Your Ideal Dragonball- The Race Question

[TLH]

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.

What a concept. Too bad some others can't wait.

 

[Adam]

Lol yeah, there's always going to be people who will hate something blindly.

 

[Legion]

I think Chatwin could be a great Goku but his work in previous films doesn't make me too enthusiastic about his casting.

 

[TLH]

I think Chatwin could be a great Goku but his work in previous films doesn't make me too enthusiastic about his casting.

Fair enough.

 

[The Overlord]

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.

That's all well and fine, but makes casting a movie based on anime a real pain.
characters with asian names, who don't look asian at all.

 

[nanjirou]

That's all well and fine, but makes casting a movie based on anime a real pain.
characters with asian names, who don't look asian at all.

well, thats exactly what i see in the anime, characters with asian names, who don´t look asian at all. that´s what i expect to see in the movie as well, so casting shouldn´t be a problem, to me anyway

 

[mr. peasant]

For those who seem to believe that Goku was meant to be Asian in Dragon Ball, I would like to draw your attention to Chrono Trigger. To those who are unaware, the game is an RPG set in a fairly classical 'European fairy tale'-like setting mixed in with a little science fiction (but still noticeably European in its setting). The game's setting and characters are designed by Akira Toriyama and one particular character deserves special mentioning; Crono.

One thing that is immediately evident is that he fairly closely resembles Goku yet Crono is decidedly Caucasian (due to the game's pseudo-European setting that isn't multi-ethnic). So, the only conclusion that can be drawn is either that Goku is Caucasian or that as far as Akira's settings are concerned, race is not an issue.

 

[Adam]

No one cares about Akira Toriyama, he only created the series he's not important. Lol

 

[Legion]

For those who seem to believe that Goku was meant to be Asian in Dragon Ball, I would like to draw your attention to Chrono Trigger. To those who are unaware, the game is an RPG set in a fairly classical 'European fairy tale'-like setting mixed in with a little science fiction (but still noticeably European in its setting). The game's setting and characters are designed by Akira Toriyama and one particular character deserves special mentioning; Crono.

One thing that is immediately evident is that he fairly closely resembles Goku yet Crono is decidedly Caucasian (due to the game's pseudo-European setting that isn't multi-ethnic). So, the only conclusion that can be drawn is either that Goku is Caucasian or that as far as Akira's settings are concerned, race is not an issue.

I agree that alot of Toriyama's characters have very simliar features; to the point that their hairstyles are really what distinguishes them. I don't really think this has to do with race, it's either his style or limitation even.

Now I never really got into Chrono Trigger but you say it has a "European style" but does it actually take place in Europe? There's several anime stories that borrow ideas from Greek mythology, European, vampires or what.

Assuming he is European, I think the gaming market in the 90's was a little more broad after the success of other rpgs, opposed to black and white Shonen manga in the early 80's.

 

[nanjirou]

For those who seem to believe that Goku was meant to be Asian in Dragon Ball, I would like to draw your attention to Chrono Trigger. To those who are unaware, the game is an RPG set in a fairly classical 'European fairy tale'-like setting mixed in with a little science fiction (but still noticeably European in its setting). The game's setting and characters are designed by Akira Toriyama and one particular character deserves special mentioning; Crono.

One thing that is immediately evident is that he fairly closely resembles Goku yet Crono is decidedly Caucasian (due to the game's pseudo-European setting that isn't multi-ethnic). So, the only conclusion that can be drawn is either that Goku is Caucasian or that as far as Akira's settings are concerned, race is not an issue.

nice

 

[Hush]

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.

I didnt say anything about his acting, what i talked about was visually I dont think he looks a thing like Goku or has the build that Goku has. Acting wise he may be fine, but visually I dont think he will ever convince me that he has what it takes to be Goku.

 

[Crosswind Ghost]

I didnt say anything about his acting, what i talked about was visually I dont think he looks a thing like Goku or has the build that Goku has. Acting wise he may be fine, but visually I dont think he will ever convince me that he has what it takes to be Goku.

Thats your opinion, i personally love chatwins look. At the end of the day thats all that matters. Some people may not like it while others do. I'm just glad i do like it.

 

[DorkyFresh]

One thing that is immediately evident is that he fairly closely resembles Goku yet Crono is decidedly Caucasian (due to the game's pseudo-European setting that isn't multi-ethnic). So, the only conclusion that can be drawn is either that Goku is Caucasian or that as far as Akira's settings are concerned, race is not an issue.

well i'm sure that's the only conclusion you would draw, but let's look at it LOGICALLY shall we? Chrono Trigger is basically a 'European fairy tale' like you said...hence, the main characters look white (Chrono with brown hair). since Chrono is a European fairy tale then it's obvious that Dragon Ball was meant to be an ASIAN fairy tale (if you say otherwise, then you're simply in denial)...hence, why most of the main characters are considered Asian. i seriously have no clue how you can say that the only conclusion is that Goku (a character with an ASIAN name, based on an ASIAN character) is white based on character from a European based fantasy world. just because Akira Toriyama made both of these characters (about a decade apart each other and in 2 worlds unrelated to each other) doesn't mean that they're supposed to be based on the same ethnicity.


based on your arguments against Goku being an Asian, i'm having a real hard time believing that you're an Asian from Asia. i can understand if you don't have a problem with Goku being played by a white guy, but i never thought i'd see an Asian argue AGAINST an Asian actor in the role of Goku. if it's such a non-issue then why are you putting out that kind of vibe?

