Remastered Sets (As They Pertain to the Dub)

[Li'l Lemmy]

I don't want to muddy up the New "Remastered Box Set" Information thread with too much whimsical hypothesis, so I've branched out this "companion" thread for the purpose of keeping the first one clean and on-topic while still opening new avenues of discussion.


DUB-RELATED: This doesn't necessarily concern the first set (as in, the near future), but it could relate to the audio/dialogue of future sets. Can anyone on the dub side of things give confirmation on the following statement?

Since Chris did say he was ashamed of his early work, and that was his earliest work, there's a good chance most of the redubbed lines will be from [the Ginyu/Freeza sagas]. Other than that, the Android saga could be tweaked some more, but Cell and Buu are pretty much perfect. Maybe a line here and then, but otherwise great.

Specifically, does anyone know if Mr. Sabat ever actually said anything like that? While it's intriguing to imagine he may want to go back and correct some of his own work-- an opportunity these sets provide-- it sounds like wishful thinking or tragic misinformation on the part of this fan.

I'm all for the idea, myself; if not to bring things up to par with the Japanese version (an ideology which waved bye-bye to the dub a long time ago), then to at least further the consistency of the voices.

I mean, what the hell; they've come this far . . . and we never thought they would!

[desirecampbell]

Hmmm... I doubt Sabat's said such publicly, but he very well may have privately.

I think it's admirable how much money Funimation sinks into Dragonball. Sure, they might not always make the right decision, but they get better with every change (and there've been many changes). I mean, they're going back to remaster the video and release the series (again) with even more Japanese-centric options when they could easily have dropped the whole series and just moved on.

[Li'l Lemmy]

Hmmm... I doubt Sabat's said such publicly, but he very well may have privately.

I know he's said quite a bit privately, if only because for a long time he was barely allowed to say anything publicly. But still, I wondered if maybe this was one of those things that was spoken aloud to the fans when the series finished and it didn't really matter as much to be silent.

I think it's admirable how much money Funimation sinks into Dragonball. Sure, they might not always make the right decision, but they get better with every change (and there've been many changes). I mean, they're going back to remaster the video and release the series (again) with even more Japanese-centric options when they could easily have dropped the whole series and just moved on.

I do agree. Really, I do.

They've had many opportunities to stop with Dragonball, take their money and run-- and haven't taken a-one. They could have shied away from GT's repuation after they finished dubbing the Kid Buu episodes. They could have decided to not turn around and re-dub the first two seasons . . . and as if all that weren't enough, they could have finished the Ultimate Uncuts and finally been done with the series altogether, finally and forever.

And of course, we're all quite aware that they didn't have to try pressing the original Dragonball a third time after failed ratings, let alone dub it all the way through and sink the cash into putting it onto DVDs.

And it's true; in doing all this, they do get progessively better as they move along.

Is part of it because they think there's still money to be made in the series? Absolutely. But not all of their decisions appear to stem from Ferengi mentality. I think their attitude toward the original Dragonball poves that rather conclusively . . . not to mention these new season sets for DBZ, of course.

I feel the love.


Someone smack me: Because now I'm rambling and straying off-topic, dammit. Christopher Sabat and the dub? Theories about how this "gentle" redubbing will be handled on future sets? Anyone?

[Kula]

It would be a good idea if the first few episodes of 'season 3' were redubbed at least. This would make the voices a little more consistent and eliminate Chris Sabat's Brian Drummond impression on the Captain Ginyu episodes.

[djkalteraphine]

I was thinking about this too; Only my theory was they go back and fix things like "I've known Goku since he was five" and "General Tao, leader of the Red Ribbon military operations". While they're histerical in their own right (a very twisted sort of way), I love the dub actors. But some of those early scripts. . Wow. Just wow.

