Moments FUNimation's English Dub Did Better?

[TonyTheTiger]

You didn't feel anything? The Kikuchi piece used was one of the most intense pieces in the series! And the power of the voice acting was staggering.

I'd never say Kikuchi's score was ever bad. It was always appropriate and did it's job just fine. But I'll never really get why there's so much absolute adoration for it. I always felt that it was pretty standard fare for an 80s/90s cartoon.

Let me put it this way. Do you remember the music in Yu Yu Hakusho? Do you remember the music in Flame of Recca?

I don't. I remember the music in DBZ.

It's not Yoko Kanno level quality, nor even Hiroshi Miyagawa or Michuru Oshima, but it's pretty damn excellent.

Neither of those but I do remember Shirley Walker's score from Batman and Shuki Levy's score from The Real Ghostbusters. I don't think Kikuchi's music is forgettable. Again, it's not bad. But I personally wouldn't rank it head and shoulders above a lot of other shows from the time.

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

Let me put it this way. Do you remember the music in Yu Yu Hakusho?

Hell yeah! That show had an awesome score. I always get Yu Yu Hakusho music stuck in my head...

[penguintruth]

Neither of those but I do remember Shirley Walker's score from Batman and Shuki Levy's score from The Real Ghostbusters. I don't think Kikuchi's music is forgettable. Again, it's not bad. But I personally wouldn't rank it head and shoulders above a lot of other shows from the time.

Shirley Walker's score for BTAS is on par with Yoko Kanno's stuff. Of course DBZ's score doesn't measure up.

I was one of the biggest Ghostbusters fans alive as a kid and never missed an episode of the cartoon. I can't remember a single thing about the show or the music now.

[TonyTheTiger]

Neither of those but I do remember Shirley Walker's score from Batman and Shuki Levy's score from The Real Ghostbusters. I don't think Kikuchi's music is forgettable. Again, it's not bad. But I personally wouldn't rank it head and shoulders above a lot of other shows from the time.

Shirley Walker's score for BTAS is on par with Yoko Kanno's stuff. Of course DBZ's score doesn't measure up.

Admittedly, Walker's score (and BTAS as a whole) is in a league of it's own. It makes everything look worse by comparison.

I was one of the biggest Ghostbusters fans alive as a kid and never missed an episode of the cartoon. I can't remember a single thing about the show or the music now.

Really? I swear it was one of the first times the music in a cartoon ever actually induced some kind of uneasiness. It had a great knack for starting out eerie during a creepy moment only to shift into the Ghostbusters theme once the action started. As a kid that always got me. Check out the episode The Cabinet of Calamari. When Peter ends up in that weird Salvador Dali place the music really enhances the WTF of it.

I'll be the first to admit that age might have a lot to do with it. By the time I saw Dragon Ball Z I was already 10 or so, a number of years after having already watched the classics of the 80s/90s. And the audio quality was always lacking, particularly back during those bootleg years. So I can't say I have the childhood attachment to it that I may have had it been one of my Saturday morning staples way back then.

[SonEric84]

Let me put it this way. Do you remember the music in Yu Yu Hakusho? Do you remember the music in Flame of Recca?

I don't. I remember the music in DBZ.

It's not Yoko Kanno level quality, nor even Hiroshi Miyagawa or Michuru Oshima, but it's pretty damn excellent.

I love Kikuchi's Dragon Ball music, but I also think Yu Yu Hakusho has some memorable themes.

[obiwan23s]

So let me get this. People are on here saying that the dub version of the Super Saiyan 2 transformation is better because of Faulconer's technopop music playing in the background? Congratulations, you just admitted your version of DBZ is a glorified AMV.

[jjgp1112]

So let me get this. People are on here saying that the dub version of the Super Saiyan 2 transformation is better because of Faulconer's technopop music playing in the background? Congratulations, you just admitted your version of DBZ is a glorified AMV.

What kind of mental gymnastics is this?

[Castor Troy]

I heard rumors that when the SSJ2 Gohan ep aired on CN during fall of 2000, the backlash was so awful that Faulconer cried. I bet that was overeggarating it, but it would be funny if it was the truth.

Here's my honest opinion.

It had potential but fell flat on it's face quite badly.

At the time, I already accepted the fact that the Spirit vs Spirit was not going to play in any form or capacity. I did like how Faulconer handled Goku's SSJ scene since he made a new song for it and it did feel kind of epic for dub standards (I actually think Faulconer's version is better than Kai's). The entire episode, Faulconer had this really dramatic tone that played as Gohan was watching his friends getting beat up which made me hopeful that the SSJ2 scene would be decent.

