Couldn't get a rise out of him! Too nice a guy.

Sonny Gave It Strait

Sometime in Autumn, 2003. I’m out on the lot bringing in shopping carts at a place that shall remain nameless. Unlike most of my fellow employees, I actually liked getting karts all day. I’m outside, getting some exercise, & best of all, am away from the public (God bless ‘em. Grrrrr!). Wheeling another load in, I noticed a Hummer pulling in. The earlier, discontinued, large model, glossy black, with Dragonball Z characters painted on. Huh? Some otaku with more money than brains? Had to check this out.

Though I recognized the images (Goku, Krillin, etc.) on the vehicle, I’m no fan of that particular anime. I’d seen bits & pieces of that loud, garish, repetitive show while channel surfing. I actually had seen a few whole episodes of the original Dragonball & found them quite funny. But DBZ? Ugh! I recollect one fellow commenting there were 350+ episodes & taking out the flashbacks/repeats you’d have about 75 (Addendum: I understand Dragonball Z Kai to be just such a remedying/editing.). Simple intros/faceoffs would take more than one ep before a fight would start. Shoot! Even Pokemon‘s more involved plotwise.

As two guys pile out, I notice some kids gathering round. Turns out to be a promotional for the shows’ trading card game & one of the guys is Sonny Strait, voice of Krillin & other characters in the English dubs. Feeling snarky, I try to needle him.

“Hate the show, it hurts my eyes.”

He patiently explains the effect the creators wanted was the basic five color scheme used in comics and funny papers.

“What’s the show about? All I see are a bunch of costumed goons beating each other up.”

“That’s exactly what the show is about!” Pointing in the air with a flourish, smile on his face, not rattled at all.

Not getting the reaction I wanted, (No snobbery or pretentiousness. Dang!), I turned back to retrieving karts. “Well, it could be worse. It could be Sailor Moon.”

Only a chuckle in reply. Years down the road, someone commented he probably got a lot of crap from “fans” and knew how to handle it. I guess so!

A half hour later, I spot Mr. Strait in the stores’ cafeteria. Feeling more civilized, I question him on the voice acting field & he graciously answered my inquiries. The guy has class.

This was one of several instances that led me to pursue a career in the field myself, (A story{s} for maybe later.) & I won’t forget it.

Article copyright © 11-8-10 Jay Agan

This article originally posted on Jays’ Tee Vee.