One Piece FUNimation Dub Review

One Piece, the popular Japanese anime series, has made a tripumphant return to the US. After the series halted production by 4Kids Entertainment, it was quickly picked up by FUNimation Productions, who proceeded to begin dubbing immediately. After months of fevered anticipation, the new One Piece dub hit Cartoon Network airwaves on September 29th. How was it?

Instead of opening the show with unfitting rap music, the show started with a dub of the Japanese song Hikari E, sung beautifully by voice actor Vic Magnogna. We're then treated, not to overdone synth music, but to actual orchestrated pieces, composed by Kohei Tanaka and Shiro Hamaguchi.

An all-star voice class has been assembled. Colleen Clinkenbeard portrays the title character Monkey D. Luffy. Similar to 4Kids actress Erica Schroder, she portrays the character as sounding like a young boy, though a little more raspy and a little more subdued. Christopher Sabat, well-known for his roles as Vegeta and Piccolo on Dragonball Z, gives Roronoa Zolo a gruff edge. He does come across as sounding quite a bit like Piccolo at times, which is kind of awkward, but seeing as I've heard him using just about every voice in his repitoire (he played a large number of characters in Dragonball Z), it's bound to be expected. His voice fits the character like a glove, so it doesn't really matter. Luci Christian's Nami is very similar to former actress Kerry Williams, but with a bit of a "cuter" edge. Sonny Strait plays the cowardly Ussop, using his Krillin voice from Dragonball Z. I don't think many thought of the voice of Krillin for the character before it was announced, but the voice works very well, and he handles the wide range of emotions well, from talking nervously to yelling like a maniac. David Moo of 4Kids played up Sanji like a tough New Yorker, to the charagin of viewers, but this time around, Eric Vale gives a go at the character. While certainly more fitting than sounding like Randy Newman, his voice just doesn't seem to add anything really significant to the table. Perhaps I simply need some time to warm up to it, or perhaps I actually miss Sanji's original voice, silly as it was. Nico Robin sounds almost exactly like Veronica Taylor's portrayal, sans the valley girl accent. Stephanie Young fits the character wonderfully, but at times she comes across as a little too bored for my tastes. Brina Palencia plays Tony Tony Chopper, and I have to say she sounds simply adorable. A little too adorable, actually; I honestly preferred Lisa Ortiz's portrayal, but like Sanji's, I'm sure I'll warm up to it eventually.

Edits are relatively few, though Sanji has once again lost his cigarette in favor of...well, nothing. Instead of keeping it as a lollypop (as smoking lit cigarettes is unacceptable on either FOX or Cartoon Network), FUNimation chose to simply edit it out altogether. The famous "TO BE CONTINUED" screen has returned, as well as the next episode preview. The ending theme "Free Will" was dubbed beautifully.

All in all, a spectacular beginning for a superb new dub. I look forward to FUNimation continuing to dub the series for years to come.