To The People That Switched From Dub To Sub...

[theoriginalbilis]

My first exposure to the Japanese version came through the original Pioneer release of DBZ Movie 2. It literally took me about 10 minutes to accept the voices as they were. I mean after all, they are the "originals." Everything just sounded so much more high-quality: the orchestral score, the OP/ED songs (with lyrics!), the quality of the voice acting. Once I realized the dubs changed a lot of the music/dialogue, I lost emotional investment in them.

Of course, I still watched almost all of Z dubbed on Cartoon Network. Thankfully, the dub of original DB sounded a lot more natural and faithful. But once the bilingual DVDs started coming out, I never went back to the corresponding dub episodes. To this day, I still switch to the Japanese track on the video games. In my mind, the only English dubs up to par are the Ocean-voiced Movies 1-3, the Kai dub, and BoG.

Hopefully more people will be open-minded towards the original cast once Super starts airing... and fans will have to watch full episodes of the series without resorting to Youtube clips.

[DemonRin]

My first time seeing Dragon Ball Z in Japanese was movie 3. My mom knew I was into anime and especially Dragon Ball, when I once asked her for one of the movies, she got me them on VHS but accidentally bought Movie 3 subbed from Atomic Comics near where I lived. I remembered being more fascinated by it than upset that it wasn't in my language. I was always a very good reader, so it was kinda neat to see the "original" take on the material, especially when I could compare it to the English version which broadcast on TV not too long after.

Next I saw it in Japanese while waiting for the Boo arc to come out in English. a friend had the "International" Channel and that channel had an anime block that showed at one point, so I'd go over there and we'd watch DB. It showed DB, Z, and GT and would show every episode of all 3 in order on loop. It just so happened at this time, they were in the middle of the Boo arc, I remember coming in on Goku vs. Majin Vegeta. We couldn't understand them obviously, no subtitles (but for some reason, The episodes of Slayers that played in that block did... weird) but it was neat to see that stuff in advance.

It was only when that material started coming out on DVD that I started collecting it and actually actively watching it in Japanese, my first DVD actually included the first episode I'd ever seen in Japanese funny enough (it was FUNi's "Babidi: Rivals" single) and once I started watching it in Japanese, I never looked back. Now I watch it raw without subs, but yeah, that was basically my journey. Story went on a little too much, but the point is i didn't really have any issues lol.

I would also suggest starting with the very beginning of DB (the first anime). A lot of people seem to have issues with Nozawa as adult Gokuu, so it may be easier to first experience her voice as kid Gokuu and watch him grow up and get older.

This. This so much. I didn't start out that way, but I know a lot of people who do have the issues with Nozawa as adult Goku when switching, and really, looking back it DOES help to watch DB first and see the voice naturally evolve (She DOES change it up as Goku gets older) and it's definitely less jarring, so if you're on the fence about it, start that way and it should feel much more natural.

[obiwan23s]

The short answer is, if you truly enjoy the world of Dragon Ball, then it won't take long to adapt to the Japanese cast.

The long answer, particularly how it relates to my own switching from dub to sub, is a little more complex. For me, I began watching the subbed version of Z via poorly translated and poorly encoded RealPlayer videos back at the beginning of the millennium. At this time, Z wasn't available in North America beyond the early Ginyu episodes. Toonami would always go back to Raditz as soon as they got to Goku arriving on Namek. I found a website index that had all of Z in RealPlayer format, including uncut versions of the Ocean episodes (something unavailable in North America until the R1 Dragon Box). Since it was either wait forever for FUNimation to release all of Z, or watch the RealPlayer fansubs...I opted for the fansubs. The voices become familiar to you quickly. Goku's voice is not hard to handle, and I'm sure there's a thread on here where we can go down that rabbit hole if we wanted to, but I'll leave it at that.

But back to my first point, if you truly love Dragon Ball, and want to see it the way it was made, the Japanese cast is easy to adapt to.

[EXBadguy]

I KNOW this has nothing to do with the topic, but I'm under the impression that at least 98.9% of members here are subbies. Don't mean to insult some here, but I just wanted to get that off my chest.

[B]

I KNOW this has nothing to do with the topic, but I'm under the impression that at least 98.9% of members here are subbies. Don't mean to insult some here, but I just wanted to get that off my chest.

Nah, man. There are plenty of places to have quality discussions about Japanese Dragon Ball. It would sure be weird if we all gravitated to one place.

[EXBadguy]

I KNOW this has nothing to do with the topic, but I'm under the impression that at least 98.9% of members here are subbies. Don't mean to insult some here, but I just wanted to get that off my chest.

Nah, man. There are plenty of places to have quality discussions about Japanese Dragon Ball. It would sure be weird if we all gravitated to one place.

No, I don't mean that. I mean the majority of the members here preferring subs, praising the hell outta Kikuchi, and liking the lighthearted moments to a whole different level. Now, I'm not saying you're wrong for doing these things, you do what you want, I'm just putting it out there, cuz that's what I see mostly.

