|
Somebody wrote an opinion essay awhile back that disturbed me. It
was one of those "converted to original version" stories, I believe, but
the author went on to talk about the quality of Japanese voices and how
it bothered him that they were so high pitched. So, I just thought I
would share my feelings about high pitched Japanese voices, and why I
feel they're more appropriate.
Goku first. I don't really know a lot about the original Japanese
version of DBZ, but I know enough to have an explanation for why Goku
has a woman's voice. He started off as a kid, remember? And Akira
Toriyama has his characters gradually get older. So at the end of DB,
Goku was pretty much an adult. If you were a voice director, at what
time would you decide to change his voice? You can't do it at the end of
DB, because Goku looks exactly the same as he does at the beginning of
DBZ. That leaves you with the option of either (A) Trying to find the
exact point Goku reaches puberty or (B) Leaving the very talented Masako
Nozawa doing his voice. And what is the point of changing his voice?
There isn't one in Japan, because they don't care how masculine Goku
sounds. Remember also, Dragonball is a comedy, so it's really fitting
that the strongest man in the universe sounds like a girl sometimes. And
personally, I have never thought Goku's voice seemed high pitched
anyway. Maybe that's because I watch so much subtitled stuff, I don't
know.
So, Gohan then. Gohan is a child, and a cute one at that, but what
really tops him off is his adorable little voice. Saffron Henderson
couldn't do him any justice. I don't see anyone having a problem with
his Japanese voice, and if someone does, I can't imagine why.
Krillin. I have a BIG problem with Terry Klassen's Krillin. Not only
does he have the stupidest lines, his delivery is horrible. And what he
says never matches the expression on his face! I know most of you are
thinking that's Funimation's fault, but I don't think so. Radditz had
some stupid lines, but the way he said them made them all funny. And Mr.
Klassen is a writer! He probably wrote some of those stupid lines! But
I'm off-topic. I really love the Japanese voice because it fits Krillin
so well: kind of goofy, a little nervous, and very charming. None of
this is captured in the American version, mostly because his voice is so
much more masculine. Krillin may not be a child, but he looks and acts
like one. Why shouldn't he sound like one?
Vegeta and Piccolo. Someone commented that Piccolo's Japanese voice
isn't deep enough, but I think it just seems that way because Scott
McNeil has such a baritone one. It does feel funny to me to watch
World's Strongest (subbed) because the Japanese Piccolo really doesn't
sound the same; he probably is the only character whose English voice I
prefer. Both of Vegeta's voices are pretty deep; not much to say about
that.
Freeza. I have never heard Freeza's Japanese voice, so I can't
really comment on it. I think the opinion essay I read said that he had
a very high pitched scream. Well, how many people can you think of who
can scream really well, with a deep voice? Everyone's voice goes up when
they scream, except maybe Vegeta. Isn't it wonderful, though, that
Freeza's Japanese voice can scream at all? That seems to be something no
English voice actor is comfortable with.
And, one more paragraph comparing voices in general. I figured out
something about the dub that really bothered me. All the voices are at
the same volume. No one whispers or yells. This is why a lot of things
don't make sense to me, I think, like how Nappa hears what they call him
but not what they're planning, despite no change of position. In
subtitled versions, there is a marked difference between a thoughtful
whisper and a battle cry.
The bottom line: There's nothing wrong with sounding like a girl.
Most of the high pitched voices are for comedy. In that same opinion
essay I keep talking about (who wrote that?) the author hypothesized
that Japanese heroes must all have high voices. It's possible that this
is true, since all I've really seen is Ranma, and his voice isn't that
deep...nope. Not true. I have a few assorted videos (Ruin Explorers, My
Dear Marie, Utena, Tenchi Muyo) in which the guys all have deep voices.
I'm betting Gourry Gabriev and Tuxedo Mask have deep voices, too. I can
see why someone would make an assumption like that, but it's not true.
So, I don't know about you, but I think Goku sounds just perfect in
Japanese. I understand all (well, most) of the voice changes in
Funimation's version, but I don't think anyone should be complaining
about high pitched girly voices anymore. I'd like to leave you with some
profound ending sentence, but I can't think of one.
So, one more thing...the shameless plug of my webpage:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~animiko/ I hope you learned something from this essay other than the fact I can
go on forever about nothing. Thank you for reading!
- Miko Charbonneau |
   
|