I don't watch stuff from the Dragonball Universe purely for Action alone. I mostly like watching the series for the characters and the overall story of the Dragonball Universe. Not saying that I hate seeing Action I just wished there was more of this.
(Goku vs Nikki and Ginger Ocean Dub)(Which actually the only way I can watch the first 3 movies is if I watch the Ocean dub of them )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f9HkfROhNA
I would show other clips but that's all I can think of at the moment I'm getting old on you guys

[DarkPrince_92]

Some fans are dumb that way... Personally, I LOVE ACTION in anything, but only when there's something tied to it.

[Gaffer Tape]

Agreed. Not the "dumb" part, but the part about action being tied to an emotion. Had I gotten into the series at a later point of its dub run, I might not have been the fan I am now. Then again, maybe that's nostalgia talking. But I've always considered the fight against Nappa and Vegeta to be the best in the series, and I don't think it's just because it's the first big fight I saw, and that it was what all the episodes I had seen prior to that had been building up to. But it's that it wasn't just MORE ACTION! Every episode felt like it had a point. There was a weight to it. More and more characters died (or were sent to another dimension, whatever). The situation became more desperate. There were tangible things at stake. There was a build to everything. And when it was over, the characters seemed truly beaten, truly injured, truly worked over. They'd been through a great ordeal, not even entirely triumphant, but came out the other side. That was what really sold me on DBZ when I first watched it.

I certainly do think there is a large dub contingent who is all about the action. I don't know if it's entirely fair to call it a dub thing, though. I mean, Z, with its planet-shattering, powering up, colon-damaging screams is the more popular portion of the series, but it's the same way in Japan, so one would assume that has to be something of a factor on their side too.

[Akumaito Beam]

If your average fan didn't only care about the action Dragon Ball would have been exclusively wacky Pilaf adventures.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Some fans, yes, though that's not just a Dragon Ball thing either - that's pretty much one of my cousin's only reasons for watching any anime, is for over-the-top action. Or something else entirely...which...could also be described as over-the-top-action. It's a thinker.

Kind of funny too, since this is like the exact opposite of how people look at animation from the US. Seems like everyone outside of 'fandoms' think all US toons have to be comedy.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Well, the FUNimation dub of Dragon Ball Z was marketed as being a hardcore action show that was definitely not for kids. But, in both North America and Japan, the Z portion seems to be the most popular, especially post-Freeza and with Super Saiyan. Heck, in many of the video games (before the Budokai and Sparking! series, I guess), only the Super Saiyan versions of the main characters were playable. I remember looking at base Gokuu on the front cover of Ultimate Battle 22, wondering exactly who he was and how he looked like a black-haired version of Super Saiyan Gokuu, and wondering why he wasn't playable (although his kid version was).

But yes, some dub fans only care for action. Just like some sub fans only care for action. It goes both ways.

[dbboxkaifan]

The majority of US DBZ dub fans I've read around forums and whatnot seemed to prefer Dragon Ball Z over any of the other series for this...


(From the Dragon Ball Z Orange Bricks)

[thefatman13]

Yeah but its not just dub fans.I am a dub only fan and I like the action but with out story and comedy its just like watching some one else play a fighting game. It's like Rurouni Kenshin, It has a lot of action and I like the action but what drew me to the show was Kenshin's back story,the reverse blade, the era it takes place in, and the comedic aspect. And Yu Yu Hakusho has a great story and with out it I would not watch the show. Though Yu Yu Hakusho is my favorite as far as action goes.

[Gyt Kaliba]

But yes, some dub fans only care for action. Just like some sub fans only care for action. It goes both ways.

Also very true. That and, Dragon Ball definitely has a lot of action, it wasn't marketed as an action cartoon without cause.

If I'm being honest with myself, that's probably about half of the reason I enjoy the series as much as I do. I love things that have a great mixture of action AND comedy, which is why I like a lot of anime and a lot of superhero movies.

[DarkPrince_92]

Well to be honest, people who aren't hardcore fans but seen the show.....the action is probably the only thing they can remember. I was like that once...like when I was younger "Remember when Kid Buu blasted Vegeta in the face?!" It's the action that's the people know and love, and if they love DBZ enough.....everything else will follow.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

Remember, the series had to be marketed somehow. Dragon Ball isn't a particularly deep story, and it does have a ton of fighting. The logic flows pretty straight. If someone has barely seen Z or not kept in the fandom, they're going to remember the most obvious aspects, which for Dragon Ball is fighting. Everything else comes later because everything else in Dragon Ball require a greater time investment beyond 10 year old nostalgia.