Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[Ashy-kun]

I'll be editting with my little point of view on the last two episodes, worthless as it is, but first I just wanted to ask if anyone else noticed the second instance of Freeza with a blue-green eye? And the third one.

It happens twice in episode 45, and both times are when Freeza's looking at his hand, wondering how a miserable Saiyan could do this much damage to him. The first time it happens, is just a few seconds before he cries "Filthy Saiyan!", when he's growling to himself, about to clench his fist and turning his head away from the palm of his hand, to glare down at Gokuu. The right eye, this time. And then it happens literally a few seconds later, when he actually cries out "Filthy Saiyan!" Same eye.

Edit:

I honestly didn't find Gokuu as bad as some seem to be making him out in episode 44. I admit that sometimes Sean Schemmel's voice sounded a little strained, and he was doing his little idiosyncratic noises and grunts as Gokuu, but really (as much as I'm about to throw the mouse amongst the cats here, so to speak), Nozawa Masako is just as often guilty of this, at least in my opinion. Doing a marathon of these episodes on my Dragon Box release, I couldn't help but start thinking to myself "If I hear Nozawa do that 'Kk-kkh-khh' thing, ONE. MORE. TIME..."

I'm not denying that Nozawa is a good actress, particularly as Gokuu, but I don't see why her faults have to be swept under the rug somewhat, if you're going to outline the dub actor's shortcomings.

That said, I did find Schemmel to be somewhat strained in these last two episodes, with his grunting. I immediately took notice and was thinking "My god, this is good", when Schemmel was doing out and out yells of agony and rage, in episode 45 though. The hallucinations under the water were acted out brilliantly, by everyone. Even Cynthia Cranz, who was in it for all of two or three lines (one of which was a scream), had me going "Whoa..." The Gohan-Gokuu exchange in the hallucination also had me in a welled-up state, as I could actually hear a father-son connection between the two. And of course, Freeza's laugh was just brilliant.

That said, though I like to go on record as being on Chris Ayres' side, as Freeza, from the get-go, all the way back in his first appearance, there were a few slightly off moments in these last two episodes, but of course, since he's doing such a consistent and stellar job, he's allowed to have the occasional off moment. I particularly am loving his little Freeza fits, like "I felt that... A LITTLE TOO MUCH!"

Chris Sabat is still in high regards, even though he has only a few lines in these episodes. The Vegeeta hallucination was superbly done (and the editting was excellent, with the voices all synchronised giving off a lovely creepy aura). And as someone else pointed out, he is now completely comfortable in his Piccolo voice, which in turn makes it so much easier to listen to.

Sonny Strait and Colleen Clinkenbeard also don't have that many lines, but they're putting in good enough performances from what I can hear. Though I must have a little tangent to talk about Colleen Clinkenbeard. Yes, she is a fine actress, and I do love her work as Gohan (well, certainly in non-fighting segments, as she's not making her voice all Luffy-like, which is what I do want to mention), but I can't help but think of how I find her Luffy voice grating on the ears.

People have been criticising Sean Schemmel for his "gravelly" qualities as Gokuu. But as a One Piece fan, I find Colleen Clinkenbeard to be the weakest link in the otherwise brilliant dub, for this exact reason. Her Luffy voice (and her Gohan voice in action scenes, whch makes this slightly more relevant) are the typical voice that I've been finding most annoying in these dubs. Grown women trying to do young boys, by gruffing up their voices, in a way that makes it very obvious they're trying to do a young boy role. I'd go so far as to say that I find Colleen Clinkenbeard's "I'm trying to sound like a boy" voice as bad as the original dub. It's better acted, yes, but the voice is still enough to take one out of the moment, and as an acting student, I can tell you that's not a good thing, unless you're purposely going for some Brechtian thing with "O hai, this is all a play, by the way".

So what makes Colleen Clinkenbeard so exempt from criticism for her gravelly gruff voice for Gohan in action scenes, like when fighting Freeza? Granted, it's not all the time like with Stephanie Nadolny, who constantly did the "gruff woman trying to be a boy" voice, but it's still enough to take one out of the moment, because it sounds forced enough. Again, I say I'm not denying her acting talent, I'm just pointing out that some people like to ignore this trait of hers, with her young boy roles, while ready to jump on Sean Schemmel for having a "gravelly" voice too.

