Kai Continues Outside Japan

[coola]

I almost feel sorry for Chris Sabat, when he will have to explain for his "Buu Saga was a filler"

[dbboxkaifan]

I almost feel sorry for Chris Sabat, when he will have to explain for his "Buu Saga was a filler"

Other FUNimation employees said the intended ending of DBZ was by Cell's saga and that Majin Buu's saga was only filler.

I don't think their fanbase even knows they said this or remembers.

[dbzfan7]

HOLY SH*T!

I really want to see someone else try Gohan, though. Don't get me wrong, I think Kyle Hebert can act, it's just...his voice doesn't really fit the role in my opinion. I think that Colleen Clinkenbeard would make a very interesting Gohan if she can make herself sound the age. If she can't, then Sean Schemmel would be pretty cool if he can differentiate his voice from Goku enough.

If Toonami gets a big enough budget, then it would be awesome for them to air it.

I personally think Kyle Hebert does a great Gohan. He sounds nerdy, kind, epic, and abnormal when acting around humans. Maybe there is someone who could do better, but I don't think that person is Sean Schemmel.

[kei17]

This time Toei must be giving more care to international standards, so I wonder whether they're censoring video themselves. I wish they're making the uncut version anyway.

[xXInfinite026Xx]

This time Toei must be giving more care to international standards, so I wonder whether they're censoring video themselves. I wish they're making the uncut version anyway.

I sure hope Toei doesn't take it upon themselves to censor Kai for the international market. If that we the case, there will be no true "uncut" version of Kai itself to market on the official releases, and the TV friendly version will be the ONLY version -_-

I really hope for Toei's censorship to be no more different than how the majority of Kai was treated (sans the early Goku and Raditz death) and let the overseas distributors handle the necessary censorship for their TV audience.

Besides can you imagine the fandom backlash if Toei were to *shiver* make Popo blue just to cater to the American CW4Kids TV version

[Fizzer]

What even was the problem with Popo being black, that didn't make Piccolo being green or anyone else being "white person coloured" a problem? Toei won't censor, they know that would be a terrible move because some companies want to release uncut versions, and they know everyone required different levels of censorship. They can't decide what is or isn't suitable for every TV station. They're probably hoping to air or at least release it in Japan at some time in the future, anyway.

[VegettoEX]

What even was the problem with Popo being black

While there's certainly a debate to be had over why Popo was "fine" as-is in North America from 1996 up through that change on the 4Kids programming block despite being on similar channels in similar time slots at different points in time, and there's also certainly a great conversation to be had about Japanese cultural viewpoints in the 1980s when the series was a product of its time...

... asking what the problem is shows a distinct lack of cultural and historical sensitivity and awareness, particularly if you do happen to be from North America.

(I'm not sure if you are or not, though, so by all means let us know if that is all completely news to you.)

[Fizzer]

What even was the problem with Popo being black

While there's certainly a debate to be had over why Popo was "fine" as-is in North America from 1996 up through that change on the 4Kids programming block despite being on similar channels in similar time slots at different points in time, and there's also certainly a great conversation to be had about Japanese cultural viewpoints in the 1980s when the series was a product of its time...

... asking what the problem is shows a distinct lack of cultural and historical sensitivity and awareness, particularly if you do happen to be from North America.

(I'm not sure if you are or not, though, so by all means let us know if that is all completely news to you.)

I'm not from North America, and the issue does seem bizarre to me. I'm sorry if not knowing about it offends anyone. I have heard of similar things like the terms "blackboard" and "black coffee" being considered racially offensive, but I don't understand those either, I think black is just a colour.

If the colour of Popo is actually intended to be a racial joke, like he's an offensive caricature of a black person, and that sort of thing was common in Japan (and the USA?) at that time, then it would make sense. I haven't heard that that's the case, but it's all I can think of.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Well, to summarize the controversy, the problem wasn't that he was black, the problem was that he was drawn in such a way that he resembled somebody wearing a style of makeup called "blackface," which is considered extremely offensive in North America. Firstly for its unattractive physical appearance, and secondly for its historical roots, in which it was typically used in artistic and theatrical productions that portrayed black people as lazy and ignorant (NOT AN OPINION I SHARE, to be clear, I'm just relaying historical information about how that makeup style was typically used earlier in North American history). Popo does, unfortunately, resemble blackface to an extent. There's his his black skin, and you also have his over-sized lips and a few missing teeth...all elements of blackface.

