FUNimation Announces "Kai" License ("DBZ Kai")

[Big Momma]

I don't really mind pronunciations that much. Although sometimes it's wrong, for the most part it's just using the American accent compared to the Japanese one.

For example, the word "Saiyan". For the Japanese, it's pronounced "Sigh-an", but for Americans, I think "Sey-an" is just fine. We've got the word "faith" with the same "ai" in the middle of it, but we don't pronounce it "figh-th"

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

The only pronunciations that really bother me are "Saiyan", "Kaio-ken", "Kamehameha", and "Gero". If they could fix those, that'd be great. Will they? I'm not too optimistic they will. I just cringe every time someone says them wrong, especially the first two. Unfortunately, FUNimation has them so ingrained into the fandom that I'll be hearing them until I die. Sometimes I wish they hadn't acquired the license for DragonBall until after they had become a competent company and anime had had more of a foothold in North America. If that were the case, a lot of these things may have been avoided. But as I've told myself many times with respect to FUNimation's handling of DragonBall, "Goodbye hope, hello wallet!" I give them credit for the Dragon Boxes, but I'm very curious to see what they do with DBZK, or whatever it's called.

There is a lot of hope for them fixing Kaio-ken. Both Burst Limit and Raging Blast have Goku saying Kaio-ken properly. As for Saiyan and Gero, there is less hope for those two. Gero is a possibility but it's not a big enough deal(in their minds) to do anything about it. Something like Saiyan would be hard to fix with out a lot of people screaming "blasphemy" at Funimation. We may know better here at Daizex, but like VegettoEX pointed out we are the minority and we are heavily out numbered by people who feel Saiyan is already pronounced properly. Those same people would have fits if Funimation decided to use SIGHen. It is unfortunate but it is a fact and since it has been established as SAYen for so long(over 10 years now), people are going to have a hard time excepting the change even if it is correct.

[Mountain]

Another thing I've always hated about FUNi's dub is that just about everyone who is not a main character (basically, your average Earthling) sounds either retarded or completely redneck? Why is that? In the Japanese version, it's more believable and easier to watch when the townspeople sound normal. Sure, there are plenty of rednecks in the world. However, not everyone in the city will be one! Then, there are the exceptions; certain villains sound retarded. I won't go into detail here, as we've mostly all seen their dub. I really hope the Kai dub is not the same old crap. Not that it matters, as I'm completely content with the original version.

[SSVegetto]

I don't really mind pronunciations that much. Although sometimes it's wrong, for the most part it's just using the American accent compared to the Japanese one.

For example, the word "Saiyan". For the Japanese, it's pronounced "Sigh-an", but for Americans, I think "Sey-an" is just fine. We've got the word "faith" with the same "ai" in the middle of it, but we don't pronounce it "figh-th"

I whole heartily agree with you.

Those same people would have fits if Funimation decided to use SIGHen. It is unfortunate but it is a fact and since it has been established as SAYen for so long(over 10 years now), people are going to have a hard time excepting the change even if it is correct.

I don't care which way they pronounce it. My only gripe is that some people expect them to get every Japanese name pronunciation correct. Not just correct but an exact science to it. In fact, I went and checked to see if there were some English dubs that were spot on with pronunciations on every Japanese name. Well, I checked Outlaw Star, and in ep 15, the term Monkoku was pronounced differently in the English dub. See it's nit picking, anyone can find this kind of stuff in any English dub.

To me people should be more concerned about the voices and the script and less about the pronunciations.


@Kaboom I still don't understand what way Goku is suppose to be pronounced correctly, according to you. Or daizex.
Go - just like Go.
Ku - Ku like Cuckoo for Cocoa puffs. I don't know lol. Or how about less on "Go" and have it sound like Gaku? I have seen the Japanese dub and the English dub and I don't remember any difference between the two. It seems like you got these pronunciations to an exact science.

[Budogenkai]

So this will be the 5th release of Dragonball Z by FUNimation?

Dang, that's a lot for one show.

[Kendamu]

I don't think Kai counts as "another release of Z" in the standard sense.

[DemonRin]

Toei tried very hard to make this a standout release, that's why they renamed it.

So technically speaking, it's not the 5th release of Dragon Ball Z, it's the first release of Dragon Ball Kai.

[Adamant]

@Kaboom I still don't understand what way Goku is suppose to be pronounced correctly, according to you. Or daizex.

Emphasis on the "ku", not on the "go". The dub pronouces it as if it was written "Gooku" rather than "Gokuu".

[Hujio]

Unfortunately, FUNimation has them so ingrained into the fandom that I'll be hearing them until I die.

It is unfortunate but it is a fact and since it has been established as SAYen for so long (over 10 years now), people are going to have a hard time excepting the change even if it is correct.

Isn't that basically what I said? I have no plans of it ever being changed, nor would I expect them to even consider it. Would I like it? Yeah. Will they? Very doubtful.

[Kendamu]

Unfortunately, FUNimation has them so ingrained into the fandom that I'll be hearing them until I die.

