What would happen if Masako Nowaza died?

[Hellspawn28]

They will likely find a new voice actor for Goku. No matter who plays the voice for Goku, Masako Nowaza will always be remember as Son Goku. Look at the many actors who play as James Bond, Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and Batman. People always remember as Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Sean Connery as James Bond.

[andrewtuell1991]

They will likely find a new voice actor for Goku. No matter who plays the voice for Goku, Masako Nowaza will always be remember as Son Goku. Look at the many actors who play as James Bond, Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and Batman. People always remember as Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Sean Connery as James Bond.

^ This. You shouldn't kill off a well-beloved franchise just because the voice actor/actress of the main character dies. How many voice actors have Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny had over the years? Or MIghty Atom and Jungle Emperor Leo? It's true that whomever she'd be replace by would never hold a candle to her performance, but to bury the Dragon Ball franchise forever because of her death would be rather selfish.

Again, I'd like to point to Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star

That's because co-creator Buronson despises Akira Kamiya as the voice of Kenshiro in the original animated series and the 1986 animated film and apparently goes to insane lengths to keep him away from the role.

[dbboxkaifan]

Deeply sad. The death of the Original Goku would die with her.

But honestly, this is a disgusting sick question to ask.

[Ringworm128]

It would very sad but I think it's silly to say that nobody else could play Goku, there are countless voice actors and actresses in Japan and I have no trouble believe that more then one could pull of a good (if not great) Goku.

[Pikachuuu]

If she died, it'd be a great loss for Dragonball, and the anime community as a whole. Dude.. I wish dragonballs were real.

[TheMightyOzaru]

Part of me want's to say it would b horrible for the series but at the same time I feel it shouldn't be too hard to find a replacement. I would certainly be sad if she died since she was the first to personify Goku and all.

[Silkman3003]

They will likely find a new voice actor for Goku. No matter who plays the voice for Goku, Masako Nowaza will always be remember as Son Goku. Look at the many actors who play as James Bond, Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and Batman. People always remember as Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Sean Connery as James Bond.

^ This. You shouldn't kill off a well-beloved franchise just because the voice actor/actress of the main character dies. How many voice actors have Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny had over the years? Or MIghty Atom and Jungle Emperor Leo? It's true that whomever she'd be replace by would never hold a candle to her performance, but to bury the Dragon Ball franchise forever because of her death would be rather selfish.

Again, I'd like to point to Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star

That's because co-creator Buronson despises Akira Kamiya as the voice of Kenshiro in the original animated series and the 1986 animated film and apparently goes to insane lengths to keep him away from the role.

Thats a shame, considering I prefer his original VA in HNK/HNK2 compared to his OVA and Game VO.

Yatattatattatatatatatatattatatataaay

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

It's not really a big deal. She would just be replaced with different seiyuu for Goku. Everybody dies in process. It's not going to end Dragon Ball, that's for sure. Maybe when Naruto ends, I'd like for the seiyuu for Uzumaki Naruto to do Goku.

[dbboxkaifan]

Everyone remember Charles Martinet? He's the voice of Super Mario, and when the time comes for him Nintendo might or might not hire a new voice actor, instead use audio clips from Martinet's Mario which the audience and its fans love.

Charles Martinet has the same "problem" as Masako Nozawa (Goku, Gohan, Goten, Turles, Bardock, Vegito, Gogeta), they voice multiple characters (Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi) than just one or two.

It's just how life works, some born, some die. Hopefully they'll then be in a better place.

[NitroEX]

Wish her back with the Dragon balls!... or not.

I guess there must be a voice match out there somewhere. People are always imitating famous character voices. I imagine with enough effort they could find a decent voice match. One that can act though? That's a different issue altogether.

it's either that or get someone totally different sounding and hope people accept it.

[MCDaveG]

It's not really a big deal. She would just be replaced with different seiyuu for Goku. Everybody dies in process. It's not going to end Dragon Ball, that's for sure. Maybe when Naruto ends, I'd like for the seiyuu for Uzumaki Naruto to do Goku.

I thought about this, but I don't know if this will work. I think someone less known or not playing any major character will be better, as you will hear Naruto coming from Goku's mouth.
Nozawa's Goku calm voice is more bass than what Naruto has, and I think the actress of Naruto won't pull that off.

[dbboxkaifan]

Wish her back with the Dragon balls!... or not.

I guess there must be a voice match out there somewhere. People are always imitating famous character voices. I imagine with enough effort they could find a decent voice match. One that can act though? That's a different issue altogether.

It's either that or get someone totally different sounding and hope people accept it.

Imitators tend to do a fine job but they crack their imitative vocal which makes it obvious that it isn't the original voice actress playing the role, which can be disappointing for those who aren't aware of the situation.

[El Diabeetus]

That would be tragic, she's been doing the character for almost 30 years now. But, she seems to be in top health, so that shouldn't be an issue for a while. Her and Jouji Yanami (he's about 5-6 years older than her) are probably the oldest ones on the cast now. Although if she had to be replaced due to those circumstances. I could see them going with Rica Matsumoto (Satoshi/Ash in Pokémon, Bakura in Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc.) or Romi Park (Edward Elric in both FMA series', Ganta in Deadman Wonderland, etc.) if they want to stick with a similar voice type to Nozawa. But, if they wanted to go in a totally different direction (one more like any foreign dub of the series) I could see Kappei Yamaguchi, or Shigeru Chiba (to reference the other part of his family) doing Goku. Gohan and Goten, I'm not quite sure who would do their voices though.

[dbzfan7]

A sad day for everyone. Its sad to lose the true Goku.

[FindKenshi]

Goku would die with her, I honestly believe that. We'd never see a new production with Goku in it from Toei or any other studio out of respect for her. Luckily that day may never come, as it was hinted at the Battle of Gods preview screening that she had wished for eternal life to voice Goku "until the end of the world" (her words, not mine.)

[dprez]

We would all re-watch the greatest Goku scenes and shed many tears.

[coola]

I'm sorry for little offtopic here, but i jsut watched video with this upcoming DuckTales HD game remake, and it`s really amazing they manage to get all living actors back, Alan Young is 93 year old, and he still sounds very amazing.

[MagicBox]

I was tempted to mention that as well, though I was having a hard time thinking of a way to keep it on-topic. Both Alan Young AND June Foray (both currently in their mid-90s) are returning to that new "DuckTales Remastered" game to reprise their roles as Scrooge McDuck and Magica, respectively. And they both sound just as good as they did in the 1980s.

That really got me thinking about the DragonBall voice actors, especially Nozawa and Yanami. I hope they'll be as lucky to still be acting in their 90s.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

Doesn't exactly answer question, but I really can't see Nozawa leaving us any time soon. She's been looking pretty good for her age lately (how old is she again?).

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

...(how old is she again?).

76.