The International Version of the Buu-Kai Arc

[Puto]

Okay, enough is enough. As far as I'm concerned, 'Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters' and 'Dragon Ball Kai Episodes 99+' are now two different shows.

[UltimateHammerBro]

I assume that only Japan will get "episodes 99+" and the rest of the world will get the "Final Chapters". I'd like to hear the opening and ending in the international version, but right now, I prefer "The final chapters" knowing that the pacing will be better and that the music placement will be different.

However, I think that only the first three episodes (so far) will differ between both versions.

[VegettoEX]

However, I think that only the first three episodes (so far) will differ between both versions.

This is not and will be not be the case.

[Valerius Dover]

Yeah, The Final Chapters show every sign of being substantially different from the Fuji TV edit in almost every way imaginable.

-About 20 more Episodes
-Vastly different music placement (still Sumitomo)
-Completely different OP and ED themes, but still Japanese for whatever reason
-Darker Coloring rather than a Green Tint

Aside from losing the Japanese theme songs, I think this International Version will turn out to be the superior product overall, with a lot more breathing room in the episodes, both pacing-wise and music-wise.

[MagicBox]

So I guess the question now is... was absolutely anything close to a reasonable budget spent on producing these new songs? Have Hiroshi Yamada, Yo Yamazaki, or Masatoshi Ono been involved with DB before? Is every other country getting the same song(s)?

I don't think this was ever fully answered, but Hiroshi Yamada wrote the lyrics for roughly half of the Kai insert songs, among others. Yo Yamazaki composed and (horribly) performed a few of Kai's songs (The Ginyu Corps song and "Win Tough Fight!"). Masatoshi Ono is new to the series, I believe.

So aside from the singer, it's par for the course for Kai.

[B]

I wonder if some insane soul would dare venture to try and "frankenstein" episodes from the international and Japanese home versions together into something barely resembling decent pacing. Heh, "frankensteining the frankenstein."

[JulieYBM]

I wonder if some insane soul would dare venture to try and "frankenstein" episodes from the international and Japanese home versions together into something barely resembling decent pacing. Heh, "frankensteining the frankenstein."

I don't think the pacing has been bad, outside of perhaps Episode #100. Remove most of the music and the episodes would feel like less 'important' things are happening.

Also, Heath has updated the site with a new section for The Final Chapters.

[UltimateHammerBro]

However, I think that only the first three episodes (so far) will differ between both versions.

This is not and will be not be the case.

Care to explain why? Why do you think that? Why so sure?
You sometimes seem so cutting.

[Freeza Soldier #156]

However, I think that only the first three episodes (so far) will differ between both versions.

This is not and will be not be the case.

Care to explain why? Why do you think that? Why so sure?
You sometimes seem so cutting.

We've already seen other discrepancies in later episode titles between the magazines and the broadcast. A few of the titles on the Japanese broadcast have been changed or, in the case of episode 108, have popped out of thin air entirely. Not to mention, we're talking about a difference of roughly 20 or so episodes between versions. It's a sure bet that there are a lot more differences than just the first three episodes.

[ChibiGoku]

So, I decided to try and plan out what we should do on the Dragon Ball Kai wikipedia page because of this international non-sense going on, and unfortunately, I hit a road block.

Really would be helpful if someone could back me up a bit on this, because I feel this needs to be addressed. (For the record, I'm Mendinso on there)

[Valerius Dover]

So, I decided to try and plan out what we should do on the Dragon Ball Kai wikipedia page because of this international non-sense going on, and unfortunately, I hit a road block.

Really would be helpful if someone could back me up a bit on this, because I feel this needs to be addressed. (For the record, I'm Mendinso on there)

We still don't know much about this Korean version, and it's not relevant yet regarding an English wikipedia page. I would wait a little while, but I definitely think it should be two separate lists when the time comes. I sure hope we end up getting both versions somehow.

