Original DBZ vs Dubs

[Onikage725]

I agree with Tweaker. You guys, seriously. I just did a quick visual scan of the topics for the first 2 pages for both the gen and DB discussion forums, and didn't notice anything specifically comparing dubs and subs. It's possible I skimmed past one, but there's not an over-abundance of threads dedicated to this topic at the moment. Sure, some threads devolve into dub vs sub wars, but that's a different matter all together.

And just glancing at the forum rules, there's nothing I can see that should stop the creation of a thread like this. The rules warn against necro-posting, and state "don't be afraid to just start a new thread." It also warns to keep on topic, so I don't think coming in and saying the topic is unnecessary and/or posting links to a thread that's been dead for 3 and a half years (in reference to the "let's talk about the german dub/there's a thread for that" bit) validates your point.

Let the mods be the mods. If Mike thinks the discussion is pointless, he'll say so or lock the thread. For the rest of us, either contribute or post in another thread.

[obiwan23s]

Maybe I should just try to learn Japanese. I'm late to realize this but the original is best.

Never a bad idea. I learned Japanese in college almost specifically out of a love for anime and manga and wanting to be able to read/watch without needing a translation. It does take a lot of serious practice to become fluent enough to watch anime without subtitles. It's tough work drilling all the grammar but once you get that down, everything else falls into place. It's very rewarding if you take it seriously.

Honestly, probably not (at least in terms of exact phrasing, they generally get the right messgae across). The fansubs of Kai I'm watching are full of swearing. Especially Vegeta, he's all "Fucking hell" and "Go fuck yourself" and "You little dipshits!".

Yeah, and that's a damn shame. Just like the dub can't shake the reputation of its censored and dumbed down script plus a handful of voice actors that should've have never been given their roles (I'm looking at you, Freeza and #19), DBZ fansubs can't shake their reputation of needing excessive cursing to feel legitimate. I've brought this up to the the group doing it (that Vegeta is a speaks like an asshole but shouldn't be dropping F bombs). We'll see if they listen.

[Kendamu]

I grew up watching the US Dub, and now I'm watching DBKai and it's way more interesting. For example, North Kai has an old voice. In the US version he has this nerdy voice which doesn't make him sound venerable. It's like that with every character. With the Dub characters you get confused with what kind of person they are. I'm sure there are many more bad things about the Dubs. Thank goodness for fansubbing, but I'm not sure If I can trust them either. Maybe I should just try to learn Japanese. I'm late to realize this but the original is best.

Hopefully all the eggshell-walkers didn't scare you away. Don't be scared of them, though. They're on eggshells. They can't move that fast.

Anywho, I do like the Japanese version for a lot of the same reasons. While there are a lot of cartoon-ish voices in both versions, how abundant they are, how long they've been there, and where they're placed are much better. I mean, Oolong's voice is kind of cartoon-ish but he's been there since it was a gag anime.

Really, though, I'd say that the fansubs tend to get it right more often than FUNimation does if you're looking for the original lines. Lines that completely change the characterization of people like Vegeta and Freeza don't really make their way into the fansubs like they do in FUNi's version. While some things are translated wrong or additional cursing can be added, you still get the general idea of what they're saying as where in the FUNi version you're not going to get a lot of what was said in the Japanese version. If knowing how it was originally stated is important to you, subs are the best bet outside of learning Japanese.

EDIT: Just as a note, though, I'm pretty much watching Kai without subs so I'm not really sure how horrible the swearing really is. I've seen some of the earliest episodes with subs, though, and I don't remember seeing tons of swearing. I guess it depends on which group subs it.

On that note, though, learning Japanese isn't going to make the show instantly accessible to you. If you already know the story and you get a couple years of it under your belt, you'll get the general idea of what's being said when and you can use your knowledge of the story to fill in the gaps. Luckily, I've always found Dragonball Z to be a show full of people who love to talk slowly and annunciate what they're saying. Listening to DBZ is actually easier than listening to actual people. Just be prepared to work hard to get anywhere with learning Japanese.

As for other dubs, I've seen some examples of them posted around here before and they range fro "pretty good" to "Toei let these people have this show?!" I haven't watched enough of any of them to leave any real comments, though, except that I like the Pioneer/FUNi releases of DBZ Movies 1-3 with the Ocean Studios cast. Like Mike said in another recent topic that was de-railed into a Toei/FUNi debate, those releases of those movies are a completely different entity from the Ocean cast's take on the series. They're pretty accurate, the voices are pretty good, and the Japanese music is in the dub. To me, that is the only real North American dub of Dragonball Z. Everything done with the series is just a completely different version of the show that a lot of people tend to like; kind of like DBZ Abridged.

I can't really hate 'em for it, though. The only thing I can say is that, had the show been like the Pioneer/FUNi DBZ movies then I really wouldn't care about which language it was in when I watched it.

[Amigo Ten]

Watching Kai is really the first prolonged exposure to the Japanese voices I've had. I don't watch the anime much, and since I don't really have a preference for the Japanese or Funi dub, I just have the Funi dub. That way I can listen to it while doing other stuff without having to really watch it and read the subs.

