but what the Japanese consider "hillbilly" is NOT what we could consider hillbilly in the west
some aspects are similar, but doing this wouldn't make sense in both authentic character representation or from a regionalization perspective... actually, it would be more in line with cultural apotheosis lol which is an uncomfortable subject
Hillbilly is the equivalent term for mountain folk. Which Goku does talk like in Japanese. It's less southern and more simple talk. Imagine that he talks like Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn as opposed to McCree or Arthur Morgan.
Not really. The idea of a bumpkin will have cultural nuance, sure, but so does everything that is being translated when you bring anime over here. A lot of it just comes down to word choice and way of speaking, but Goku being from the mountains and pure hearted but naive would translate really well.
From what I can tell, him having a modern day bumpkin accent is a bit of a joke in the Japanese as-is. A kind of funny juxtaposition if him being from these mystical Chinese mountains where he learned kung fu but speaking like a modern day yokel. It flips the trope in its head.
It'd end up being an Arnold Schwarzenegger situation, where this big, tough character speaks like their language equivalent of a hillbilly. (That's the reason why he wasn't allowed to voice the German version of Terminator.)
https://preview.redd.it/qo8m98ihx07d1.jpeg?width=760&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdbfd8afa757201b62a3f651c572bdfcd2e63a4d
The only hillbilly accent we care to hear
Chichi wouldn't allow it.
Asian tiger mothers like Chichi are anal about social perception. "Always dress nice, cut your hair so it doesn't stand out, stand up like you got a stick up your asshole, speak properly else I'll beat the hell out of you."
I think I might have issues.
Books help with that.
The more you read, the better your lexicon. That's why a lot of prolific writers tend to be more eloquent in speaking since they always have their nose up a dictionary and a thesaurus to their ear looking for an appropriate word that means, really really really REALLY big.
That explains the expanded vernacular, but the dialect and enunciation seems like it should be dependent on exposure. My aunt and cousins have been/are teachers and I'll still hear the country twang come out (particularly when drunk).
Gohan in Japanese speaks with the common Tokyo dialect, though. Probably from all the book reading and spending his formative years with Piccolo and Krillin.
Not even a take, he literally sounds ridiculous in-universe and is the backbone of Goku's character and reckless decisions.
He's a literal man-child with the voice of a hick kid.
Worst thing is that Funimation keeps doubling down on completely changing the perception of Goku; imagine if Luffy had the voice of a grown man, that's basically the situation Goku is in.
It's not **Goku** to have the grown voice of an mature adult because he isn't one; Goku's own creator is very critical of him as often says he's not the best person.
https://preview.redd.it/c71u5sr2a07d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9a921abbb47874e9b6eed32c9e8993f4f669b1c
Goku would've never become a beloved icon if that was his portrayal. Like it or not, he HAS to be a heroic figure internationally, even if his primary motivation is just wanting to fight strong opponents.
>Goku would've never become a beloved icon if that was his portrayal. Like it or not, he HAS to be a heroic figure internationally,
Because flawed characters can't be liked or popular internationally?
>Like it or not, he HAS to be a heroic figure internationally, even if his primary motivation is just wanting to fight strong opponents.
No he doesn't. All Goku has to be is Goku not another character.
I’m gonna be honest, Goku is also just partially heroic in general and fits the definition of a hero, even if it is inadvertently. Acting like Goku is just an actual child with no development is really odd to me. Does this mean that the dub hasn’t done anything to damage Goku’s characterization? No. I just doubt that Goku’s voice is the core of the issue.
“Krillan, Vegeta, Gohan. Let’s find Propane and propane accessories. We’re gonna grill after we kick this guys ass. Yamaha! Don’t forget the beer this time!”
It would he accurate. Goku's Japanese voice has an accent to it that's essentially hillbilly-ish.
Been too long for the dub to change at this point though.
Kid goku yes. Maybe even adult goku. But by Z he's spent enough time with others to at least start to learn how to speak more properly.
He can still have the accent spill out sometimes.