[Zephyr]

I KNOW this has nothing to do with the topic, but I'm under the impression that at least 98.9% of members here are subbies. Don't mean to insult some here, but I just wanted to get that off my chest.

No, I don't mean that. I mean the members here preferring subs, praising the hell outta Kikuchi, I think most of them are like that. Now, I'm not saying you're wrong for doing these things, you do what you want, I'm just putting it out there, cuz that's what I see.

What does this "astute observation" have anything at all to do with the thread? Why would you post something that you know has nothing to do with the topic? I'd say "why not make a thread about it?", but even that would be pointless. Most of the members of a forum that is tied to a website that focuses on the Japanese version of Dragon Ball prefer the Japanese version of Dragon Ball? That's literally intuitive. I don't see how something that intuitive warrants being pointed out.

[Ajay]

No, I don't mean that. I mean the majority of the members here preferring subs, praising the hell outta Kikuchi, and liking the lighthearted moments to a whole different level. Now, I'm not saying you're wrong for doing these things, you do what you want, I'm just putting it out there, cuz that's what I see mostly.

In this thread, sure. It's specifically targeted at sub fans.

Regarding the site overall? The split isn't too bad, actually.

Though, you're not wrong, there is a strong lenience towards the original language, but that's not surprising given that that's the version this website is based around.

From my 2014 survey:

Well, that's a wrap! Happy New Year everyone!

Japanese - 61
(57 not incl. staff votes)
English (FUNi Z) - 17
English (FUNi Kai) - 8
English (Ocean/Westwood) - 3
Portuguese - 3
German - 1
Spanish (Castilian) - 1
Spanish (Mexican) - 2
French (Kai) - 1
Korean (Tooniverse) - 2

61 vs. 28 for the total Japanese vs. English language dub preferences.

A total of 10 foreign (to the site) languages were picked.

40 people mentioned a second language next to their primary choice. This was usually a mix of FUNi Kai for voice acting reasons or one of the FUNi/Ocean/Westwood cast dubs for nostalgia.

11 people picked the FUNi Z dub without mentioning another language.

32 people picked Japanese without mentioning another language.

Thanks for taking part!

But as Zephyr said, I'm a little confused as to what that has to do with this thread.

[Sshadow5001]

I'd already watched a bunch of subbed material after downloading it with Kazaa (don't think it exists anymore lol) it was before FUNi dubbed movie 7

I switch to Subbed material on everything else many many years later with the Dragonboxes.

[EXBadguy]

Japanese - 61
(57 not incl. staff votes)
English (FUNi Z) - 17
English (FUNi Kai) - 8
English (Ocean/Westwood) - 3
Portuguese - 3
German - 1
Spanish (Castilian) - 1
Spanish (Mexican) - 2
French (Kai) - 1
Korean (Tooniverse) - 2

61 vs. 28 for the total Japanese vs. English language dub preferences.

A total of 10 foreign (to the site) languages were picked.

40 people mentioned a second language next to their primary choice. This was usually a mix of FUNi Kai for voice acting reasons or one of the FUNi/Ocean/Westwood cast dubs for nostalgia.

11 people picked the FUNi Z dub without mentioning another language.

32 people picked Japanese without mentioning another language.

Thanks for taking part!

So it looks like my assumption was true after all. Can't say I'm surprised. Okay, sorry for derailing the topic everyone.

[DemonRin]

So it looks like my assumption was true after all. Can't say I'm surprised. Okay, sorry for derailing the topic everyone.

I'm sorry... but I agree with the other folks here, what was the point of asking this? Your word usage kinda implies you think people preferring the sub version here is somehow a bad thing...

[EXBadguy]

Your word usage kinda implies you think people preferring the sub version here is somehow a bad thing...

Well, sorry you feel that way, but I'm just saying what I assume, and lo and behold, a reliable hypothesis proved it. Doesn't mean I hate yall for being pro-subs. Now, can we please drop it?

[Gaffer Tape]

Well, actually, while I kinda wish it was true, Ajay's poll doesn't really agree with you. I mean, Japanese fans are the clear majority to be sure, but there aren't even twice as many as those who choose something else. So it's nowhere near 98.9%.

But as for what you said, I don't think you said anything insulting. I mean, honestly, it was kind of confusing. All you did was make an observation without presenting an opinion or judgment on it and then told us not to be offended by it. So it almost seemed like there was something insulting being implied. Otherwise, why tell people not to be? So I assume that's why some people were a bit bristled by it.

[Kid Buu]

I first encountered the original language around 2004 when I was playing around with my DVD and set it to Japanese. Ever since then I've been a full blown weeaboo and never went back.

[huzaifa_ahmed]

For one thing...do *not* call them "dub" and "sub".
==
Call them "home language" (not regarding specifically to the English version, though this to tends to be equivalent), "original language", "Japanese version/dub", "English version/dub" ("FUNimation", if you will).

