Your Ideal Dragonball- The Race Question

[CrashNburn]

Even if he's based on Sun Wukong (the Monkey King to most Westerners), that doesn't make him Chinese at all. In the original epic, he was described as being born into a monkey by a mystical stone. So unless you're calling us Chinese folk monkeys, he's in no way Chinese.

Personally, I find this whole 'Goku being Caucasian is unacceptable' issue is somewhat ridiculous. Amongst all the Asians I know, none of them have a severe problem with the race issue. The most they'd do is laugh and say "that's typically Hollywood". We understand it's part of the industry and for the most part, don't think it's particularly wrong for a non-Asian to play Goku. If you ask me, the majority of those most vocal against Goku being Caucasian are actually 'Asianophiles' of non-Asian (frequently Caucasian) ethnicities.

that's cool! ...everyone should read this and get over it. the issue is a bit ridiculous.

 

[tekken]

with the big eyes thing...have you seen ANYONE on the face of this earth with big eyes like goku, let alone any dragon ball character? it's a cartoon. he's depicted as an asian is all i'm saying; much like superman is depicted white, even though his race is kryptonian.

and just another thing to back up my so called theory...goku didn't know he was a saiyan until much later; like when raditz showed up. how could he possibly think gohan was his grandpa all the while if he was white when gohan is clearly asian. unless goku was actually THAT stupid..which is plausible i guess. but still.

 

[JoseMP]

Even if he's based on Sun Wukong (the Monkey King to most Westerners), that doesn't make him Chinese at all. In the original epic, he was described as being born into a monkey by a mystical stone. So unless you're calling us Chinese folk monkeys, he's in no way Chinese.

Personally, I find this whole 'Goku being Caucasian is unacceptable' issue is somewhat ridiculous. Amongst all the Asians I know, none of them have a severe problem with the race issue. The most they'd do is laugh and say "that's typically Hollywood". We understand it's part of the industry and for the most part, don't think it's particularly wrong for a non-Asian to play Goku. If you ask me, the majority of those most vocal against Goku being Caucasian are actually 'Asianophiles' of non-Asian (frequently Caucasian) ethnicities.

Agree 100% with this guy. This is the only post that was worth reading in regards of the race issue.

 

[xwolverine2]

diverse...

no need for racial segregation or w/e lol

 

[tekken]

no, i hate nameks. they can have their own section to sit at the tenkaichi budokai.

 

[Lobo]

I prefer a diverse cast, I may have preferred an Asian Goku, however it does not bother me that a Caucasian is playing him. It also didn't bother me that MCD was The Kingpin

 

[Adam]

no, i hate nameks. they can have their own section to sit at the tenkaichi budokai.

Lol, nice.

 

[DorkyFresh]

I prefer a diverse cast, I may have preferred an Asian Goku, however it does not bother me that a Caucasian is playing him. It also didn't bother me that MCD was The Kingpin

exactly how i feel...i actually think, MCD as Kingpin would have been really awesome in the hands of a capable director.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

Which would you IDEALLY prefer to have been your version of Dragonball?

All Asian. Because this is not that,the film will fail.

 

[Adam]

All Asian. Because this is not that,the film will fail.

That's already been done.

www.youtube.com

Search for "Dragonball: The Magic Begins."

 

[DGrayson]

I also grew up in Mexico watching DBZ before coming to NYC (don't worry, I did it the legal way), but I didn't know there was a movie being made until now. This anime was really popular in Mexico way before it started showing in the U.S., and I too tought the character was of mixed ethnicity.

It really caught my attention that the film was shoot in Mexico and that they are incorporating aztec elements in the movie, but it certainly dosen't mean the character is mixed or mexican. On the contrary, DBZ is an anime based on asian culture (the monkey king) and the race is not even human or from this planet. It's certainly aimed at asians, so I don't think he was meant to be white/western at all, but I really don't see the point in arguing this.

On a fun fact though, I heard Superman was a huge influence for DB so it could be the asian response for this icon.

 

[DorkyFresh]

I also grew up in Mexico watching DBZ before coming to NYC (don't worry, I did it the legal way), but I didn't know there was a movie being made until now. This anime was really popular in Mexico way before it started showing in the U.S., and I too tought the character was of mixed ethnicity.

thank you for backing up my point (even if unintentional). Goku was never really thought of as Caucasian until it hit American shores.

