Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[JulieYBM]

Can I just ask a question that's bothering me about many of the people on this forum? Why must you look for things to criticize in the Kai dub? Everyone here gets that people like penguintruth do not like Schemmel's Goku performance, though in fairness, no one should really care. Realistically, Kai is supposed to be a huge improvement over the original dub. It is. If you don't like how Funimation has handled the series, you won't like any version of it, so you'll look for something to criticize.


And before anyone comments on this, go back and read through some of the previous pages. This is not applicable to everyone, but for people who've watched the DVDs, the comments tend to minimally note that the dub script and acting is a lot better, but then downplay that by pointing out that OMG Sonny Strait mispronounced Kienzan or oh crap! they call it "Tri Beam." If you're so fixated on things like that, the dub clearly isn't for you, and no dub probably ever will be because you'll never get 100% accuracy. So buy the Dragon Box sets, watch the Japanese version, and stop bitching about it. Let everyone else who likes the dub appreciate the obvious effort Funmiation finally put into dubbing a DBZ-related non-video game property.

Because FUNimation continually proves to us that complaining about a lack of faithfulness gets us what we want, faithfulness. First subbed DVDs, next cheap box sets, then the Dragon Boxs, somewhat better dub casting and acting (well, Bulma goes under the 'freakin' awesome' category), and then Makankô-sappô of all things. If we keep it up we might someday get 'Tenshinhan' and 'Kiko-Hô'.

[bkev]

Isn't there a copyright issue with Tenshinhan?

[jjgp1112]

But you realize that at this point, you guys sound incredibly nitpicky. You guys got a faithful script/presentation and better acting, what else do you want, for God's sake? It seems like now you're mad because they're not doing everything EXACTLY as you want it to be.

[JulieYBM]

Isn't there a copyright issue with Tenshinhan?

I'm sure there was one with 'Zoro' too, but FUNimation pulled through. If they knew the issue was worth the trouble of the change to fans they'd be more inclined to deal with it.


Gah, I still want to shake Sabat's hand for Makankô-sappô.

[Greenman]

And dammit, if one more person overrates MasakoX, I'll fuckin', I'll fuckin...

'Overrates'? How about you right a concise reason why you think MasakoX is not a good performer of the Gokû role so discussion can be had?

I'm not trying to be mean, but to me he's Peter Kelamis with worse acting.

Isn't there a copyright issue with Tenshinhan?

What would the copyright issue be?

[penguintruth]

I'm not trying to be mean, but to me he's Peter Kelamis with worse acting.

He's Peter Kelamis (who is decent), but more consistent. Which makes him better, and the best English dub Goku, to me. When I hear MasakoX's Goku, I think "that's English-speaking Goku".

Also, I'm not making any real judgements on the Kai dub until I watch entire episodes of it. From what I've heard, it sounds a lot better than the Z dub, so I'm pretty happy, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't criticize a few problems. It's not so good as to be above reproach.

[NeoKING]

I'm not trying to be mean, but to me he's Peter Kelamis with worse acting.

He's Peter Kelamis (who is decent), but more consistent. Which makes him better, and the best English dub Goku, to me. When I hear MasakoX's Goku, I think "that's English-speaking Goku".

Also, I'm not making any real judgements on the Kai dub until I watch entire episodes of it. From what I've heard, it sounds a lot better than the Z dub, so I'm pretty happy, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't criticize a few problems. It's not so good as to be above reproach.

Sorry, but who is "MasakoX?" I mean if she's as good as Masako Nozawa and Peter Kelamis then I sure do want to hear her performance.

[penguintruth]

Sorry, but who is "MasakoX?" I mean if she's as good as Masako Nozawa and Peter Kelamis then I sure do want to hear her performance.

He's the guy who voices Goku in the fan parody series DBZ Abridged.

He has a series of voice acting instructional videos on ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com, as well.

[Metalwario64]

Wow... After seeing a Youtube debate over whether Fri­eza is a girl or not... I really even further wish that they would replace Linda Young with a more appropriate voice... I don't know whether it's due to YouTube commenters being completely mindless fools, or that Fri­eza's dub voice is that misplaced...

AfghaniHinduKush @ecafsinep true but I'm sure I've heard her being called both ''he'' and ''she''. but i think she is female just from her voice.

I mean... wow...

Sorry, but who is "MasakoX?" I mean if she's as good as Masako Nozawa and Peter Kelamis then I sure do want to hear her performance.

It's a he, and he is the voice for Goku in Dragon Ball Z Abridged. Personally, I think he is overrated (but by no means is he bad). He sounds like Kelamis, but his line delivery seems a bit flatter. I mean no offense to him as an individual, I even think his voice is perfectly appropriate for a parody, but as people such as jjgp1112 and Kunzait_83 have stated, it's just blowing things way out of proportion to consider him the best English voice for Goku ever...

[penguintruth]

it's just blowing things way out of proportion to consider him the best English voice for Goku ever...

He's certainly far better than Sean Schemmel.

[DemonRin]

Isn't there a copyright issue with Tenshinhan?

What would the copyright issue be?

Ever play any DBZ fighting game? Go to the character select screen, and you'll notice they went out of their way to put "TM" on every single character name. Because FUNi's head office Trademarked most of the character names for use in the US. They have to use the names as Trademarked.

That's what I was told anyway. And that will also cause them to have to keep... *cringe* Frieza...

[NeoKING]

Isn't there a copyright issue with Tenshinhan?

What would the copyright issue be?

