So are we biased?

[UpFromTheSkies]

To those who wouldn't mind a black actor playing Goku, would you be ok with TOEI suddenly changing his racial appearance in the anime with no explanation? What if they painted the actors skin green, would that be ok? If skin color and race are not defining features of the character, then it shouldn't matter, right? And would you be ok with a woman playing Goku?

[irreality]

A movie is an adaptation, and changes are expected -- there might be good reasons to have certain actors or racial characteristics to express something since there are no "real saiyans" in the world (or even real "Dragon Ball Earthlings"). Some are practical, some are thematic.

Suddenly changing the art style -- I'd need a justification, since I like consistency, but if it makes sense I don't mind. I'm sort of bothered by the changes in height of the characters because I assume their reasons are bad! To be fair, I wouldn't mind if Vegeta or Goku were more "generic brown" than they are now, I wouldn't even blink an eye at that. Enough fanart and flavor art have them darker, so that is sort of how they look in my head. If the justification is a transformation that turns Goku's skin dark, dark brown, I can't imagine it be any weirder than having his hair blue or pink.

[SSJ Human]

To those who wouldn't mind a black actor playing Goku, would you be ok with TOEI suddenly changing his racial appearance in the anime with no explanation? What if they painted the actors skin green, would that be ok? If skin color and race are not defining features of the character, then it shouldn't matter, right? And would you be ok with a woman playing Goku?

I don't get it. They already did that in GT and hardly anybody cared since that wasn't even a reason the show was bad. Why would the skin be green unless they were Namekian? Why would a woman be suggested to play Goku when this isn't a reverse gender story?

None of these points make any sense to me.

If you want to make the argument that he's not black so then he shouldn't be played by a black actor, then make it for every other race. Automatically if someone's black they can't play him? That's about as racist as it gets.

No one's saying that. They are saying that a black man would not be physically accurate to a portrayal of Goku. I'm not really sure how that's a debatable point either. You can argue about whether or not that's important, but Goku, as shown in Dragon Ball, does not resemble someone of African descent. That's not racist, that's a fact. If the goal of the production is to be as accurate to the source material as possible, then there is nothing wrong with not casting a black man because he doesn't resemble the character.

No one is being discriminated against. He would not be allowed the part because he doesn't have the qualities that they are looking for.

If a show about a Brooklyn lawyer doesn't hire a guy to play said lawyer because he's German, and he's got too strong of an accent to believably come across as a Brooklyn native, is that discriminatory?

If a show about a suburban housewife wouldn't hire a woman who was an amputee because their vision of the character did not include that character missing an arm, is the show discriminating against amputees?

What to you resembles African descent? I always saw him as being ambiguously dark in those images so why couldn't a black person play him? Because they're black and in you're non-existent perfect fantasy Dragon Ball film the actor is supposed to be Japanese or Korean or White?

You don't seem to understand something. An obese person can change their weight. A person can't change their race. A person with a missing arm is a physical difference that makes them distinct from the character they want to play. Goku has two arms, two legs and pretty much everything a person so how do you even equate that to missing limbs for something else?

[funrush]

To those who wouldn't mind a black actor playing Goku, would you be ok with TOEI suddenly changing his racial appearance in the anime with no explanation? What if they painted the actors skin green, would that be ok?

Green paint isn't a race.

[Marco Polo]

To those who wouldn't mind a black actor playing Goku, would you be ok with TOEI suddenly changing his racial appearance in the anime with no explanation? What if they painted the actors skin green, would that be ok?

Green paint isn't a race.

But Goku is an alien. How do you know aliens can't have a green race.

Look at the Namekians for example!

[TheKingOfKamehamehas]

To those who wouldn't mind a black actor playing Goku, would you be ok with TOEI suddenly changing his racial appearance in the anime with no explanation? What if they painted the actors skin green, would that be ok?

Green paint isn't a race.

But Goku is an alien. How do you know aliens can't have a green race.

