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I have been introduced to Dragon Ball through the American version of the
Dragon Ball series early in my freshman year (I am a senior now). I watched
every morning for one half hour and struggled to remember the names. I looked
on the Internet and found nothing on Dragon Ball material (take note that the
Internet was empty around then) (Similar note: I have had the Internet since
the early 90's of Prodigy and Compuserve, void of e-mail and instant messaging, when Internet was merely a business related resource).
I loved Dragon Ball from the start and sought to learn more about its origins. Then suddenly I found some things on the Internet about a Z series. This was very confusing. Goku- grown up WOW. I soon made Z my basis for db info. I then looked for kindred spirits. Looking to the Internet wasn't entirely fulfilling. A lengthy search led me to a human contact. David Martens. This man wasn't nerely a fan, more like a well
of db knowledge. He introduced me to the GT series, and my main source of
outer-related experience: the subtitled Japanese (not series) Movies. One
thing I noticed immediatly. The order. Not just because these were movies
was I suprised. I looked up the release dates and the dates of the series.
Totally unrelated. Movies were entirely out of context and very confusing to
(especially American) fans. However, the movies cleared up a world of
confusion due to my DBZ paraphernalia. Pictures of mysterious characters were
identified. Mainly Trunks, AH #18, Brolly, and Ja-Nem-Ba (my favorite short
lived villain). Oh well enough with history. I just really wanted to express
my joyous reaction to American dubbed.
First and foremost:
The voices. Entirely better in my opinion. Classic American voice artists
that we are familiar with. The Japanese voices were high pitched and
disturbing. My friend who fluently speaks and understands Japanese found the
voices muddled, mumbling and hard to understand. She said "This is like
ghetto Japanese for stupid people, in fact the Japanese voices sound like
someone recorded this in a basement. Also, Frieza sounds gay." Not entirely
scientifically based, however, states a sound opinion. I can understand the
emotional factors and Japanese reality conversions to American humor. However
she said that wouldn't matter, its like a great story with bad acting. Also,
even after looking at the difference in missing words, and things that don't
entirely make sense, the Japanese aren't the greatest of dialogue writers in
the world, and I personally think that American writers are better (at least the writers of "As Good as it Gets" as opposed to "Titanic").
Also, the missing scenes.
Not important. Completely don't take away from the story, and just add to
unexperienced confusion of american viewers. The Japanese jokes and .. how
can I put this... Japanese! You can barely get anything unless you hear jokes
in their proper form. One example is the DBGT FINAL BOUT English version
video game. People say things like "I disrespect you" rather than "I hate you." Such scenes are removed from the dubbed version for their obscurity. Also, what is the advantage of the original versions as opposed to the dubbed. The story is the same. Whatever people may say, it is the same. The plot is
correct. The outcomes are accurate and each move and kamehameha works on all
levels, in both versions. One thing I noticed in my Jap version and US
version is the nudity and the peeing. Not needed. Its not funny, useful,
and it only degrades the otherwise wonderful story line. Sure people get
naked, but you can show nudity without showing peoples natural state. Certain
side views and cut scenes get a similar affect void of immature reactions.
As far as I can tell fighting scenes aren't cut too much. Lack of blood isn't
apparant. At least in the movies.
Music
The Japanese music isn't bad, but its Japanese Pop. Blech!!!!! Have you
heard the classic rock related DB title music? Very uplifting and
entertaining. Also, my all time favorite song. The DBZ title song. Really
cool Punk Rock. I am a punk fan and it definately think it fits the category.
It really works on your fighting spirit. I know my ki is moved. The Japanese
one is like super hero music. Its like really stupid and cheesy. If I wanted
to watch Captain Planet, I would have changed the channel to the WB. DBZ, while spawned from a comedic series, is very action oriented. Look at DBZ
not with an artist's eye, or an anime fan's eye. Look at it with hatred and the love of fast paced extremely well animated fighting styles. I love the
fighting scenes, and the music of the US dub really does it justice.
More stuff on the voices.
Goku and Gohan and Goten sound like wussies. It may be a ploy to confuse the
enemy (YEAH RIGHT). These guys are tough. Give them deserving deep voiced
strong men. Vegeta's voice however on both versions is okay. However I like
the american snakey voice of this villain turned hero. It is sort of a theif's
voice, and Vegeta is more of a lower bad guy. However, it does take away from
his noble attitude. But it works when he acts happily haughty. Though when
he is giving commands its sort of weak. Now the Japanese version of his voice
is really like a 40 year old man. Or an older Mexican father. Its really
sort of deep and commanding, but it is also a little weazy and some what weak
when concerned with his damaged state. One thing I noticed that no one has
talked about is the changes in there condition. There voice all matters
depending on there mood. I also like the English name changes. It isn't too
obscure and it works. King Kai, is also alot easier to remember.
Let me reiterate.
I have the Japanese MOVIES. Not the series. If it is entirely different I will find out by further reading the opinions of others. However, if it is similar to the movies, I find absolutely nothing wrong with it. Though I would like to see a time line and orderability that lowers the confusion to a minimum.
Thanks for reading my essay.
I hope that I can find the time for what I have planned to post on the
Internet as the AMERICAN DRAGON BALL Z PAGE, that works on setting an english
version standard for beginning fans with little knowledge of Japan and its
intricacies.
- Robert Peeler |
   
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