Alright, during my time here I've shot down many of the arguments some of you at Funimation use to defend yourselves with. "But DBZ is more popular than DB! That just proves that our dubbing of DBZ is spectacular and far superior and that it's a good idea we dubbed it differently from DB!" Oh, is it?
(http://www.dbzoa.net/opinions/dragonballpreviews.html)
I've noticed that the ultimate arguments used to defend Funimation's style of dubbing for DBZ always come down to not moral arguments of what's right and wrong- but corporate arguments of what makes the most money. "So what? What you don't understand is, Funimation is a business and they are businessmen. It's their job to make as much as possible period, whatever it is they have to do. And look how rich they are! Ahem, not broken, I don't see where it needs to be fixed, do you?"
Yes I do. While I'm well aware of the arguments you use... I do not believe, at all, that the "style" of dubbing for DBZ made it any more profitable. And I have offered numerous reasons and examples why. Foremost,
1. The excellent French/Polish dub was so popular that it started up a national debate in Poland about whether or not all animes should just be for kids or can be enjoyed by adults as well! Hmm... adults in Poland... liked it that much, eh? I don't see DBZ in America coming anywhere near starting up a debate like that.
2. Mexico stayed home "Seinfeld-style" for the end of the Cell saga and beginning of the Majin Buu saga and other key events. While still popular, DBZ has not been nationally popular and beloved here like it has been in Mexico. And the Mexican dub stayed true to the original just like the Polish dub did.
3. Germany's DBZ cd's... selling a lot, dozens released. Germany has less people... and less national money. In America, Faulconer's "music" cd's aren't coming anywhere close to selling like in Germany. Is it just incredibly bad and inept marketing on Funimation's part... or is Faulconer's music just incredibly bad and inept?
4. DBZ is a hit in America! Well sure it is. You take the trendiest and most popular anime of all time from Japan (a country where breaking into "trendiness" and longevity is extremely difficult) and naturally it's guaranteed to do well here. It's done very well across the globe as well, in some places (like Mexico and Poland) better than it has here. Why do you think Uncle Fukunaga brought Gen from America, set him up with meetings at Toei and nudged him into grabbing the single juiciest anime property they had available?
5. DBZ-live action movie? HA! Just goes to show how wonderful Funimation is, right? Please, Hollywood's turning everything into a live action movie. Kingpin? Hey, let's change the guy's race to black! (and I've actually seen some fans call it "racism" to complain about this. How do they think black fans would have reacted had Spawn been turned into a blonde-haired white guy?) Daredevil? Let's give it to 1/2 of the "Bennifer" entity. Forgive me if I'm not too excited about what will become of "Hollywood American DBZ" which will be based not off of Toriyama's true DBZ as shown to most of the world, but Funiball Z. (yeah, it'll be so great to have a DBZ movie that's more related to the mistranslated into Engrish and then "remixed" writings of Christopher Neel Bligh and Terry Klassen than that of Akira Toriyama's writings and original story)
You'll notice I haven't complained as much about DBGT... that's because a lot of what you do, as much as I hate to admit it, DOES make it more profitable. Skipping 16 episodes... yes. Lying and pretending it's a "great action series" that is superior to DBZ... yes. Hyping/advertising the hell out of it... yes. Although I disagree strongly with them, those 3 actions do make it more profitable and are wise in that aspect, I will concede that to you. I'm not so blinded with anger at you to be unable to give you guys that point.
However, why do you really think you've made DBZ "better" in American than an accurately done dub would have been? I don't see people staying at home from work nationally to see Majin Buu. I don't see DBZ "breaking the mold" of anime/kiddie perceptions of anime. Actually, those perceptions NEVER EXISTED prior to Pokemon and your "version" of Dragon Ball Z. Before then anime was viewed as more adult. Now? Almost exclusively kiddie. Gee, thanks guys. So instead of doing the what the French/Polish dub did, you're doing the EXACT OPPOSITE and are simply reinforcing that perception. Face it... perhaps "targetting the lowest aged audience", instead of "bringing the maximum number of viewers" actually gets rid of some?
It certainly would seem so, given the national ratings differences/behaviors. Besides, America isn't the dumbest country around. Why are Spanish, Mexican, French, Polish, Portuguese, Chinese and other foreign kiddies so different than ours? You really should give them more credit. DBZ was popular as hell in Portugal, and it had all those "gaping moments of silence" and that dreaded "too Japanese" original music you so detest, as well as much more accurate scripts.
In any case, here is my challenge- and offer- to YOU, Funimation. I challenge you, even dare you, to write me an editorial- detailing your position- that can PROVE beyond ANY reasonable doubt that what you do with DBZ makes it as profitable as possible, and that we here at the Dbzoa are completely wrong. And don't just tell, "it's impossible, GreatSaiyaman777, we could never accomplish a task as daunting as that in a million years." I just gave you the ball on GT did I not? I'm a reasonable man Funimation, so tell me... what are your reasons?
Sometimes there are many colors- black, white, and various shades of gray. However, in this instance- there are only two. Black being, you made DBZ less popular and turned off millions from it... and white being, you did the opposite and you guys deserve medals for being anime pioneers. I believe the first, you believe the latter. So I challenge you to write to me and PROVE the latter. What are your reasons? I don't know, but I'm sure you have some good arguments and have the intellectual capacity to put them across in a very persuasive manner.
And don't say, "well- privacy!" I've shown multiple times that I respect the privacy of anyone from Funimation who may choose to e-mail or contact me. Heck, I've had eight VA's (believe it or not, and I'm sure you'll choose not to. And yes, I was missing 2 last time when I counted to six, tis actually been that many I had trouble counting) who have told me they think the original music is superior to the dubbed music. Am I naming any names? I sure ain't. You got nothing to worry about if you write me. I won't say a word who you are, I'll simply put up your essay and give you a chance to shoot down the dbzoa's arguments and beliefs and prove that Funimation is right once and for all.
If you can do that, Funimation... I will immediately retire completely from DBZU 2. That's right, I'll throw in the towel! Gone will be complaints/arguments/movements against you! Unreviewed and unrevealed will be the Uncensored secrets of the Majin Buu saga! I'm sure you'd like me to stop what I'm doing... and I'm sure you'd like to prove to the world that what you say and do for DBZ is right, and is the best damn thing anyone can do to it.
So what are you guys waiting for? Prove me wrong and best me and the Dbzoa once and for all.... if you can.
- GreatSaiyaman777