Ever play any DBZ fighting game? Go to the character select screen, and you'll notice they went out of their way to put "TM" on every single character name. Because FUNi's head office Trademarked most of the character names for use in the US. They have to use the names as Trademarked.

That's what I was told anyway. And that will also cause them to have to keep... *cringe* Frieza...

Really? I always wondered why... but in Budokai 3, wasn't there a TM next to Hercule's name? But I have one of the GT videos(the one with Bebi's death and the Earth exploding) and they call him "Mr. Satan" throughout.

[Gaffer Tape]

I admit I don't know anything about trademark laws, but is there really anything keeping them from separately registering the name "Tenshinhan"? I honestly just think the trademark thing is an excuse for them simply not wanting to change it.

I mean, think about it. Is the name "Great Saiyaman" trademarked? Well, that's just Gohan in a costume. So now Gohan has two different trademarked names. It seems to me that Tenshinhan could as well.

[DemonRin]

Ever play any DBZ fighting game? Go to the character select screen, and you'll notice they went out of their way to put "TM" on every single character name. Because FUNi's head office Trademarked most of the character names for use in the US. They have to use the names as Trademarked.

That's what I was told anyway. And that will also cause them to have to keep... *cringe* Frieza...

Really? I always wondered why... but in Budokai 3, wasn't there a TM next to (the H-word)'s name? But I have one of the GT videos(the one with Bebi's death and the Earth exploding) and they call him "Mr. Satan" throughout.

Watch the Cell Games dubbed, they call him "Hercule Satan". They trademarked it as "Hercule Satan", and they only ever used "Satan" instead of just going with Hercule in the uncut, because the Town says "SATAN CITY" everywhere big as day. It was either leave his name as Satan in the uncut, or edit the signs (thus making it so they weren't uncut anymore)

[TRIZACK]

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[Gozar]

it's just blowing things way out of proportion to consider him the best English voice for Goku ever...

He's certainly far better than Sean Schemmel.

Oh come on. I've just gotta jump in here, I've kept quiet about the overrating of MasakoX to this point. But now that other people are speaking up I can't keep quiet any longer. MasakoX is a great Goku for DBZ Abridged and his acting is pretty damn good. But he is by no means on the level of Sean Schemmel or Ian Corlett. I'd say he's better than Kelamis and Morrow. But his voice is, well, just too parody. I'm not trying to offend the man in any way. I love what he does. But he could never play the real Goku. His voice just doesn't work for it. It's a similar case to Lani's Kuririn (Though HELL if he couldn't play Yusuke). Certain things work on the parody and comedy plain, but not in the real series.

[penguintruth]

it's just blowing things way out of proportion to consider him the best English voice for Goku ever...

He's certainly far better than Sean Schemmel.

Oh come on. I've just gotta jump in here, I've kept quiet about the overrating of MasakoX to this point. But now that other people are speaking up I can't keep quiet any longer. MasakoX is a great Goku for DBZ Abridged and his acting is pretty damn good. But he is by no means on the level of Sean Schemmel or Ian Corlett. I'd say he's better than Kelamis and Morrow. But his voice is, well, just too parody. I'm not trying to offend the man in any way. I love what he does. But he could never play the real Goku. His voice just doesn't work for it. It's a similar case to Lani's Kuririn (Though HELL if he couldn't play Yusuke). Certain things work on the parody and comedy plain, but not in the real series.

As the kids on 4chan say:

>>Implying Ian Corlett and Sean Schemmel are better than Peter Kelamis or MasakoX

Oh, you card. Ian Corlett and Sean Schemmel's Gokus are both in a similar vein: stiff, and uncomfortable to listen to, but Corlett has more personality in his Goku. Neither of them have the charm that Kelamis or MasakoX bring to the role. They capture the spirit of the character, rather than just the role of "hero of the story".

MasakoX's is especially brimming with Goku's energy. He's almost perfect.

But I guess if you've been sold on the dub version of Goku for so long, you begin to think that's really what he's like as a character, the type of character Sean Schemmel's voice IS appropriate for. But that's not Goku.

[Gaffer Tape]

Do you not think that, if MasakoX was playing Goku in the series proper, that he couldn't simply tone down the parodic nature of his current performance and be a perfect Goku? I think he could.

[Mewzard]

As the kids on 4chan say:

>>Implying Ian Corlett and Sean Schemmel are better than Peter Kelamis or MasakoX

Oh, you card. Ian Corlett and Sean Schemmel's Gokus are both in a similar vein: stiff, and uncomfortable to listen to, but Corlett has more personality in his Goku. Neither of them have the charm that Kelamis or MasakoX bring to the role. They capture the spirit of the character, rather than just the role of "hero of the story".

MasakoX's is especially brimming with Goku's energy. He's almost perfect.

But I guess if you've been sold on the dub version of Goku for so long, you begin to think that's really what he's like as a character, the type of character Sean Schemmel's voice IS appropriate for. But that's not Goku.

So what you're saying is, anyone who likes Schemmel's Goku is just adjusting to something wrong, and are wrong in their views, making yourself right.

That's arrogant as Hell. I happen to like his Goku, and I've watched dubbed (Ocean and Funi), subbed, I've read the manga, played the games, all of these things for over a decade. Why does my opinion suddenly become devalued because you dislike him? To me, Schemmel is Goku. And so is Masako Nozawa. Not exactly Goku in the same way, but, like James Bond, they capture the core of the character, and add in their own takes. So, everyone wins, no?

[penguintruth]

Sean Schemmel captures very little of Goku. Bits and pieces during certain times, at best.