25 years after it aired, I watched Gohan turn SSJ2 for the first time in original Japanese

[-JD-]

...and goshdarnit I can't believe I slept on it for so long because it's now my preferred way of experiencing my absolute favorite moment in DBZ. Nothing against any of the English dubbed versions (which I grew up watching), but the original Japanese track is better, and for these reasons:

1. No cornball internal monologue
2. You can hear an Oozaru (Great Ape) roar when Gohan screams
3. The song Day of Destiny that plays during Gohan's SSJ2 awakening is really damn good and the repeating melody/chant fits the tone very well. Nothing against the Faulconer score but here it lacks the oomph that usually accompanies other powerful DBZ moments (such as Goku's SSJ3 awakening).

A comparison of all 3 versions I've found

(edit: oops, the comparison vid above doesn't feature Faulconer's score for the dub. here it is below. Thanks, Feep!):

Also, unless I'm missing something, the comparison video in the OP deleted Falconer's score, or whatever. Here's the transformation with the score still in:

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For fun, the Kai version with Day of Destiny


And last, but not least, TeamFourStar's DBZ Abridged with their own cover of Day of Destiny:
[/QUOTE]

 

[Mekanos]

I voted Japanese, but I only watch anime in Japanese, so...

 

[mopinks]

I've never seen any version but the original AND I NEVER WILL

 

[tusharngf]

Loved the OST in the background

 

[Deleted member 420]

so good

 

[Disco]

The Japanese version of this scene is better but overall fuck a subs version of DBZ. The voices are way too high pitched and feminine

 

[Anth0ny]

unmei no hi is GOAT

 

[Dysun]

The japanese scenes are better in all transformations

 

[Pankratous]

The music is absolutely terrible in Japanese DBZ. Absolutely nowhere near the level of Bruce. Ruins the moment. Ruins all the good moments actually.

They really turned it around for Super, though. Excellent music all round.

 

[Vito]

Japanese.

It's OST will always be better that Faulconer shit.

 

[-JD-]

The Japanese version of this scene is better but overall fuck a subs version of DBZ. The voices are way too high pitched and feminine

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Yup. Goku's VO elicits an involuntary shudder every time I hear it.

 

[m_shortpants]

I watched the dub growing up so it's that for me

 

[GaimeGuy]

The oozaru ape roar is used in the japanese dub every time we're first introduced to a new super saiyan form.

 

[BeaconofTruth]

Team 4 Star version is so godlike.

 

[Chaos Legion]

Tragic what they did to the character after :(

Only have seen Funimation.

 

[Deimos]

Everything about the Japanese version is terrible.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Its hard to even enjoy modern Dragon Ball because of how Goku is written and the music outside of the original Funimation dub.
Super would be amazing with those old changes.

 

[Infcabbage]

This scene got so butchered in the funi dub with the faulconer score, it's really no contest

 

[Phendrana]

Yeah that's a fair call. There's a lot of things about this scene that makes the Funi version look bad in particular. I still prefer my Faulconer version though. Wish there was a way to have it with the Kai dub.

 

[RestEerie]

FighterZ

 

[Sampson]

Bruce Faulconer is like half the reason DBZ is even any good.

If you disagree, you're probably a weeb.

 

[The Silver]

why does that comparison video not have the falcouner music, it's silent, Falcon Man DBZ is never silent.

 

[CaptSpaulding]

Japanese version is GOAT

 

[Horohorohoro]

Not really sure how people can like the Falcouner score at all. I like my shows to at least have some points where it can be silent, and that dub with that score had none of that.

Also Gohan's inner monologue in the first Funi dub was and still is stupid. The scream doesn't sound good in that version or Kai.

 

[TheMadTitan]

Kai and TFS da bess. TFs has no right being as good as it is given it's parody.

 

[blitzblake]

Does goku huff helium?

 

[floridaguy954]

I watched the dub growing up so it's that for me

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Same and that song on the Japanese version ruins the mood of the moment for me.

 

[Nightbird]

Bruce Faulconer is like half the reason DBZ is even any good.

If you disagree, you're probably a weeb.

