Is the Latin American Spanish dub really that bad?

[kei17]

I've seen so many Latin American DB fans complaining about the Kai dub. They argue that it sucks because they replaced a number of members of the the original cast. I can totally understand why they hate the recast, but at the same time, many of them seem to blame the new cast for their bad performances, which sound just fine to me. Aren't they too emotional that they baselessly criticize the new cast out of nostalgia? Was Mario Castañeda, the original Goku, that great as a voice actor? They also seem not to like the script translated from FUNi's, but the English dub is very accurate, so I don't consider it a drawback. Instead, I wonder whether the Z dub really was accurate because I guess it's harder for them to translate the script from Japanese.

Is the Latin American Spanish dub just groundlessly hated or really bad? Maybe it's that the haters are noisy minority. I don't regard the replacement score as a problem here because it's not the fault of the dub itself.

[dbboxkaifan]

1. No Mr. Mario Castañeda
2. NickToons Kai English dub script
3. NicKtoons Kai English censored version
4. Kai Music Replacement (it might've been more acceptable with the original)
5. The quality of the VA's was a lot better on the original DBZ than Kai

The Latin Spanish DBZ dub didn't need this god awful dub as the original DBZ dub was close to flawless (with the Brazilian dub at its side). They should've done like in Portugal, sub-only so it'd avoid these atrocities.

Gohan SSJ2 Scene Comparison - Kai Vs. Z: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd7jPgObSuE

Latin Spanish DBZ Gohan SSJ2 scream is definitely the second best to the Japanese by Nozawa.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Well Kei, this assessment comes with the caveat that I don't speak a ton of Spanish myself, but personally, I think the Latin Spanish Kai dub is actually pretty good. I think fans are just overly passionate because, when comparing the Z dub and the Kai dub, the Z dub was borderline-flawless, and the Kai dub was just "pretty good." There are degrees of good and bad, but in the heat of passion, fans tend to label something as being either entirely good or entirely bad, without any middle point. This passion is due in large part to the fact that dub director Irwin Daayan made the mistake (in my opinion) of revealing too much "behind the scenes" info about the politics behind the recasting situation. Whenever you reveal information like that before a production is released--which is info that should always remain private, anyway--you're opening up a floodgate of criticism and preconceived judgements.

The Kai dub is an overall downgrade just due to the fact that they're dealing with censored video and an indirect translation. Yes, the English Kai dub is very accurate, but it's still not perfect...and considering that the Latin Spanish dub of DBZ was translated from the Japanese script and was borderline-perfect, fans can't help but notice the difference. Like I said, in the heat of passion, middle points disappear. Something all of a sudden becomes entirely good or entirely bad.

Which is a pity. Because, as for the recasts....honestly, some of the recast are pretty damn good, from what I've seen. Mario Castaneda has a lot of love going for him in that he's very close to the fan community, but Edson Matus, his replacement...I mean, the guy sounds like he's doing a pretty fantastic job!

[AgitoZ]

There is no question that the fans are biased from their preference to the past cast. The Kai dub is good, it's just not great like the Z dub was. I'll admit I was hesitant towards the recast parts, but the actors are putting in fine performances.

If anything, I feel this more of an issue of the internet making the voice of a vocal minority sounding louder and bigger than it is.

[kei17]

Gohan SSJ2 Scene Comparison - Kai Vs. Z: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd7jPgObSuE

That comparison isn't fair. Kai's audio is too bad.

The Kai dub is an overall downgrade just due to the fact that they're dealing with censored video and an indirect translation. Yes, the English Kai dub is very accurate, but it's still not perfect...and considering that the Latin Spanish dub of DBZ was translated from the Japanese script and was borderline-perfect, fans can't help but notice the difference. Like I said, in the heat of passion, middle points disappear. Something all of a sudden becomes entirely good or entirely bad.

Ah, I forgot to mention censored video. It is a big drawback. But again, was the Z dub's script really borderline-perfect? I know there were some unnecessary name changes and conversely left some as-is that should be translated like Namekusei, and I guess translating from Japanese would cause more errors.

Mario Castaneda has a lot of love going for him in that he's very close to the fan community, but Edson Matus, his replacement...I mean, the guy sounds like he's doing a pretty fantastic job!

I too like Edson's performance. Mario Castañeda fits Goku's personality more, but honestly I never liked his yells.

