Original vs. American

Bomber Greek · Post by **Bomber Greek** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:04 pm

Which do you prefer? And by American, I mean every thing that was done on American Dragon Ball/Z/GT. And please, don't say "LOLZ0RZ T3H J4P4N353 MUSIK IS T3H SUXX0RS!". Please explain in detail which you believe is better.

I personally prefer the Japanese version in almost everything. The music sets the mood much better, and the voices seem less forced. Besides, the Japanese version doesn't really have any corny dialog. (Your power levels are like a Boy Scout Troop!)

The FUNimation dub voice actors aren't as good as the original seiyuus, but they still have some voices I like. I personally love Vegeta's voice. But, the Ocean dub voice actors are just horrible, plain and simple. Vegeta's voice... *shudders*

My aunt likes Dragon Ball, and she lives in China. I'm not Chinese, but my Uncle works there as a teacher in an English school. Anyway, they come up every year. She likes Dragon Ball, and got two DVDs on Amazon while she was here. She wanted me to keep them at my house for a year until she comes back. She got the General Blue Saga and the Saga of Goku. She said I could watch them. So, today, they came in the mail. I popped in the Saga of Goku set, just to see how bad it is. I personally felt like throwing up after two minutes of watching it.

So, discuss and debate.

Humpski · Post by **Humpski** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:12 pm

Japanese version for me as well. The actors are all spectaclular and the music is a million times better than the "butt rock" in the American version. In the English one they seem to try way too hard sometimes, adding unneccessary grunts and groans until it just sounds comedic.

Anyways, about the Ocean version. You don't like the Vegeta?
I think Ocean Vegeta and Ocean Piccolo are way better than Funi's.

Here, just watch this clip and see if it's not awesome:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WSWvXK4MNGw
I like the music better in this than the funi one, Vegeta's speaking voice and his screams are so much cooler and Recoome doesn't sound quite as stupid as he does in the Funi version.

Bomber Greek · Post by **Bomber Greek** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:16 pm

Vegeta's Ocean voice just doesn't seem to match his personality in my opinion...

This is the same scene in the Japanese version. Everyone, notice how much better this is.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=k1tAHOmAOjk

Humpski · Post by **Humpski** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:19 pm

Bomber Greek wrote:This is the same scene in the Japanese version. Everyone, notice how much better this is. http://youtube.com/watch?v=k1tAHOmAOjk

Oh I agree, Japanese version is so much better. This scene is also one of the better animated bits in the series, in my opinion.

Anyways, the Ocean Vegeta is a lot closer to the Japanese one than the Funi voice, which is I think why I like it more. The Funi one is too deep.

Vekurotto · Post by **Vekurotto** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:40 pm

I like the Japanese version too for pretty much the same reasons as Bomber Greek said. However I think that Ocean's Vegeta's better than Funimation's. Chris Sabat's plays so many people in Dragonball/Z that they sound like the same guy most of the time. Especially, Piccolo and Vegeta.

I think that people think Ocean's voices suck only because of their horrendous editing from the first 53(67) episodes.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:42 pm

There's two reasons I watch with the Japanese audio:

1. It's the original
It's important for me to watch the original version of a piece of fiction. It's not that I can't enjoy a derivitive work, it's just that with any adaptation - even on that tries as much as possible to stay true to the original - something gets changed. Even if it's just little things - it just rubs me the wrong way knowing that something could be "off" about what I'm watching.

For the DBZ dubs, specifically - shit - even with the UUEs the script's changed so much it's ridiculous. (And I know we've been through this before, but) I really hate it that honourifics get dropped in English. I know it sounds weird in English, but they're so telling of interpersonal relationships and character... but I don't want to go off on a rant.

