This is a first in a series of articles on how I would cast the English dubs for certain titles that either have not been licensed for North America or have dubs I would like to see recast. Enjoy!
Z
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 21 Review
Episode 21, "Protect the Dragon Balls! The Namekian Offensive"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Recovered from his injuries thanks to a senzu bean, Goku goes to the Capsule Corporation, where Dr. Briefs has prepared a spaceship to take him to Namek. He takes off for space. While in flight, Goku uses a feature of the ship which allows him to train under several times Earth’s gravity. On Namek, Gohan and Kuririn spy on Freeza and his henchmen as they menace a village for its Dragon Ball. The village elder, Mori, is uncooperative, so Freeza threatens the children. Some high-powered Namekians come to rescue the village, and Dodoria takes the task of taking care of them. Mori destroys all of Freeza’s henchmen’s scouters so they can’t find the other villages, which enrages Dodoria.
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 23 Review
Episode 23, "Incoming! Mechanical Beast Baron Ashura"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: The scientists at Photon Power Lab complete Sayaka’s new robot, Venus A. In the surrounding excitement, Kouji gets closer to Sayaka. Dr. Hell’s forces attack Japan’s military and the Mazinger Corp are busy. The Lab puts up a forcefield bubble. Boss and his cronies paint his own robot, the Boss Borot. The Mazinger Corp are confronted by Ashura’s robot. Kouji, Shiro, and Kabuto visit Juuzo’s grave, where a hologram of Dr. Hell appears to offer a chance at settling everything with a fight between the Mazinger and Ashura’s robot. Sayaka attacks in the Venus A, but it does no damage to Ashura’s machine, and she is subdued. Boss, his group, and Shiro want Kouji to accept the duel, despite it going against Tsubasa’s plans, but he promises Sayaka he’ll stick to whatever Tsubasa has in mind. However, the morning after spending time with her, Kouji heads off to the duel in the Mazinger.
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 20 Review
Episode 20, "Rebellion Against Freeza! Vegeta, Burning With Ambition", or “With a Twist of Kiwi”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: On Namek, Freeza and his men menace and kill natives, and have already collected four Dragon Balls. Two of Freeza’s men come upon Kami’s spaceship and damage it. Gohan and Kuririn take them out easily, but Bulma is devestated. Vegeta and Kiwi engaged in battle, where Kiwi demonstrates his power, confident he’s stronger than his opponent. However, Vegeta shows that his power has grown dramatically since being on Earth. Kiwi tries to reason with him, but Vegeta won’t have it, and kills Kiwi as he attempts an escape. Back at the Namekian village, Dodoria and Zarbon are stunned by Vegeta’s power, which they’ve been reading with their scouters (Zarbon’s explodes), but Freeza remains unimpressed. Gohan, Kuririn, and Bulma find a cave to stay in. Kuririn and Gohan detect Freeza and his men as they pass by with the Dragon Balls. Back on Earth, Goku is given news about what’s going on on Namek from Roshi, and is given senzu beans by Yajirobe, which he eats, and recovers.
Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 19 Review
Episode 19, "A Formidable New Enemy! Emperor of the Universe, Freeza" or, "Everybody Freaks The Fuck Out"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: As Gohan, Kuririn, and Bulma travel to Namek on Kami’s spaceship, Vegeta’s pod arrives on a planet owned by his boss, Freeza, and is treated for his injuries in a heal tank. After recovering, Vegeta is informed by Kiwi, a henchmen of Freeza, that Freeza is on his way to Namek for the Dragon Balls, which he heard about over Vegeta’s scouter. Eager to beat Freeza to them, Vegeta takes off, with Kiwi in pursuit. Arriving on Namek, Gohan, Kuririn, and Bulma find the atmosphere suitable, and Bulma detects Dragon Balls using her radar. Vegeta arrives on Namek, as does Kiwi. Meanwhile, Freeza and his henchmen, Zarbon and Dodoria, are at a Namekian village.
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 22 Review
Episode 22, "Dreams! Ashura’s Sleeping Cocoon!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Dr. Hell contemplates the final battle and is confronted by Duke Gorgon, who mysteriously disappears. It is revealed that Pygman traded places with Ashura during the scramble to get Ashura after his disappearance. At the Kurogane residence, Boss’s lackies try to convince Kouji that Boss needs his own robot to pilot. Akokuji agrees and says he’ll take care of it. When Ashura awakes from dreams of the past, he/she tries to kill his/herself, but cannot. Dr. Hell has put a suggestion in Ashura that prevents him/her from taking his/her life as long as he is alive. Then Dr. Hell reveals that he’s made a special mecha for Ashura and sends him/her, Pygman, and Brocken to attack the Photon Power Labs.
Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 21 Review
Episode 21, "Grudge! The Longest Day at Kurogane House: Part 3"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Tsubasa summons the arm of Zeus from its hiding spot- the Japanium ore pile underneath the Photon Power Labs. The pilot of Energer Z is revealed to be Count Brocken, who activates its self-destruct program to combat the arm. Thanks to a computer program on board the Mazinger, Kouji is able to use the power of Zeus’s arm to destroy the Energer Z. To protect herself from being targeted, Tsubasa invites detectives from across Japan to protect her at the Kurogane House, along with the returning Kurogane Five. Also returning is Akokuji, who brings with him a reprogrammed Gamia, as well as news that the real Kenzo Kabuto is still alive. As they prepare for the upcoming battle, Dr. Hell attacks with Bardos Island itself.