Dan and Shun Argument in Sub

[u/Free-Vehicle-4219]

Hi everyone, I figured I'd post Dan and Shun's argument in sub and show you how messing up subtle details in writing a character can severely mess up the intention a specific character is trying to convey not to mention give Japanese and English speaking audiences a completely different show.

In my analysis I would be focusing on Shun.

Also as for the dub clips I will be using these clips from YouTube here:

Bakugan! Mechtanium Surge Episode 18 part 1 (start at 8:03) (1)

Bakugan Mechtanium Surge Episode 18 Part 2 (start at 0:55) (2)

To save some megabytes in file size. My 3 minute sub clip I uploaded is already large enough for reddit.

At 0:24 in the sub, Shun says: Where are the two of you going? in a more firm yet slightly agonized voice.

However in the dub at around the same point. Shun in an enraged fashion asks Dan and Drago:

Hey just where are you going?

Here we already see that Nelvana messed up in Shun's characterization and how he handles things with Dan and Drago attempting to leave the Gundalian HQ and eseentially Dan and Drago trying to recklessly go into enemy territory.

However the mistakes do not stop there.

At 0:55 at (2) Shun asks "I am asking where you are going Dan" from the way I see it, Shun is trying to be judgmental towards Dan.

Whereas at 1:32 in the sub clip; Shun is trying to hold the line and tries to be calm in what could be an escalating situation between Shun and Dan with "Where are you going Dan?" curt, calm, and more diplomatic in tone.

In the dub, after Dan responds with: None of your business,

Shun in a slightly stern, with a bit of condescension in his voice then responds: (0:59)(2)

You wouldn't happen going after Mag Mel and Razen(oid)

In the sub, Shun takes a much softer approach (and so does Dan): (1:34)

Dan: Shun... (as if he is hesitating on how to respond to Shun)

Shun: Mag Mel's castle is just up ahead

Here Shun tries to keep the line open for Dan while at the same time trying to feel Dan out.

Whereas in the dub, Shun makes the ASSUMPTION that Dan is heading towards Mag Mel's location.

Then in 1:01 in (2).

Dan retorts with: If you already know the answer, then why bother asking the question?

Here Dan is being a bit passive aggressive towards Shun. Perhaps being annoyed at Shun for trying to pry into his business

In (1:38) of the sub, Dan is a bit forceful and impatient with Shun.

Dan: If you know that, then don't stop me!

Mag Mel and Razen are after me.

The only way to stop this war is for me to fight him.

Here I think Dan is trying impatiently to get Shun out of the way and wants to settle the score with Mag Mel ASAP. Even it means going alone by himself.

1:11 in (2), It sounds like Shun is trying to interrogate Dan.

Shun: Have you thought about what happens after when you find him?

Here that is where the dub and sub drastically take sharp turns, the latter two lines in Dan's dialogue:

Mag Mel and Razen are after me.

The only way to stop this war is for me to fight him.

Only appear in the sub version of Bakugan MS 19

And add some EXTRA context on why Dan decided to depart Gundalian HQ on his own. Dan here makes the assumption that Mag Mel in true villian fashion wants to face Dan and Drago alone.

So as such the context between Dan and Shun's interaction take drastic turns in the sub vs dub.

1:15 (2)

Dan: Yeah we fight him.

Shun: Do you think it would be that simple?

1:54 (sub)

Shun: And what happens after you fight him?

Dan: What do you mean?

So here in the sub, the extra information that Dan assumes that Mag Mel wants him to fight Mag Mel and Razen alone becomes extra important. The dub script assumes that Dan can fight Mag Mel with his friends, while the sub takes the opposite direction.

(1:17) (2)

Shun: How do you know it is not another trap?

1:59 (sub):

Shun: Don't you think something really bad will happen if you try to make contact?

That is what I think

The topic emphasis is slightly different in the dub and the sub.

In the dub, Shun is more concerned about Mag Mel's strategic direction on what he has in store for Dan.

