Karai is Japanese, right? O_o

*gobo* · 03-15-2007, 05:21 PM

So, why does the IGN clip make her sound Chinese? I mean, I know her VA is Chinese, but still...

*Raph's Girl* · 03-15-2007, 05:34 PM

Yes she's Japanese but it's just that she has a Chinese VA. But she certainly looks Japanese:

kerfootw · 03-15-2007, 06:14 PM

She sounds and looks good to me.

Venom Symbiote · 03-15-2007, 08:33 PM

Yeah, I noticed that too. It's nitpicking, nothing serious, but it's a little disappointing. She sounds a little weird in the clips.

Clearly a Chinese-English accent, rather than Japanese. Pretty distinct.

TheGreenMagic · 03-15-2007, 09:53 PM

Perhaps, but I do admit I like how her voice has turned out nonetheless. Right now I think it's safe to say I prefer Ziyi Zhang's voice for Karai than what we've heard in the 2k3 show.

kerfootw · 03-15-2007, 10:32 PM

You don't have to go that far.

*gobo* · 03-15-2007, 11:02 PM

I actually agree. I like the new 'toon verson, but it's just not an authentic sounding Asian dialect.Chinese is far closer to Japanese than a whispery female Shatner impersonation.

TiffanyRay187 · 03-16-2007, 04:07 AM

Karai's voice doesn't bother me in either... I don't prefer either to the other. I really like 2k3 voice, but I also like the new voice... I think they are both just lovely...
Oh yeah...
And Karai is Japanese...
Oroku Saki found her abandoned in Japan, her parents were dead I believe... But I know he found her in Japan as a young child. He was surprised at how quickly she learned from him, and was proud to have someone that was smart enough to learn everything he could teach. I like Karai, no matter what form.
What I do hate is when people have this obsession with Karai & Leonardo for some reason being an item... Just because Leo has watched out for Karai leads to no romantic feelings...
In fact, they showed that when she walked off with Chaplan, and nobody has a problem with it, including Leo.
He more wants to keep an eye on her more than anything...
Yeah yeah, I know I got off topic... sorry...

*~*Jenny*~*

*Masked Ninja* · 03-16-2007, 11:19 AM

I noticed that, too... she does sound Chinese rather than Japanese. I'm not too bothered because the actress herself is Chinese, and so long as they don't make a point that Karai is supposed to be Japanese, your average moviegoer won't care... just rabid fans like us.

And yeah, I agree... I'll take a genuine Eastern accent over a fake TV show one any day (2k3 Karai was at least tolerable until the 4th season, at which point it became kind of ridiculous)

*Raph's Girl* · 03-16-2007, 12:05 PM

I don't think it's really ever been officially established that Karai is Japanese. Just that she's head of the Foot Clan in Japan.

Heck, Teng Shen is a CHINESE name that roughly translates to Immortal Beloved.

TerranigmaFreak · 03-16-2007, 02:59 PM

The name Karai sure as hell not Chinese.

*Raph's Girl* · 03-16-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerranigmaFreak

The name Karai sure as hell not Chinese.

Nope... it's Japanese.

Karai is a Japanese word commonly used to describe the flavor spicy/hot. However, karai can also mean extremely severe, harsh, strict or storm. Karai shares the same kanji as the word tsurai which means difficult, painful, or cruel.

Spawn Guy · 03-16-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobo

So, why does the IGN clip make her sound Chinese? I mean, I know her VA is Chinese, but still...

If your going to answer your own question, what do you need us for?

Vincent · 03-17-2007, 08:15 AM

Typical Hollywood. They always give Japanese roles to Chinese actors and vice versa, thinking that nobody will notice the difference.
But I'm not going to let it bother me. Shell, I'm Swedish (born, raised and currently residing), and I don't even know how to do a recognizably Swedish accent (I can do a few British and American accents plus a couple European and Asian ones), so I suppose anything's possible. Besides, Zhang Ziyi is a good actress, and judging from the clip, she seems to be doing a much better job with the character than Veronica Taylor did (no offense to Veronica Taylor, she's a fine voice actress, but Karai just wasn't a good character for her).

*Mecha Cow* · 03-17-2007, 08:35 AM

Does it honestly matter? You're better off wondering why the character is speaking English to begin with.

Vincent · 03-17-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

Does it honestly matter? You're better off wondering why the character is speaking English to begin with.

Not really, as English is a very popular second language around the world, and it would make sense for Karai to learn English before moving to New York.

*gobo* · 03-17-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent

(no offense to Veronica Taylor, she's a fine voice actress, but Karai just wasn't a good character for her).