[b_boult]

Thankfully, Season 3 will never be redubbed. It would take far too long and too much effort now. The reason I say thankfully is because 1) the first few episodes have high comedy value, and it would be ashame to perfect them now, and 2) after the first few episodes, Sabat, Nadolny, Goku, Krillin and Piccolo EVERYONE was on top of their game. I mean seriously they were excellent, and it amazes me how a lot of them went so completely downhill after the Freeza saga. Sabat's Vegeta became intolerably bad, as did Nadolny's Gohan. I also think it's a shame Dale Kelly is getting replaced as Narrator because that guy was fucking awesome

[Kirbopher]

I KNOW many of the FUNimation voice actors have said that they wished that they could go back and redo what they did when they first started out. Anyone who's seen just about ANY other dub by the company can plainly see that they've all gotten levels upon levels higher as far as quality goes for their acting. DBZ was orginally aimed at little kids when WE first got it, hence the cheeseball acting. I wouldn't put it past any of them to want to go back and fix what they've wanted to for so long.

after the first few episodes, Sabat, Nadolny, Goku, Krillin and Piccolo EVERYONE was on top of their game. I mean seriously they were excellent, and it amazes me how a lot of them went so completely downhill after the Freeza saga. Sabat's Vegeta became intolerably bad, as did Nadolny's Gohan.

Not necassarily. The thing was that they first started out trying to 'imitate' the Ocean Cast. By the time they reached the Androids Saga, they had worked their own voices that THEY wanted fully into the character. Chris' more gruff and lower Vegeta, and his softer-toned Piccolo, as an example. Dale Kelly and Mark Britten kinda just...left the company after a while. Dunno why o.O;

[b_boult]

Yeah I know full well what they were trying to do I used to be part of various Ocean Group websites. However the irony remains that some of them sounded a lot better doing immitation voices than their own individual takes sounded later on. And I'm not an Ocean Group fan I assure you, it's just the Funimation casts' immitations were better, after the first 5 or so episodes anyway.

[Rory]

And Sean decided to lay off those " Kamehame-dumps " too.
Good job too, I thought his work in the Majin saga's were great.

[Li'l Lemmy]

It would be a good idea if the first few episodes of 'season 3' were redubbed at least. This would make the voices a little more consistent and eliminate Chris Sabat's Brian Drummond impression on the Captain Ginyu episodes.

This is the great hypothesis flying around now. I know people who believe with everything they are that at leat the Ginyu episodes will see redubbing, and others who say there's not a chance in hell. While I wouldn't count on anything at this point, I certainly wouldn't rule it out-- particularly if the actors have a strong sense of pride.

I was thinking about this too; Only my theory was they go back and fix things like "I've known Goku since he was five" and "General Tao, leader of the Red Ribbon military operations". While they're histerical in their own right (a very twisted sort of way), I love the dub actors. But some of those early scripts. . Wow. Just wow.

Meh. They haven't committed to an all-out redub, but they have already said that some things would be revised. Ordinarily I wouldn't have given this any consideration-- anyone can say they'll do a thing without actually making a move-- but if we have Mr. Hebert going back to fill in as Narrator then I say anything is possible.

Thankfully, Season 3 will never be redubbed. It would take far too long and too much effort now. The reason I say thankfully is because 1) the first few episodes have high comedy value, and it would be ashame to perfect them now, and 2) after the first few episodes, Sabat, Nadolny, Goku, Krillin and Piccolo EVERYONE was on top of their game. I mean seriously they were excellent, and it amazes me how a lot of them went so completely downhill after the Freeza saga. Sabat's Vegeta became intolerably bad, as did Nadolny's Gohan. I also think it's a shame Dale Kelly is getting replaced as Narrator because that guy was fucking awesome

Wow. b_boult, I likes ya, but I'm gonna openly disagree with you on this one. You're not saying that they went downhill and stayed there, are you?

I do think that just after the Freeza dub finished that there was an "odd" period of transition for the cast as they tried to get into their own character interpretations, but after that I think they got so much better with time. Stephanie Nadolny in particular I've always been a great fan of, with her many voice inflections-- a variety that by her own admission can be difficult at times, particularly as a woman playing a young boy. (Innocent Gohan, scared Gohan, SSJ2 Gohan).

The one who's had the roughest ride is probably Sabat's Vegeta. It took him a good portion of the Androids/Cell arc to find his footing, I think, but it came together nicely after a while. Anything beyond that-- Buu and GT, for example-- was just great (and I see that Rory agrees); whether you actually liked the voice or not, he came off in at least sounding confident in what he wanted it to be.

