Could Ocean ever do Dragon Ball again?

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

This is a topic that has interested me for some time, mostly because its one of those things where the demand wold be there but in practicality its not realistic.

Basically is it theoretically possible we could ever see Ocean-related Dragon Ball material ever being released again?

On one hand, since Funimation has released a DVD/Blu-Ray every year since 1997 I would think there's a slim possibility the Saban dub could get a Blu-Ray release this year to mark the 20th anniversary of that dub, and DBZ in the US in general (possibly without collector's packaging, much like the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition had a fancier DVD edition to keep the SD edition distinctive). There's also the alleged Kai dub, which is seeming less and less likely to ever see the light of day (I contacted Lee Tockar via Facebook and he even said he had no idea what the story was with that dub).

It's also probably out of the realm of possibility the Westwood or Blue Water dubs could ever be released on home media since Funimation's releases have been licensed to most, if not all territories that aired the non-Funi dubs.

I'd also love to see them take a shot at Super, Battle of Gods or Resurrection F but it's probably unlikely at this stage.

[Danfun64]

I doubt the Saban dub would get a blu-ray release, as IIRC that dub used taped masters. Considering said masters are stuck in SD, it's extremely unlikely Funi wants to do a Star Trek TNG style remastering of said dub. Since the Rock The Dragon edition was released a few years ago, I doubt an upscaled Blu-Ray would be released either.

[NitroEX]

Unfortunately, it's unlikely given the current situation of Ocean's Kai dub.

I believe Funimation has the power to bring Ocean back in one way or another since they are the current biggest anime company in North America and own the distribution rights to the franchise. They've already established a working relationship with Ocean in the past on both DBZ and Kai (editing) plus they also outsourced Black Lagoon to be dubbed by them instead of recasting when acquiring the license.

Despite their past with Ocean I still think their favouritism and loyalty for the Texas cast is too strong at this point, not to mention the lower cost of dubbing in Texas. I just don't see them realistically letting Ocean ever touch Dragonball again as there's simply no benefit in it for them.

The only possible way I can see it happening now is if there's enough fan demand for Funimation to consider making a kickstarter for an Ocean dub much like they did recently for a redub of VIsion of Escaflowne. Even though I personally disagree with a company as big as Funimation resorting to kickstarter to fund their dubs, they've already gone through with it and it's proven to be a success for them as they were able to get funding for it within a few days. The bright side of this is that it could possibly lead to other anime getting similar treatment and eventually (if Funimation is gracious enough ) lead to a potential return of the Ocean cast to a DB project.

Again, I still think it's very unlikely in this day and age especially with Funimation's in house cast being as popular as it is. The market is already flooded with Funi dubbed DB so to justify yet another release with a new dub there'd have to be a hell of a lot of people demanding for it. From what I can tell, at this point most fans of the Ocean dub have long since grown up and moved on from the show or just accepted the Texas cast and called it a day. I think the Kai dub was the last opportunity to sway people's opinions but since that's not coming out it's probably the last we're going to see of Ocean dubbed DB.

[Kakacarrottop]

It's really unfortunate their Kai dub had to fail due to a whole bunch of unforeseen circumstances happening. Had everything gone to plan (eg airing in 2010 when the speculation first leaked), then it could have served as a launching pad for Ocean doing more alternate dubs of new DB-related material, such as Bog, Rof and Super. It's all too late now, people in the UK — a territory which had previously only ever received FUNi's third season dub — are now getting accustomed to the Dallas cast thanks to the introduction of the Orange Bricks & FUNi Kai, and in Canada the series in general appears to be done for good.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

I live in Ireland, which aired the Ocean and Blue Water dubs for all of DB, DBZ (except Season 3) and DBGT, and has since used Funimation's dub for the home releases, Kai and Resrrection F and even though I LOVE Funimation's cast in the recent dubs I would love to have new Ocean material (still watch older material, particularly the Saban dub) as an additional option, not a replacement, although I still prefer McNeil to Sabat as Piccolo.

I feel the same with the Japanese version, I enjoy it alongside the English dub rather than look at it as a replacement, but alas with things like market confusion I can understand why Funimation wouldn't want to do this because the majority wouldn't care. I would support a Kickstarter if it ever happened though.

[90sDBZ]

It's all too late now, people in the UK — a territory which had previously only ever received FUNi's third season dub — are now getting accustomed to the Dallas cast thanks to the introduction of the Orange Bricks & FUNi Kai, and in Canada the series in general appears to be done for good.

It's worth mentioning that the UK has had plenty of exposure to the Funimation dub over the years. We also got the first half of Season 4 in Funimation's dub, and the Fusion saga during its original broadcast and some of its subsequent reruns. On top of that we've had the Funimation cast for literally every console game from Budokai 2 onwards (with the exception of Super DBZ), which have continued coming out every year long since the old broadcast ended.

If Ocean Kai wasn't enough of a niche already, there's also the issue of many characters potentially being recast in Ocean Kai, including Goku himself. I know it was mentioned that some actors from the calgary cast are involved. For all we know only a small minority of the original cast are involved, which raises the question if it can even be considered the same dub and therefore generate the same interest from fans.

[TheGreatness25]

I don't know why this is something that even comes up. I feel that this is on the same level of wanting and expecting Michael Keaton to play Batman in Batman v Superman. It happened so long ago and things changed. I'd like to get a release of the dub that the UK got in the early 2000's, but that's just a general curiosity. I feel like that dub has not been seen or heard since the end of its run and FUNimation's dub has been the only one available to all English-speaking markets.

[Hellspawn28]

They could do a SD blu-ray release for the Rock the Dragon set. You could fit more episodes on the blu-ray disc.