On a fun fact though, I heard Superman was a huge influence for DB so it could be the asian response for this icon.

feel free to post here all you like! hehe.

seriously though...i've always thought of Goku as Asia's Superman and i'm sure many people felt the same way (even those who aren't Asian). Goku is a character that's widely and originally thought of as an Asian. even though Goku is a character who isn't limited by ethnicity, it still disappoints me to think that they had an opportunity to give the world the ultimate live action Asian superhero, but instead, opted to cater towards Americans by making it a point to only cast Caucasians in the lead roles. according to JP, if the sequel happens then they want Vegeta to be played by a white actor also. to me, that shows that race is still an issue more than any argument/debate over the internet can.

 

[Alchemyst]

I agree, I feel like if he is Japan's answer to Superman, why not let him be portrayed by an asian. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are some really good asian actors out there, who are looking to make a big break in the US film industry, DB could be the movie to bridge that gap.

 

[DorkyFresh]

DB could HAVE BEEN the movie to bridge that gap.

fixed...hehe

 

[Invisiboy]

I grew up watching the FUNimation dub, so I never imagined the cast as anything but Americans. I know everyone else will hate me for this, but I would have made it an all-white cast.

P.S. That's not to say I don't appreciate the cast we already have, just that it could be better.

 

[XSpidercideX]

Same here, except for the all white cast.

I always pictured Goku, Bulma, Vegeta, etc as white...and ChiChi, Yajorobe, Grandpa Gohan as Asain. Not sure about yamcha....I always figured he had a bit of Middle Eastern in him.

Basically, I took what the anime had as the look of the characters and thought of them that way. Goku never looked close to Asain to me.

 

[The Overlord]

All Asian. Because this is not that,the film will fail.

Again the problem with that is, most Anime characters do not look Asian at all and its more than just the eyes. Here's an example, the person who will play Mai: Eriko Tamura, had an anime made about her back in Japan. Here is what the real Eriko Tamura looks like:

Here's what the anime version looks like:

Notice how they are supposed to the same individual, yet they look nothing alike. That makes casting movies based on Anime a nightmare, you often have characters with Asian names, who don't look Asian at all.

 

[Adam]

Yeah, anime characters rarely look Asian. It's true.

 

[CrashNburn]

not sure why that is

 

[DorkyFresh]

Yeah, anime characters rarely look Asian. It's true.

that's an opinion...not truth.

 

[TLH]

that's an opinion...not truth.

I think what he means to say is that Dragonball Anime characters rarely look Asian, which given their physical features is arguably more true (although not a definitive truth...it depends on how you interpret the show racially).

Anime in general -- shows like Bleach or Death Note etc -- tend to have more Asian looking characters I find.

 

[DorkyFresh]

I think what he means to say is that Dragonball Anime characters rarely look Asian, which given their physical features is arguably more true (although not a definitive truth...it depends on how you interpret the show racially).

well...what he meant to say is what he posted. if he meant DB characters then he would have typed "Dragon Ball characters" instead of "anime characters". you're right about it not being a definitive truth that DB's characters don't look Asian though. Goku, Roshi, Yamcha, Chi Chi, and Vegeta are all Asian in my eyes and i'll be the first to tell you that my opinion is not fact.

 

[Legion]

Again the problem with that is, most Anime characters do not look Asian at all and its more than just the eyes. Here's an example, the person who will play Mai: Eriko Tamura, had an anime made about her back in Japan. Here is what the real Eriko Tamura looks like:

Here's what the anime version looks like:

Notice how they are supposed to the same individual, yet they look nothing alike. That makes casting movies based on Anime a nightmare, you often have characters with Asian names, who don't look Asian at all.

I think that goes to show that the bigger eyes and hair color is an artistic liberty used to make the character more vibrant and an Asian audience can still identify the character as being Asian.

They did the same with Zeiram, a live action Sci-fi movie with a female Asian lead.



And an Anime version later.

 

[Hush]

I know I will be flamed for all eternity after saying this but I would strongly prefer an All-White cast, sans a few choice characters, as opposed to and all asian or severly mixed diversity cast. I think every major character should be just like they were when i watched the Anime, white. I grew up on the funimation dub and I ALWAYS thought that the main cast aside from Roshi, were white. I mean its so very clear to me just by there skin tones and voices being very very white, Yamcha is a California surfer dude, I mean come on! I don't want to sound racist but this is how I have always seen these characters.

That said I will still see this movie but I am severely dissapointed with Goku's casting, many of you know i think he should be a bigger guy. Yeah Goku wasnt HUGE in Dragonball but he also didnt look like my 11 year old brother could beat him up either. Chatwin looks like a total wimp. Hope fully we get awesome CGI so i can forget the horrible casting that was Goku, everyone else is fine i just think Goku is bad.

 

[Adam]

Hush, you need to hush (see what I did there?)

No I see what you're saying, but I think we need to wait and see Chatwin actually ACTING before we can say he's not a good Goku.