Ocean Studios' "Dragon Ball Kai" Dub Turns 10; Still Unreleased

[Godgoku95]

i sent an email a few hours ago already

[Kirbopher]

Here's what else I've got to share, guys.

The fact is, NOBODY, that includes any of you guys, me, or any of the people involved with this production that either have spoken publicly or privately about it, know 100% for certain how or why these things happen. At most, we have educated guesses. I've weighed in once in a while on this thread over the years sharing what I've learned, combined with my knowledge of the industry. It is still 'technically' theoretically, but I'm inclined to believe my most recent source.

As an example, another show that a friend of mine worked on was for an entire season's worth of episodes; at least 26. They recorded the entire show's dub as the main character. The studio that dubbed it finished the whole season for whoever the client was that commissioned it, and then that client's next step was to try and get it on TV, alongside a toyline and probably other merchandise (a Beyblade/Cardfight-type of show, basically). This 26 episode season was recorded at least 2 full years ago; the finished mixes are sitting on a harddrive probably belonging to the client, who, in the end, never got a broadcasting deal for it. This is why other shows like this, such as Powerpuff Girls Z, Marvel Disk Wars and Inazuma Eleven, get weird random dubs from various unexpected places (depending) and then air in like an English-speaking territory out of nowhere and it never sees the light of day in North America. This other show my friend worked on, met the fate of just never seeing the light of day ANYWHERE. I think I (or someone else) even pointed out way back when Trevor Devall was still doing his podcast, that Inuyasha: The Final Act was recorded YEARS before it eventually, AGES later, aired on Neon Alley, THEN came out on DVD, and THEN finally aired on [as]. Basically, this type of stuff happens a lot more than you might expect, yes, even though a lot of money can be spend on an entire production like that.

The other thing is, and it aggravates me that the internet as a whole still doesn't seem to understand this: voice actors are the LAST people on the food chain when it comes to knowing the details of this stuff. It is often as black-and-white as, they come in, they do their lines, they go home. Even the ones who go the extra mile to ask about what's going on with it are never going to get the full story, because it's technically 'none of their business' to know that stuff in the first place. They do the work they're paid for, and that's it. That said, based on my own personal research and the people I've talked to about it, it sounds like after all this time, the final step of actually AIRING the show on TV anywhere in Canada never went through. So my THEORY, is that despite having the entire series ready to go, that since FUNimation's dub already aired in a lot of other non-US English-speaking territories already (Canada not included), whatever company that owns the broadcasting rights to it in Canada probably couldn't work out a deal with a network to air the show (which is probably far more complicated than anyone on this forum, myself included, can even grasp) and thus, it has no place to air, thus, it's not getting any sort of release.

Now, ALL of that said, I would absolutely 100% LOVE to be wrong. If the other actors who've talked about it "definitely coming out" have some other information they either can't or won't share, out of professionalism, then I seriously hope it comes to pass in the end. I really do want to see it. But call me a pessimist, I'm inclined to agree with the last couple folks I talked to, who seemed pretty sure it's staying in a vault never to be aired anywhere, and certainly not to be given a physical release.

[Geekdom101]

Legit heartbreaking.

[sangofe]

But call me a pessimist, I'm inclined to agree with the last couple folks I talked to, who seemed pretty sure it's staying in a vault never to be aired anywhere, and certainly not to be given a physical release.

What about a digital release?

[Godgoku95]

To me it's like losing a relative.

[Kirbopher]

But call me a pessimist, I'm inclined to agree with the last couple folks I talked to, who seemed pretty sure it's staying in a vault never to be aired anywhere, and certainly not to be given a physical release.

What about a digital release?

Highly doubt it.

[8000 Saiyan]

So, what should we do with this thread? Close it, or talk about possible recastings?

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

So, what should we do with this thread? Close it, or talk about possible recastings?

It will remain open until the producers of this dub formally announce it or announce its been canned, which at this point could be never sadly.