Look at the Namekians for example!

No offense, but that statement about Toei changing Goku to be green would never happen...and this topic is getting kind of stupid unless you are talking about a transformation with Goku turning green. I would be fine with the transformation considering we have had hair changes.

We all know the Saiyans have the skin color of humans...

[funrush]

What would painting his skin green do for the role or for the movie?

A studio deciding to paint Goku's skin green for whatever reason is a different thing than casting someone who happens to be black. It's a bad argument. And as had been said above me, Saiyans canonically had human skin colors. If Goku was green, I think people would realize he's alien way before Raditz showed up.

[Adamant]

It's no different in my eyes than Sam Jackson playing Nick Fury in the Marvel movies. Sure it's still Nick Fury, but nobody's denying that it's not a new take on the character.

It's not, though. Jackson's Fury is based on Ultimate Fury, who's not only black, but specifically modeled after Jackson's likeness.

A better example would be Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin in the Daredevil movie (who also resembles the Kingpin pretty well aside from his race, and there weren't really all that many white actors that fit the part any better).

Also,

No one would cast whites as Lando Calrissian or Morpheus in Star Wars and Matrix remakes, since they were never portrayed as white, just like how Goku was never portrayed as black. Would you consider that "racism" against whites?

Terry is white in the Spawn movie despite being black in the comics.

[Polyphase Avatron]

What would painting his skin green do for the role or for the movie?

A studio deciding to paint Goku's skin green for whatever reason is a different thing than casting someone who happens to be black. It's a bad argument. And as had been said above me, Saiyans canonically had human skin colors. If Goku was green, I think people would realize he's alien way before Raditz showed up.

Well no one realized Piccolo was an alien until Raditz showed up either...

[TheGmGoken]

Can a black guy play Krillin then? How about an Eastern Asian playing Commander Black?

I wouldn't mind Turles being black. But unless it's based on an Alt. Universe. The character should look like the character. It's like a few weeks ago when everyone wanted Spiderman to be gay or bisexual in MCU

[SSJ Human]

Can a black guy play Krillin then? How about an Eastern Asian playing Commander Black?

I wouldn't mind Tullece being black. But unless it's based on an Alt. Universe. The character should look like the character. It's like a few weeks ago when everyone wanted Spiderman to be gay or bisexual in MCU

A black guy can play whoever they want. I'm just sick of some of these racist fans trying to make invalid arguments like Goku's skin should be green if it can be black. Are they calling black people aliens?

I don't remember any of this fussing when Chatwin got picked for the role. I don't remember anybody saying anything about let's have a korean or asian do it. So if a white actor is allowed to play Goku, why can't a black actor play him? Because he's black?

[TheGmGoken]

Can a black guy play Krillin then? How about an Eastern Asian playing Commander Black?

I wouldn't mind Tullece being black. But unless it's based on an Alt. Universe. The character should look like the character. It's like a few weeks ago when everyone wanted Spiderman to be gay or bisexual in MCU

A black guy can play whoever they want. I'm just sick of some of these racist fans trying to make invalid arguments like Goku's skin should be green if it can be black. Are they calling black people aliens?

I don't remember any of this fussing when Chatwin got picked for the role. I don't remember anybody saying anything about let's have a korean or asian do it. So if a white actor is allowed to play Goku, why can't a black actor play him? Because he's black?

You're using racist wrong. Every race is alien if you're unfamiliar with it. If Goku's black he wouldn't be surprising he's an alien unless there's more than 1 black character.

Besides didn't official guidebooks say Saiyans have yellow skin? I remember there was a human-saiyan comparison picture. I'm black myself and I just can't see Goku as black. Just prefer if he's a lighter shade (Not light skin shade).

Same reason I don't like Wally West as Black. Or as Marvel said. They're black so black people can relate.