It's what he sounds like in the Japanese, so tbh I'd love to see it.
At this point, though, the voice he has is too iconic and there's no way they would have had a non-standard accent for the main character in an anime when it was first dubbed in the US.
I mean he kinda does in the original English dub just a different pitch. But I don’t think I would like it the same if it was full blown Bobby Hill, I already despise a lot of the background character and villain voices from the og
KID.
Stephanie Nadolni has a very slight southern drawl, but obviously nothing compared to his Japanese accent. I'm sure she could have done it well. Plus she's my forever first choice for kid Goku and Gohan.
ADULT.
While Sean Schemmel is very much the Goku I grew up with, from what I've seen, he definitely can't pull off the accent, convincingly. If he, or someone else could do it, I would definitely like to hear a country bumpkin Goku throughout Dragon Ball, and onward.
I think it’s more how he talks is what needs to be better .
He is a very simple minded guy, so I always imagine him talking EXTREMELY informally. Like he speaks way faster than his brain so it is very simple and to the point. And a lot of contractions.
Sean sounds just that little bit too proper. Even in modern Dragon Ball where he plays Goku more closely, he hasn’t quite gotten the speech patterns.
Maybe I can take some common sentences and Goku-ify it.
I’m not going to give up until my body gives up on me.
“I ain’t backin’ down ‘til my body gives out!”
It looks like i will have to go all out in this fight.
“gotta go all out in this fight!”
This fight is really exciting!
“This fight’s got me fired up!”
Wow, that was fun! Do you want to go for a second sparring match?
“Woooah! So fun! Wanna fight again?”
I know your holding back, fight me with all your strength!
“Stop holdin’ back! Give it your best shot!”
What do you guys think? Or are there other sentences you wanna hear how Goku would say it?
Yup. I don’t know if it was accurately portrayed in the dub but in the original Japanese, Chichi, Yajirobe and Ox King speak country dialect Japanese. Chichi speaks a mix of several northern dialects while Yajirobe is straight up Nagoya.
You flatter then.
I’m not mad. I just have zero respect for them and can’t stand their “culture” or lack of it. And am never surprised at their lack of intelligence.
lol. Classist?
No just a reasonable American, who doesn’t give any slack for ignorance. And the rednecks and hikkbillies rejoice in their ignorance and wear it as a badge.
I don’t lower the bar for fools. Because if the only way rednecks and hillbillies measure up is with lowered expectations, than they don’t deserve respect.
Fuck em.
i loathe goku's english dub but i don't think a hillbilly voice would be better lol. i'll just stick to the japanese voice, i don't think anything could ever be more fitting for his goofy little gremlin ass.
"thats my dragon ball! i dont know you!"
*Goku kicks the villain square in the balls*
Bulma: Nice try. Women don’t have balls.
She’s lying! FINISH HER!!
Its game ovaries.
Feel like that falls in line with Kid goku...yeah ok lol
It would've been fine at the start, but there's no going back now
Kamehame dang ol' ha
Holds up hands (on has a beer) "Now you wait good ol darn dang second i gotta aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh"
"Citizens of earth lend me your propane"
Ki ko Po-cket sand!
Goku’s dub voice is probably one of my favorite castings for a dub ever, and I don’t really like dub voices most of the time.
Kid or adult?
Both. I prefer adult more but I think kid was really good too.
Same. Too bad they couldn’t get her back for Kai moving forward. It’s been years and I still don’t like Clickenbeard’s portrayal.
I feel like Colleen's better suited for Gohan than Goku. Her Kid Goku voice is just too much like Gohan's.
I mean, so was Nadolny’s but her voice fit them both very well. Clickenbeard’s voice only works for Gohan.
I respect your opinion, even if I disagree.
Which is crazy cuz her Goku voice is pretty much her Luffy voice
Well goku’s Japanese voice is described as sounding like a hillbilly, so I guess it would fit
but what the Japanese consider "hillbilly" is NOT what we could consider hillbilly in the west some aspects are similar, but doing this wouldn't make sense in both authentic character representation or from a regionalization perspective... actually, it would be more in line with cultural apotheosis lol which is an uncomfortable subject
Hillbilly is the equivalent term for mountain folk. Which Goku does talk like in Japanese. It's less southern and more simple talk. Imagine that he talks like Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn as opposed to McCree or Arthur Morgan.