Click to shrink...

Or someone who doesn't live in America.


The falconer score is terrible to me.

 

[Kain-Nosgoth]

Bruce Faulconer is like half the reason DBZ is even any good.

If you disagree, you're probably a weeb.

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here we go again! That debate will never end, lol

 

[Mendrox]

Bruce Faulconer is like half the reason DBZ is even any good.

If you disagree, you're probably a weeb.

Click to shrink...

We Germans gladly took the original. Thanks.

 

[Maximus Odinson]

Recently watched a version of Kai with Faulconer's score (adjusted so it doesn't play all the fucking time) and it was glorious. It's by SuperSatanGod I believe.

 

[Sampson]

Half of DBZ is them just standing around staring at eachother. Faulconer at least gave you the illusion that all that empty space was building up to something EPIC.

 

[Trickster]

This scene is definitely better in the japanese version.

Overall though I think the american version of dbz is vastly superior. Faulconer soundtrack is great, and no granny goku is a blessing

 

[Deleted member 5334]

Jesus Christ. Like, I don't care if you don't like the Japanese version, but some of the hostile comments towards Masako Nozawa in this thread absolutely infuriates me. Holy crap. Please stop this.

 

[fontguy]

The show is nothing without Faulconer's score don't @ me.

 

[Laxoon]

Preferring the dub is like, okay I get it sure preferences and all, it's still objectively bad in comparison to jp imo but there is just no comparing to this original scene.
You cannot take Unmei no Hi away from Gohan in this moment, it's inhumane.

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

It's such an amazing scene.

I'm a purist when it comes to anime so you should know how I voted, even if the Abridged version is also amazing.

 

[Feep]

Jesus Christ. Like, I don't care if you don't like the Japanese version, but some of the hostile comments towards Masako Nozawa in this thread absolutely infuriates me. Holy crap. Please stop this.

Click to shrink...

No one is insulting her personally. But there is a 60+ year old woman voicing Goku, and it's pretty weird, man.

On topic, TeamFourStar's all the way. The cover is amazing.

Also, unless I'm missing something, the comparison video in the OP deleted Falconer's score, or whatever. Here's the transformation with the score still in:

 

[Deleted member 420]

No one insulting her personally. But there is a 60+ year old woman voicing Goku, and it's pretty weird, man.

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the show is pretty weird, dude!

 

[Deleted member 12790]

No one insulting her personally. But there is a 60+ year old woman voicing Goku, and it's pretty weird, man.

Click to shrink...

A 60+ year old woman voices Bart Simpson yet you don't hear people constantly harping on it.

I view Goku's high pitched voice like Bruce Lee's yells in his movies.

 

[Feep]

A 60+ year old woman voices Bart Simpson yet you don't hear people constantly harping on it.

I view Goku's high pitched voice like Bruce Lee's yells in his movies.

Click to shrink...

Bart Simpson is a pre-pubescent child.

 

[Deleted member 5334]

Bart Simpson is a pre-pubescent child.

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Your point? Junko Takeuchi and Maile Flanagan both voice Naruto in their respected versions, both in his mid-older teens, and into his Adulthood. The voice actors are 47 and 54 respectfully. Outside of hardcore Japanese fans groaning about the dub voices, I've almost never, EVER, heard anyone complain about this for Naruto. What makes it any different for Goku?

Also, people often use "Granny Goku" as an insult towards the voice actor, more often than not. This is why I am horribly bothered by this comment.

 

[Deleted member 12790]

Bart Simpson is a pre-pubescent child.

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And Goku is going for a similarly high pitched voice. It's not that weird. High pitched screams and martial arts action have gone together in public consciousness for like 50 years.

And really, it's only because you're used to it that you think a 60+ year old woman playing a 10 year old boy isn't also pretty weird.

 

[Miller]

Bart Simpson is a pre-pubescent child.

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Son Goku is a redneck space monkey.

 

[Subconian Dreamer]

Jesus Christ. Like, I don't care if you don't like the Japanese version, but some of the hostile comments towards Masako Nozawa in this thread absolutely infuriates me. Holy crap. Please stop this.