Although actually I suppose I do prefer the Funi dub overall. The bad voices just end up funny to me, whereas the bad Japanese voices (there's a couple) just annoy me. The only voice in Kai that annoys me so far is Vegeta's, because it sounds too wet. Especially when he's screaming or shouting, it sounds like he's gargling or something.

But I do love Popo's Kai. Always makes me laugh. It's a proper toothless-old-man voice.

[Kunzait_83]

b

[Adamant]

DBZ fansubs can't shake their reputation of needing excessive cursing to feel legitimate. I've brought this up to the the group doing it (that Vegeta is a speaks like an asshole but shouldn't be dropping F bombs). We'll see if they listen.

It will be toned down (and would've been, regardless), but really - the dialogue during the battle with Nappa and Vegeta is hardly "inaccurately" subtitled. There are a lot of kusos, shikushous, kusottares and kisamas being thrown around, and while it's true that words like "damn" (or even "darn") would be equally acceptable translations, translating is supposed to covey the meaning and tone of the original, not just the dictionary definition of the words. It's not about "this series is hardcore shit", it's "if these characters were speaking English rather than Japanese, what would they say here?"

[Rocketman]

Is there any real reason why a genocidal psychopath wouldn't say "fuck"?

[Raki]

Is there any real reason why a genocidal psychopath wouldn't say "fuck"?

If the genocidal psychopath spoke Japanese.

[JulieYBM]

Is there any real reason why a genocidal psychopath wouldn't say "fuck"?

Sure, this is a terribly violent children's cartoon, but shouldn't we draw the line somewhere?

[B]

Is there any real reason why a genocidal psychopath wouldn't say "fuck"?

Sure, this is a terribly violent children's cartoon, but shouldn't we draw the line somewhere?

Maybe if you've got Goku uttering obscenities left and right, but a couple of rare instances doesn't sound too horrible to me.

[Amigo Ten]

Is there any real reason why a genocidal psychopath wouldn't say "fuck"?

Because he's on at 9 o'clock in the morning.

[Remix]

Is there any real reason why a genocidal psychopath wouldn't say "fuck"?

Sure, this is a terribly violent children's cartoon, but shouldn't we draw the line somewhere?

Maybe if you've got Goku uttering obscenities left and right, but a couple of rare instances doesn't sound too horrible to me.

I'd much rather he show us his package again. For old time's sake.

Leave the dirty talk mostly to the villains.

[jjgp1112]

I prefer the dub, mainly for the voices.

And before anybody says the, "he only likes it because it's what he grew up on" bullshit, I grew up watching BOTH versions, as I said in that one thread.

[NeptuneKai]

I prefer the dub, mainly for the voices.

And before anybody says the, "he only likes it because it's what he grew up on" bullshit, I grew up watching BOTH versions, as I said in that one thread.

Jesus no need to get hostile there friend.

[Kendamu]

I prefer the dub, mainly for the voices.

And before anybody says the, "he only likes it because it's what he grew up on" bullshit, I grew up watching BOTH versions, as I said in that one thread.

jjgp smash!!!

[Raki]

I prefer the dub, mainly for the voices.

And before anybody says the, "he only likes it because it's what he grew up on" bullshit, I grew up watching BOTH versions, as I said in that one thread.

The dub had a greater impact on you than the original version ever will, at least in my opinion.

[Metalwario64]

I prefer the dub, mainly for the voices.

And before anybody says the, "he only likes it because it's what he grew up on" bullshit, I grew up watching BOTH versions, as I said in that one thread.

Jesus no need to get hostile there friend.

Is your avatar Chi-Chi? It looks like her, what with the axe thing going on...
I'd like to know because it's been bothering me for some time now.
(lol)

[Amigo Ten]

I think overall Funi's voices suited the characters more. Most characters are fine either way, but there's a couple where I think the Funi VA's found a better voice for the characters than the Japanese VA's did. Freeza and Fat Buu being the most notable ones.

Also, honestly, I kind of love the stupid cornball Americanised twoddle that is the Funi script. Don't watch the anime much at all (whenever I want to go through the series or a part of it again, or look something, I'll go to my manga), mainly because I can't be bothered to acquire it all and I can't be arsed to sit there and watch it all. I know the story already only now it takes a whole lot longer because of (mostly) excruciatingly boring and annoying filler. So when I do occasionally watch some of it, I find it nice to have something different. I enjoy watching the Funi dub more for that reason.

Watching it in Japanese it's just: "Hey, this looks cool animated. I like the voices too."

But with Funi it's: "Hey, this looks cool animated. I like the voices too. Oh my God Jeice is Australian?! Did he just say "Let's throw some pain on the barby"?! Hilarious."

[Rocketman]

Is there any real reason why a genocidal psychopath wouldn't say "fuck"?

Because he's on at 9 o'clock in the morning.

Vegeta vaporizing an old man while he tries to shield a child - OK.
Vegeta saying 'fuck' - not OK.


Alrighty then.

[B]

Are you trying to state the obvious, Mr. Rocketman? Violence, genocide, and murder is NEVER as bad as saying hurtful words or whipping out the Cool Whip can. So says the MPAA, at least.