[kei17]

Thanks to DongHyun, I've just got the opening and ending to the international version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEj2GKEoiZo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjtuQPaeQRM

[TheGmGoken]

Thanks to DongHyun, I've just got the opening and ending to the international version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEj2GKEoiZo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjtuQPaeQRM

Sorry I couldn't get it.... . My cousin doesn't know they're two different Kai's. He's confused.

The opening is TRASH. its garbage. The Jpn version is better. The closing sucks ass too.

[kei17]

Now we know where these shots came from.

[TheAldella]

I have a feeling the opening will grow on me. Also NO VEGITO SPOILERS YAY! Ending is per usual rubbish endings. Cool art though.

[Metalwario64]

I actually really liked that opening. I think the ED is better than the current Japanese one, though I'm still not too big on it.

[MagicBox]

Opening Thoughts
- The shot with the logo doesn't have that obnoxious footage of the CGI city spinning around and around. That's a plus.
- That new pan shot of the whole group is all kinds of off-model. Bleh. :/
- Some of the cuts that were re-used for "Kuu-Zen-Zetsu-Go" are slowed down in this version. I kinda like it better this way. They sync up pretty well here.
- Oddly, we don't see Gotenks in this version. It's just his silhouette. How strange.
- That close-up of Goku's face right before he turns Super Saiyan 3 hurts to look at. It doesn't help that it lingers on that bad drawing for a couple of seconds.
- You think the whole thing is going to end with that shot of Super Saiyan 3 Goku's Kamehame-Ha, but then it just keeps going. MAKE IT STOP.
- The song itself is... okay? "Kuu-Zen-Zetsu-Go" isn't perfect, but it blows this out of the water. This song doesn't get me excited for the show at all. At least we know where Sumitomo's title card and eyecatch music cues come from now, though.

Ending Thoughts
- Hmm, Goku actually joins the others on the battlefield this time. To be honest, I kinda liked it better when he wasn't there.
- That family photo shot is really awkwardly placed now.
- I love Shōnen, but this is too Shōnen. That scene with everyone smiling and nodding their heads was painful. Even Piccolo? C'maaaaan.
- That new shot of everyone standing together is pretty cool. They don't have their damaged, determined faces anymore, but whatever, I guess!
- Oh, they were fighting Majin Buu and Dabra that whole time. I like the ambiguity of the "Dear, Zarathustra" version better. It didn't matter who they were fighting. I thought the point was that they were banding together no matter what.
- Okay-looking closing shot, but the logo over the end ruins it. I hope that's a Korean version exclusive.
- Well, that song is definitely... a song! I prefer "Dear, Zarathustra," which isn't much of a compliment.

It's hard for me to tell from the sound quality, but are these both entirely in "Engrish?" Surely they're just poorly-recorded Korean versions that feature some English, right?

No?

Abort! ABORT!

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

So, just to clarify, these were made before the opening and ending for the local/Japanese TV version were, yes?

Seems obvious, but I just wanna make sure. Kinda surprised that they went out of their to animate additional scenes for Kuu-Zen-Zetsu-Go!

But yeah, definitely the Japanese opening and ending for me. Sad that I'll probably never own them on a home release, they are genuinely some of my favourites in the franchise.

The chanting at the end of 'Fight it Out' seems reminiscent of the Burst Limit opening which is funny because didn't the 'Engrish' version have the same name?

[TheRed259]

I am so sad right now and angry at the same time. ''Kuu-Zen-Zetsu-Go'' was by far the best DBZ-related opening I have ever heard and now it's out of the International Version. Toei just ruins everything once again. Congrats!

[Cold Skin]

^ Well, I don't know if we can say they "ruined" everything since that international version was done first, so from your point of view it should be that they actually "improved" things for the Japanese release by creating Kuu-Zen-Zetsu-Go.

It would be a bit as if you played the Resident Evil remake on Gamecube and then played the original on the PS1 saying "they ruined everything!"
If anything, you can blame the various countries if they don't ask Toei "now that you made new openings and endings, we want them for our international version too, we'll create our own mix of "Japanese opening - international episode - Japanese ending" if necessary", then you can blame them for not doing so.