Veronica Taylor was April, not Karai. But, you meant the lady who voiced Karai, right? BTW, where can I get a decent quality, uncensored version of 'Ninjas In A Half-Shell?

03-15-2007, 05:21 PM	#1
gobo Wacky Action Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: on Earth Posts: 12,784	Karai is Japanese, right? O_o So, why does the IGN clip make her sound Chinese? I mean, I know her VA is Chinese, but still... __________________ Live and let live... or go to hell.

03-15-2007, 05:34 PM	#2
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Yes she's Japanese but it's just that she has a Chinese VA. But she certainly looks Japanese: __________________

03-15-2007, 09:53 PM	#5
TheGreenMagic Foot Soldier Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: USA Posts: 161	Perhaps, but I do admit I like how her voice has turned out nonetheless. Right now I think it's safe to say I prefer Ziyi Zhang's voice for Karai than what we've heard in the 2k3 show. __________________

03-15-2007, 11:02 PM	#7
gobo Wacky Action Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: on Earth Posts: 12,784	I actually agree. I like the new 'toon verson, but it's just not an authentic sounding Asian dialect.Chinese is far closer to Japanese than a whispery female Shatner impersonation. __________________ Live and let live... or go to hell.

03-16-2007, 04:07 AM	#8
TiffanyRay187 Mouser Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 6	Dun't Botha Me Nun... Karai's voice doesn't bother me in either... I don't prefer either to the other. I really like 2k3 voice, but I also like the new voice... I think they are both just lovely... Oh yeah... And Karai is Japanese... Oroku Saki found her abandoned in Japan, her parents were dead I believe... But I know he found her in Japan as a young child. He was surprised at how quickly she learned from him, and was proud to have someone that was smart enough to learn everything he could teach. I like Karai, no matter what form. What I do hate is when people have this obsession with Karai & Leonardo for some reason being an item... Just because Leo has watched out for Karai leads to no romantic feelings... In fact, they showed that when she walked off with Chaplan, and nobody has a problem with it, including Leo. He more wants to keep an eye on her more than anything... Yeah yeah, I know I got off topic... sorry... ~Jenny~

03-15-2007, 06:14 PM	#3
kerfootw Hench Mutant Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 405	She sounds and looks good to me.

03-15-2007, 08:33 PM	#4
Venom Symbiote Random Punk Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 30	Yeah, I noticed that too. It's nitpicking, nothing serious, but it's a little disappointing. She sounds a little weird in the clips. Clearly a Chinese-English accent, rather than Japanese. Pretty distinct.

03-15-2007, 10:32 PM	#6
kerfootw Hench Mutant Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 405	You don't have to go that far.

03-16-2007, 11:19 AM	#9
Masked Ninja Doodles TMNT for fun Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sploshin' through some sewer... Posts: 2,137	I noticed that, too... she does sound Chinese rather than Japanese. I'm not too bothered because the actress herself is Chinese, and so long as they don't make a point that Karai is supposed to be Japanese, your average moviegoer won't care... just rabid fans like us. And yeah, I agree... I'll take a genuine Eastern accent over a fake TV show one any day (2k3 Karai was at least tolerable until the 4th season, at which point it became kind of ridiculous)

03-16-2007, 12:05 PM	#10
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	I don't think it's really ever been officially established that Karai is Japanese. Just that she's head of the Foot Clan in Japan. Heck, Teng Shen is a CHINESE name that roughly translates to Immortal Beloved. __________________

03-16-2007, 02:59 PM	#11
TerranigmaFreak Stone Warrior Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 715	The name Karai sure as hell not Chinese. __________________ First footage of the new R rated TMNT movie.

03-17-2007, 08:15 AM	#14
Vincent Hench Mutant Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 293	Typical Hollywood. They always give Japanese roles to Chinese actors and vice versa, thinking that nobody will notice the difference. But I'm not going to let it bother me. Shell, I'm Swedish (born, raised and currently residing), and I don't even know how to do a recognizably Swedish accent (I can do a few British and American accents plus a couple European and Asian ones), so I suppose anything's possible. Besides, Zhang Ziyi is a good actress, and judging from the clip, she seems to be doing a much better job with the character than Veronica Taylor did (no offense to Veronica Taylor, she's a fine voice actress, but Karai just wasn't a good character for her). __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHorFa22x3Q Hey, if Vanilla Ice and Partners in Kryme can do it, so can I.

03-17-2007, 08:35 AM	#15
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	Does it honestly matter? You're better off wondering why the character is speaking English to begin with. __________________