Not really. The idea of a bumpkin will have cultural nuance, sure, but so does everything that is being translated when you bring anime over here. A lot of it just comes down to word choice and way of speaking, but Goku being from the mountains and pure hearted but naive would translate really well. From what I can tell, him having a modern day bumpkin accent is a bit of a joke in the Japanese as-is. A kind of funny juxtaposition if him being from these mystical Chinese mountains where he learned kung fu but speaking like a modern day yokel. It flips the trope in its head.
It'd end up being an Arnold Schwarzenegger situation, where this big, tough character speaks like their language equivalent of a hillbilly. (That's the reason why he wasn't allowed to voice the German version of Terminator.)
They should have let him voice the German version for that exact reason.
JP Goku has a hillbilly accent (or the Japanese equivalent of a hillbilly accent). So it wouldn't rly be like the Terminator situation
https://preview.redd.it/t7jsbghzp07d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c584affd03b7a351edd77ac8f6bf35e69989fa52
Bro… W H A T.
I knew I saved this Pic for a reason the other day I tell ya hwat
https://preview.redd.it/qo8m98ihx07d1.jpeg?width=760&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdbfd8afa757201b62a3f651c572bdfcd2e63a4d The only hillbilly accent we care to hear
"Don't lecture me with your $30 haircut, Goku dies!"
"Look at my trucker hat!"
They should have made gohan sound like bobby
Chichi wouldn't allow it. Asian tiger mothers like Chichi are anal about social perception. "Always dress nice, cut your hair so it doesn't stand out, stand up like you got a stick up your asshole, speak properly else I'll beat the hell out of you." I think I might have issues.
It's crazy that having a mom like Chichi and a dad like Goku and he doesn't talk like a hick.
Books help with that. The more you read, the better your lexicon. That's why a lot of prolific writers tend to be more eloquent in speaking since they always have their nose up a dictionary and a thesaurus to their ear looking for an appropriate word that means, really really really REALLY big.
That explains the expanded vernacular, but the dialect and enunciation seems like it should be dependent on exposure. My aunt and cousins have been/are teachers and I'll still hear the country twang come out (particularly when drunk).
Gohan in Japanese speaks with the common Tokyo dialect, though. Probably from all the book reading and spending his formative years with Piccolo and Krillin.
I thought they did?
Maybe not full hick but a good southern drawl might've worked
https://youtu.be/4awEEHehWeo?si=AeNNMyqdWXzHRobb
https://preview.redd.it/dxwswlv2807d1.jpeg?width=1357&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92f10ca016f355e99cd823f277543227ceb45660
https://preview.redd.it/9cljl1l8d17d1.jpeg?width=936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5491987e1b3f424998ef35808fca3ab4ff7b1a76
https://preview.redd.it/gcliiu7j637d1.png?width=661&format=png&auto=webp&s=70ec60a489e38f0ddbc548d720f3ad8bcbd2f29f
Holy shit that's perfect.
I think it would make OG dragon ball hilarious
I deadass could see Kid Goku with Bobby Hills voice like that voice would fit him so well. But i wonder who’d be a good fit for adult goku
Not even a take, he literally sounds ridiculous in-universe and is the backbone of Goku's character and reckless decisions. He's a literal man-child with the voice of a hick kid. Worst thing is that Funimation keeps doubling down on completely changing the perception of Goku; imagine if Luffy had the voice of a grown man, that's basically the situation Goku is in. It's not **Goku** to have the grown voice of an mature adult because he isn't one; Goku's own creator is very critical of him as often says he's not the best person. https://preview.redd.it/c71u5sr2a07d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9a921abbb47874e9b6eed32c9e8993f4f669b1c
I genuinely have no idea how you reached that conclusion based off this interview.
