Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[Metalwario64]

And what's even weirder is that "Kikoho" seems much easier to pronounce than "Makankosappo" or "Kienzan".

Yeah, if Chun-li's Kikoken is okay in English, then why isn't Tenshinhan's Kikoho alright in English?

[JulieYBM]

Makankosappo is just weird to say.

And yet it's the one Japanese word they've gotten right...

[ohaimynameiserik]

Makankosappo is just weird to say.

It is the single greatest word to ever be uttered by anyone.

[Attitudefan]

Makankosappo is just weird to say.

And yet it's the one Japanese word they've gotten right...

That's my point. I find it quite funny... or ironic. I don't know. I am disappointed in Funimation. I never understand why they choose to dumb it down on TV. They don't do it on other anime. Same with Ocean. Look, Death Note, I didn't find it censored; I didn't hear failed Japanese pronunciation or even script changes. Same goes for other animes. Death Note is just a good example, sorry for being cliche.

Yet here they are doing two dubs and making silly mistakes that could be avoided. I think more time on a non-censored version, they could work with the actors and practice certain words properly. I never understood why Dragonball gets the short end of the stick, getting 5 million different versions of censored to less censored to ULTIMATE UNCUT!!!!

[KaiserNeko]

Makankosappo is just weird to say.

And yet it's the one Japanese word they've gotten right...

That's my point. I find it quite funny... or ironic. I don't know. I am disappointed in Funimation. I never understand why they choose to dumb it down on TV. They don't do it on other anime. Same with Ocean. Look, Death Note, I didn't find it censored; I didn't hear failed Japanese pronunciation or even script changes. Same goes for other animes. Death Note is just a good example, sorry for being cliche.

Yet here they are doing two dubs and making silly mistakes that could be avoided. I think more time on a non-censored version, they could work with the actors and practice certain words properly. I never understood why Dragonball gets the short end of the stick, getting 5 million different versions of censored to less censored to ULTIMATE UNCUT!!!!

Death Note was also dubbed and aired for an adult slot. It aired on Adult Swim. Of course it wasn't going to be censored. Furthermore, Ocean's Japanese has been spotty just as much as any other company; one of the only reasons they worked so hard on Death Note was because of it's -huge- following and mass appeal. Not saying that they shouldn't always put a lot of work into all their shows, but Ocean shouldn't get undue praise.

The mistakes COULD be avoided, of course. Tri-Beam's inclusion is still kind of ridiculous and correct pronunciation isn't really all that difficult. But, they are what they are. No use going too overboard on them.

[GotenDaisuki]

I guess the uncut dub is mostly made to shut up the Japanese purists to satisfy them the best they can, and the censored dub is more for old-time FUNimation dub fans with all the silly little dub names put into that dub. But, yeah, Attitudefan has a valid point. FUNimation is focusing on two different dubs rather than one, and they never do that otherwise (well, they don't really air children anime a lot anyway). It seems to me that FUNimation is putting most of their effort on making the censored dub and only some of the effort goes to the uncut dub (based on the mispronunciations, the laziness going on lately, and the "Kikoho" thing).

[Mewzard]

Makankosappo is just weird to say.

And yet it's the one Japanese word they've gotten right...

That's my point. I find it quite funny... or ironic. I don't know. I am disappointed in Funimation. I never understand why they choose to dumb it down on TV. They don't do it on other anime. Same with Ocean. Look, Death Note, I didn't find it censored; I didn't hear failed Japanese pronunciation or even script changes. Same goes for other animes. Death Note is just a good example, sorry for being cliche.

Yet here they are doing two dubs and making silly mistakes that could be avoided. I think more time on a non-censored version, they could work with the actors and practice certain words properly. I never understood why Dragonball gets the short end of the stick, getting 5 million different versions of censored to less censored to ULTIMATE UNCUT!!!!

Most anime either get a edited dub, or an uncut dub. Few get both, unless you count Adult Swim, where they may bleep out a word or two, or censor some nudity.

Despite Dragon Ball's large fanbase, if they didn't try to get new fans via a tv dub, they would be left with an aging fanbase that wouldn't grow as fast as it could. Sustaining purely on a hardcore older fanbase can only work for so long before sales start to drop. This ensures a new generation gets into Dragon Ball. At least, that's the reasoning I see.

And the censored dub isn't just for old fans (besides some references), it's also for a younger group via tv releases.

[Attitudefan]

And here we are, DBZ has a HUGE following too. People are truly hoping for a proper dub and we STILL never get it right. It really bothers me how Dragonball gets the "trashy" treatment. Why not put it at a different time slot. The whole show is about people fighting each other to a bloody pulp and then kill each other. There's dismemberments, stabbings etc. It's not an "adult" show, but it isn't a kids show either like how they portray it.

Why not make it for an older audience and forget all the goddamn censors! I hate censors, it changes the artist intentions no matter if it is JUST FOR TV censors. But what do most people watch? The DVD version? Nope.

Move it to another slot, change the ratings etc. Seriously; I'm tired of this.

Rant over.

Sustaining purely on a hardcore older fanbase can only work for so long before sales start to drop. This ensures a new generation gets into Dragon Ball. At least, that's the reasoning I see.

And the censored dub isn't just for old fans (besides some references), it's also for a younger group via tv releases.

It's possible to get older people to become new fans instead of targeting the wrong age group just to exploit their ignorance. A lot of people my age think of Dragonball as the crappy, "Next Diemension" etc. STILL. Get them exposed to what it really should be.

