Dragon Ballis most known for itslong exciting battlesand beautiful visuals. But much of the franchise’s appeal comes from its rich cast of characters. Some are funny, others are compelling, and a few are just badasses. Yet, they wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if it wasn’t for the people voicing them.
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Over the years, theDragon Ballvoice actors have regularly done some fantastic work. They’ve even made many of the violence-obsessed characters loveable and somewhat relatable. Here are the people who play the main characters in the Funimation dubs of the variousDragon Ballanime, along with some acknowledgment of the original Japanese voices.
7Sonny Strait (Krillin And Others)
While Krillin has not always had the spotlight, he’s still a major player in the franchise as a whole. And since the character has reached adulthood, Sonny Strait has been the voice behind one ofthe world’s most powerful humans.
Much of the time, the role has tested Strait’s comedic chops, and he’s always risen to the challenge as Krillin is among the funniest characters in all ofDragon Ball. The actor’s second most prominentDBcharacter was Bardock, who couldn’t be more different than Krillin, but Strait still excelled in the role.
His Japanese counterpart isMayumi Tanaka,who played both the child and adult version of Krillin. Tanaka also lends her tones to the likes of Yajirobe and Fortuneteller Baba.
6Tiffany Vollmer (Bulma)
Tiffany Vollmer might not have voiced as many characters as some of the Funimation cast, but her role as Bulma was an extensive one. Her stint as the blue-haired girl started in the original anime, when Bulma was just a teenager. Back then, the character was even more vital than she is now, as the genius engineer was one of the leads.
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The actress kept the role during the original Funimation Dub ofDragon Ball Z, playing the adult version of Bulma. However, Monica Rial took the reins forKaiand futureDragon Ballprojects. Still, Vollmer’s tenure as the character is an iconic one.
Her Japanese counterpart isHiromi Tsuru,who voiced Bulma for many years in the four main anime series. She also lent her voice to various other smaller characters.
5Eric Vale (Future Trunks And Others)
In his first appearance, Future Trunks shocked everyone when he became one ofthe first characters to turn Super Saiyanand subsequently destroyed Frieza. It is among the best scenes inDragon Ballhistory, and it wouldn’t have been as cool if it wasn’t for Eric Vale’s stellar performance as the young hero.
The actor has given many more excellent performances as the time-traveling Saiyan since, as he’s voiced the future version of the character for its entire run. While Trunks is theDragon Ballrole Vale is most known for, his work as the World Tournament Announcer has been strong also, and the character has become synonymous with the World Martial Arts Tournaments.
His Japanese counterpart isTakeshi Kusao.Unlike Vale, Kusao portrayed both the adult and kid versions of Trunks, along with many others.
4Kyle Hebert (Adult Gohan And Others)
When Gohan became an adult at the beginning of the Great Saiyaman Saga, Kyle Hebert took over the voicing duties of the character and has remained in the role throughSuper. As Gohan, the actor has had to show his range because sometimes the Saiyan can be really goofy, and other times he’s very serious.
Gohan isn’t Hebert’s only connection to the franchise, as he’s also voiced the likes of the Ox-King and Pikkon. Plus, he had a significant stint asDBZ’smain narrator.
His Japanese counterpart isMasako Nozawa,who voiced a litany of characters in the variousDragon Ballanimes. Her role as Gohan extended beyond the adult version as she played the child counterpart, too.
3Stephanie Nadolny (Kid Goku, Kid Gohan, And Others)
Few voice actors have been as integral to theDragon Ballfranchise as Stephanie Nadolny. In the original series, she played the child version of Goku. As the character was a kid for most of the series, her voice was in many episodes. She excellently conveyed Goku’s naivité and unshakable confidence throughout the series.
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The character was an adult byDragon Ball Z, so she didn’t portray the character in that series, aside from the occasional flashback. Yet, she still played a large role as the child version of Gohan (in the original Funimation dub). Perhaps her best performance as this particular Saiyan was during the incredible battle with Cell, which is still one ofthe character’s best fights.
Her Japanese counterpart isMasako Nozawa,who voiced all versions of Goku and Gohan, along with many other characters.
2Sean Schemmel (Goku And Others)
One of the first names fans think of in regards to the FunimationDBcast is Sean Schemmel. The voice actor has lent his tones to Goku ever since the protagonist reached his late teens. Whether the powerful Saiyan was making fans laugh with his driving antics or giving people goosebumps with incredible pre-fight speeches, Schemmel has always done a fantastic job with thesurprisingly complex character.
The actor has also played many other characters in the franchise. With these other roles, he’s shown plenty of range as his over-the-top performances as King Kai are very different from his work as the ever-serious Nail.
His Japanese counterpart isMasako Nozawa,who played both the child and adult versions of Goku.
1Christopher Sabat (Vegeta, Piccolo, And Many Others)
Christopher Sabat’s contribution to theDragon Ball’svarious Funimation dubs can’t be overstated. He has voiced so many different characters for the anime franchise. His two main roles, though, are Vegeta and Piccolo. He has portrayed the two anti-heroes from their individual debuts as villains through to their time inSuperand likely beyond.
While their abilities and arcs help their appeal, Sabat’s vocal performances are what make Vegeta and Piccolo two of the more popular characters in the series. Yamcha, Kami, and Shenron are a few of his other prominentDragon Ballroles.
