In Response To 'Dubbies'

I was one of the lucky people to see some of the original Dragonball when it came on TV a few years back. Then later when my cable company picked up DBZ, and in channel surfing I saw the episode where Goku used Kaioken against Ginyu. I recognized it was the same thing and saw all of Seasons 1-3 (Which were the only ones out at that time). But going into the DBZ web community I saw everyone hated the dub. So, I looked around, downloaded episodes and specials, and basically found out WHY it was supposedly so bad. Sure, it was cheesy, but I had no anime experience, I figured “What do you expect, it’s a cartoon.”

I soon found out why everyone hated the dub. The voices weren’t corny in the Japanese version. The show was serious, the dialog was good, and they used actual music instead of a keyboard and typical cartoon superhero stuff. In essence, the dub was not the same show. The feel of it was so much more serious. But then I did more research. I found out Funi actually changes the plot. The animations are the same, sure, but the Androids weren’t kidnapped as children in the Funi version. Vegeta turned Super Saiya-jin because he stopped caring about being better than Goku? That’s NOT how to go SSJ. These things may not be the most important things in the world, but why change them in the first place? I’d think it’s actually EASIER to directly translate instead of changing things and rewriting.

Dubbies simply don’t know the same show that people who have seen the Japanese episodes do. The entire tone is changed from serious drama to cartoon superhero show. So I find dubbies to be students more than fans. They’ve gained enough interest to come find out something online, and realize they’re watching a different thing. Dubbies may have numbers on us for the most part, but we have the superior show. However, the dubbies shouldn’t be bashed like they are. It’s not their fault they’re given an inferior product. Most people will hate Funi AND the dubbies. That’s just screwy.