Were you satisfied by the English dub of Kai?

[qjz123]

I love the English dub of Kai it's so much better than Funimation's original dub of dbz. The only problem that I have with Kai is the Kikuchi replacement score but other than that it's great.

[ShinGaijin]

Just perfect.Sooo much better than original Z dub.Formers VA really improved their acting...Colleen Clinkenbeard's performance is absolutely awesome (especially compared to Naldolny's horrible screams and "DaAaAdddYyY" that makes me feel sick).The best overseas version, there's no doubt.

I love the English dub of Kai it's so much better than Funimation's original dub of dbz. The only problem that I have with Kai is the Kikuchi replacement score but other than that it's great.

I agree.That's why I kept the edited Nicktoons version, despite censorship.

[dbzfan7]

Sooo much better than original Z dub.Formers VA really improved their acting...Colleen Clinkenbeard's performance is absolutely awesome (especially compared to Naldolny's horrible screams and "DaAaAdddYyY" that makes me feel sick).The best overseas version, there's no doubt.

Ugh I hated that whining sound. I instantly play Schwarzenegger when that happens.

[ConfusedPhantom]

I'm reasonably satisfied. It's not perfect for reasons already stated (too much Sabat, inconsistencies on attack names, etc), but the acting and script was loads better than the original dub.

[Revolution]

I don't really like piccolo's voice in Kai and that's my only grievance to be honest, but otherwise I think it's all been done quite well that's my simple opinion - given

[theoriginalbilis]

I'm happy with it. A quality production through and through, despite some inconsistencies. Anyone who says the older Ocean or FUNi dubs were better is delusional.

[Ringworm128]

I was beyond satisfied with the Kai dub. The acting had a 3 dimensional quality that isn't present in any of the other English dubs, even the really cartoonish voices like King Kai and Puar have a sense of realism in their delivery that really immerses you. I liked pretty much all the new voices especially Jheese and Freeza even though I was fine with the old cast. Though I sometimes can't help but wonder how the old voices would do with Kai's script and direction.

[Blu-ray_Mistress]

Yes, I love the new dub!

[Weejus]

I was very satisfied, and I feel now FUNimation have justified their DBZ cash-cowing a decade ago (remember how they released Ultimate Battle 22 in the US EIGHT YEARS after its Eurasian release because they wanted more money, and that game sucks balls in the first place) with their Kai dub. Every recasting is a change for the better, except for Clinkenbeard voicing 18 (I feel she is becoming FUNimation's poster girl, I mean she's getting a LOT of big roles: Gohan, Luffy, Erza Scarlet for example), as I feel McCoy's monotony worked in her favour.

[Fizzer]

I love the voice acting and script of Kai, it's much closer to perfection than I could reasonable have expected. I even like the new Western-style jokes, unlike the ones in Z, because they're funny and don't really feel that out of place to me. An alien who's never been to earth before saying "I hate the media!" seems really fitting in DB to me.

Of course, Kai as an end product ends up not that great because of the music. Any emotional scene like Goku teleporting Cell away made me feel absolutely nothing with the replacement Kikuchi score, while other versions did get reactions out of me, and this is a huge killer for Kai. This is why I really want to find a good fan-made Funi Kai dub with Yamamoto BGM, or hope that Ocean use a good orchestral replacement score and have the voices in their own sound channel on the DVDs like Funi did.

[90sDBZ]

Yes. The acting was top-notch and I like having the option to choose from a faithful version of DBZ and a more fun version depending on what mood I'm in. I did feel like the limited music hurt it a little bit early on and I've never been a huge fan of Kikuchi in Z but the placement improved on Namek and was acceptable to me. In terms of pure enjoyability, sense of humour and epic music the Z dub is still better for me while in terms of acting the Kai dub wins it. I like Clinckenbeard's performances in general such as Luffy and I have to say her Gohan is no exception. I'm a fan of both her and Nadolny's Gohan so it's all good to me. Sean is on top form in Kai too. As is Sabat. His Piccolo in particular I really enjoy in Kai with lines such as "I'm eager. No. Hungry for battle!". His Vegeta still sounds really proud, cunning and arrogant.

Really the only real issue I have with it is the general stiff feeling of the dialogue at times and using unnecessary big words. Frieza in particular goes over the top with words. Also Kai just seems to lack the general laidback fun charm of the Z dub. And it often states the obvious and repeats itself. These are just nitpicks though. Bottom line it's not my favourite version but that doesn't stop me watching it regularly on Kix. And I do plan on buying it at some point so I can see it uncut.

[TheGmGoken]

sing unnecessary big words. Freeza in particular goes over the top with words.

What "big" words ?

[TheBlackPaladin]

sing unnecessary big words. Freeza in particular goes over the top with words.

What "big" words ?

I think he's referring to the "upper class," eloquent wording that Freeza often used. For example...

-"It would appear that my dreams for immortality have been crushed upon the shores of your incompetence."
-"A half...a paltry half of my power should suffice to grind you into space dust."
-"I'd advise against placing too much stock in your escape, however if you wish I can bring you CLOSER TO HOME!"
-"A valiant effort, my friend, but you will kindly respond to my question in the language it was adressed to you, not this gibberish."
-"You mean to tell me you've procured no confirmation of his death?"

