The Pioneer\Rock the Dragon Dub Dialog Comparison!

[Tanooki Kuribo]

Hey, guys! So, this is something I wanted to do ever since I found out the Rock the Dragon set had the initial broadcast dialog. If you don't know what I'm talking about, basically in a nutshell, they couldn't say any variation of the word "die" or "kill" in this dub, but the first few episodes did. So they had to go back and re-dub those lines.

The first airing of these episodes were shown with the original lines. After that, every airing had the alternate lines. Even the Pioneer release had these changes. I guess when FUNimation released their set, they just used the original version.

Episode 1 ~













Episode 2 ~















Episode 3 and 4 coming soon!

[Gozar]

I always love when you do comparisons, Joe. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Probably the most interesting one to me is Raditz referring to Goku as "Goku."

Although I can't help buy chuckle that FUNimation's remastered/re-recorded release of their Dub has Vegeta saying "Goku" twice while Ginyu is in Goku's body. Something like this 1996 goof seems reasonable. But in the other case, you'd think that after nearly 10 years (at the time) of playing Vegeta, Sabat would have said something in the booth.

[Valerius Dover]

I recognize most of these "original lines" as being in the Season dub as well.

[LordCrumb]

Fantastic presentation of the comparison mate. Good work.

[TheBlackPaladin]

For all the flack that FUNimation got for how they handled the dub, some of it--not all, of course--but some of it was unjustified. I've always looked at these dialogue differences as proof that nobody at FUNimation, even at the earliest stages, had a problem with the concept or the mentioning of death or killing. That specific issue was very clearly a TV network (or distributer) issue.

[Attitudefan]

Yeah, it is interesting how Rock the Dragon set has all the original takes. Even the colours seem unaltered. I'm guessing they used the original betamax tapes instead of copies (that may have had edited dialogue)?

[LordCrumb]

Yeah, it is interesting how Rock the Dragon set has all the original takes. Even the colours seem unaltered. I'm guessing they used the original betamax tapes instead of copies (that may have had edited dialogue)?

That actually is a good question.. Tanooki Kuribo, are these shots from the Rock the Dragon set, or are they from a different set but just used for illustration purposes?

[ABED]

For all the flack that FUNimation got for how they handled the dub, some of it--not all, of course--but some of it was unjustified. I've always looked at these dialogue differences as proof that nobody at FUNimation, even at the earliest stages, had a problem with the concept or the mentioning of death or killing. That specific issue was very clearly a TV network (or distributer) issue.

Perhaps Saban, they are always so worried about offending anyone.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

Yeah, it is interesting how Rock the Dragon set has all the original takes. Even the colours seem unaltered. I'm guessing they used the original betamax tapes instead of copies (that may have had edited dialogue)?

That actually is a good question.. Tanooki Kuribo, are these shots from the Rock the Dragon set, or are they from a different set but just used for illustration purposes?

All the screen shots I used above are from the Rock the Dragon set. I think that transfer is so much better. Here's some screen shots to compare. I'll even be nice and use shots from the last episode since the early episodes FUNimation has are kinda shitty.

Pioneer screen shots:











Rock the Dragon screen shots:











Also ~ if you like this type of stuff. Check out my site\blog... thing... http://dbzkedits.3gkai.com/?p=1091

[LordCrumb]

Nice one! I've been kind of reluctant to get the Rock the Dragon set, because I have the Pioneer discs.. but now that I know it has different dialog and a different picture, I may just have to get it as part of my collection.

[VegettoEX]

For all the flack that FUNimation got for how they handled the dub, some of it--not all, of course--but some of it was unjustified. I've always looked at these dialogue differences as proof that nobody at FUNimation, even at the earliest stages, had a problem with the concept or the mentioning of death or killing. That specific issue was very clearly a TV network (or distributer) issue.

We always held Saban accountable for a lot of that stuff from day one. If you go back and look at discussions on the newsgroups, for example, you'll see just that.

[TheBlackPaladin]

For all the flack that FUNimation got for how they handled the dub, some of it--not all, of course--but some of it was unjustified. I've always looked at these dialogue differences as proof that nobody at FUNimation, even at the earliest stages, had a problem with the concept or the mentioning of death or killing. That specific issue was very clearly a TV network (or distributer) issue.

We always held Saban accountable for a lot of that stuff from day one. If you go back and look at discussions on the newsgroups, for example, you'll see just that.

Oh, definitely, I know a lot of people understood that. I was just reflecting on the fact that some didn't (and I'm not talking about Kanzenshuuers for the most part...a lot of the more unreasonable criticisms I've seen came from YouTubers).

[Tanooki Kuribo]

I finished comparing episode 3 today, and it turns out there were no re-dubbed lines. It's weird because on the Pioneer release they do say all the forbidden words. Actually more so than episode 1 or 2. I don't know why they skipped this episode, or if there are any more re-dubbed lines, but I guess I'll find out. If I don't find any more re-dubbed lines by say, episode 6 or 7? Then I guess I can stop...? ::shrugs::

Also ~ in case you missed it, I found a neat Easter egg in episode 3.

[ABED]

I don't understand why on the home video release they didn't include the original lines. For those that have the Rock the Dragon set, are the lines from the original or the same ones on the singles?

[Super Sonic]

Sometimes releases had things different than other things with more than one version. For example, my old video of the Batman episode "Robin's Reckoning Part 2" has different animation with Batman walking at the end than the dvd does. And recall some things being different in the dvd release of the Simpsons episode "The Tell-Tale Head" than what gets shown in syndicated reruns.

With the edits, yeah Saban being fresh off the complaints of MMPR being violent and getting banned in European countries was kinda anal to avoid things of that nature with shows after it. Kinda died down by the time Digimon premiered and they got away with some things DBZ didn't.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

I just went over episode 4 and it seems that just like episode 3, all the dialog is the same on both releases. The only oddity I found was in the Pioneer version, a few seconds were cut out. Nothing major but, here's two comparison clips from my Vine...

Rock the Dragon clip ~ https://vine.co/v/OKJ0xUJP5uV

Pioneer clip ~ https://vine.co/v/OKJEhPMatjd

[Attitudefan]

I don't understand why on the home video release they didn't include the original lines. For those that have the Rock the Dragon set, are the lines from the original or the same ones on the singles?

The Rock the Dragon set has all the original lines. It looks beautiful on the big screen too, which surprised me a lot. The colors are very close to the Dragon Box I'd say. One of the best DBZ purchases you can make.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

I don't understand why on the home video release they didn't include the original lines. For those that have the Rock the Dragon set, are the lines from the original or the same ones on the singles?

The Rock the Dragon set has all the original lines. It looks beautiful on the big screen too, which surprised me a lot. The colors are very close to the Dragon Box I'd say. One of the best DBZ purchases you can make.

Well, I don't know about this being "one of the best DBZ purchases you can make". It's definitely not a great version of DBZ. I think if you "grew up" on this version, then yes, I highly recommend it. I love this dub, I could recite whole episodes in the same way someone might sing along to their favorite song. But, honestly I really can't see people who've never seen this version actually enjoying it.

[Attitudefan]

I don't understand why on the home video release they didn't include the original lines. For those that have the Rock the Dragon set, are the lines from the original or the same ones on the singles?

The Rock the Dragon set has all the original lines. It looks beautiful on the big screen too, which surprised me a lot. The colors are very close to the Dragon Box I'd say. One of the best DBZ purchases you can make.

Well, I don't know about this being "one of the best DBZ purchases you can make". It's definitely not a great version of DBZ. I think if you "grew up" on this version, then yes, I highly recommend it. I love this dub, I could recite whole episodes in the same way someone might sing along to their favorite song. But, honestly I really can't see people who've never seen this version actually enjoying it.

Well, yeah. Let me fix what I said, "best DBZ purchase if you watched this dub back in 1996 or are curious about dubs and haven't had a chance to see it yet".

But the quality of the footage was surprising.

[ABED]

With the edits, yeah Saban being fresh off the complaints of MMPR being violent and getting banned in European countries was kinda anal to avoid things of that nature with shows after it. Kinda died down by the time Digimon premiered and they got away with some things DBZ didn't.

I remember that, though not that it was banned in European countries. There are weird standards. Show a kick the face or a putty, that's bad. A giant robot and monsters destroy building after building, and that's fine. Regarding DBZ, kids can take references to death.