For dub fans, how much of a deal breaker is Nozawa's Goku?

[Gaffer Tape]

Quite frankly, this kind of concern is not one unique to dub fans. I read plenty of comments from fans of the Japanese version who took issue with the fact that Linda Young was playing Freeza. They took issue with it for several reasons, but one of the oft-repeated ones was that the voice she used sounded too much like a woman, when Freeza was a male character. To quote Chris Psaros...

"Thought Pauline Newstone made Freeza sound like your old grandmother? Well now he sounds even more like a woman, there is absolutely no reason for any new viewers at this point to believe that the character is male."

You're absolutely right. Don't think I haven't noticed that and cringed at the potential hypocrisy present. That said, I think it actually does tie into my idea as well. Fans on both "sides" I think misattribute their problems to a macro concern (women playing males) when it's a micro concern (one specific voice) that's bothering them.

[Thanos]

I never really had an issue with it. Before I actually understood the reasons, though, it was more of a "why" than anything. Once I realized that the series is, by and large, very gradual in Goku's chronology, it made sense to me that they'd want to preserve Nozawa's sensibilities for his character... and the older I get and more I've learned to appreciate the Japanese version and all the nuances to the character, I can't imagine anyone else doing it.

And as for the voice itself, a lot of people complain about the high-pitched screams--sure, I can understand that perspective, but to me, it's kind of eerie. I find it way more unsettling and terrifying when Goku/Gohan power up and a shrill voice comes out than when some meat head like Broli does and it's just a Hulk-like roar. Boring. I find it really unique and frankly awesome. Plus, I've gotten so used to the voice that I don't really necessarily hear a woman when Goku speaks. Sure, it's a high voice, but to me it just sounds like a high-pitched, youthful male voice.

[Dbzfan94]

Quite frankly, this kind of concern is not one unique to dub fans. I read plenty of comments from fans of the Japanese version who took issue with the fact that Linda Young was playing Freeza. They took issue with it for several reasons, but one of the oft-repeated ones was that the voice she used sounded too much like a woman, when Freeza was a male character. To quote Chris Psaros...

"Thought Pauline Newstone made Freeza sound like your old grandmother? Well now he sounds even more like a woman, there is absolutely no reason for any new viewers at this point to believe that the character is male."

You're absolutely right. Don't think I haven't noticed that and cringed at the potential hypocrisy present. That said, I think it actually does tie into my idea as well. Fans on both "sides" I think misattribute their problems to a macro concern (women playing males) when it's a micro concern (one specific voice) that's bothering them.

I actually think Newstonr sounds more woman-like that Linda Young (at most points) but that's just me.

[ABED]

I actually think Newstone sounds more woman-like that Linda Young (at most points) but that's just me.

I've come to enjoy Newstone's voice for Freeza, but it's just the scripts that failed her.

[Dbzfan94]

I actually think Newstone sounds more woman-like that Linda Young (at most points) but that's just me.

I've come to enjoy Newstone's voice for Freeza, but it's just the scripts that failed her.

Yeah her voice isn't bad to me I was just comparing.
Ocean as a whole would be sooo much better if, at the very least, had an uncut version.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Honestly that's how I feel about a lot of Young's Freeza too - it was those scripts and the random sexually suggestive one liners that really hurt the performance. Her acting in of itself was fine and fit well with how they wanted Freeza to be, albeit not really a great fit for the way Freeza is supposed to be.

[ABED]

Honestly that's how I feel about a lot of Young's Freeza too - it was those scripts and the random sexually suggestive one liners that really hurt the performance. Her acting in of itself was fine and fit well with how they wanted Freeza to be, albeit not really a great fit for the way Freeza is supposed to be.

Even then I think she's awful. Newstone's voice in a way fit the lizard like design of Freeza. Newstone just sounds like a middle aged woman trying to sound tough, the bad scripts just magnify that.

Other than the shock of first hearing Nozawa's voice come out of Goku's adult body, I've never had a problem believing her performance. To me, it unquestionably fits that character. I don't know why a number of you don't like Nozawa playing so many characters. Look at the Simpsons, all of the voices are mostly played by a handful of actors.

[Rocketman]

I don't know why anyone here thinks Nozawa's voice doesn't make sense for Bardock. It fits the design, and her performance is clearly different from her Goku. I don't know how anyone would confuse the two even if all you had to go by is the sound of the voice. She plays him much more cold hearted than Goku.

It's more that the biggest argument for Nozawa's Goku hinges on Goku's character. "He's weird/innocent/childlike so he has a weird/innocent/childlike voice". Or sometimes, "she played him as a kid so inertia".

None of that applies to Bardock.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I was talking simply about the question of Freeza on that part, though admittedly that's a little off topic I guess. I've said before and I'll re-state here that I don't really have a problem with Nozawa's Goku, and really quite enjoy it, but I can see why so many others wouldn't.

