The Ocean Group dub (or simply Ocean dub) was the very first English dub track produced for Dragon Ball Z. Ocean Studios, a production company located in Vancouver, Canada, was contracted by Saban Entertainment/FUNimation in 1996-1998 to dub the first 53 episodes of the series for Canada and the United States. Once Saban split with FUNimation, FUNimation could no longer afford the services of the cast at Ocean studios nor could they afford the original musical score produced by Shuki Levy. Therefore, from episode 54 onward, FUNimation began using their in-house talent (from Texas) to dub the rest of the series.
The international audience (viewers in Europe and Canada), who grew attached to the original cast, were not pleased with the new actors introduced to the series. They voiced their displeasure to FUNimation who, recognizing there was still a demand for the Ocean cast's voice work, licensed out the series rights to the Ocean Group at some point in the early 2000s. Ocean Studios agreed to continue work on the series and began dubbing in 2000 and ended in 2002. They began at episode 108, skipping the Frieza and Garlic Jr. sagas, and finished at 276; thus, completing the series. This 108-276 dub was created solely for the purpose of TV airings and, therefore, had much lower production values than the Ocean/Saban collaboration of the first 53 episodes. For example, musical tracks from other shows which Ocean Studios had worked on, primarily Mega Man and Monster Rancher, were recycled and incorporated into their 108-276 dub of Dragon Ball Z.
The United States and Canada received the FUNimation dub (with their in-house cast) from episode 54 onward. Canada, however, began receiving the Ocean dub from episode 168 onward due to a spat between FUNimation and YTV. The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and various other parts of Europe received the Ocean dub from 108 through to 276.
The first 53 episodes of the Ocean dub were released on VHS and DVD but the Ocean dub of episodes 108-276 have not, and will likely never be, released for DVD viewing.
FUNimation/Pioneer contracted Ocean Studios to dub the first three movies of Dragon Ball Z in 1997-1998. These three movies are often considered to be the most faithful English adaptations of Dragon Ball Z as they contain: the original Japanese BGM, no censoring, no editing, and quality voice acting. They have all been released to DVD.
Miscellaneous facts
- The Ocean/Saban collaboration of the first 53 episodes was heavily censored. Any references to death, scenes of excessive violence, or other content deemed offensive was completely censored or edited out. The Ocean dub of episodes 108-276 also had censoring although to a significantly lesser extent.
- Most actors from the episode 1-53 dub returned for the 108-276 dub. However some of the original cast had left the series by episode 276. The most notable were Peter Kelamis, who played Goku, and Saffron Henderson, who played young Gohan.
- When Ocean Studios returned to dub the series, they began at episode 108 and not where they initially left off, at episode 53. It is not known exactly why they skipped over episodes 54-107, however, it is likely they began at episode 108 as that is where FUNimation was with their dub in 2000.
- Ian James Corlett stopped voicing Goku after the Saiyan saga (his final episode was #37). This was because he wasn't being compensated for the character's, several, now trademark yells. Many fans, to this day, regard him as the ideal representation of an English Goku.
- Peter Kelamis stopped voicing Goku during the Cell saga (his final episode was #143) as he decided to go on the road as a comic, instead. Kirby Morrow was Kelamis' replacement and the final voice of Goku for the Ocean dub. He began work on episode #144 and stayed through to the end of the series (episode #276).
- Saffron Henderson, who voiced young Gohan from the very beginning, had to leave the series due to her wedding conflicting with her alotted work schedule for the series. Her final episode was #150.
- Production values for the 108-276 dub seemed to increase significantly in the Kid Buu saga. Casting was far better, the quality of voice work from the actors improved quite a bit, and new musical tracks finally began to appear.
- Interestingly enough, this 108-276 Ocean version still has the closed captions for the FUNimation dub whenever dialogue is changed. For instance, in Kibito Kai's flashback where Buu nearly kills Bibidi, in the FUNimation version Bibidi says "I'm the one who created you, you stupid idiot!" But in the Ocean version he says "I'm the one who created you, you ungrateful fool!" However, the closed captions say "stupid idiot" instead of "ungrateful fool".
Voice actors
| Character Name | Ocean Studios Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Goku | Ian James Corlett (ep. 1-37) Peter Kelamis (38-53), (108-143) Kirby Morrow (144-276) |
| Young Gohan | Saffron Henderson (ep. 1-53), (108-150) Jillian Michaels (151-179) |
| Adult Gohan | Brad Swaile |
| Goten | Jillian Michaels |
| Piccolo | Scott McNeil |
| Vegeta | Brian Drummond |
| Bulma | Lalaina Lindbjerg (ep. 1-53) Maggie Blue O'Hara (108-253) Jane Perry (254-276) |
| Future Trunks | Allistair Abell |
| Trunks | Cathy Weseluck |
| Krillin | Terry Klassen |
| Yajirobe | Brian Drummond |
| Yamcha | Ted Cole |
| Tien | Matt Smith |
| Chiaotzu | Cathy Weseluck |
| Chi-Chi | Laara Sadiq |
| Master Roshi | Ian James Corlett (ep. 1-37) Don Brown (38-53) Terry Klassen (108-276) |
| Oolong | Doug Parker |
| Puar | Cathy Weseluck |
| Hercule | Don Brown |
| Videl | Moneca Stori |
| Fortuneteller Baba | Helen Kennedy (ep. 1-53) Brian Drummond (108-276) |
| Dende | Andrew Francis |
| Ox-King | Dave Ward |
| Dr. Brief | Scott McNeil |
| Mrs. Brief | Jane Perry |
| Mr. Popo | French Tickner |
| Korin | Ted Cole |
| Kami | Michael Dobson (ep. 1-53) Dale Wilson (108-276) |
| King Kai | Don Brown |
| Social Worker | Janyse Jaud |
| Farmer | Scott McNeil |
| Raditz | Jason Gray-Stanford |
| Nappa | Michael Dobson |
| Frieza | Pauline Newstone |
| Zarbon | Paul Dobson |
| Dodoria | Ward Perry |
| Cui | Jason Gray-Stanford |
| Appule | Terry Klassen |
| Orlen | Scott McNeil |
| Bund | Michael Dobson |
| Vug | Scott McNeil |
| Blueberry | Mark Oliver |
| Raspberry | Doug Parker |
| Strock | Michael Dobson |
| Captain Strong | Adam Henderson |
| Goose | Ward Perry |
| Oggers | Terry Klassen |
| Recoome | David Kaye |
| Burter | Alec Willows |
| Jeice | Scott McNeil |
| Guldo | Terry Klassen |
| Captain Ginyu | Richard Newman |
| Guru | Lee Tockar |
| Dr. Gero | Brian Dobson |
| Android 19 | Patricia Drake |
| Android 17 | Ted Cole |
| Android 18 | Enuka Okuma |
| General Tao | Scott McNeil |
| Cell | Dale Wilson |
| Kilah | Scott McNeil |
| Supreme Kai | Michael Dobson |
| Babidi | Terry Klassen |
| Dabura | Scott McNeil |
| Yakon | Michael Kopsa |
| Majin Buu | Scott McNeil |
| Super Buu | Brian Dobson |
| Elder Kai | Scott McNeil |
| Lemlia | Jane Perry |
| Shenron | Don Brown |
| Narrator | Doc Harris |