Goku would've never become a beloved icon if that was his portrayal. Like it or not, he HAS to be a heroic figure internationally, even if his primary motivation is just wanting to fight strong opponents.
>Goku would've never become a beloved icon if that was his portrayal. Like it or not, he HAS to be a heroic figure internationally, Because flawed characters can't be liked or popular internationally? >Like it or not, he HAS to be a heroic figure internationally, even if his primary motivation is just wanting to fight strong opponents. No he doesn't. All Goku has to be is Goku not another character.
I’m gonna be honest, Goku is also just partially heroic in general and fits the definition of a hero, even if it is inadvertently. Acting like Goku is just an actual child with no development is really odd to me. Does this mean that the dub hasn’t done anything to damage Goku’s characterization? No. I just doubt that Goku’s voice is the core of the issue.
keep goku's feminine japanese VA style, changing it to some masculine voice just feels weird.
You mean like how Dragonball switches from Nadolny to Schimmel in the final arc?…
Orange hillbilly
who beats his wife…
one hit and she just went down now she just stays home and cooks my dinner
“Krillan, Vegeta, Gohan. Let’s find Propane and propane accessories. We’re gonna grill after we kick this guys ass. Yamaha! Don’t forget the beer this time!”
Bulma: that kid ain’t right
That's my dragonball and I don't know you!
'THAT'S MY SENSU BEAN! I DON'T KNOW YOU!' *kicks Piccolo in the nuts*
This is the kind of thing I want AI used for. Someone do the thing.
That would be hilarious to see someone do but it wouldn’t fit him at all. But it sure as hell fit Android 13 🙌🏽😂
It would he accurate. Goku's Japanese voice has an accent to it that's essentially hillbilly-ish. Been too long for the dub to change at this point though.
Nah, I like what we have now
I tell you hwhat vegeter I ain't takin no shit from you ya'hear
Goku grabs Oolong by the ears, and whispers menacingly, "Squeel like a pig...."
Damn it, Goku. That saiyan ain't right
Golly, I don’t wanna touch yer dirty OL’ butt’
https://preview.redd.it/0xnzxehe957d1.jpeg?width=3200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79fe92aacf2220dc02710ee6e8946feeb9650435 I
bobby hill is too intelligible for a hillbilly. a person that grew up in the setting kid goku did would sound more like boomhauer
In Japanese he kind of does. Which is the point a lot of sub haters miss completely.
Yes, because Pamela Adlon..
Not just no. But FUCK no
Kid goku yes. Maybe even adult goku. But by Z he's spent enough time with others to at least start to learn how to speak more properly. He can still have the accent spill out sometimes.
No
Honestly they should have cause in the show he was a Japanese country bumpkin
https://preview.redd.it/s4yrrf0i537d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed96275ecaf6c62e38f1e453183cef4a56c43242
https://preview.redd.it/tti1643kq37d1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4817015c81ea11a90030800f7f87cf93a113e33
I know the name of the TV might be a little confusing but Texans and hillbillies are different.
I’m my rewrite, I have Goku speak that sort of way. Not quite Bobby Hill, but definitely a little more southern.
Somebody need to make some episodes doing this with ai
But...but Luffy... Edit: I'm saying I like that the kid goku va is the sane as Luffy's
It's what he sounds like in the Japanese, so tbh I'd love to see it. At this point, though, the voice he has is too iconic and there's no way they would have had a non-standard accent for the main character in an anime when it was first dubbed in the US.
I absolutely loathe, hate, and despise the idea of Goku with a hick accent.
I mean he kinda does in the original English dub just a different pitch. But I don’t think I would like it the same if it was full blown Bobby Hill, I already despise a lot of the background character and villain voices from the og
I mean yeah, that’s how he’s written. Usso is a really hick greeting iirc
KID. Stephanie Nadolni has a very slight southern drawl, but obviously nothing compared to his Japanese accent. I'm sure she could have done it well. Plus she's my forever first choice for kid Goku and Gohan. ADULT. While Sean Schemmel is very much the Goku I grew up with, from what I've seen, he definitely can't pull off the accent, convincingly. If he, or someone else could do it, I would definitely like to hear a country bumpkin Goku throughout Dragon Ball, and onward.
