Dragon Ball Original English Dub 〈iOS〉

Perhaps the most visceral change is the score. Shunsuke Kikuchi’s original Dragon Ball score is a pastiche of Chinese folk melodies, orchestral swells, and whimsical jazz. The Funimation replacement, composed by Ron Wasserman (known for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ), is a relentless barrage of electric guitar riffs, synthesized drums, and 90s "attitude" rock. While energetic, it flattens emotional variety. A tragic scene (e.g., Bora’s death) and a training montage receive the same power-chord treatment. This musical homogenization trained young viewers to expect constant adrenaline, undercutting the series’ quieter, adventure-focused first half.

While the Dragon Ball franchise enjoys global ubiquity, its initial English-language localization—produced by Funimation Entertainment in association with BLT Productions (1995–1998)—remains a controversial artifact. Unlike the later, more faithful "remastered" dub or the ocean of Japanese dialogue, the original Dragon Ball English dub represents a distinct socio-cultural artifact of 1990s North American syndication. This paper argues that the original dub functioned as a radical "re-scripting" rather than a translation, altering characterization, plot logic, and tonal consistency to conform to Moral Guardians and syndication standards. By analyzing voice direction, script alterations, and musical replacement, this paper demonstrates how the original dub created a paradoxical text: one that introduced Western audiences to shōnen tropes while simultaneously erasing the series’ core cultural and narrative identity. Dragon Ball Original English Dub

A. Otaku Scholar Publication Date: October 2023 Perhaps the most visceral change is the score