[NeoKING]

I gotta say, though, I don't like how they made Goku go all "I"LL DO A 20-FOLD KAIOKEN TO TEACH THIS GUY THAT YOU DON'T MESS WITH PLANETS!!" instead of his "I 'MMA RISK IT WITH A 20-FOLD KAIOKEN EVEN IF HE'S ONLY AT 50%!!" in the original. Made him seem more desperate. But the dub's dialogue had the benefit of making you think "Wow, after all that he's still alive? You're fucked" once you see the result.

[Flamingwindjutsu]

There's one thing that really stood out to me after watching the episode again. John Burgmeier sounded REALLY bored as Tien this episode. It just sounded like he didn't wanna be there at all. Anybody else notice that?

[MetalMadness]

There's one thing that really stood out to me after watching the episode again. John Burgmeier sounded REALLY bored as Tenshinhan this episode. It just sounded like he didn't wanna be there at all. Anybody else notice that?

Who can blame him, he's playing fucking Tien.

[mystic trunks]

What do you mean by "oppressive?" As in something hindering the performance?

Not the performance (or rather, the delivery) itself, but we're supposed to believe this is Goku getting revved up, not just some dude.

I have never heard some random dude sound like that when he is getting roughed up. LMAO! What the hell are you talking about?

[Big Momma]

As far as explaining the flying goes...I don't really think that needs to be explained at all. Lot's of people fly in lots of different cartoons. It works fine just as its own "Super Power".

I'd just like to jump in here to say that I have not once, out of the dozen or so times I've introduced friends to the show, or even sat down with former casual fans, gotten through an episode without someone asking how and which characters can fly.

Well son of a gun. I guess it just depends where you're at.

[Rory]

I really enjoyed Vegeta's voice as a child, I felt it fit very well, and as others have pointed out, having Laura do the voice is quite fitting indeed.
Sounded like a natural child's voice, not... well, what was in the Bardock TV special's dub.
As for Sean? As others have said, I feel he continues to do a great job in the role of Goku...not so much Kaio.

[SuperSaiyanBatman]

For whatever reason, the video isn't working right now, but this is the right link.
http://nicktoons.nick.com/videos/clip/d ... -full.html

There ya go.

[ThunderPX]

I gotta say, though, I don't like how they made Goku go all "I"LL DO A 20-FOLD KAIOKEN TO TEACH THIS GUY THAT YOU DON'T MESS WITH PLANETS!!" instead of his "I 'MMA RISK IT WITH A 20-FOLD KAIOKEN EVEN IF HE'S ONLY AT 50%!!" in the original. Made him seem more desperate. But the dub's dialogue had the benefit of making you think "Wow, after all that he's still alive? You're fucked" once you see the result.

He said nothing about planets in this episode, which I think is the important part; considering he just had a nightmare about all his friends being killed, the stupid wasteland planet really isn't his first priority at that point.

Also, Kaio and underwear are my only complaints here, just like pretty much everyone else's.

[Big Momma]

Just watched ep 45...and I loved when Freeza said "Oh no...no...it'll be quite loud." when talking about how Goku will die. Man....I never had a problem with Young, but you can't deny that Ayres is greatness.

[penguintruth]

It's a shame that, while Schemmel's Goku is better than it's ever been, the scriptwriters are giving him things to say and think that are beyond the scope of Goku's thought process. I mean, really, Goku's speculating on what Freeza might do to the universe? And I'm pretty sure they added a line where there wasn't one originally.

They even said that Goku is gathering energy "from all over the universe" which is also inaccurate. He's gathering energy from Namek and surrounding planets, but not the entire universe. Even the Genki Dama at the end of DBZ isn't from all around the universe. How are they going to handle that contradiction?

Everybody's performing so well, and now the SCRIPT fucks up? Oh, Funimation.

[NeoKING]

I gotta say, though, I don't like how they made Goku go all "I"LL DO A 20-FOLD KAIOKEN TO TEACH THIS GUY THAT YOU DON'T MESS WITH PLANETS!!" instead of his "I 'MMA RISK IT WITH A 20-FOLD KAIOKEN EVEN IF HE'S ONLY AT 50%!!" in the original. Made him seem more desperate. But the dub's dialogue had the benefit of making you think "Wow, after all that he's still alive? You're fucked" once you see the result.

He said nothing about planets in this episode, which I think is the important part; considering he just had a nightmare about all his friends being killed, the stupid wasteland planet really isn't his first priority at that point.

Also, Kaio and underwear are my only complaints here, just like pretty much everyone else's.