 

[DorkyFresh]

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.

i'm torn by your post. on one hand, i totally disagree with your outlook on the races (even though i can see where you're coming from), but i TOTALLY agree with your view on Goku. Chatwin doesn't do it for me at all, and it's not because he's white either.

 

[The Overlord]

well i'm sure that's the only conclusion you would draw, but let's look at it LOGICALLY shall we? Chrono Trigger is basically a 'European fairy tale' like you said...hence, the main characters look white (Chrono with brown hair). since Chrono is a European fairy tale then it's obvious that Dragon Ball was meant to be an ASIAN fairy tale (if you say otherwise, then you're simply in denial)...hence, why most of the main characters are considered Asian. i seriously have no clue how you can say that the only conclusion is that Goku (a character with an ASIAN name, based on an ASIAN character) is white based on character from a European based fantasy world. just because Akira Toriyama made both of these characters (about a decade apart each other and in 2 worlds unrelated to each other) doesn't mean that they're supposed to be based on the same ethnicity.


based on your arguments against Goku being an Asian, i'm having a real hard time believing that you're an Asian from Asia. i can understand if you don't have a problem with Goku being played by a white guy, but i never thought i'd see an Asian argue AGAINST an Asian actor in the role of Goku. if it's such a non-issue then why are you putting out that kind of vibe?

The problem is, does Goku really look like an Asian person?

 

[DorkyFresh]

that's up to the individual to decide. i, personally, think he does. i was a fan of the series before it hit American shores so i always thought of Goku as an Asian. i'm sure many will say that Goku doesn't look Asian because of his big eyes and pointy nose, but if you look at Yamcha, he has the same exact features even though he's widely regarded as an Asian. Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Yamcha, Tien.....all of them have the big eyes and pointy noses that are typical to anime characters regardless of their race.

 

[Crosswind Ghost]

Looking at the poll results, tells me people really don't care what goku's race is.

 

[DorkyFresh]

i don't know how you came to that conclusion. obviously most of the people who have voted wanted him to be portrayed by a white actor (what we have now). just because people don't have a problem with a white person playing Goku doesn't mean they don't care what race Goku is. for instance, i'm sure many people here would have a problem if Goku were being portrayed by an Asian.

besides, the poll asks what race the CAST (not, specifically Goku) should be.

 

[Crosswind Ghost]

I wouldn't. Why? Because i don't give a damn

 

[DorkyFresh]

that's nice. it's what you should have said in the first place.

 

[Adam]

You're fun Dorky.

 

[TLH]

Very fun.

 

[Star]

When I made the poll, I was addressing the lead characters too. I keep kicking myself that I didn't make one of the choices 'A diverse cast with asian leads' because i'm sure some people would have picked that.

Although as a child, I considered all the characters in the show to be white (probably because I didn't know any better) I would honestly be happy with Goku being played by any race (within reason). As long as they do it well and the actor ''brings Goku to screen'' I'll be happy.

I hope Chatwin can do it. We haven't really seen any sort of acting from him in regards to Dragonball (or anyone for that matter...)

 

[Avangarde]

For those who seem to believe that Goku was meant to be Asian in Dragon Ball, I would like to draw your attention to Chrono Trigger. To those who are unaware, the game is an RPG set in a fairly classical 'European fairy tale'-like setting mixed in with a little science fiction (but still noticeably European in its setting). The game's setting and characters are designed by Akira Toriyama and one particular character deserves special mentioning; Crono.

One thing that is immediately evident is that he fairly closely resembles Goku yet Crono is decidedly Caucasian (due to the game's pseudo-European setting that isn't multi-ethnic). So, the only conclusion that can be drawn is either that Goku is Caucasian or that as far as Akira's settings are concerned, race is not an issue.

It doesn't help his case that his clothing is very asian influenced and he is holding a Katana rather then a European looking sword, but on top of that just because he is in a European setting doesn't mean Chrono is European based. What if I was in Japan wearing traditional Japanese clothing, does that make me Japanese?

 

[Crosswind Ghost]

I'm relying on the casting directors to do their job, their is a reason they do that for a living and we don't. My job as a viewer is to watch the film and decide whether i enjoyed the actors portrayal or not. I've always been on chatwins bandwagon because i personally can see him as Goku, and obviously their has to be a reason why a couple professional casting directors chose him for the role of a possible multi million franchise lead character. I highly doubt he was the only person to audition. The only way that i'll say chatwin was a horrible choice, is if i see the movie and he does indeed screw it up. Until then i have no reason to believe that is the case