For those of us who grew up with DBZ on Toonami, we remember it’s music, a mix of techno and hard rock intensifying with the suspense and action. But for those of us who lived or visited outside the US and watched it there saw and heard a different DBZ.
Trumpets and horns; orchestrated music, along with a completely different Opening theme. When I first saw it in Mexico the music was foreign to me. Fast forward to today. The DBZ Season Boxsets come with the original japanese audio, original english audio, and then the original english audio with the Japanese music. As much as I hate to admit it, I tended to be one of those purists who has to hear it in it’s original form. But girly sounding Goku does not appeal to my friends who remember a manly sounding Goku from childhood, so I now listen to English VA preferably with the Japanese OST. There too lies a problem with my friends: The show loses it’s epic-ness that it had when they watched it. One friend I recall calling it DBZ mixed with Scooby-Doo.
Vegeta Vs Goku (JAP)
The American episode that contains what I hope is the American Substitute.
And my personal favorite comparison, Goku killing Buu.
The American Version lacks the feeling of ultimate triumph IMO. (6:18)
My Opinion: My purist mindset makes me prefer the Japanese OST, simply because It gives more emotion into the scenes. Situations can feel hopeless with depressing or eerie music, where as victory scenes can feel more triumphant and joyful. American DBZ, on the other hand feels more like an emotionless fast paced display of violence. Sure it felt epic back in the day, and the word “epic” suits it I guess. I mean, weren’t the ancient ‘epic heroes’ emotionless and cold?
#1 by Albert Fernandez on December 22, 2009 - 10:03 PM
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The American Music (Bruce Faulconer’s Music) does give Dragonball Z it’s Epic-ness!!! It goes perfectly with the English dub. The American dub and American music fit together perfectly because it is meant to be seen that way. The English VA was not originally intended to be seen with the Japanese music. I love both the English Dub and the Japanese Dub, but I love the English dub more because to me, personally, it is much better and it’s what I grew up watching, and that’s why It feels so epic to me. The American Music will forever, perfectly capture and bring out the emotions, feelings, and epicness of Dragonball Z.
#2 by Abby on May 21, 2010 - 2:31 PM
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I will agree with Albert Fernandez on this one…and most of your friends. I tried watching DBZ without the thrilling edge of your seat Bruce Faulconer’s music…it just didn’t work for me. It wasn’t as intense. I think the difference in dialog though is pretty funny. So back to the music…DBZ just isn’t the same without the American music. Except the retarded Revenge of Cooler movie. Seriously?? Queen of the Damned music plus DBZ was a serious mistake. Stick with Bruce!!
#3 by Tanner Mcnasty on May 26, 2010 - 6:33 PM
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ive seen a version with the horns and english dub..and thats what i thought was normal..until i heard the one with bruce falconers music..im not sure which i like better but im about to watch with bruce falconer..if you want the japanese music go to megavideo and type in dbz(episodenumber)..for example if i wanted the first episode..id search for dbz1….its simple..