The 'race' issue...

[DorkyFresh]

well what does a westerner normally look like in anime?

the closest thing person i can think of who was definitely white in dragonball z was the ring announcer...

to me, westerners in DB are anyone that doesn't have straight, black hair (particularly LONG, straight, black hair). the ring announcer, Mr. Satan, Bulma, and Commander Red are a few examples of who i consider to be Caucasian.

 

[Alchemyst]

to me, westerners in db are anyone that doesn't have straight, black hair (particularly long, straight, black hair). The ring announcer, mr. Satan, bulma, and commander red are a couple examples of who i consider to be caucasian.

exactly

 

[javphonic]

I agree... the main characters I thought (for sure) were asian when I first watched the series (1st time was when DBZ was on Toonami) was Krillen and Chi Chi... I always thought it was a made up nation as there were characters of alien, animal, caucasian, asian and even African looking descent

 

[CaptainClown]

to me, westerners in DB are anyone that doesn't have straight, black hair (particularly LONG, straight, black hair). the ring announcer, Mr. Satan, Bulma, and Commander Red are a few examples of who i consider to be Caucasian.

Pretty much the same.

 

[November Rain]

i always thought bulma was asian personally but meh...

 

[Dorian Gray]

I'm black/white/native american and I definelty looked at the casting of Goku and was like who is this white boy. I showed it to my roomate who was from Jamacia he said the same thing as followed by my other friends of different races and ethnic backgrounds.

I can not stand when Hollywood does the whole whitewash thing exp. 21. I'm also sick of the whole American being trained by an Asian master for like 2 days then becoming even greater than the master. Dragonball was the perfect stepping stone for Asian actors but it didnt happen. I can believe an Asian flying shooting energy out of their hands over any other race.(joke)

I love how you're complaining about racism in hollywoood while bashing white people.

 

[Dorian Gray]

On a side note, what I find interesting and what I like about anime is that it doesn't always limit itself to just asian(specificaly Japanese) characters there are many strong characters from other races and ethnicities planeted in many shows.

Bleach
Chad/Sado(mexican)
Tosen(black, even has dreads)
Yoruichi(black)
The Arrancars(even have latin names)

Devil May Cry:TAS
All the characters are white there

Hitman Reborn has some italian characters, though I don't know many of them except Reborn himself and Lambo but it's premise revolves around mafia families. Haven't gotten that far yet.

Cowboy Bebop
All different races(you can see in the background some different types of people) weather minor or major there


Anyway, that just to name a few off the top of my head.

I just wanted to bring that up.



As far as this movie is concerned I don't care who plays who...I don't like DBZ and won't be seeing the movie.

 

[Ratcrawler]

I guess in the end, all anime characters are white people with Asian names.

 

[DorkyFresh]

wtf?? u don't really think that, do you?

 

[Lobo]

I think he just making a sarcastic comment.

 

[CaptainClown]

On a side note, what I find interesting and what I like about anime is that it doesn't always limit itself to just asian(specificaly Japanese) characters there are many strong characters from other races and ethnicities planeted in many shows.

Bleach
Chad/Sado(mexican)
Tosen(black, even has dreads)
Yoruichi(black)
The Arrancars(even have latin names)

Devil May Cry:TAS
All the characters are white there

Hitman Reborn has some italian characters, though I don't know many of them except Reborn himself and Lambo but it's premise revolves around mafia families. Haven't gotten that far yet.

Cowboy Bebop
All different races(you can see in the background some different types of people) weather minor or major there


Anyway, that just to name a few off the top of my head.

I just wanted to bring that up.



As far as this movie is concerned I don't care who plays who...I don't like DBZ and won't be seeing the movie.

FULL METAL ALCHEMIST!..German and some Arab/Gypsy people.

 

[RustyCage]

I'm disappointed that anyone even assumed Goku was a particular Earth race in the first place. It's even worse that they ARGUE and INSIST on it, as if they actually have some kind of valid point. Seriously, he's not even from Earth, people.

 

[Ratcrawler]

wtf?? u don't really think that, do you?

LOL prove me wrong.

i always thought bulma was asian personally but meh...

Oh yeah. Nothing caucasian about her at all.

I'm disappointed that anyone even assumed Goku was a particular Earth race in the first place. It's even worse that they ARGUE and INSIST on it, as if they actually have some kind of valid point. Seriously, he's not even from Earth, people.

Too true. Shame on Fox for not casting a Saiyen actor to play Goku. I kinda hope they get an Asian dude to play Vegeta though.

 

[SolarTiger]

Meh I don't see Vegeta as Asian

 

[RustyCage]

I'm pretty sure they're just human beings/Saiyans/Namekians to Toriyama, he typically doesn't draw characters with a particular ethnicity in mind. And when he does, it's rare, and clearly exaggerated for comic effect.

 

[American_Hobo]

I read on the front page (thread??? is that what that **** is where people yell FIRST!!!! for some reason?) people complaining about too many white people, and goku is white...

i mean, to me, Goku could be any earth race really. he is an alien. a sayan. so it could be portrayed by any race on earth. to me, white is the best choice for goku, compared to the show. i mean its obvious in the show that Chi Chi is supposed to be more asian ( i say more asian because its not blatant, but is insinuated bc of her hair). now i know this is an iffy tight rope im walking on here... but whats the deal? what do you think about the race issue...should goku be asian? should the movie have more asians than whites?

IMO, i think they got the casting right on, race wise. bc goku could be any race, and these days 'white' is 'generic' so to speak.

i dont feel the casting is, in any way, a injustice, or a problem. but apparently other people think so....Im not hating on those people, just wanna know what the real deal/scoop is...

True, Goku is alien from Planet Vegeta, but you gotta be blind to say Goku doesnt look asian.
Goku in this movie looks like a regular American boy, doesnt look anything like Japanese. Not to mention the fact that Goku is Japanese name (means sky in Japanese)
It makes whole lot more sense if they cast Japanese guy to play Goku.
Also,

I dont see much resemblance.

 

[CaptainClown]

I have NO idea where people see this resemblance.

 

[American_Hobo]

I have NO idea where people see this resemblance.

exactly

 

[kaypain]

I have no idea where people can see anyone resemble Goku...Asian or Not

he's a ****ing cartoon character

and you're comparing DBZ Goku with DB teen live action Goku...

 

[American_Hobo]

All im saying is it would've been better if they cast Japanese guy to play Goku.
At least that way many fans wont get pissed.
Also, yes Goku is cartoon character but doesnt mean its impossible to cast someone who looks like him.

 

[kaypain]

well please enlighten me on someone who looks like him.... if it that damn easy, and I can bet whoever they pick you fanboys will complain regardless... Asian or Not.... how would it be better? Enlightened us

 

[American_Hobo]

Yes these are only cosplay, but I can at least see some resemblance between them and Goku.

 

[CaptainClown]

That guy up top has the look I would expect from Goku. Friendly and almost naive.

 

[MoPlaYa]

Yes these are only cosplay, but I can at least see some resemblance between them and Goku.

LMAO...Horrible...

 

[American_Hobo]

LMAO...Horrible...

Those are only cosplays, meaning normal people dressing up themselves as cartoon characters.
And they are not costume designers.
They cant look perfect.
But in my opinion they resemble more of Goku than Justin Chatwin.
That was my point of posting those pics.