[thomas1up]

So, what should we do with this thread? Close it, or talk about possible recastings?

I don't see why people are so adamant to close this thread. While Kirbopher is a very trustworthy user and I have no doubts that his source is legitimate there has still not been any complete confirmation that the dub will never air. The fact that the VAs have been fairly openly name dropping it (something they had avoided for a while) and the fact the Lee Tockar even said himself that he was given permission from the 'higher ups' (people who likely have knowledge of television deals and whatnot) to announce his role as Freeza, surely if he was finally allowed to confirm himself as playing Freeza after 4 odd years of finishing his lines this must mean something??? At this point anything can happen with this dub and I am optimistic that it will turn up within the next few years.

What's more, if this dub is eventually given confirmation as never coming out then perhaps the VAs will give us details on their roles, lines, casting decisions etc. that would make for discussion.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Basically, this type of stuff happens a lot more than you might expect, yes, even though a lot of money can be spend on an entire production like that.

I'm both surprised and not surprised to hear that. I've heard of similar situations with other forms of art. Kevin Smith has said that, apparently, Prince had a giant vault of music videos--not bare-bones "concept" videos, but actual, full-blown music videos with professionally-mixed music, choreography, background dancers, sets, costumes, sharp editing, and strategic camera work--that he just made and decided not to release.

Still, I thought stuff like that was limited to artists with the kind of money that Prince had to throw around. I had no idea that happens so often in the anime biz too. Man, that's really interesting.

[Bansho64]

I'm both surprised and not surprised to hear that. I've heard of similar situations with other forms of art. Kevin Smith has said that, apparently, Prince had a giant vault of music videos--not bare-bones "concept" videos, but actual, full-blown music videos with professionally-mixed music, choreography, background dancers, sets, costumes, sharp editing, and strategic camera work--that he just made and decided not to release.

Still, I thought stuff like that was limited to artists with the kind of money that Prince had to throw around. I had no idea that happens so often in the anime biz too. Man, that's really interesting.

I'm not that surprised though about this either. I mean, this is Prince we're talking about. The guy's a freakin' legend and was very picky about his music to boot.
I still can't believe he's gone.
Does anyone else here like Prince?
But yeah, I'm pretty surprised this goes on in anime. I didn't know they had that kinda money to waste.

[thomas1up]

But yeah, I'm pretty surprised this goes on in anime. I didn't know they had that kinda money to waste.

They probably don't, no matter how you look at it, licensing (especially an anime like DB), producing and mixing an entire 98 episode dub using well known, veteran actors without even having a TV deal for a TV ONLY DUB is incredibly stupid. It's most likely the result of the belief that dragon ball is so popular it HAS to get on air. (I also feel like Toei not allowing Kix to air the dub might have played a hand in the lack of a TV deal).

[8000 Saiyan]

The producers of this dub weren't very bright. They seem to have put a lot of effort in creating this dub (new recastings that stay true to the original, a higher budget than the Westwood dub and a replacement score that is apparently well-done), yet they thought that their dub would simply air on TV because Dragon Ball is popular so they didn't go with a TV deal. I would like someone to interview who's responsible for this dub.

[NitroEX]

I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I don't think the producers were stupid people because the creative choices they've made (assuming it was them and not Ocean who made those decisions) have all been very smart ones. They clearly know their audience very well and catered to them accordingly. For all we know they probably did have plans in place for a Canadian or European TV airing but maybe unexpected things happened with the networks like a shift in management or maybe it was Toei that got in the way, we really don't know. I suppose there's a chance they did simply have a lot of confidence in the brand but I find it hard to believe anyone would commit to an investment this large without a deal being made at some point.

[8000 Saiyan]

Since Drummond didn't reprise Yajirobe, my guess is that the role went to Lucas Gilbertson, who played him in Blue Water's dub of Dragon Ball since Brendan Hunter reprised Tien. I hope that Ted Cole at least reprised Yamcha.