[Draconic]

Goku should be asian no matter what. The casting call should specifically include asian as a requirement. I would hate a black Goku and if that makes me racist, so be it. I hate race changing in general. Even as a Marvel fanboy who loves every single one of those movies, I hate they cast a white woman to play a tibetan male character. There are enough characters in DB as a whole which could be played by a black person, so why not adapt it accurately? Piccolo could be played by anyone, for example. Those who don't blend in could be played by anyone and I wouldn't care, but if Goku would be played by a black dude, or Upa by a white dude, then that would piss me right off.

[UpFromTheSkies]

To those who wouldn't mind a black actor playing Goku, would you be ok with TOEI suddenly changing his racial appearance in the anime with no explanation? What if they painted the actors skin green, would that be ok? If skin color and race are not defining features of the character, then it shouldn't matter, right? And would you be ok with a woman playing Goku?

I don't get it. They already did that in GT and hardly anybody cared since that wasn't even a reason the show was bad.

They changed his racial appearance in GT? He looks the same to me. The overall color pallet of the show was darker, but he's still the same

Spoiler:

Why would the skin be green unless they were Namekian?

Why would it be black unless he was black? If skin color is irrelevant to the character like people are saying, then they should be ok with green skin too, or the actor being covered in tattoos or huge birth marks.

Why would a woman be suggested to play Goku when this isn't a reverse gender story?

None of these points make any sense to me.

Why would a racial reverse be ok, but a gender reverse not be ok? If saying no to a black actor is racist, is saying no to a female actor sexist? Can't a female actor embody all the characteristics of Goku's personality?

And for the record, I would be completely ok with a black actor playing Goku, I think it would be interesting to have the character reimagined... but I also think it's complete BS when people say that changing his race wouldn't be a reimagining of the character because his skin color doesn't matter, and yet at the same time they wouldn't want him be green.

[Adamant]

I don't remember any of this fussing when Chatwin got picked for the role. I don't remember anybody saying anything about let's have a korean or asian do it.

I do. Lots of people said both of those things. Chatwin was never a very popular choice for the role.

[Hellspawn28]

I don't remember any of this fussing when Chatwin got picked for the role.

Trust me a lot of people did. You must have been living under a rock in 2007 because the news of Justin Chatwin caused a lot of blacklash and hate on the web. So many people wanted Hugh Jackman for the role.

[UpFromTheSkies]

I don't know anyone who was happy with Chatwin playing Goku. The only person I can imagine playing a faithful adaption of the character is a young Jackie Chan, and I found out recently that Toriyama shares the same sentiment.

[rereboy]

A black guy can play whoever they want. I'm just sick of some of these racist fans trying to make invalid arguments like Goku's skin should be green if it can be black. Are they calling black people aliens?

I don't remember any of this fussing when Chatwin got picked for the role. I don't remember anybody saying anything about let's have a korean or asian do it. So if a white actor is allowed to play Goku, why can't a black actor play him? Because he's black?

A black actor will have to do exactly the same that every other actor hopes to do: fit the profile of the character, in looks and ability to play him. And yes, there were people complaining about Goku not being asian when Evolution was around, as well as a lot of other complaints, but at least Chatwin is actually closer in terms of looks to manga Goku than presumably a black actor would be. You are frankly just reaching.

[SSJ Human]

Can a black guy play Krillin then? How about an Eastern Asian playing Commander Black?

I wouldn't mind Tullece being black. But unless it's based on an Alt. Universe. The character should look like the character. It's like a few weeks ago when everyone wanted Spiderman to be gay or bisexual in MCU

A black guy can play whoever they want. I'm just sick of some of these racist fans trying to make invalid arguments like Goku's skin should be green if it can be black. Are they calling black people aliens?

I don't remember any of this fussing when Chatwin got picked for the role. I don't remember anybody saying anything about let's have a korean or asian do it. So if a white actor is allowed to play Goku, why can't a black actor play him? Because he's black?

You're using racist wrong. Every race is alien if you're unfamiliar with it. If Goku's black he wouldn't be surprising he's an alien unless there's more than 1 black character.