So I think I know what 90'sDBZ is talking about. However, that kind of dialogue was one of the reasons I loved the Kai dub. Partially because I didn't feel like the script was being "scaled down," but first foremost because that's how Freeza talks in the original version. That's his trademark way of talking, and something that was not at all seen in the DBZ dub. To quote VegettoEX in his review of the second Dragon Box...

[Freeza's] “refined gentleman” manner of speaking (more appropriately described in Japanese as keigo) shows him being incredibly humble during discussions, all while dropping obvious hints at superiority and arrogance; his level of politeness is, in an almost ironic fashion, completely undercut by the atrocities he is committing in the process.

We got that in the Kai dub. And my gosh did I love every second of it! Chris Ayers truly provided a masterful performance as Freeza, with a masterfully-written English script to boot.

[KentalSSJ6]

I see Kai is the definitive english dub of DBZ. The replacement actors did a fantastic job and fit their respective roles just fine. All returning actors's voice acting was leagues ahead of what it was in the old Z dub.

I was beyond satisfied with the Kai dub. The acting had a 3 dimensional quality that isn't present in any of the other English dubs, even the really cartoonish voices like King Kai and Puar have a sense of realism in their delivery that really immerses you. I liked pretty much all the new voices especially Jheese and Freeza even though I was fine with the old cast. Though I sometimes can't help but wonder how the old voices would do with Kai's script and direction.

Oddly enough, you can in Ultimate Tenkaichi. For some reason when I played, Freeza and Gohan would change actors between lines a lot for me. For example one line would be Chris Ayres, then it was Linda Young the next line. I also noticed Cell's voice seemed to switch from his old Z dub tone to his updated Kai tone. Anyone know why that is?

[90sDBZ]

I get the whole sadistic gentlemen thing they were going for. But even the Japanese version didn't go that far with his words. He sounds like a more successful version of Stewie Griffin.

[Looneygamemaster]

I get the whole sadistic gentlemen thing they were going for. But even the Japanese version didn't go that far with his words. He sounds like a more successful version of Stewie Griffin.

I get more of a Scar (Lion King) vibe from him myself.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I get the whole sadistic gentlemen thing they were going for. But even the Japanese version didn't go that far with his words. He sounds like a more successful version of Stewie Griffin.

I get more of a Scar (Lion King) vibe from him myself.

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree...I got a Freea vibe. And, for the first time, in English.

[Looneygamemaster]

Oh, I wasn't saying that in a bad way. I think it's fitting, because Scar does have quite a bit of Freeza's qualities (he wears a mask of daintiness to hide the arrogant, borderline psychotic and somewhat pathetic monster that he is).

I agree, this is definitely how English Freeza should sound. It's just that if there's another character that Ayres' performance brings to mind, it would be Scar.

[El Diabeetus]

I see Kai is the definitive english dub of DBZ. The replacement actors did a fantastic job and fit their respective roles just fine. All returning actors's voice acting was leagues ahead of what it was in the old Z dub.

I was beyond satisfied with the Kai dub. The acting had a 3 dimensional quality that isn't present in any of the other English dubs, even the really cartoonish voices like King Kai and Puar have a sense of realism in their delivery that really immerses you. I liked pretty much all the new voices especially Jheese and Freeza even though I was fine with the old cast. Though I sometimes can't help but wonder how the old voices would do with Kai's script and direction.

Oddly enough, you can in Ultimate Tenkaichi. For some reason when I played, Freeza and Gohan would change actors between lines a lot for me. For example one line would be Chris Ayres, then it was Linda Young the next line. I also noticed Cell's voice seemed to switch from his old Z dub tone to his updated Kai tone. Anyone know why that is?

The reason for the voice switches in that game are due to (at least the English cast) just reusing lines from Raging Blast 1 and 2 and since Raging Blast 2 was the first game to use the Kai cast, that's the reason for the random switches. I think the only thing they came in and recorded for that game was the dubs of the reanimated scenes for Story Mode.

As for the actual topic, for sure. Kai is my go to option to watch the series if I'm watching it in English. Pretty much I only watch Z in Japanese and Kai only in English. To me the recasts we nice and welcome. I love how J. Michael Tatum adapted the script for the Freeza saga. Using an almost Shakespeare-eqsue dialouge as an equivalent to Keigo was an awesome idea and for the first time we got the real Freeza in English. Chris Ayres' Freeza was best cast change we could have got, I still wish Schemmel's King Kai was recast though, love him as Goku and Nail. But, King Kai still has the 'only one side of the character' thing leftover from the first Z dub. Mirroring the Japanese version and using Doc Morgan for King Kai would've been nice. Although, I could see someone like Ed Blaylock (King Bradley in FMA) as him too.

[KentalSSJ6]

I actually prefer Schemmel's King Kai to the Japanese dub's. I like them both but when I hear the Japanese one, it just comes off as rather humorous to me. Granted he DOES some funny things, like in Battle of Gods with the sandbags, but when he speaks, I don't laugh like I do with Schemmel's Kai.