"Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters" FUNimation English Dub Official Announcement and Discussion Thread

[Kuririn Fan]

It's one series, man,Dragon Ball Kai - 167 episodes.

It's a two-part series. Kai was revived because of much demand in the west for the Majin Boo arc.

The episode 99 / 01 even has a somewhat long recap just to know its viewers what happened because had it been a continuation the recap would be the normal amount.

It's seems like a two part because of hiatus, but it's one series. You can look that up anywhere and it's logical.

[VegettoEX]

Toei's own home release refers to the Boo arc as starting with episode 99, not "Final Chapters Episode 1".

It doesn't matter what the raw providers and fansubbers called it.

[Iberian_Saiyan]

Toei's own home release refers to the Boo arc as starting with episode 99, not "Final Chapters Episode 1".

It doesn't matter what the raw providers and fansubbers called it.

It still cannot be denied that it's referred to as The Final Chapters than "Season 5" or so of Kai which is my point. It's a strange contisequel then.

[VegettoEX]

But it's not a series that's literally called "The Final Chapters" (it's still just "Dragon Ball Kai"). "The Final Chapters" is just a subtitle, it's not even given that subtitle for the Japanese broadcast/release, and like I just said, the actual home release for the franchise describes it as picking up with episode 99.

This isn't a "Dragon Ball" (1-153) to "Dragon Ball Z" (1-291) correlation.

[thaman91]

Even the international version, which is subtitled "The Final Chapters", resumes the episode count at 99, as we can see from their Blu-ray box. So it doesn't seem to be treated as a separate series.

[Iberian_Saiyan]

Even the international version, which is subtitled "The Final Chapters", resumes the episode count at 99, as we can see from their Blu-ray box. So it doesn't seem to be treated as a separate series.

Going by Kazé's release then Funimation may call it "Dragon Ball Z: The Final Chapters - Season 5". Bummer, I was hoping they'd start from scratch as I don't own Seasons 1-4 nor do I plan to and even if with a Part collection I'd still be out of loop too. Lost my interest beyond Part 4. The show without Yamamoto's score really did a number for me.

[Super Saiyan Swagger]

This is just a guess, but judging by this Tweet from Funimation's Twitter page, I think we might be getting an official announcement on Buu Kai pretty soon: https://twitter.com/funimation/status/7 ... 3431646208

[ShaneisMC]

This is just a guess, but judging by this Tweet from Funimation's Twitter page, I think we might be getting an official announcement on Buu Kai pretty soon: https://twitter.com/funimation/status/7 ... 3431646208

I'd have felt much better if that was a picture of Goku waving goodbye to everyone with his fingers to his forehead.

[Valerius Dover]

This is just a guess, but judging by this Tweet from Funimation's Twitter page, I think we might be getting an official announcement on Buu Kai pretty soon: https://twitter.com/funimation/status/7 ... 3431646208

I doubt this tweet means anything, to be honest. The image isn't even from the late Cell or Buu Arcs. The PR from big companies are always posting stuff like this.

[Iberian_Saiyan]

This is just a guess, but judging by this Tweet from Funimation's Twitter page, I think we might be getting an official announcement on Buu Kai pretty soon: https://twitter.com/funimation/status/7 ... 3431646208

Too vague. It could be for Dragon Ball Super too.

[DBZ_Lee]

Another picture has appeared of Goku running along snake way. I don't think they mean anything to be honest, all they are going to do is disappoint those who read too much into them, and get their hopes up.

I just think these pictures are really random, and not quite sure why they are posting them.

[DemonRin]

There's a couple of anime cons, Sakura Con and Anime Boston, going on this weekend so... it could be anything.... they COULD be announcing something at one or both of these cons or... they could just be posting DBZ pics for funsies...

Wait... I just looked into this.... The DB Tweets started today, and FUNi's industry panel is tonight at about the same time at both cons (5:00pm – 6:30pm in Boston, 5:30-7pm at Sakura Con)....