There is no question that the fans are biased from their preference to the past cast. The Kai dub is good, it's just not great like the Z dub was. I'll admit I was hesitant towards the recast parts, but the actors are putting in fine performances.

If anything, I feel this more of an issue of the internet making the voice of a vocal minority sounding louder and bigger than it is.

Yeah, that seems to be the case here.

[Eire]

and I guess translating from Japanese would cause more errors.

Translating from original is one of the basic rules of translating. Simply: mistakes are unavoidable and in "Chinese whisper" translation you just add your own to previously existing ones. Translating from exotic languages isn't a problem as long as you hire skilled translator.

[kei17]

and I guess translating from Japanese would cause more errors.

Translating from original is one of the basic rules of translating. Simply: mistakes are unavoidable and in "Chinese whisper" translation you just add your own to previously existing ones. Translating from exotic languages isn't a problem as long as you hire skilled translator.

That's the problem. It can be easily imagined that in Mexico, the number of skilled Japanese-to-Spanish translators was far lower than that of English-to-Spanish translators. I doubt there were any enough skilled translators for a kids anime show. From what I heard, in Mexico, most of the other anime were translated from other dubs. Maybe Toei gave them their own English script, but the translator of the Swedish dub of Sailor Moon said that Toei's English script given to him was really poor that he had to make up the script himself.

I do know that the Latin Spanish Z dub is very accurate cause I speak little Spanish, but I'm not sure it's really accurate enough to beat the Kai dub.

[Kingdom Heartless]

What sort of video release was that comparison video made from? I just ask because the Dragon Ball Z part looked really good.

[Eire]

Translating from other dubs has more to do with buying the licences, than artistic decisions (Pro example Pokemon series for Europe were bought from USA right holders).

It can be easily imagined that in Mexico, the number of skilled Japanese-to-Spanish translators was far lower than that of English-to-Spanish translators. I doubt there were any enough skilled translators for a kids anime show. I doubt there were any enough skilled translators for a kids anime show.

It's better to speak about facts, than imaginations, because it's exactly contrariwise in Mexico and everywhere in non-english speaking Western world. The facts are that for English translations you can hire anyone who knows English and everyone claims so, so usually the money decide to have the cheapest options- often people who decided to pick up that work by accident and have really basic skills. Translations for TV (maybe apart from Disney and Cartoon Network, but it varies) are regarded as low-paying and not ambitious work with no prospects for becoming recognisable. Born English translators usually stick to literature and theatrical movies, since that's what gives money and fame.

In case of more exotic languages you usually have to choose from people with a proper degree and interest in particular culture, since very few people decide to devote themselves for such narrow interest (for what other pupropse you would need Japanese than being a translator?). Since there's no much work with translating cultural things, they often make a technical translations a main source of income, catching every occasion to do anything more artistic.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Mario Castaneda has a lot of love going for him in that he's very close to the fan community, but Edson Matus, his replacement...I mean, the guy sounds like he's doing a pretty fantastic job!

I too like Edson's performance. Mario Castañeda fits Goku's personality more, but honestly I never liked his yells.

I LOVE Edson's yells! Talk about strong vocal cords.

PS: For clarification's sake, the video in the Kai portion of this comparison is not the video actually used in the Latin Spanish dub. A fan took the liberty of syncing the Latin Spanish dub's audio to the uncut footage.

[dbboxkaifan]

I do know that the Latin Spanish Z dub is very accurate cause I speak little Spanish, but I'm not sure it's really accurate enough to beat the Kai dub.

The Latin Spanish Kai dub used 9000 power level than 8000 so it's clearly more accurate than the old Latin Spanish dub.

[kei17]

Translating from other dubs has more to do with buying the licences, than artistic decisions (Pro example Pokemon series for Europe were bought from USA right holders).

I know that. I thought that could have made them unused to translating anime script from Japanese.

It's better to speak about facts, than imaginations, because it's exactly contrariwise in Mexico and everywhere in non-english speaking Western world. The facts are that for English translations you can hire anyone who knows English and everyone claims so, so usually the money decide to have the cheapest options- often people who decided to pick up that work by accident and have really basic skills. Translations for TV (maybe apart from Disney and Cartoon Network, but it varies) are regarded as low-paying and not ambitious work with no prospects for becoming recognisable. Born English translators usually stick to literature and theatrical movies, since that's what gives money and fame.

