Dragon Ball Z Being Re-edited and Re-dubbed for HDTV

[SereneCrimson]

I guess if Funimation decides they want to air Kai on TV (instead of doing DVD releases only), they won't have to censor so much to get it 'TV Acceptable', since it's toned down quite a bit now.

[Saiyavenger2941]

If they wanna cut out a little blood or something, I'm cool. Not everything needs to look like a bad horror movie.

However, a bruise instead of a gaping hole? Just makes no sense to me. They can make the hole black instead of red, that's fine, but come on! Don't fuck with our heads by showing the beam go through Goku, only to leave A SLIGHT BRUISE.

Besides, who dies from a surface bruise anyways?

[Kendamu]

If they wanna cut out a little blood or something, I'm cool. Not everything needs to look like a bad horror movie.

However, a bruise instead of a gaping hole? Just makes no sense to me. They can make the hole black instead of red, that's fine, but come on! Don't fuck with our heads by showing the beam go through Goku, only to leave A SLIGHT BRUISE.

Besides, who dies from a surface bruise anyways?

Looked more like a burn to me. I've never had a bruise that looked like that. I've had a burn that looked like that, though. I figured his organs were just literally fried in that area of his body.

I don't like that it wasn't a gaping bloody wound and would've preferred the original wound, but that didn't look like a bruise to me.

[Super Ghost Kamikaze]

If they wanna cut out a little blood or something, I'm cool. Not everything needs to look like a bad horror movie.

However, a bruise instead of a gaping hole? Just makes no sense to me. They can make the hole black instead of red, that's fine, but come on! Don't fuck with our heads by showing the beam go through Goku, only to leave A SLIGHT BRUISE.

Besides, who dies from a surface bruise anyways?

Looked more like a burn to me. I've never had a bruise that looked like that. I've had a burn that looked like that, though. I figured his organs were just literally fried in that area of his body.

I don't like that it wasn't a gaping bloody wound and would've preferred the original wound, but that didn't look like a bruise to me.

If it's a burn, though, there are things that don't make sense. Like, why did it tear through Raditz's armor? It's not like this was a heat beam that fried through, it had physical presence and tore through physical matter. Generally, this is how Ki is treated in Dragon Ball. It doesn't just super-heat things, but also rips and tears through them.

[DemonRin]

First: About the Blood. The Manga shows a LOT Less blood than the Anime, Kai is actually more in line with the Manga in that regard. That being said, It actually makes MORE Sense to me that both the Manga and Kai would omit so much blood. Anyone whose seen Star Wars knows that burning Wounds would Seal them, so you'd see little to no blood ANYWAY.

Second: The Gaping Wound... this sucks... but if Japan's TV standards have gotten more strict, and it was forced on them by Fuji, then there's nothing they could have done. TV standards HAVE been getting more strict, just watch One Piece. They've been toning the manga down a lot, sometimes with really goofy stuff too. Like once, a bunch of Chefs held guns up to Sanji's head. for SOME reason, it was Ok for other characters to do it, but just for this scene they had to change the guns to Giant Kitchen Utensils (yes, WTF indeed) and in once scene, during Robin's Flashback she got hit in the head with a Rock. in the Anime they changed it to a Tomato for no reason. and Recently, they removed a scene where a character uses the middle finger entirely, and that we KNOW at least USED to be allowed on TV. Blood is probably still ok, but Gaping Holes aren't.
I never had a problem with FUNi and Saban making edits to get the show on TV, that pretty much needed to be done. My only qualm was that it took them a long wihle to do an uncut DVD release, and with the Dragon Boxes out, Toei has already done that.
Fuji TV has some weird new standards that they are holding Toei To, Oh Well. Deal with it, it's not the end of the world.

Third, THANK YOU TOEI!! VEGETA DOESN'T LOOK FUGLY ANYMORE!!

[Innagadadavida]

Is it possible that Toei is specifically censoring the show with the intention of an eventual international release? I mean, from the looks of it, this is clean enough to debut on childrens networks all over the globe regardless of censorship laws.

[shotkeeper]

Haha, this is almost looking like Toei is aiming at kids only and forgetting the old generation. I think it's to get new kids watching it and they make money a lot of years later.

The only good thing I can think of DB Kai, are the new audio options, ending and opening.

The footage is just ...

[DemonRin]

The footage is just ...

Mostly Gorgeous.
The Lineart is Cleaned up, Vegeta has the right colors, and the blast effects look stunning.
Plus, it's being reframed so the cropping isn't an Issue.