This isn't Akira or an American cartoon. The voices are all dubbed over unrelated video.

No one is talking about the damned subtitles, either. We are all conflating "intended language from country of origin" with "subtitled original language" and "dubbed" with "home language".

This is wrong.
That being said...to give some background...I've only seen random episodes of Funimation's 2000s dub. I played Budokai series in English, though. It's also the only language I heard this series in until about a few weeks ago, to be honest.
Anyhow...my exposure to the series is mainly during the Orange brick era, when I read Viz's translation, and picked up a couple of the DVD's from library - ultimate uncut edition.
Too many damn episodes/filler/pacing issues. Would not see again until January 2014. Watched Kai English.
Picked up Z DVD's at library; "this is some wonky audio. Awful quality. Not a bad voice/music though"

...until last month, when I decided to try a full episode of the Japanese Kai episode 46-48. Freeza=badass. SonGoku was different. To be honest, the voice took quite awhile to get used to, having never seen Dragon Ball part 1 in Japanese. I do understand the characterization, though. It works.
Everyone else is great. No issues. Horikawa is different, but not an acquired taste. He's regal.

I'm rectifying that JPN DB problem right now, with the blue bricks.

Saving up for the "Z" releases

[Kendamu]

I didn't have a problem getting used to the voices. I was cool with the voices from the very first time I saw Japanese DBZ. This is probably because I had played the SFC games on emulators and the PS1 games with the swap trick. What I had trouble with was distinguishing the different voices without looking.

A lot of the characters like Piccolo, Vegeta, Yamcha, and Tenshinhan didn't have over-the-top cartoon voices in the Japanese version so it took awhile for me to distinguish who was speaking without looking at the screen. That was the only thing I had to "get used to."

[Shiyonasan]

Didn't take long for me. I believe I first heard the Japanese cast in one of the video games (I think it was one of the Budokai Tenkaichi games), so I heard snippets of what their voices sounded like at that point. I remember not being too bothered by it and accepting it for what it was. I had a period that lapped over each other where I would listen to the dub and sub versions of the show from about 2006 to 2009. By 2009, I started listening to the Japanese version almost exclusively.

[dougo13]

I've never watched the whole show in spoken English. I've gotten used to the Japanese voices because that's what I started out with in anime fandom (though to be fair I started out with Star Blazers, Battle of the Planets and Albator which were all dubs). Sometimes when I'm on the board it's a bit weird compared to the fandom I came from where everyone wanted to learn Japanese. It's like no one wants this stuff unless its in spoken English. But then, people refer to characters in transliterated English (Engrish/Japlish...take your pick) or else use the Japanese words for things like the various moves. I cringe every time I see someone print Bulma instead of Bloomer. Hey, guys...that's her name...

I'm still uncomfortable with the English voice cast. These are people who are unknown to me vs. at least some of the Japanese cast whom I've known about for years. Ditto with the redone soundtrack. Sorry,but I prefer the original music. That's why I went out and bought it so many years ago. Shame that more of it isn't on services like Spotify but maybe they couldn't get the rights. My CD collection will have to do me for now.

Well, enough ranting for tonight...

[MajinVegetaPD]

How long did it take you to get used to the Japanese voices? Do you recommend me watching DBZ subbed? I've never watched DBZ subbed as I've either watched it in Italian growing up or in English so I'm curious to know...

It's not for everyone. I've tried the whole series subbed and cannot stand the voices and music at all.

[Thouser]

I never had a problem with the Japanese voices. Occassionally I would be surprised when a character's original voice was very different from the English dub (for example, the first time I watched DBZ Movie 1 in Japanese, I was surprised to find out that Garlic Jr. has a deep, commanding voice, since the Ocean dub, Funimation dub, and AB Group dub all gave him a high pitched voice). However, there was never a time when I went, "No, this is wrong! The dub did it better!"

The first time I heard Nozawa as Gokū (in DBZ movie 3), my reaction was "Oh, so this is what Goku really sounds like." I didn't think it was unfitting. If anything, I then felt that Sean Schemmel's voice in the Funimation dub was unfitting because of how different it was to the character of the original. (Nowdays I don't have a problem with his Gokū voice, although his Kaiō voice is totally unfitting.)

I had previously been aware that the dub (especially the early syndicated episodes with the Ocean actors) had censored things or totally made stuff up. Some stuff was obvious, like Vegeta's line about Gokū's father being a brilliant scientist who created the power ball. I had seen the Bardock special on Toonami, so that couldn't be true. Even as a kid I knew that was some made-up line the dub writers threw in because they hadn't seen the later episodes. However, while I knew some stuff had been changed, I didn't realize how different watching the original would feel.

Once I saw the original, I saw how different it was, and I preferred it. I also prefer Kikuchi's score to the US replacement scores, or Yamamoto's score.