[Lord Beerus]

Highly, highly, highly doubt it. I mean, Ocean Kai is still in limbo after more than 6 years, and it's highly unlikely that will ever get released.

[NitroEX]

I don't know why this is something that even comes up. I feel that this is on the same level of wanting and expecting Michael Keaton to play Batman in Batman v Superman. It happened so long ago and things changed.

Except Michael Keaton is physically too old to play Batman now, the voice actors in Vancouver still work regularly and have only improved over the years.

[Hellspawn28]

Ocean still dubs anime. I remember it was announced that they would dub World Trigger.

[Super Sayian Prime]

I'd back that Kickstarter for (more than) a dollar.

If Ocean Kai wasn't enough of a niche already, there's also the issue of many characters potentially being recast in Ocean Kai, including Goku himself. I know it was mentioned that some actors from the calgary cast are involved. For all we know only a small minority of the original cast are involved, which raises the question if it can even be considered the same dub and therefore generate the same interest from fans.

The two most iconic voices from the Canadian dubs are confirmed to be reprising their roles, so that alone would generate interest. While Goku is the franchise's main character, he's had a revolving door of actors/actresses in the Canadian dubs. A sixth isn't going to alarm people, especially if the performance is good.

It's really unfortunate their Kai dub had to fail due to a whole bunch of unforeseen circumstances happening. Had everything gone to plan (eg airing in 2010 when the speculation first leaked), then it could have served as a launching pad for Ocean doing more alternate dubs of new DB-related material, such as Bog, Rof and Super. It's all too late now, people in the UK — a territory which had previously only ever received FUNi's third season dub — are now getting accustomed to the Dallas cast thanks to the introduction of the Orange Bricks & FUNi Kai, and in Canada the series in general appears to be done for good.

Which is ridiculous because despite no Dragon Ball show airing on Canadian TV in nearly a decade, the series is still popular.

[TheGreatness25]

I don't know why this is something that even comes up. I feel that this is on the same level of wanting and expecting Michael Keaton to play Batman in Batman v Superman. It happened so long ago and things changed.

Except Michael Keaton is physically too old to play Batman now, the voice actors in Vancouver still work regularly and have only improved over the years.

I wasn't talking about physical age. I'm saying that we know that it was a particular point in the series' history and now it's over. To revisit it would be weird. Perhaps Toby McGuire being Spider-Man in Captain America Civil War would be a better example? Would that be expected or even wanted? Or cared about?

[NitroEX]

I don't know why this is something that even comes up. I feel that this is on the same level of wanting and expecting Michael Keaton to play Batman in Batman v Superman. It happened so long ago and things changed.

Except Michael Keaton is physically too old to play Batman now, the voice actors in Vancouver still work regularly and have only improved over the years.

I wasn't talking about physical age. I'm saying that we know that it was a particular point in the series' history and now it's over. To revisit it would be weird. Perhaps Toby McGuire being Spider-Man in Captain America Civil War would be a better example? Would that be expected or even wanted? Or cared about?

If Tobey MaGuire Spider-Man films had continued alongside Andrew Garfield Spider-Man films and Garfield had been the one in Civil War then I feel this might be a somewhat more apt analogy. I grew up in a country that broadcast mostly Canadian versions of Dragonball/Z/GT for their run on television. Canada dubbed the shows alongside Funimation's cast and, despite not being released, they technically did dub Kai shortly after Funimation's own cast.

If you grew up in a place that only got the initial Saban Ocean dub followed by nothing but Funimation then I can see how Ocean dubbed DBZ might appear to be a forgotten relic but considering all the work they did after that initial run (including Kai) I don't see that being an accurate view of reality.

As for it being weird... was it weird when Peter Cullen reprised the role of Optimus Prime after a long hiatus? I didn't think so. I found it cool that an original actor returned to a past role, I bet many people would feel the same if they heard Drummond's Vegeta or McNeil's Piccolo again in Kai.

All that aside, Dragonball Kai was originally sold as an anniversary version of DBZ. It's arguably the most fitting place for returning actors in my opinion since it's (supposed to be) a celebration of the old.

[TheGreatness25]

I completely understand that you grew up with the Ocean cast. But it was never released and then FUNimation's Kai came out. So at some point, the Ocean cast fell off from the role.

You know, I would have no issue with it, I just don't see why it would make sense for them to do it at this point. But hey, if it happens, I'd definitely be curious about it.

[Danfun64]

It's possible that the Ocean cast won't do anything Dragon Ball related again. It's almost a certainty that the Harmony Gold cast won't do anything Dragon Ball related again. That doesn't mean that people don't want to see the Kai dub of the former, or the cancelled dub of the original DB of the latter.

It's a shame that nobody (apart from Kei17) has (or had) full episodes of the HG DB dub in the original English version. Still, I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that we have access to stuff like the HG DB Movie 1/Movie 3 double feature in its entirety, the Latin American Spanish version of said double feature, and Latin American Spanish versions of several episodes, along with the few clips of the HG dub that Kei17 released (somebody should compare those clips with the 1995 Funimation dub, since both companies movie dubs use the same script as a base). It's a better situation than the Animax dub, which has almost nothing to it, or the Phillipines english dub, which mainly exists as a *soundtrack*...and a couple very rare DBZ double features (most famously Movie 5/Movie 6).

Kei17, if you're reading this, did episode 1 of the Harmony Gold dub have a version of Grandpa Gohan's monologue near the beginning of the episode that he had in the 1995 funi dub (a monologue which IMO is as bad a dub error as Bardock being a "Brilliant Scientist" and which neither the uncut Funi dub nor the Blue Water dub kept)?