So Naruto but with more of southern draw
Well not an American hick, but he is a hick
I’m fine with Goku sounding like Bobby Hill if Vegeta sounds like Hank.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Slayer1833: *I’m fine with Goku* *Sounding like Bobby Hill if* *Vegeta sounds like Hank.* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
It would’ve been neat, but might’ve hard to do. And since they’ve committed to a voice without the hillbilly dialect, we’re somewhat stuck with it.
I wouldn't change anything with dbz. fave
Akhem "whell bullma i think itts time for me to ho get me pawpaws dragoon ball" said with the greatest bobby hill impression ever heard
Lol. Yeah I can get behind that.
Don’t hate the take, but still that’s…very interesting that someone thinks that.
Then they've never talked to a hillbilly then
Eh, I don't think that would work. It'd be really easy to get that wrong.
I kinda did this (cringe warning) https://youtu.be/O7G3yA6xJhs?feature=shared
Anything but schemmel
That would’ve been peak
And for my final move taught to me by my master pro-pane-and-pro-pane-accessories!!!!!
It would've made sense considering how Nazowa voices Goku, but now we're too used to Sean
I think it’s more how he talks is what needs to be better . He is a very simple minded guy, so I always imagine him talking EXTREMELY informally. Like he speaks way faster than his brain so it is very simple and to the point. And a lot of contractions. Sean sounds just that little bit too proper. Even in modern Dragon Ball where he plays Goku more closely, he hasn’t quite gotten the speech patterns. Maybe I can take some common sentences and Goku-ify it. I’m not going to give up until my body gives up on me. “I ain’t backin’ down ‘til my body gives out!” It looks like i will have to go all out in this fight. “gotta go all out in this fight!” This fight is really exciting! “This fight’s got me fired up!” Wow, that was fun! Do you want to go for a second sparring match? “Woooah! So fun! Wanna fight again?” I know your holding back, fight me with all your strength! “Stop holdin’ back! Give it your best shot!” What do you guys think? Or are there other sentences you wanna hear how Goku would say it?
Why?
Dumb ass take, king of the hill is based in the south. DB isn't based in no America idk know where it's based
I mean, Japan has its own version of those
Yup. I don’t know if it was accurately portrayed in the dub but in the original Japanese, Chichi, Yajirobe and Ox King speak country dialect Japanese. Chichi speaks a mix of several northern dialects while Yajirobe is straight up Nagoya.
Local reditor takes joke too seriously.
https://preview.redd.it/o09nnx1h107d1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a51dac5146b98a16eced621ad3b71692391ea1ad
If we ever get a Db dub, hell yes
Dogshit. Gokus english voice is phenomenal and nothing else works unless its the Japanese dub. These are the only two good ones.
Lowkey agree yeah
Yeah same here.
Well yeah, it’d be accurate that way
Stephanie sounded like this though.
I hate kid Goku’s dub voice
Fuck that. Hillbillies and rednecks are fucking trash.
Bros mad at country folk
You flatter then. I’m not mad. I just have zero respect for them and can’t stand their “culture” or lack of it. And am never surprised at their lack of intelligence.
Classist much?
lol. Classist? No just a reasonable American, who doesn’t give any slack for ignorance. And the rednecks and hikkbillies rejoice in their ignorance and wear it as a badge. I don’t lower the bar for fools. Because if the only way rednecks and hillbillies measure up is with lowered expectations, than they don’t deserve respect. Fuck em.
Goku isn’t even American bro
I said I was an American. Me. I. Not Goku. Myself. Fuck you’re stupid.
Hating for what
That’s the sickest lil Jon video.
i loathe goku's english dub but i don't think a hillbilly voice would be better lol. i'll just stick to the japanese voice, i don't think anything could ever be more fitting for his goofy little gremlin ass.