The big change in ChiChi's voice [Japanese version]

[UnbridledEnthusiasm]

Did anyone else notice the big difference in the voices for ChiChi throughout the series? Her first seiyuu was Mayumi Shou, who had used a very cute and high voice. Her next [and final?] seiyuu was Naoko Watanabe, who's voice was deeper and older sounding. Why do you think such a different voice portrayal was used/picked for ChiChi after Mayumi Shou left? Which do you personally prefer?

This is a clip with Mayumi Shou: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE1DHOSERtU

This one is a clip of Naoko Watanabe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lavpejvNENk

[JulieYBM]

I believe Shou left the series when she did due to being on maternity leave. Watanabe was likely cast because she would be voicing Pu-erh in the same episode.

[Chuquita]

This is one of the rare cases where I actually prefer the replacement voice actress. I like Ms. Watanabe's more adult voice for Chi-Chi. I feel like it fits better because of how take-charge of a character Chi-Chi is and that I'm so used to the higher female voices in anime being attributed to characters with cutesier personalities and the deep voices being used for more adult or serious personalities.

Also, it's so interesting to listen to Ms. Tanaka's Kuririn from during the series run because nowadays all her Kuririn voice-work sounds so heavily Luffy-ish and I kind of forget the differences in pitch between them.

[andrewtuell1991]

I loved Sho's take on Adult Chichi and absolutely DESPISE Watanabe's Chichi.

Sho's Adult Chichi sounded like a warm-loving mother/wive with a hickish accent to her like Nozawa's Goku who can get angered at times, but only because she's concerned for her child.

Watanabe's Chichi sounds like an unloving rage-aholic bitch who likes to yell and fuss just cause and is WAY to obsessed with Gohan's studies. IMO she's the Japanese equivalent of Cynthia Cranz's Chichi, maybe even a bit worse.

I've also noticed that it was when Watanabe replaced Sho that they started to flanderize Chichi in the anime. In Sho's last performance in Episode 66 Chichi wanted to get to Namek because she could sense Gohan getting the crap beat out of him be Reacoom. When Watanabe first took over in Episode 88 she wanted to get to Namek... to make sure Gohan was studying . WTF, where did all the motherly concern from 20 eps ago? Did it just disappear?

And who could forget this classic scene from Episode 139? Her husband's almost died from an unknown heart virus and is currently being hunted by a trio of ruthless Androids who (at the moment) are unsurpassed in power when all of the sudden... she realizes Gohan could be studying at that moment and forces him to study . Jesus tapdancing christ, are you kidding me!? For those who haven't read the Manga that little tidbit isn't in there and every time I read it; I always imagine Sho's voice as Chichi.

So basically, I just really, REALLY hate Watanabe's Chichi. Any scene with her Chichi in it, I fast-forward; even if it's a canon part. Even more annoying is the fact that she's the sole voice actress for Chichi in Kai so we don't even get that brief reprieve before the Freeza arc. Mayumi Sho is still alive, why couldn't they hired her back for Kai .

[DBZAOTA482]

Like I said before, I am in love with her first Japanese voice.

've also noticed that it was when Watanabe replaced Sho that they started to flanderize Chichi in the anime. In Sho's last performance in Episode 66 Chichi wanted to get to Namek because she could sense Gohan getting the crap beat out of him be Reacoom. When Watanabe first took over in Episode 88 she wanted to get to Namek... to make sure Gohan was studying . WTF, where did all the motherly concern from 20 eps ago? Did it just disappear?

It varies, actually.

[Ringworm128]

I like her Kai voice the most.