Since Japan doesn't have a significant history of portraying black people as ignorant, they do not regard blackface as offensive. It has no meaning to them.

Interestingly enough, though, I've talked to several fans of DBZ Kai who are black, and they said they were more offended by the CW turning him blue than they were by his original appearance.

[VegettoEX]

Let's not forget that Popo also talks like a child in Japanese, grossly exaggerating things even more.

[Fizzer]

Well, to summarize the controversy, the problem wasn't that he was black, the problem was that he was drawn in such a way that he resembled somebody wearing a style of makeup called "blackface," which is considered extremely offensive in North America. Firstly for its unattractive physical appearance, and secondly for its historical roots, in which it was typically used in artistic and theatrical productions that portrayed black people as lazy and ignorant (NOT AN OPINION I SHARE, to be clear, I'm just relaying historical information about how that makeup style was typically used earlier in North American history). Popo does, unfortunately, resemble blackface to an extent. There's his his black skin, and you also have his over-sized lips and a few missing teeth...all elements of blackface.

Since Japan doesn't have a significant history of portraying black people as ignorant, they do not regard blackface as offensive. It has no meaning to them.

Interestingly enough, though, I've talked to several fans of DBZ Kai who are black, and they said they were more offended by the CW turning him blue than they were by his original appearance.

I thought it would be more offensive to recolour a "black" character, but I thought it was on the grounds that he was black. I always thought Popo was just some sort of mystical being. I never realised his appearance was actually a racist gag, but again, I'm not from America.

Sorry, everyone, for my lack of understanding.

[VegettoEX]

Sorry, everyone, for my lack of understanding.

No need to apologize! That's why I finished my initial post that way -- we are SUCH an international community, that just automatically assuming everyone knows everything about every culture is a little naive, so I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. I'm pretty sure everyone here is happy to explain, share, and learn together .

[TheBlackPaladin]

Yeah, Fizzer, no worries! Like I said, that artistic style doesn't have the same impact depending on where it's used. I don't want to say this for certain, but I'm pretty sure North America (and possibly a few other primarily English-speaking countries) are the only countries to do any kind of censoring of Popo, in the anime or the manga. In many other places--most notably Japan--it doesn't have the same meaning, and isn't considered offensive.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I just had a thought. Assuming they continue to do some brief new animation for Kai, I hope they whip together an animation of the extra ending that Toriyama did for the final episode of this. I've always wanted to see it animated.

Oh, and on the Popo thing, quick question - I've heard it explained that another reason for Japan's general insensitivity towards the whole 'blackface' thing is because they picked up some of it from our old movies and cartoons that went over there that did it, back before it was seen as offensive as it was. Is there any truth to that at all? There's also a fairly low black population in Japan for them to even worry about offending, in-country anyway, right?

[Hellspawn28]

I wonder what characters will they recast for the dub? It won't surprise me if they give Fat Buu a new voice.

[InfernalVegito]

This is awesome! Finally Vegetto in brilliant HD so to speak. I am still baffled why this is not going to be aired in Japan.

[ThunderPX]

I wonder what characters will they recast for the dub? It won't surprise me if they give Fat Buu a new voice.

Personally I'd be alright with the same voice, as long as they fix his speech pattern.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

This time Toei must be giving more care to international standards, so I wonder whether they're censoring video themselves.

That's my biggest fear.

[bkev]

Do we know who's financing it yet? If Saban's footing the bill, that might be the case. Remember Ultimate Muscle got its second season sans forehead kanji due to the Fox Network actually footing the bill. If Toei is doing this of its own will, who knows?

[andrewtuell1991]

Let's not forget that Popo also talks like a child in Japanese, grossly exaggerating things even more.

I've never though of his speech pattern as childish, more like a caveman. Which makes since given how old Mr. Popo is, his speaking skills would be somewhat primitive, like talking in third person, leaving out articles, etc. Toku Nishio voice for Popo always sounded like a caveman and never came off as stereotypical, to me anyways.

I wonder what characters will they recast for the dub? It won't surprise me if they give Fat Buu a new voice.

Personally I'd be alright with the same voice, as long as they fix his speech pattern.

I hope they replace Martin with someone else, like Greg Ayres (heard that name kicked around a few times and it could work). I also hope they can find a single VA for all the forms of Boo. I've never understood why Funi and Ocean had to have different VAs for each of his main forms. They didn't do that with Freeza or Cell, so why Boo?