Besides didn't official guidebooks say Saiyans have yellow skin? I remember there was a human-saiyan comparison picture. I'm black myself and I just can't see Goku as black. Just prefer if he's a lighter shade (Not light skin shade).

Same reason I don't like Wally West as Black. Or as Marvel said. They're black so black people can relate.

I'm not using anything wrong. How is every race alien? What sense does that make? You're using "alien" wrong.

They could have more than one black character. Simple as that.

To those who wouldn't mind a black actor playing Goku, would you be ok with TOEI suddenly changing his racial appearance in the anime with no explanation? What if they painted the actors skin green, would that be ok? If skin color and race are not defining features of the character, then it shouldn't matter, right? And would you be ok with a woman playing Goku?

I don't get it. They already did that in GT and hardly anybody cared since that wasn't even a reason the show was bad.

They changed his racial appearance in GT? He looks the same to me. The overall color pallet of the show was darker, but he's still the same

Spoiler:

Why would the skin be green unless they were Namekian?

Why would it be black unless he was black? If skin color is irrelevant to the character like people are saying, then they should be ok with green skin too, or the actor being covered in tattoos or huge birth marks.

Why would a woman be suggested to play Goku when this isn't a reverse gender story?

None of these points make any sense to me.

Why would a racial reverse be ok, but a gender reverse not be ok? If saying no to a black actor is racist, is saying no to a female actor sexist? Can't a female actor embody all the characteristics of Goku's personality?

And for the record, I would be completely ok with a black actor playing Goku, I think it would be interesting to have the character reimagined... but I also think it's complete BS when people say that changing his race wouldn't be a reimagining of the character because his skin color doesn't matter, and yet at the same time they wouldn't want him be green.

It doesn't surprise me that you used an image of Super Saiyan 4 Goku as opposed to his base form, where his skin was darker. But see that's how ridiculous you want to be. What was the point of even linking that picture when both you and I saw GT? Do you remember Goku only being Super Saiyan 4 the entire way through, never reverting to his base form that looked black?

I'm talking about ethnicity and also the fact that being black is normal, just as it is to be any other race. Having green skin is strange. I don't know any human that does so you're really making an invalid point in trying to say that I've said skin color doesn't matter when I was speaking strictly on how an actor would be discriminated against for their race. I don't know any green humans and it certainly wouldn't actually cause problems for the film since he would obviously be an alien. That whole point was so idiotic that you didn't even bother to comprehend the fact that you just compared being black to being an alien? Why would you do that?

The same argument applies to changing him into a woman. Goku is male. There are plenty of male actors out there and changing his gender would tamper with the story because he is male. Making him black won't do anything but leave you secretly wishing he was another race because of your own prejudice.

A black guy can play whoever they want. I'm just sick of some of these racist fans trying to make invalid arguments like Goku's skin should be green if it can be black. Are they calling black people aliens?

I don't remember any of this fussing when Chatwin got picked for the role. I don't remember anybody saying anything about let's have a korean or asian do it. So if a white actor is allowed to play Goku, why can't a black actor play him? Because he's black?

A black actor will have to do exactly the same that every other actor hopes to do: fit the profile of the character, in looks and ability to play him. And yes, there were people complaining about Goku not being asian when Evolution was around, as well as a lot of other complaints, but at least Chatwin is actually closer in terms of looks to manga Goku than presumably a black actor would be. You are frankly just reaching.

I'm not reaching for anything. It just doesn't make sense to me when the source material that you all love so much has him with darker skin. The anime can have whatever it want. The manga is still the source material and I wouldn't have provided those images were they not to prove my point that it would still be accurate for the character to have darker skin. That's just the way it is. Don't blame me, blame the guy that colored him dark in those pictures. Because if he had never done that, I wouldn't have suggested it.

[TheGmGoken]

Probably with better clothing and shit. But here's what an actor who's black , African , or of a darker shade would look.
http://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/fans ... er-jahlon/

Spoiler: