Language Survey 2014 [COMPLETE]

[sailorspazz]

Default version for me is Japanese. Have also watched Funimation's dubs in their entirety for comparison/completion, but will always prefer the original over their efforts (though they've shown great improvement in Kai and Battle of Gods, they can never replace the Japanese version).

[Kakacarrottop]

I think comparing the original Japanese version to the English dub (or any other foreign language media really) is extremely subjective since the languages are obviously quite different, so a neutral perspective should be used. For example, a few of the Japanese voice actors would sound pretty bad if their recorded dialogue was somehow converted into English, and some would even sound better. Vice versa for the dubs. Honestly the voice acting skill gap between the Japanese cast and the English casts isn't nearly as large as some purists make it out to be. The Ocean cast are all industry veterans who've also had Live action/Hollywood roles etc and the FUNi cast have all greatly grown as voice actors over time.

Yeah, while I agree with your assertion that it's like a whole other show entirely, I feel compelled to throw out a "citation needed" for the rest. I was under the impression that, aside from English-language fans of DBZ, the dub of DBZ was seen as a low-quality (both in translation and production) relic that even the cast admits was pretty damned bad.

The original (and most popular) FUNi dub was lacking compared to the Japanese version in terms of overall quality, but i'm sure there were a lot of fans from other countries who appreciated the Faulconer score and it's musical creativity, or any of the other English replacement scores. The fact nearly all the English dubs got replacement scores (a few on par musically with the Japanese ones) indicates a little more production effort was put into them compared to the other language dubs. Of coarse this is excluding the Big Green and Malaysian-English dub atrocities.

[UltimateHammerBro]

The original (and most popular) FUNi dub was lacking compared to the Japanese version in terms of overall quality, but i'm sure there were a lot of fans from other countries who appreciated the Faulconer score and it's musical creativity, or any of the other English replacement scores. The fact nearly all the English dubs got replacement scores (a few on par musically with the Japanese ones) indicates a little more production effort was put into them compared to the other language dubs. Of coarse this is excluding the Big Green and Malaysian-English dub atrocities.

I disagree: people may sometimes recognise the Funi dub voices because of the videogames, but very few have seen or care about the English dub of the series outside the English-speaking world, let alone its replacement scores (it's understandable given that DB has been translated to many languages, and not using the English version as a base).

The only comments about the Faulconer soundtrack (or replacement soundtracks in general, since I've read a few of them about Shuki Levy's score too) coming from people who haven't grown up with it I've read were all negative (or maybe 95% of them).

(And this is coming from someone who doesn't like Faulconer's music as background music for DBZ, but does like it as music on its own right)

[VegettoEX]

While I don't see an issue tossing some editorializing into your response, let's try to keep the back-and-forth conversation to a minimum. The thread's purpose seems to be to collect responses and to do so easily, so if there is a larger conversation you would like to take part in, by all means contribute to a separate on-going one or create a new one entirely.

[NitroEX]

I guess I'll throw my name in the hat for English (Ocean/Westwood) as I enjoy their stuff most. I do also watch my Dragon Box (Japanese) and Funi movies but overall I'de go with Ocean in terms of personal enjoyability and nostalgia.

Where can you even watch it though? I've searched online for ages. I guess only Canadians can watch it on TV.

It's out there...or it was a few years ago when I first came across it at least. It's a collection of VHS rips from various countries that got the dub. Obviously I can't provide you with any links publicly (or even privately due to uh...site issues).

I just kept it for old time's sake. It's quite nice to have on in the background when I'm doing other things. I've often considered creating a Dragon Box version using the audio but the amount of editing and syncing required just isn't worth my time. I don't care enough about the show in English to dedicate the hours (days, weeks).

Dragonbox remasters of the Ocean dub have already been done.

[ShaneisMC]

Without a doubt, English Kai is ballin. :p So yeah, that. though i of course grew up on toonami an such with the og version. I've really really grown to like Funi Kai very much. Though i must say i dont think i would ever want anyone other than Stephanie to play young Goku. Thats very iconic to me. I've also grown to either like or at least respect many aspects of the Japanese version as well.

[MarCas92]

Original Japanese is the best for me. I've also seen the show in it's entirety in English and Latino Spanish. I've also seen the Kid Boo Arc in German and French.

[GeeRod]

Original japanese for me. I have seen in Portuguese BR and English.

[Mewzard]

Funi's Kai dub: My favorite way to watch the show. I can't go back to the old dub. I've come too far.

[garnetjester]

Original japanese and latin american spanish dub for me. If I want to watch something now, I watch the japanese version, but the LatAm dub will always have a special place in my heart!

[Chronic_mcduffin]

I primarily watch the Japanese version of Z with English subs.

[Shiyonasan]

I watch all of Dragon Ball in Japanese with English subs.

[JEFFMAN219]

I only watch the funimation dub and the Kai dub for Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z.

[MDSTSSJ]

I saw DB in English and Japanese but Spanish (Mexican) is my favorite one!!

[MCDaveG]

Japanese with english subtitles.

[Ajay]

Sorry the late update. I was busy moving back home for Christmas alongside finishing up some final assignments for university.

Everything is all up to date now. Thanks to everyone for submitting their choices.

There's still a few members who have yet to submit so hopefully they'll get a chance to soon enough. Either way, I'm quite happy with the sample size.

[thelittlethings]

Japanese version.

[ParkerAL]

English (FUNi Kai)

I haven't gotten around to actually collecting a complete Dragon Ball release, and I eventually intend to watch it all the way through with the Japanese voices, but right now, if I want to watch a clip from the series on YouTube, it will be the Kai dub most of the time.

[Kojiro Sasaki]

I watch only the original show with English or Polish subtitles. Voices, acting quality and the dynamics, expression, power and sharpness of the Japanese language are irreplaceable.

[Thouser]

I watch it in Japanese.