Other than the shock of first hearing Nozawa's voice come out of Goku's adult body, I've never had a problem believing her performance. To me, it unquestionably fits that character. I don't know why a number of you don't like Nozawa playing so many characters. Look at the Simpsons, all of the voices are mostly played by a handful of actors.

That's not really a good argument though. The Simpsons actors do pretty radically different voices from characters to characters. If you know voices you might start being able to pick up on similarities between Homer Simpson, Barney Gumble, Grandpa Abe, and Krusty the Clown, but those voices are still very different from each other. The same can't really be said for Goku, Gohan, Goten, Bardock, and Turles. There are nuances that are different, and you can kind of pick up on those after a while, but they're still very much the same voice in the end.

[Kid Buu]

Shigeru Chiba would have made an awesome Bardock.

[Gaffer Tape]

It's more that the biggest argument for Nozawa's Goku hinges on Goku's character. "He's weird/innocent/childlike so he has a weird/innocent/childlike voice". Or sometimes, "she played him as a kid so inertia".

None of that applies to Bardock.

It's more that Dragon Ball's main character is played by Nozawa, and Bardock is the Goku-clone protagonist of the works in which he appears, so, yes, the "inertia" applies to him as well. That's also why the same rule does not apply to Raditz.

Basically, Nozawa plays Bardock for the same reason that Tom Wilson plays Buford Tannen.

[Chuquita]

Didn't someone on this board make an edit of Bardock speaking in Shigeru Chiba's Raditz voice? It was cool. :3

I don't remember who made it or what thread it was in though.

[RandomGuy96]

I like how Goten, Goku, Gohan, Bardock, Vegetto, Gogeta, and even Tullece all have to sound like squeaky old women, but Raditz gets to have a deep, manly voice. Are we sure they're even related? His hair and height already had me wondering.

[ABED]

It's more that the biggest argument for Nozawa's Goku hinges on Goku's character. "He's weird/innocent/childlike so he has a weird/innocent/childlike voice". Or sometimes, "she played him as a kid so inertia".
None of that applies to Bardock.

It's more that Dragon Ball's main character is played by Nozawa, and Bardock is the Goku-clone protagonist of the works in which he appears, so, yes, the "inertia" applies to him as well. That's also why the same rule does not apply to Raditz.
Basically, Nozawa plays Bardock for the same reason that Tom Wilson plays Buford Tannen.

That's a great example. Both Michael J Fox and Wilson play the ancestors and the kids/grandkids of their characters. While Nozawa plays both father and son, they are two completely different performances. I don't know why anyone has a problem with it or what the issue is beyond "I don't like the actor, so I'm coming up with reasons why I think they shouldn't play either character." Male characters don't automatically require deep, "manly" voices.

RandomGuy, how is her voice squeaky?

[RandomGuy96]

Maybe squeaky was the wrong word to use then, if that question has to be asked. The best way I can describe it is probably "obnoxious". It's a very unique, very unpleasant voice.

[MagicBox]

I really like the Buford Tannen comparison.

Personally, I could take or leave the "well, he's a man-child, so it's fine!" argument. Like, yeah, if we need to try to justify Nozawa's casting, then I guess that works as well as anything else. I've really never looked at it beyond "That's Goku's voice. I like Goku's voice. I'm happy."

I like how Goten, Goku, Gohan, Bardock, Vegetto, Gogeta, and even Tullece all have to sound like squeaky old women, but Raditz gets to have a deep, manly voice. Are we sure they're even related?

The only solution is to let Shigeru Chiba voice Gine.

CONFIRMED FOR DBZ 2015!

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

I got used to it for Goku. Though her yells can sound real shrill at times from pitch but, I've heard a lot worse. Though her playing Bardock on the other hand just sounds weird. You would think he, Goku, Goten and Tullece were all forms of Goku himself if you didnt know. I still think the dub handled casting better for that group in terms of voice range and delivery.

[Attitudefan]

I got used to it for Goku. Though her yells can sound real shrill at times from pitch but, I've heard a lot worse. Though her playing Bardock on the other hand just sounds weird. You would think he, Goku, Goten and Tullece were all forms of Goku himself if you didnt know. I still think the dub handled casting better for that group in terms of voice range and delivery.

Only the ocean dub handled casting well. FUNimation's had too many roles given to one person.

However, FUNimation's Bardock is probably one of their best decisions.

I do think Gohan should have been played by someone else in Japanese, at least when he's older.

Nozawa as Goku should have been exclusive to Goku only.

[Kid Buu]

Didn't someone on this board make an edit of Bardock speaking in Shigeru Chiba's Raditz voice? It was cool. :3

I don't remember who made it or what thread it was in though.

Yeah they did, but I can't remember the name of the video.

[Ajay]

Didn't someone on this board make an edit of Bardock speaking in Shigeru Chiba's Raditz voice? It was cool. :3

I don't remember who made it or what thread it was in though.

Yeah they did, but I can't remember the name of the video.

This is the video right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NWveUczH8U