-edit-
To be clear, I'm not saying that adaptations can't be better than the original (even in DBZ, the dub's speech from Goku about the Saiyan race dying and needing to protect the new Saiyan race was far more poignant than the original 'dur, he's strong, let's fight') - but it's not correct.
-/edit-

2. "This incredible acting talent"
All of the English dubs suck. Sure there are some good lines, and the VAs themselves show some great stuff in other anime - but there's far too much terrible over-under-acting.

Plus, the dub music sucks. A lot. (Except for that 'Perfect Cell theme'. That was pretty good, though it ruined the mood of the scenes.)

-edit-
And, yes, Drummond was the best English Vegeta.
-/edit-

kenisu3000 · Post by **kenisu3000** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:11 pm

desirecampbell wrote:And, yes, Drummond was the best English Vegeta.

Agreed. I've been told by many a dubbie that they prefer Chris Sabat, that their argument is "he makes him sound more like a prince", but I have to disagree. Plus, it's just too fun to impersonate that high-pitched "now it's time to send you to the next dimension!" even if the line is considered an unholy farce.

Chuquita · Post by **Chuquita** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:13 pm

I tend to watch the japanese audio first.
Ryo Horikawa is my favorite Vegeta. His voice fits the character SO well in my opinon.
And he can sing!

Not that I don't enjoy the dubs too. Dubs are good for the nostalgia factor.

kenisu3000 · Post by **kenisu3000** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:18 pm

Well, Horikawa is my favorite Vegeta overall, but Drummond is my favorite English Vegeta.

Oh yeah, another fun line to impersonate - "It's OVER NINE-THOUSAAAAND!!!!"

Anyway, I prefer the Japanese version almost 100% through-and-through. There's a few moments in the dub that I like better than the original, but like Desire said, watching anything but the original conception rubs me the wrong way.

SatoSky · Post by **SatoSky** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:24 pm

I prefer the original Japanese, for many of the reasons that have been listed here already. Specifically the acting though. I agree with Desire in that all the English dubs suck. If I had to watch one though, it would FUNi's though. Mainly because that's what I was first introduced to.

Also, I think that Brian Drummond as Vegeta was great in few scenes, but other times he just plain sucked. Granted, Chris Sabat's interpretation (or imitation to be exact) of the character isn't much better.

Bomber Greek wrote:Vegeta's Ocean voice just doesn't seem to match his personality in my opinion...

I agree, Drummond made him sound like a weasel.

kenisu3000 wrote:watching anything but the original conception rubs me the wrong way.

I watch Kiki's Delivery Service with the English dub turned on. Has nothing to do with the topic, but I just thought I would mention it.

Bomber Greek · Post by **Bomber Greek** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:36 pm

I'm happy that you all prefer the original so far. On IGN, it seemed like most of the people preferred the American music somehow... :[

Vegard Aune · Post by **Vegard Aune** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:44 pm

Japanese here too. Reasons:
1. It's the original. No matter what it is, if I CAN watch/read the original, I will. Might be because of all the awful anime-dubs I've seen on norwegian TV.
2. The music. They actually don't play music constantly, and it's overall better than the dub-soundtrack, even though there are some good pieces there too. (Except in GT. Ugh.)
3. The script. The dub alters the script WAY too much. The worst case is propably Season 3, which sounds more like a violent 4Kids-dub than anything else. Plus all the silly contradictions. ("Planet Vegeta blew up three years ago! That means that you are three years old, Kakarrot!" "Dr. Gero was the leader of the Red Ribbon Army! Even though the original series showed Red as the leader!")

laserkid · Post by **laserkid** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:56 pm

In DBZ I preffer the Japanese version because the english script is just BAD, the voice acting on the dub isn't too bad, but the music is meh. The script however is really what does it in.

Strangely, and maybe it's just me, but in Dragon Ball, I find the script MUCH better then in DBZ, and of course, the use of the original BGM score helps it immensly as well (I used to think that was the diffrential factor, but the season 1 and 2 boxed sets of DBZ dub didn't beat out the Japanese version for me).