Pity Fuji's TV standards have tightened up a bit, but I'd be willing to bet money that Toei was forced to edit the hole out of his chest by Fuji

[Super Ghost Kamikaze]

Plus, it's being reframed so the cropping isn't an Issue.

Depends on what you consider a non-issue. I personally have always refused to watch a movie in pan and scan, for example. And "refamed" is basically pan and scan. They cut off part of the screen that was meant to be seen. What we gain on the sides was never meant to be seen. I don't like taking the integrity of the original framing and chucking it.

I mean, come on, it's NO DIFFERENT than saying that the "Double Features" and their 16:9 aspect ratio is better because that's the framing that was INTENDED. Which, of course, makes perfect sense.

[Saiyavenger2941]

The footage is just ...

Mostly Gorgeous.
Vegeta has the right colors

Wooooooooooooooow. That blue and gold certainly is the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on.

</sarcasm>

[biohazard]

First: About the Blood. The Manga shows a LOT Less blood than the Anime, Kai is actually more in line with the Manga in that regard. That being said, It actually makes MORE Sense to me that both the Manga and Kai would omit so much blood. Anyone whose seen Star Wars knows that burning Wounds would Seal them, so you'd see little to no blood ANYWAY.

Then we'll see Freeza intestines like in the manga??

------

At the begining of the fight I thought the battles would be really improved in Kai due to the fast action but I was really disapointed with the disappeared blood...
I'm starting to see DBKai as a sub-product destined to make new fans that doesn't care about old fans. One disapointment per episode...
At least we have he Dragon Boxes and the singles!

[DemonRin]

Depends on what you consider a non-issue. I personally have always refused to watch a movie in pan and scan, for example. And "refamed" is basically pan and scan. They cut off part of the screen that was meant to be seen. What we gain on the sides was never meant to be seen. I don't like taking the integrity of the original framing and chucking it.

you know what, you're right. Things should be seen the way they were originally intended to be seen.
I demand they start making Kai Black and White, with no Voice acting or Music, only Speech bubbles. and I demand nothing move, it should just be a slideshow.

[Super Ghost Kamikaze]

Depends on what you consider a non-issue. I personally have always refused to watch a movie in pan and scan, for example. And "refamed" is basically pan and scan. They cut off part of the screen that was meant to be seen. What we gain on the sides was never meant to be seen. I don't like taking the integrity of the original framing and chucking it.

you know what, you're right. Things should be seen the way they were originally intended to be seen.
I demand they start making Kai Black and White, with no Voice acting or Music, only Speech bubbles. and I demand nothing move, it should just be a slideshow.

Oooh, burn.

Seriously, the TV show was not just colored and reframed manga panels. This is essentially Kai's place. It can't be denied that Kai is taking the original framing and tossing it out. It only can be argued whether or not that's a "big deal". For people who don't mind changing the aspect ratio of their films to fit the shape of their TV, it really won't be a problem. But for people who like to have the framing that was in mind when the scene was first shot/animated, it will actually matter.

[Saiyavenger2941]

Depends on what you consider a non-issue. I personally have always refused to watch a movie in pan and scan, for example. And "refamed" is basically pan and scan. They cut off part of the screen that was meant to be seen. What we gain on the sides was never meant to be seen. I don't like taking the integrity of the original framing and chucking it.

you know what, you're right. Things should be seen the way they were originally intended to be seen.
I demand they start making Kai Black and White, with no Voice acting or Music, only Speech bubbles. and I demand nothing move, it should just be a slideshow.

I prefer my Dragonball to be as far away from shitty Youtube slideshows as possible, thank you.

Besides, if this were to happen, you wouldn't get your OH SO GORGEOUS VEGETA ARMOR COLORS.

[DemonRin]

I keep saying people should quit comparing Kai to Z and start comparing it to the MANGA!!
that's what I've been doing and I've loved it. but the Edits are no big deal. They are still offering completely Uncut Z on DVD, and they're giving this one a completely new Audio track with new Music, editing out things to tighten up the story, and even giving it a new NAME! Stop comparing it to Z and let it be it's own thing

[Super Ghost Kamikaze]

I keep saying people should quit comparing Kai to Z and start comparing it to the MANGA!!
that's what I've been doing and I've loved it. but the Edits are no big deal. They are still offering completely Uncut Z on DVD, and they're giving this one a completely new Audio track with new Music, editing out things to tighten up the story, and even giving it a new NAME! Stop comparing it to Z and let it be it's own thing

There are a good number of things that keep me from being able to take that stance.