[thomas1up]

For all we know they probably did have plans in place for a Canadian or European TV airing but maybe unexpected things happened with the networks like a shift in management or maybe it was Toei that got in the way, we really don't know.

I do think it's entirely possible considering Toei did not allow for Kix to use the Ocean Dub (why they did that I'll never know since the UK got all Ocean produced episodes ), but in the case of Canada I think it would have to be a TV deal gone bad or lack thereof since DB Kai hasn't showed up at all in Canada.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I can't reveal the source or the specific network in question (here or in PMs, to be clear), but the producers--whoever they are--apparently did approach a particular Canadian TV network on and off for several years to try and get the show on the air, only to give up when it became clear this network just wasn't biting. So, between clues and actual statements from those involved, all signs really do point to uninterested Canadian TV networks as being the main reason we never saw this dub.

I really, really, really want to learn more about this dub's supposed sighting in Korea, though. It likely was just a made-up rumor, but on the other hand, the source described Brian Drummond's most current Vegeta voice as "a cross between his traditional Vegeta voice and his Zechs Marquise voice," and that actually gave the rumor a little more credibility in my mind because I think that's an excellent description of how Drummond has sounded at recent cons when asked to do his Vegeta voice.

[Arian]

I really, really, really want to learn more about this dub's supposed sighting in Korea, though. It likely was just a made-up rumor, but on the other hand, the source described Brian Drummond's most current Vegeta voice as "a cross between his traditional Vegeta voice and his Zechs Marquise voice," and that actually gave the rumor a little more credibility in my mind because I think that's an excellent description of how Drummond has sounded at recent cons when asked to do his Vegeta voice.

That's probably what this person based their made-up analysis on.

[8000 Saiyan]

I really, really, really want to learn more about this dub's supposed sighting in Korea, though. It likely was just a made-up rumor, but on the other hand, the source described Brian Drummond's most current Vegeta voice as "a cross between his traditional Vegeta voice and his Zechs Marquise voice," and that actually gave the rumor a little more credibility in my mind because I think that's an excellent description of how Drummond has sounded at recent cons when asked to do his Vegeta voice.

I have mixed feelings about this. It doesn't make sense that this dub (which was created for Canadian and UK TV broadcast) would air in Korea, but the guy who apparently saw this dub's first three episodes said that Richard Ian Cox as Goku was perfect casting and that Raditz's voice sounds like Justin Cook...he obviously had to hear Cox's Goku to say if he was perfect for the part. But he is likely lying.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

I really, really, really want to learn more about this dub's supposed sighting in Korea, though. It likely was just a made-up rumor, but on the other hand, the source described Brian Drummond's most current Vegeta voice as "a cross between his traditional Vegeta voice and his Zechs Marquise voice," and that actually gave the rumor a little more credibility in my mind because I think that's an excellent description of how Drummond has sounded at recent cons when asked to do his Vegeta voice.

Me too, I've messaged Quantum-Kakarrotto, but still haven't heard back. Although I'm inclined to believe whoever he spoke to at Megacon was a talented and believable troll. I am not convinced at all that this dub has aired anywhere in the world, even though Lee Tockar on Facebook also seemed to have heard a rumour. I would love for it to be true, but I've lost all faith in it.

The Ocean cast, while a small minority of the Dragon Ball fandom are an extremely passionate and vocal one. I find it hard to believe Ocean Kai could have been broadcast anywhere and for there not to be more evidence of it, especially in the case of the guy QK spoke to who apparently claimed the first 3 episodes were available for download online.

Furthermore, if it was shown wouldn't Ocean's production coordinator have told Drummond "The dub is out, it's currently being shown on X station in Korea", rather than "I still don't know where that is going, I will be sure to let you know as soon as I find out", and wouldn't Tockar have been given permission from the-powers-that-be to announce he was playing Freeza much sooner?