It is unfortunate but it is a fact and since it has been established as SAYen for so long (over 10 years now), people are going to have a hard time excepting the change even if it is correct.

Isn't that basically what I said? I have no plans of it ever being changed, nor would I expect them to even consider it. Would I like it? Yeah. Will they? Very doubtful.

Now, Kaiou Ken, on the other hand...

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

Unfortunately, FUNimation has them so ingrained into the fandom that I'll be hearing them until I die.

It is unfortunate but it is a fact and since it has been established as SAYen for so long (over 10 years now), people are going to have a hard time excepting the change even if it is correct.

Isn't that basically what I said? I have no plans of it ever being changed, nor would I expect them to even consider it. Would I like it? Yeah. Will they? Very doubtful.

Yes basically. I was, more or less, addressing the Kaio-ken thing.

[linkdude20002001]

I still can't pronounce half of the names in Naruto (In fact my friend pronounces Itachi (Itchy -kind of funny). I think we are too spoiled here in the United States. I wish you could be more appreciative that we get a English dub in the first place. And also with the fact, the voices are really good and talented. The most important part. But yet you complain about them pronouncing Japanese words.

And another thing, sometimes they have English Lyrics for their intros. Where we have Japanese singers singing English. You want to tell me that they pronounce our words correctly 100% of the time? Hell, I give them credit for a such a good job on it. But it's not perfect.

Come on man, have some consideration, that it may be hard to pronounce a foreign language. Quit being such a baby. You think you would be more appreciative.

Then your friend must have a difficulty pronouncing certain words; some people can't pronounce cinnamin. Now Orochimaru I can understand if someone can't pronounce (though they pronounce it correctly in the show). My friend's mom calls him "There's-a-roach-in-my-room".

If you think pronouncing English and pronouncing Japanese is equal in difficulty, then you're sorely mistaken. Japanese is simple to pronounce and anyone who knows any Spanish, Italian, Hawaiian, or any other language with a similar vowel system, can easily pronounce Japanese words (and if not, it's easy to learn). English on the other hand is one of the most difficult languages; especially for someone who speaks a language with only half the sounds English speakers use.

[Innagadadavida]

Yeah right, English is easy to learn. I learned it when I was a baby.

So who else thinks FUNimation will produce their own English "Dragon Soul?"
I do! They've done every One Piece opening so far and every Dragon Ball opening with the exception of "Cha-la" and "We Gotta Power."

[G1Ravage]

@Kaboom I still don't understand what way Goku is suppose to be pronounced correctly, according to you. Or daizex.

Emphasis on the "ku", not on the "go". The dub pronouces it as if it was written "Gooku" rather than "Gokuu".

When FUNimation first began their in-house dubbing of DBZ with season 3, Dale Kelly as the narrator pronounced Goku as 'Goh-KU' for the first few episodes, but then reverted to the English dub standard.

[LeprikanGT]

English IS one of the the hardest language to learn if its your second one; examples being words like 'ough'

1. through
2. cough
3. tough

All have the same letters, yet none sound the same.

[nathantheguitarist]

English IS one of the the hardest language to learn if its your second one; examples being words like 'ough'

1. through
2. cough
3. tough

All have the same letters, yet none sound the same.

Stupid and unrelated question: Do Japanese kids take "Japanese" for a class, like how we take "English" classes? If they don't, then that proves English is harder.

[DemonRin]

I'd LOVE if they'd start pronouncing all of the words right, but I don't think its going to happen.

The only one I think they NEED to fix is "Kaioken".
It makes no sense to me at all how they can pronounce the "Kai" in "King Kai" right, yet whenever Son shouts "Kaioken" he pronounces it "Kay-Oh-Ken!" I mean, Kaio (King Kai) MADE the attack! He named it after himself. Kaio made the Kaioken. You pronounce the "Kai" in the attack the same way you pronounce the attack's Maker.

You can't write that off as "American-Japanese pronunciation differences" because he gets it right in one instance, and gets it wrong in another.
If they fixed nothing but this, I'd be happy.

I also want them to fix the names too. They've moved towards fixing Tenshinhan's name, he's not "Tien Shinhan". I'm pretty sure nobody would notice if they just merged the two names back into one. Freeza is easy, its just a one-letter change, and i'm sure the dubbies wont even notice it, and never EVER Refer to Mr. Satan as "Hercule". Their dub already calls him Mr. Satan, just don't pull any of that "Hercule Satan" stuff and things should be A-Ok.

Kaioshin is a bit Tricky, I SUPPOSE "Supreme Kai" is ok, but, I'd prefer Kaioshin.

[Adamant]

Stupid and unrelated question: Do Japanese kids take "Japanese" for a class, like how we take "English" classes? If they don't, then that proves English is harder.

Of course. You don't take "English", you take "literature/writing/various other language-related topics". All countries have this class, and they generally name it after the students' first language.

[ohaimynameiserik]

It's called a kienzan, FUNimation.

[MarcFBR]

Toei tried very hard to make this a standout release, that's why they renamed it.

HAHAHAHAHA....

Oh childhood innocence.... I miss you sometimes.