First of all, it is telling the same story as the anime. It is in the same medium. So people are going to compare the two. Which is the better show, which looks nicer, which is better at adapting the manga, which has nicer pacing, etc. It's like asking people to not compare Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic SatAM.

Secondly, Kai is using the same footage. Underneath a color adjustment, cropping, and the odd change here or there is the same exact footage we watched the FIRST time. It's not like they've re-animated the scenes. They aren't animating it differently, they're taking something ALREADY animated and messing with it. So there is a DIRECT means of comparison, in the way that the SHOW ACTUALLY IS THE SAME THING. It's like giving someone a Spot the Differences book and then asking them to compare each picture to the original photograph rather than against the other.

[DBW]

For people who don't mind changing the aspect ratio of their films to fit the shape of their TV, it really won't be a problem. But for people who like to have the framing that was in mind when the scene was first shot/animated, it will actually matter.

I agree with your thoughts on aspect ratios 100%, but honestly, they've done an incredible job with Kai in that regard. So far I can only think of one scene in episode 1 where I noticed poor composition. Otherwise I must say it's convincing to the point where some scenes actually seem to benefit. This is well beyond pan-and-scan style re-framing, and not even comparable to FUNimation's widescreen.

For me it's the direction of the scenes that is noticeably botched. I'm thinking most people aren't noticing since we're so familiar with the story, but the editing is completely illogical for the most part. Scenes don't flow together as well, and lots of scenes are cut right down the middle. A good director knows that you must give even the slightest amount of exposition to a scene in order to create logic. Sure, we all know that Krillin got up out of the Kame House, but by not showing that (which would take 2 seconds) the viewer is surprised when he's suddenly standing there, taking some wind out of the actual content of the scene, and making it almost like a sight gag in how it's presented. Very bizarre stuff they're cutting out here.

[DemonRin]

You know... I think... I'm just gonna say that, I don't really think ANY of us are accurate Judges of Kai...
ALL of us are hardened Fans who've been watching Z for Years, we're used to Z as it was...
Some of us, Like Myself HATED DBZ's terrible pacing... and Love Kai for fixing this problem...
Some of us liked Z the way it was, and Hate Kai for changing that... or are just not used to seeing this show Paced this way, and it hate it because of that...
Not to mention that some people can't let the cropping go or what have you... Point is, we have too much stake in this series for ANY of us to be objective about it...
I've got a friend who would never TOUCH the series because she was told about "Drag-On Ball Z" who actually wants to See Kai since the problem's been fixed... I think I want to show her Kai and get her opinion on it... she can be objective I think...

[ShinRogafuken]

My problem is that during 2 scenes for a couple of seconds, you could see VERY awful new frame-work that looked like it came from a Budokai cutscene (literally).

It was right when Raditz was about to blast Gohan and when Raditz did that flying back-kick on Goku and Piccolo. The artwork is just AWFUL.

[Super Ghost Kamikaze]

For people who don't mind changing the aspect ratio of their films to fit the shape of their TV, it really won't be a problem. But for people who like to have the framing that was in mind when the scene was first shot/animated, it will actually matter.

I agree with your thoughts on aspect ratios 100%, but honestly, they've done an incredible job with Kai in that regard. So far I can only think of one scene in episode 1 where I noticed poor composition. Otherwise I must say it's convincing to the point where some scenes actually seem to benefit. This is well beyond pan-and-scan style re-framing, and not even comparable to FUNimation's widescreen.

I understand that the process is "better", but it just doesn't excuse it for me. I'm a purist when it comes to aspect ratio, so it nags at me.

Also, hm. Interesting thought about those cuts, actually. I never saw it, but just looking at my manga now....the act of Kuririn getting up is shown by a couple panels. Still, I can generally forgive that one because stuff can happen in-between episodes without a "jarring" effect, and Kuririn smashing through Kame House was at the end of the episode.

You know... I think... I'm just gonna say that, I don't really think ANY of us are accurate Judges of Kai...
ALL of us are hardened Fans who've been watching Z for Years, we're used to Z as it was...

I'm watching a cartoon, not condemning a man to Death Row. If I like what I see, then I think it's good. If I don't like something I see, I think it stinks. And y'know, I'll say what I like and don't on an internet forum. I'm qualified to judge whether or not I like a CARTOON, I think.