16's speech, his death, and even Gohan's inserted dialogue were tolerable, but I think what RUINED the scene was the TERRIBLE music that played as the zoom out of Gohan exploding all the way to the end of the episode. Faulconer at least had a whole bunch of songs he could have played instead. I remember coming home from work and watching my taped episode hoping it would be decent. I wanted to throw my remote at the screen. Just compare the scene to the Faulconer versions of the SSJ1 and 3 scenes and you'll see what I mean.

I do admit Faulconer made up for it with the SSJ3 scene, but the SSJ2 scene was always just more epic.

And yes, Yu Yu Hakusho's BGM is amazing.

[Zionist]

Gotta agree that the SSJ2 Transformation music that plays really does suck. I wonder how much better it would have been if.......oh right there's this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3dL2VAnXWM - This is sooooooooo much better. If this was used instead the scene would have been way better

[Zephyr]

So let me get this. People are on here saying that the dub version of the Super Saiyan 2 transformation is better because of Faulconer's technopop music playing in the background? Congratulations, you just admitted your version of DBZ is a glorified AMV.

What kind of mental gymnastics is this?

Some grand form of Glenn Beckery methinks.

Honestly though, I feel the Japanese version of the transformation itself was better, but the scene where Gohan obliterated the Cell Jr.s goes to the dub hands down in my book.

[bkev]

I have to agree with Zionist, that is much better. It reminds me of Unmei no Hi, not necessarily in rhythm, but in style. It has the "they will triumph" feel that the original missed. Unfortunately, the triumphant music they picked in the Ocean dub just doesn't have an awe-inspiring factor so it fails.

[TonyTheTiger]

I heard rumors that when the SSJ2 Gohan ep aired on CN during fall of 2000, the backlash was so awful that Faulconer cried. I bet that was overeggarating it, but it would be funny if it was the truth.

I stand firm that it isn't Faulconer's fault the scene didn't work out so well. The music isn't what crushes the scene. The damn monologue is. Remove the monologue and you'll notice that Nadolny's scream is actually very good and the music, at least the first half of it, isn't bad. The second half could have actually been "grand" instead of the standard "uh oh!" music but it's really the monologue that seriously messes up what is otherwise pretty competent work.

That's always been my biggest beef. It's not the altered script, the score replacement, or any of the actors. It's always been the shoehorning of dialogue and/or music at points where it's not supposed to be. I think it's most often those moments that do the most damage.

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

you'll notice that Nadolny's scream is actually very good

Ugh, her voice for Gohan is like nails on a chalkboard. How can anyone like that stupid "UUUUUULAAAAAAAAAAAAALGH!!!" screaming? Sounds kinda like Ash Ketchum...

[jjgp1112]

you'll notice that Nadolny's scream is actually very good

Ugh, her voice for Gohan is like nails on a chalkboard. How can anyone like that stupid "UUUUUULAAAAAAAAAAAAALGH!!!" screaming? Sounds kinda like Ash Ketchum...

I don't know, you tell me.

[penguintruth]

I thought Naldony's actual scream was pretty decent. And I hated her Gohan most of the time. She could do Gohan's anger well enough.

[Puto]

Gotta agree that the SSJ2 Transformation music that plays really does suck. I wonder how much better it would have been if.......oh right there's this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3dL2VAnXWM - This is sooooooooo much better. If this was used instead the scene would have been way better

Okay, I have to admit. That is pretty awesome.

[TonyTheTiger]

I thought Naldony's actual scream was pretty decent.

Too bad you can't hear it over the "ANYMOOOOOORE!!!!!!!!!"

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

you'll notice that Nadolny's scream is actually very good

Ugh, her voice for Gohan is like nails on a chalkboard. How can anyone like that stupid "UUUUUULAAAAAAAAAAAAALGH!!!" screaming? Sounds kinda like Ash Ketchum...

I don't know, you tell me.

What do you mean by that?

[ThunderPX]

you'll notice that Nadolny's scream is actually very good

Ugh, her voice for Gohan is like nails on a chalkboard. How can anyone like that stupid "UUUUUULAAAAAAAAAAAAALGH!!!" screaming? Sounds kinda like Ash Ketchum...

Oddly enough, earlier today I was playing RB2 and thought Gohan's new voice sounded more like Ash Ketchum.

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

Oddly enough, earlier today I was playing RB2 and thought Gohan's new voice sounded more like Ash Ketchum.

Hmm... maybe he sounds like the replacement voice for Ash, but I don't hear the old Ash in Clinkenbeard.