Considered the norm at the time, French dubbing is increasingly criticized today, whether in cinema or anime. Dragon Ball is no exception, to the point that some now consider it "unwatchable" in French. However, not everything is to be thrown away. Here are 3 good reasons to climb onto your "magic cloud" to (re)discover the French adaptation of Dragon Ball.
#1 French voice actors are excellent
There's something many people forget: France has a real dubbing culture. French actors have often excelled in this exercise for years. The proof is that many films and series broadcast in the 1980s and 1990s are now considered by many to be better in French than in the original version. We can cite Back to the Future or The Simpsons, but what about Dragon Ball? Certainly, the French dubbing does not achieve the same accuracy as the Japanese one, but it remains of quality.
During its broadcast at Club Dorothée, Dragon Ball benefited from dubbing that has become iconic. Offering a different interpretation than the Japanese voice actors, the French actors brought a unique vision of the characters. Patrick Borg's deep voice, for example, gives Goku a more mature dimension. Conversely, some voice actors fit their role perfectly, to the point of becoming inseparable from it. We think of Brigitte Lecordier for Goku as a child, and of course the late Éric Legrand, whose voice marked an entire generation with Vegeta. For these talented individuals alone, the French version of Dragon Ball is worth the detour.
#2 Nostalgia
Despite the talent of the voice actors, it must be recognized that the adaptation work of the time left something to be desired. Between the dialogues rewritten due to censorship and the lack of human resources, we end up with a version that is sometimes shaky, even wacky. Yet, this is also what makes the French version so charming. It is a reflection of its time, and it is interesting to delve back into it, if only out of curiosity.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the French version of Dragon Ball will speak mainly to those who knew it at the time.A true time capsule, it allows you to return to your childhood. Hearing expressions like "magic ray" or "Satan Petit-Cœur" may be cause for a smile, but for many, it mainly evokes good memories. The original version is perfect, but the French version is more endearing for its imperfections.
#3 The current dubbing
When we think of the French version of Dragon Ball, we naturally think of the one from 30 or 40 years ago, and not the current version. The anime was, however, re-dubbed for the release of Dragon Ball Z Kai. This new version, much more faithful to the original work, shows how much interest in Japanese animation has evolved in France.
Apart from Dragon Ball Z Kai, the franchise has had other films and series also dubbed in French, such as Dragon Ball Super and DAIMA. It must be recognized that their French version is qualitative, so much so that today, the choice between the French version and the original version is more a matter of personal preference between two different dubbing styles than anything else. This is an observation that does not only apply to Dragon Ball. These days, watching anime in French may seem like heresy to some, but in reality, it's far from being as bad as people say.
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