Could FUNimation survive without Dragon Ball?

[DBZAOTA482]

It seems like everyone's talking about if FUNimation lost the license rather than if they never had the license like I was.

Because that's the question the original post asked.

LOL I didn't bother reading it. I think FUNimation could very well survive in this day and age.

[KingKaiGuy]

Today? Yes. As stated before, they hold rights to plenty of other animes and now have their own network (which I watch from time to time). Now say, 16 years ago, no. At that point, Dragon Ball Z was the draw. It was to Funimation at that point as Steve Austin was to the WWF in the late 90's, if you catch my drift.

[Cure Dragon 255]

Basically, if FUNimation loses the North American rights to Dragon Ball to either 4K-Konami or Viz Media, could the company survive without the longest popular series made in Japan? That could be a huge massive loss of them leaving the only remaining popular Shonen Jump property, One Piece. In that case, there could be possible job cuts or maybe having moving some VAs like Sabat, Cook to Viz or Konami.

DBZ never used any major Non-Texas voice actors on DBZ. I really apologize for the word but the idea is laughable,any Funimation VA's leaving because the DBZ License was lost. There are literally no words more precise. DBZ isnt the most job giving anime in Funimation's repertoire. On second thought, sure, some Funimation VA have left Texas for Los Angeles. But it certainly wasnt DUE to Dragon Ball. Hell, some actors have left already despite Dragon Ball being in Funimation Hold. But I doubt any voice actor would find themselves out of a job with Funimation losing Dragon Ball. They would move on to one of Funimation plentiful newer anime releases. There were some hold out VA's from Funimation's 3rd season that have since been replaced anyways,though. And I'm not meaning Linda Young but Stephanie and Tiffany Volmer.

[Kakacarrottop]

there could be possible job cuts or maybe having moving some VAs like Sabat, Cook to Viz or Konami.

The only positive that could come out of FUNi losing the rights to Dragon Ball would be not having to hear actors such as Sabat ruin characters like Piccolo and Recoome. If FUNi ever do lose the rights i'd hope the new license holders get rid of all the cheap actors who came on board during the original dub of 54-276.

[VejituhTheWarriorGuy]

Do people honestly think that Funi wouldn't renew their license to DB? It was set to expire this year but guess what, they renewed it. They're never going to give it up.

[TheGreatness25]

I have the FUNimation channel or app or whatever. Let me just say that Dragon Ball is completely insignificant on it. It's not really advertised as a highlight. Hell, they put an even crappier looking version than the Orange Bricks on it. I think that they'd do just fine without Dragon Ball. In fact, I doubt anybody signed up to the channel just for Dragon Ball because it's like signing up for Netflix for one series that ended years ago. I think people sign up for it because of their immense anime library. They have the rights to most (I dare say) popular anime. And fans should want them to succeed. Don't judge them based on the treatment they gave DB over a decade ago. They are excellent in what they do and if they went under, the anime industry in the U.S. would be crippled for a while.

But that's just my opinion.

[Gyt Kaliba]

They'd certainly survive without it, but losing it would still be one hell of a hit. I don't think they've got any other show with near the level of casual watcher appeal that Dragon Ball has (well, outside of them having rescued Bebop, I guess).

Like others have said though, I don't see a day coming where they don't renew their rights to the franchise though. It's too much of a proven money maker.

[ShadowDude112]

They probably could and I'd be interested in seeing what another company does with the property, Want to know why?

FUNi YYH Blu-ray: Japanese Blu-ray re-masters in 4X3.
FUNi Bebop Blu-ray: Japanese Blu-ray re-masters in 4X3.
FUNi DBZ Season Blu-ray: Internal re-master 16X9.

Like, all their other Blu-rays are 4X3, but they continuously make these boneheaded decisions when it comes to Dragon Ball, especially the Z portion. So I wonder what Viz or some other anime company would do with the franchise.

[Gyt Kaliba]

In their defense, at least partially, there has to be a Japanese Blu-ray master for them to license in the first place. DBZ didn't have one at the time FUNi was first starting to put the franchise on Blu-ray (heck, it still doesn't, does it?), so if they were going to take advantage of the new format, it would have to be with their own remastering.

Granted that doesn't really excuse the widescreening, and it definitely doesn't excuse their other restoration choices like the coloring, but they can't really be blamed for not licensing a remastering that doesn't exist.

[ShadowDude112]

In their defense, at least partially, there has to be a Japanese Blu-ray master for them to license in the first place. DBZ didn't have one at the time FUNi was first starting to put the franchise on Blu-ray (heck, it still doesn't, does it?), so if they were going to take advantage of the new format, it would have to be with their own remastering.

Granted that doesn't really excuse the widescreening, and it definitely doesn't excuse their other restoration choices like the coloring, but they can't really be blamed for not licensing a remastering that doesn't exist.

I am aware that Toei hasn't done a HD DBZ remaster. I just realized I had to mention it was internal since I mentioned the former 2 were from Japan. It was mostly for consistency. Hahaha.