(Of course, when I say "great," I'm not counting the script, but eh . . .)

As for Dale Kelley . . . well, obviously that one's not personal; it's just the way of things now. I liked him too, but if it's for consistency I'd rather have Hebert coming in to finish the job Kelley started.

[b_boult]

Sabat's deeper voice later on sounded extremely forced, and I much preferred his mousier voice in the Freezer arc as he sounded more cocky and interesting. The deep voice was also exactly what you'd expect for this sort of character and it was far too cliched. I ended up like Drummond more towards the end I think.

Also L'il Lemmy you can send that file to bboult005@gmail.com, I just set it up and it will work without the need for compression

[Mystic Jack]

To be honest that's a very cliche idea since VeggetoEX said he preferred Brian Drummmond's VA abilities compared to Chris Sabat's. But I'm not one to assume things about anyone.

Also I'll agree with the statement that Chris Sabat really only took the voice for his own after the Freeza sagas.

[Super Sonic]

Lots of cartoon character voices sound different in their first appearance to later ones. Look at the first few eps of Pokemon compared to the last few seasons 4Kids did. Ash sounds a little funny. Same if you compare early eps of Rugrats to later ones.

[djkalteraphine]

Lots of cartoon character voices sound different in their first appearance to later ones. Look at the first few eps of Pokemon compared to the last few seasons 4Kids did. Ash sounds a little funny. Same if you compare early eps of Rugrats to later ones.

Even on the DB-side, again. Watch the dubbed first appearance of Pan in GT (episode 16, I think. . ) and hear how. . little. . . she sounds. And this doesn't even apply to cartoons and voice-overs; Lots of TV actors change slightly over time. When a person plays a character long enough, they're going to work the kinks out. Completely redubing these episodes might be a bit much, I'd be happy if they just fixed the serious script errors.

[Sun_Wukong]

I cant wait to see Bryce Armstrong as Ginyu in the new dub. No more Dale Kelly!! Horray!!!

[Conan the SSJ]

I cant wait to see Bryce Armstrong as Ginyu in the new dub. No more Dale Kelly!! Horray!!!

Eh? Kyle Hebert himself has stated he'll be the one redubbing the Narrator for the 100-somethin' episodes of the Ginyu-Perfect Cell episodes. Personally though, I liked Dale Kelly, he seemed to give a more epic feel that none of the other DBZ/GT narrators had (though Brice Armstrong will always be my favorite). I dunno, Kelly just seemed to have some Don LaFontaine vibe to him, IMO.

[Sun_Wukong]

Um I meant Armstrong as Ginyu himself. He does Ginyu in the games.

[Li'l Lemmy]

Completely redubing these episodes might be a bit much, I'd be happy if they just fixed the serious script errors.

Oh, I don't think they're considering redubbing the whole thing. Anything beyond Freeza is likely just to be light touches here and there to dialogue and, as you said, script errors (which they fixed a crapload of during the first two seasons); I'm simply expecting more of these things during Freeza.

But, that's just me.

Um I meant Armstrong as Ginyu himself. He does Ginyu in the games.

Yeah, you're right: Armstrong did the redub for Ginyu, as well. I taped the episodes when they ran on CN; if you like him in the games, then you'll enjoy it. I think he did. That first moment we see Ginyu when he strikes that pose where he looks like he's talking beneath his ass, and I thought . . . "yeah, we're back in the game, now!"

Captain . . . GINYU!!

[Victator Supreme]

I think it's admirable how much money Funimation sinks into Dragonball. Sure, they might not always make the right decision, but they get better with every change (and there've been many changes). I mean, they're going back to remaster the video and release the series (again) with even more Japanese-centric options when they could easily have dropped the whole series and just moved on.

Moved on from what? Making huge piles of money? I do think its admirable they are going the extra mile to release the sets with so many great features. I would have been happy with just the original English and Japanese versions. But doing the redub was motivated by money.They needed to milk as much out of DBZ as they can.

[Super Sonic]

They just better not redo the music. Season 4-onwards music was pretty good, and of course, Ginyu Transformation.