[GotenDaisuki]

Uncut anime slots like [adult swim] just see Dragon Ball to be a kids show, maybe because of the portrayal handed out by FUNimation a decade ago. Therefore, they wouldn't accept it to be aired on the adult slot because of what they have seen in the past. Just more ignorance caused by the Z dub. I mean, I don't know if this is the exact reason why "adult" networks and blocks don't accept it, but it could be very likely possibility.

[Attitudefan]

Are you sure they don't accept it? Does FUNi try to get a better slot for uncut? I honestly doubt it.

But if that is the case, it is because of the old dub. Nobody gives it a chance and it still treated that way. Some of my friends disbelieve how it actually is, then they just call me a geek for it

Really though, it's not a "G" show like it's portrayed. People die and get mutilated, burned, blown up and stabbed. It's sad to see it being a "kids" show. Honestly, it is no adult show either. I think the rating, here in Canada, as TV-14; swears, blood and all intact.

[GotenDaisuki]

Are you sure they don't accept it? Does FUNi try to get a better slot for uncut? I honestly doubt it.

I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I remember vaguely reading something that said that FUNimation tried to get Dragon Ball anime on [adult swim] before, but they rejected the offer for one reason or another.

I think the rating, here in Canada, as TV-14; swears, blood and all intact.

Just for reference, on their Orange Bricks and the Dragon Boxes, as well as the uncut Kai box sets and the GT boxes, FUNimation lists the rating as "TV-PG" (they are probably using the dub to determine the rating). Dragon Ball was the only one of the 4 series to get a "TV-14" rating by FUNimation.

[KaiserNeko]

Are you sure they don't accept it? Does FUNi try to get a better slot for uncut? I honestly doubt it.

But if that is the case, it is because of the old dub. Nobody gives it a chance and it still treated that way. Some of my friends disbelieve how it actually is, then they just call me a geek for it

Really though, it's not a "G" show like it's portrayed. People die and get mutilated, burned, blown up and stabbed. It's sad to see it being a "kids" show. Honestly, it is no adult show either. I think the rating, here in Canada, as TV-14; swears, blood and all intact.

DragonBall Z is a kids show. 9-12 year olds in Japan. While American standards may be different, it's audience in America is below the target age for Adult Swim. Adult Swim wants shows that will bring in young adult males. DragonBall, whether people recognize it or not, is more popular with teenagers.

Furthermore, Nicktoons would have to be comfortable airing it uncut/less cut, and they're not going to do that. Their sponsors wouldn't support it and Nicktoons major audience is between 7-12. It doesn't bode well to them.

[Attitudefan]

*Canadian standards too (yet we still have no DB airing here :/)

I agree that it should not be on adult swim, but it really isn't a Saturday morning cartoon. Have any of you guys seen Recess? Yeah, that is a show for kids.

Spongebob gets a later time slot here in Canada than Dragonball Kai! >.>

If anything it should be shown around 6-9 pm (18:00 - 21:00) in it's uncut form.

Their sponsors wouldn't support it and Nicktoons major audience is between 7-12. It doesn't bode well to them.

True.

DragonBall Z is a kids show. 9-12 year olds in Japan

It's Japan!

[GotenDaisuki]

If anything it should be shown around 6-9 pm (18:00 - 21:00) in it's uncut form.

Kai airs even later at night and it is still in its censored version.

[Attitudefan]

Oh really? I didn't know, we don't get this stuff here in Canada. That's too bad. Well, what can you do? It's Dragonball right?

[GotenDaisuki]

Oh really? I didn't know, we don't get this stuff here in Canada. That's too bad. Well, what can you do? It's Dragonball right?

Yes, Dragon Ball has always had a fucked-up history here in the United States. Even now, with the enhanced Kai dub, it's still not quite perfect.

[Attitudefan]

You took the words right out of my mouth. It's also funny how many dubs it does get and yet none of them are good either... not saying that FUNi is bad, just flawed.

I honestly think they were doing things right during the Namek arc though. But still, anything Dragonball is treated as low level while the "elites" have a much better chance in the battle for TV ratings. I guess that's why DBZ was sent out first in the old days, treated as trash but came out stronger than many of the elite TV shows.... O.o

[AgitoZ]

Oh really? I didn't know, we don't get this stuff here in Canada. That's too bad. Well, what can you do? It's Dragonball right?

I think you might've misunderstood a bit. Kai does air earlier in the day and it's censored. But it also has airings later at night but those are censored as well.

But actually why would you want it to be on Adult Swim? Other than the fact that it'd be uncensored there aren't many other positives. AS has really downgraded they're anime to about only 2 or 3 titles actually airing new episodes and everything afterwards being reruns. They don't even start airing until midnight. It would've had significantly less exposure.

The best part about it getting on Nicktoons was the time slot. Not to mention at least Nicktoons does a competent job advertising their shows, as opposed to what AS does with its anime.

[Attitudefan]

It's not that I would like it on Adult Swim. I could care less what it was on, but I think a later time slot, just after dinner till around 21:00 (9 pm) would be better. Back in the day it aired at that time and I don't see why it cannot now?

Adult Swim is not the best time, I agree

[GotenDaisuki]

It's not that I would like it on Adult Swim. I could care less what it was on, but I think a later time slot, just after dinner till around 21:00 (9 pm) would be better. Back in the day it aired at that time and I don't see why it cannot now?

Maybe because they want to air it when as many people as they want would be tuning in. Some kids go to sleep at the time you would want Kai to air.