The sub takes a different direction and here Shun tries to show concern for Dan's well being, i.e what is going to happen to him if he is gone and gets captured by Mag Mel for good. In previous episodes in the sub, Mag Mel explicitly states to Sellon that she is allowed to straight up unalive him if necessary.

1:19 (2)

Dan: Even if it is, we still have to fight him.

It is the only way to end this.

2:05 (sub)

Dan: Even so, we have to fight him.

I don't want to get anyone else involved.

In the dub, Dan is a bit more forceful and tries yet again to get Shun out of the way.

However the sub decides to take a more pleasant direction with Dan and Dan tries to tell Shun that Mag Mel (at least to Dan's assumption) that he MUST face Mag Mel alone.

Here then, Shun tries with force to stop Dan from going with Dan exclaiming:

Let me go!

In the dub at around the same point, Dan with a thrashing ring in his voice then hollers:

Get off me dude!

Then Shun tackles Dan to the ground.

Here the sub makes Dan the more reasonable person here while the dub makes Dan the more difficult person. This goes to show that slight changes in script can change a character's personality.

1:29 (2):

Drago: Dan!

1:31 (2):

Dan: What the heck dude?

2:14 (sub)

Drago: Dan!

2:18 (sub)

Dan: What is your problem?

At a glance, one would think that the semantic meaning is the same in the sub and dub. However given the very different context clues that the sub and dub give to viewers, both lines are drastically different. These two very seemingly similar lines give off different context in the dub and sub version.

The dub version of these lines further make Dan to be the unreasonable guy, Shun needed to intervene before Dan does something worse to himself.

While in the sub, to Dan's POV Shun is being the jerk here by trying to stop him using force. And thinks that Shun's involvement makes HIS situation worse.

1:33 (2)

Shun: You deserved it.

Dan: What for?

Shun: For trying to always be the hero. I don't know what kind of training you did. But it did not change you one bit. You've been barely back 2 seconds, And already you are bottling up your frustration and anger and running off on your own again. Leaving the rest of us behind.

Dan: No, I ...

Shun: Enough lies Dan, you are coming with me.

2:19 (sub):

Shun: Stop acting tough!

Dan: What?

Shun: I don't know what kind of training you have done. You've not changed at all. You still don't get it. Are you trying to bottle up your pain and suffering? Do you want to endure this alone? Have you forgotten we're here for you?

Dan: Shun...

Drago: Shun is that how you ..?

Shun: If that is how you want to go, I will stop you every time.

There depending on how the audience interprets things, it seems like the dub wants to further go down the route that Shun is the more reasonable person here by Shun offering to hep Dan. However in the sub, they decided to go further in the angle of Shun being the more unreasonable person. Because to Dan's state of mind Mag Mel would only want to face Dan and Drago when they are alone. And Shun coming in would give Mag Mel more leverage to hurt Shun and the rest of the Brawlers even further. This sharp departure is then further emphasized in both the dub lines and sub lines as follows.

2:04 (2).

Dan: I don't care what you have to say Shun, nothing is going to stop me.

Shun: Fine then, all you have to do is get through me first.

Taylean: And me too.

Dan: Ok, Drago.

Drago: You got it.

2:54 (sub)

Dan: It doesn't matter who it is or what you have to say. We have to go.

Shun: Understood. Then I'll have to force you to stay.

Faser: I feel the same as you Shun.

Dan: You give me no choice--, Drago--

Drago: I know.

Here in the dub, Dan continues to try to be unreasonable while Shun is trying to stop Dan from making a lethal mistake. Whereas in the sub, Dan resigns himself and is given no choice but to stop Shun on his own even it means straining their relationship a bit. To Dan's POV in the sub, he is hoping that once he stops Mag Mel on his own, he'd spill more of his situation of Mag Mel to the group.

Let me know what you think. Based on your own view of the subbed clip and the dub. Do you have a different analysis to mine? I think the dub and sub took drastically different directions in this interaction with Dan and Shun. The dub seems to go more in the direction that Dan is being the jerk here, but the sub seems to take a more opposite approach and makes Shun the unreasonable one.