Click to shrink...

There's definitely this weird "my Goku ain't no granny!!" thing that comes up all the time when discussing the Japanese version from people that don't usually watch it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there's that kind of fragile masculinity aspect to the fandom of a show about beefy dudes punching and throwing laser beams at each other, but

 

[Hyun Sai]

Every SSJ transformation is better in Japanese. We in France had the luck to keep the original OST (they just only kept the instrumental when they sang in japanese), thank god.

The Funimation composer is so heavy on the nose it's quite comical.

In the first movie Broly it's even more apparent, all the eerie horror feeling by using silence and subtle music is lost in the US version.

 

[Feep]

Your point? Junko Takeuchi and Maile Flanagan both voice Naruto in their respected versions, both in his mid-older teens, and into his Adulthood. The voice actors are 47 and 54 respectfully. Outside of hardcore Japanese fans groaning about the dub voices, I've almost never, EVER, heard anyone complain about this for Naruto. What makes it any different for Goku?

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(shrug) Naruto's Japanese voice, even in Boruto, seems reasonable to my ear. Nozawa just very much sounds like an older, much higher voice to my ear. Different voice actors do different stuff. It's not like they're all the same.

While I certainly understand progressive choices in 2019, it just seems almost physically impossible that a physical architype like Goku's could possibly have that voice, and it's a weird impression. (Yes, yes, I know the show is full of impossible nonsense, I'm just telling you it's jarring to hear it. That's all.)

 

[Deleted member 5334]

(shrug) Naruto's Japanese voice, even in Boruto, seems reasonable to my ear. Nozawa just very much sounds like an older, much higher voice to my ear. Different voice actors do different stuff. It's not like they're all the same.

Click to shrink...

Yet you JUST said this:

Bart Simpson is a pre-pubescent child.

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Seriously, if you just don't like the voice, just say it. But don't try to use an excuse than back petal immediately later.

EDIT (Addon):

While I certainly understand progressive choices in 2019, it just seems almost physically impossible that a physical architype like Goku's could possibly have that voice, and it's a weird impression. (Yes, yes, I know the show is full of impossible nonsense, I'm just telling you it's jarring to hear it. That's all.)

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I mean, Masako Nozawa was asked to continue and to keep voicing Goku into his Adulthood. She honestly thought she was gonna be recasted once this came to pass, and then the creators asked her to continue.

I think another thing is your voice isn't always going to be inherent to your appearance. Masako Nozawa does deepen her voice for her Adult Goku, compared to her child voices, and it is often appropriate in the manner she does it. I never saw a personal issue with this approach, and honestly: Why are we tying voices to appearances when time and time again this is absolute bullcrap.

Most people when they see a picture of me, expect a deep voice, but instead get a somewhat shrill and higher pitched voiced. That's why when people first hear my voice, then see an image, they always expected a very different image.

There's definitely this weird "my Goku ain't no granny!!" thing that comes up all the time when discussing the Japanese version from people that don't usually watch it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there's that kind of fragile masculinity aspect to the fandom of a show about beefy dudes punching and throwing laser beams at each other, but

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Yeah, this is unfortunate. Honestly, while sometimes you occasionally see similar comments by other foreign fandoms (unfortunately, one of the Foreign Goku voice actors contributed to this), it's most prevelant in the English community for Dragon Ball.

 

[Samanosuke Akechi]

Many shonen main characters are voiced by women in japan.

Goku.
Luffy.
Naruto.
Edward Elric.

Plus, Masako Nozawa is 82, soon to be 83. Crazy she's still doing it.

 

[Feep]

Seriously, if you just don't like the voice, just say it. But don't try to use an excuse than back petal immediately later.

Click to shrink...

Who's backpedaling? A higher voice is a perfect fit for a small child or teen. In dubs, most small children are played by women. It's normal and we're used to hearing it. You can't compare an older, very high-pitched female voice actress playing a small child and one playing a mega roided out testosterone-fest.

Luffy is a teenager, Naruto is a teenager, Edward Elric is a teenager.