Olivier Hague · Post by **Olivier Hague** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:08 pm

Chuquita wrote:Ryo Horikawa is my favorite Vegeta. His voice fits the character SO well in my opinon.

One thing I didn't realize (then again, I haven't seen much of the original anime) is that he made some changes to the script, just like Nozawa did for Gokû. His manga "temê" became "kisama" in the anime, for example. I can't check right now, but I wonder if Toriyama eventually "adopted" these changes in the manga...

One other thing I learned from the same page is that Toriyama actually has his own idea as far as Vegeta Jr.'s ancestry is concerned... And it's a bit surprising.
In fact, it would mean that some of Vegeta Jr.'s ancestors are (dare I say it?) extraterrestrials called the "three-eyed tribe". In other words, Toriyama said he would be Tenshinhan's great great grandson.
But that's a subject for another topic, I guess. ;þ

COCONUT MILK · Post by **COCONUT MILK** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:04 pm

I like them all, and i really like the dubs because it gives the show more depth (like a kungfu movie ;D) and the times when something really crazy comes out of the dub like "yes yes yes i. can. do. this!!!" are awesome for me.

Also faulconers music is great, you lot my like the japanese music better because "it give it a mood setting" but faulconer has done the best dub music for any show by far. *

* Please don't argue with me on this, it's just my personal and educated opinion on music

EDIT: Also australian jeice ;D

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:43 pm

COCONUT MILK wrote:I like them all, and i really like the dubs because it gives the show more depth (like a kungfu movie ;D) and the times when something really crazy comes out of the dub like "yes yes yes i. can. do. this!!!" are awesome for me.

Looking at it from an outter view, yes, stuff like that is priceless. Can't find better gold than stuff like "HA! PEEKABOO! COME TO BIG DADDY GARLIC!" But from an actual fan's view of how the series was treated, it's just absolutely not the same.

COCONUT MILK wrote:Also faulconers music is great, you lot my like the japanese music better because "it give it a mood setting" but faulconer has done the best dub music for any show by far. *

* Please don't argue with me on this, it's just my personal and educated opinion on music

Faulconer's music is decent. Take it out of DBZ and you'll find some of it catchy. However, he has a ton of stinkers (like that crazy ass circus music he used for the Garlic Jr. arc) and the music really doesn't fit at all with DBZ. On it's own, it's decent. In DBZ, it has no place being there. Sorta like all those kiddies who think rap or rock tunes go with DBZ or Naruto AMVs.

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:10 pm

It depends on the moment for me. I prefer the English version of Gohan's SS2 transformation at the 25th Budokai due to Mr. Hebert not being as high-pitched (sorry Ms. Nozawa fans, but her yells then were and still are too high -pitched for my blood) and Ginyu Transformation.

Supa Saiya-Jin Tullece · Post by **Supa Saiya-Jin Tullece** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:19 pm

I enjoy the dub because I don't have to read subtitles. I wouldn't argue with having a better translation, and maybe better music in some places, but it truly isn't as bad as most people make it out to be. Funimation isn't the great satan. Sure, widescreen = bad, but I truly don't care as long as I get my DragonBall.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the original (hell, I watch the original all of the time. I enjoy the dialog much much more), but I don't really think it's any better than the dub.

((But if I could pick any medium, I'm totally into the manga more.))

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:26 pm

Supa Saiya-Jin Tullece wrote:I enjoy the dub because I don't have to read subtitles.

I will *never* understand this excuse. It's not like Dragon Ball Z is FLOODED with dialogue at 100 mph. Are people really that slow at reading that some prefer not to look at a line or two on the screen? Don't mean that in a disrespectful manner, but it's not like the subtitles are all the way on the floor where you have to focus your entire eyesight there and not see the actual video. It's also not like dialogue flies by really fast.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:39 pm

I' watching the Movies Dragon Box right now. The lack of subtitles really don't hurt it much - I mean, they'd be nice, but the story's not that complicated