Interesting. I simply thought that there were more people fluent in English because Mexico is physically next to the United States and that would improve their English translation, but it was a shallow idea after all. When it comes to facts, how the Kai dub's script actually inferior to the Z dub's then? I've never seen anyone pointing out its real inaccuracy.

I LOVE Edson's yells! Talk about strong vocal cords.

The video is blocked here.

The Latin Spanish Kai dub used 9000 power level than 8000 so it's clearly more accurate than the old Latin Spanish dub.

You can't judge the entire accuracy by pointing out one particular line.

[Eire]

You need someone better in Spanish than me to point any mistakes, I just speak about general rule:) Being fluent in language isn't enough to be a good translator- vast knowledge about cultural background, history, popculture, evolution of the language and have better than avarange knowledge about your mother tongue to find a comparison. It's a full time job, so those people have their price. Unfortunately most of the cartoon releases (apart from Disney:)) cut cost where it's possible, so we have an effect:(

[Cure Dragon 255]

IMHO I think the LatAM fans are biased towaerds the old dub. Except for Gohan. His Voice is SO FUCKING AWFUL.

[Das_Falke]

I do know that the Latin Spanish Z dub is very accurate cause I speak little Spanish, but I'm not sure it's really accurate enough to beat the Kai dub.

The Latin Spanish Kai dub used 9000 power level than 8000 so it's clearly more accurate than the old Latin Spanish dub.

Well mate, if you read the manga, you should know that 8000 what Vegeta really said

IMHO I think the LatAM fans are biased towaerds the old dub. Except for Gohan. His Voice is SO FUCKING AWFUL.

Here in Latin America Dragon Ball had a huge success, almost every kid grew watching the anime plus the fact that by that time the Mexican dub was the best and the voices actors did a fantastic job, when you hear Goku or Vegeta speaking, you really think that it is his real voice.

With that said, now you must understand that Dragon Ball is directly associated with the childhood of million of people here those voices are part of the memories, so when DBZ Kai was aired, they fans didn't feel the same, the voices were different plus the censorship too, DB was also famous for its violence.

[TheRed259]

Latin America has one of the best DragonBall dubs but I will vote neither for Z nor for Kai dub .

Mario Castañeda (Dbz) is my second favourite voice actor of Goku and Andrés Gutiérrez Coto (Dbz Kai) is a truly awesome voice actor for Vegeta . That's why I do have mixed feelings about it .

And the reason why Latin American DB fans do hate Kai dub has to do with the replacement of the old voice actors .

[dbboxkaifan]

Latin America has one of the best DragonBall dubs but I will vote neither for Z nor for Kai dub .

Mario Castañeda (Dbz) is my second favourite voice actor of Goku and Andrés Gutiérrez Coto (Dbz Kai) is a truly awesome voice actor for Vegeta . That's why I do have mixed feelings about it .

And the reason why Latin American DB fans do hate Kai dub has to do with the replacement of the old voice actors .

It's not just the voices, the music, the script and that it's NickToons censored version.

The Brazilian Kai used NickToons censored version but at least they made the effort of using their own resources (DBZ BR) than the exact script from NickToons edition.

[TheRed259]

Is it possible to hear the old voice actors in the Buu arc of Kai after this ?

[AgitoZ]

Is it possible to hear the old voice actors in the Buu arc of Kai after this ?

Unless I'm missing something, that news post only has confirmation that the people in charge got a petition. From my point of view it seems to be a more friendly way of getting people to shut up. It's naive to think that the producers wouldn't know the concern the fans have about the original cast, BOG related or not.

Anyway, the problem with the cast has never been anything else but budget issues. Since BOG, presumably, will be getting a bigger budget I don't think getting the original cast would be a problem. However, I don't see how BOG will somehow increase the budget the producers have for the TV series.

And if they are able to get the cast there is also the question of whether to drop the replacements or not. Especially in this theoretical Boo arc where it is properly supported monetarily.

[sangofe]

Latin America has one of the best DragonBall dubs but I will vote neither for Z nor for Kai dub .

Mario Castañeda (Dbz) is my second favourite voice actor of Goku and Andrés Gutiérrez Coto (Dbz Kai) is a truly awesome voice actor for Vegeta . That's why I do have mixed feelings about it .

And the reason why Latin American DB fans do hate Kai dub has to do with the replacement of the old voice actors .

And maybe because it's censored?