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I'll get it out of the way- I was turned on to anime by Sailor Moon and
am still a (tolerant) fan. What can I say? I take the whole show with a
grain of salt. Thank the PTBs that nobody in DBZ has ever gotten as
shrill or whining as Usagi (although Gohan comes close in the battle
with Nappa- granted he's like, six and it's extremely forgivable, but it
still grated on my nerves) And I'm apparently one of the "huddled masses
yearning to breathe free", for I have never seen the original anime
-possibly because I don't read or speak an iota of Japanese. So since
the FUNimation dub is all I've got, it'll be all I love until I can get
access to some originals.
First, I'd like to address those views of mine that will probably make
you want to hunt me down and kill me (incidentally, please don't). The
music issue- I have no basis for comparison on this one. Cartoon
Network's Toonami is where I'm getting my DBZ fix, and they don't show
opening titles, only instrumental ending credits. However, if the guitar
music on the ending credits is that "Rock the Dragon" you're so agitated
about, you're doing it an injustice. It may not be what you've been used
to, but it certianly has a very adrenal charm. I think it communicates a
sort of exuberant, irrepresible attitude of "I'm going to have fun no
matter WHO tries to take over the entire known universe, dammit!" God
knows it gets into my blood. However, I have taken a look at the
comparitive lyrics, and I can't think of words to describe those
puppies. Abysmally puerile springs to mind. I mean "Dragon, Dragon, Rock
the Dragon, Come Get Me, Ha!" for God's sake? Couldn't SOMEONE have
taken pride in their work and slipped in a teensy bit of relevance to
the show?
My other main divergence is the issue of Vegeta's voice. Although I
heartily agree with you on Freeza- I thought he was a female for the
longest time (and rejoiced at the thought of a major character with
estrogen or some alien counterpart thereof), and a female with a serious
chain smoking problem at that- and Zarbon- who I also thought was
female, though judging only by his appearance. Doesn't he just have the
most velvety rumble?- I am simply in strict opposition on the Vegeta
thing. I think I've developed a crush on him, height difference
notwithstanding (I'm six feet, and even with his hair he'd probably only
reach to my chin), and a major factor in that was his voice. I'm only a
novice, but that biting, smoky sound of his seems very fitting for the
character. His sarcasm and arrogance are very well served by his rasp,
and the change in vocal patterns when he's injured or under stress is
nicely subtle due to the fact that the inherently harsh sound of his
voice doesn't need to modify very much to convey the appropriate
condition. And, well, it's just plain sexy! And on the vocal issue,
what's with this American thing of "Let's have funny sounding women play
juvenile male VO's!" First Babe the pig, now Gohan? It kind of suggests
we have some issues about "boys will be boys", 'cause apparently they...
won't.
Hey, what's with the guy who does Krillin and his bizarre vocal slides?
You know what I mean. He always sounds like Toni Braxton when she's
doing one of those I'm-searching-for-the-right-note-bear-with-
me-guys-I'll-find-it-any-second-now-hey-there-it-is things. Like he
can't get the word out.
The Announcer has a great voice, but nobody is ever going to be able to
say things like "...the surly sproutheads would have none of it..."
(referring to the Saibamen) with any degree of dignity. Don't get me
wrong, I laughed until I thought I'd collapse, but that's SOOOO Batman
in the 60's. (Note: I used to watch that a lot, too.)
Anyway. I support the Tien/Tenshinhan thing too. He's a character with
tons of room to develop, and great comic potential 'cause he just does
not get it, ever, and the relationship between him and Chaozu just needs
to be explored. He's this big bundle of exploitable plot and character
depth, still waters and all that, and he never gets touched! It's sad.
He could be really likable. And the same goes for Yamcha. What's with
those great scars? How does he really feel about Bulma? These are wells
of possible emotionality left to stagnate, and that's simply a waste of
good water. (I know, dumb metaphor. What do you want? I'm seventeen and
it's really, really late.)
I'm not even going to begin on the "other dimension." It's an excreble,
pandering attempt to placate parents and a condesencion to kids'
intelligence. You find me a kid who doesn't know that death happens and
I'll thank you politely and make arrangements to ensure that he never
breeds.
So- Digital Painting. Huge Yellow Inkblots. Sudden Big White Dustclouds
Which Seem To Follow The Little Four-Eyed Guy Around. Egad. I understand FUNimation's fear of a rabid mob of parents demanding that their show be taken off the air. I live in Utah (not by choice) and am VERY well aquainted with the damage an overly conservative attitude can cause. When the theaters edit out not only Titanic's nude scene, but the window/handprint thing, it's out of control. Nobody could get away with the scenes that have been cut in this state. But it's just getting "pairfectly redeecluous". the sheer unnecessary bulk of what seems to have been cut. I, for one, would definitely have appreciated an absence of ambulatory bath towels or the strategically placed and apparently migratory shrub.
Wow. I really feel better having vented. Thanks! I still adore my lowly NA dub.
- Bennett Cousins |
   
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