Um, yes he did. He said he'll do a 20x Kaioken to "teach Frieza that you do not mess with other peoples' planets."

Also, I hate how this episode's dub script contradict's GT's final Spirit Bomb. From the entire universe? No way.

[Mewzard]

It's a shame that, while Schemmel's Goku is better than it's ever been, the scriptwriters are giving him things to say and think that are beyond the scope of Goku's thought process. I mean, really, Goku's speculating on what Freeza might do to the universe? And I'm pretty sure they added a line where there wasn't one originally.

They even said that Goku is gathering energy "from all over the universe" which is also inaccurate. He's gathering energy from Namek and surrounding planets, but not the entire universe. Even the Genki Dama at the end of DBZ isn't from all around the universe. How are they going to handle that contradiction?

Everybody's performing so well, and now the SCRIPT fucks up? Oh, Funimation.

Goku thought he might need from the universe, but really only asked the nearby planets. And Krillin just assumed with how large it is it must have been from the whole universe. It's not like Goku or Krillin know how large the universe truly is.

[ThunderPX]

"If I pull off a Kaioken x20, I at least stand a chance! I've just got to give it my all and show this guy you do not mess with me and my friends!"

[NeoKING]

"If I pull off a Kaioken x20, I at least stand a chance! I've just got to give it my all and show this guy you do not mess with me and my friends!"

But y'know, I still thought it was a lame change .

[Tsukento]

Okay, so I went back and watch the Japanese versions of Z and Kai for the scene with Vegeta. I'm about to say something I *never* would have thought I'd ever say.

I liked the dub scene better. Save for Vegeta's having an echo prior to Goku remembering that Vegeta's actually dead. But that little bit aside, the scene in the dub is actually better than the original. You get a better feel that all three characters are talking and expressing their anguish over having being beaten and wanting to have been the one to beat Freeza. Also gonna have to say that I preferred Kai's choice in song over Z's. Love Kikuchi's score, but Yamamoto's was more fitting.

[Metalwario64]

Goku thought he might need from the universe, but really only asked the nearby planets.

Yeah, he even afterward says something along the lines of: "neighboring planets that are willing to share some energy".

[linkdude20002001]

Everything was superb about this episode except... King Kai. This has been the ONLY time I felt Sean's King Kai voice to be intrusive. It was just... my god, that was miserable. However, as Goku, he gave me chills. The hallucination sequence was fantastic and heartbreaking, and the 20X Kaio-ken Kamehameha was amazing. Favourite moment of the episode was Sean's scream for Krillin, tied with the line "And I need to show this guy that you do not mess with me and my friends!" Both incredible moments. Chris Ayers was superb, as always, it's pretty much a given now. The dream sequence at the end gave me chills, until the freaking HORRIBLY out of place brown underwear showed up. That totally killed the moment. I look forward to the DVD for the full effect of that scene. Overall, a really great episode, but the next one is gonna be kinda lame, although it does seem like it's gonna have more Freeza lines in it, and that's always a good thing. Plus, even closer to Super Saiyan. I have a feeling Sean's transformation scream is gonna be awesome. No one can deny, he is at least a master at screaming.

I couldn't help but feel disappointed when I heard Gokuh's 20 times Kaioh-ken. It seemed like such a failed attempt; it made me miss Kelamis. If only he could get a shot at voicing Gokuh is Kai...

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

I really fail to see how it sounds unnatural, other than you saying as such. It really was a good performance to me.

"I really fail to see how it sounds natural at all, other than you saying as such. It really was a terrible performance to me."

Okay, I'm really just doing that to be a dick, as I haven't even watched the episode, but do you get my point? Some people have higher standards when it comes to acting. I mean, some people think the acting in DBZ's dub was spectacular, so obviously some people have really, really low standards... ; )

[Mewzard]

I really fail to see how it sounds unnatural, other than you saying as such. It really was a good performance to me.

"I really fail to see how it sounds natural at all, other than you saying as such. It really was a terrible performance to me."

Okay, I'm really just doing that to be a dick, as I haven't even watched the episode, but do you get my point? Some people have higher standards when it comes to acting. I mean, some people think the acting in DBZ's dub was spectacular, so obviously some people have really, really low standards... ; )

So all you're saying is you have higher standards than me, and my opinion holds less weight and value... : / If you haven't seen the episode, then go watch it before making some comments.

And yeah, he definitely asked neighboring planets.