This is their exact announcement about the Industry panel:
(The wording is the same for both Cons' entries)

Funimation Industry |
Saturday, March 26th |
5:30pm – 7:00pm |
Panel Room 4C-3
From Akira to Dragon Ball Z, hear the latest news, info, and announcements from North America's largest anime distributor—Funimation. Live tweet with us using the hashtag #FunimationPanel for a chance to win prizes!

Yeeeeeeeah.... alone, those Goku tweets on their twitter could mean nothing but those plus a con happening right now, plus DBZ getting a direct mention in FUNimation's industry panel announcement?....

Chances are this is something... not necessarily Boo Kai, it could be a few things, but something nonetheless...

I'm thinking either:
A: Boo Kai
B: Super License
C: Movies Blu-ray set
D: Some combination of the above.

[DBZ_Lee]

There's a couple of anime cons, Sakura Con and Anime Boston, going on this weekend so... it could be anything.... they COULD be announcing something at one or both of these cons or... they could just be posting DBZ pics for funsies...

Wait... I just looked into this.... The DB Tweets started today, and FUNi's industry panel is tonight at about the same time at both cons (5:00pm – 6:30pm in Boston, 5:30-7pm at Sakura Con)....

This is their exact announcement about the Industry panel:
(The wording is the same for both Cons' entries)

Funimation Industry |
Saturday, March 26th |
5:30pm – 7:00pm |
Panel Room 4C-3
From Akira to Dragon Ball Z, hear the latest news, info, and announcements from North America's largest anime distributor—Funimation. Live tweet with us using the hashtag #FunimationPanel for a chance to win prizes!

Yeeeeeeeah.... alone, those Goku tweets on their twitter could mean nothing but those plus a con happening right now, plus DBZ getting a direct mention in FUNimation's industry panel announcement?....

Chances are this is something... not necessarily Boo Kai, it could be a few things, but something nonetheless...

I'm thinking either:
A: Boo Kai
B: Super License
C: Movies Blu-ray set
D: Some combination of the above.

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but DBZ getting a mention is nothing new. They use the same tagline for all of their Industry Panels:

From Akira to Dragon Ball Z

It doesn't mean to say nothing is happening, but that tagline is always used.

[Iberian_Saiyan]

Just throwing it out there; Maybe Funimation is once again working on a DBZ remastered in 16x9 + 4K on Blu-ray to cash-in all those who think Funimation can perfect the show's episodes regardless of how the picture quality in itself would really look like. Would Funi be willing to go this far for their widescreen/4k fans? I suppose. It's certainly not an impossibility.

One of the customers on Amazon UK said and I quote:

Dragon Ball Z starts out on bluray with an amazing restoration!

Dragon Ball Z: Season 1 (Blu-ray)

The rest of the consumers also gave it 5/5 and were very pleased with it.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

There's no point in scanning 16mm film in anything higher than HD. A 4K rerelease of the series will be of no benefit to anyone who owns the current Blu-Rays.

[Iberian_Saiyan]

It would be more about how they'd market it with the right words than anything else. Funimation made a huge success out of the Orange Bricks' release which claimed to be "Remastered in High Definition" even though the footage was all SD. Sure the source material could have been remastered in HD but the video quality on the DVDs weren't.

[DBZ_Lee]

Just a thought. It's a possibility (although remote) that Toei may allow FUNi to just go ahead and stream "The Final Chapters" via their "Funimation Now" service.
As we all know, the UK will be getting access before the end of the month, I know Manga UK have the rights to the first 98 episodes, but they won't for the Buu Arc, freeing FUNi up to stream it there as well.

The company branching out to the UK is a big deal for them, which could make a lot of additional revenue. And the addition of the Buu Arc of Kai could be a real deal breaker in terms of getting people to sign up to the service, with new episodes added on a weekly basis.

Though knowing Toei, they probably won't budge, and we'll have to wait for Toonami.

[Iberian_Saiyan]

Just a thought. It's a possibility (although remote) that Toei may allow FUNi to just go ahead and stream "The Final Chapters" via their "Funimation Now" service.
As we all know, the UK will be getting access before the end of the month, I know Manga UK have the rights to the first 98 episodes, but they won't for the Buu Arc, freeing FUNi up to stream it there as well.

The company branching out to the UK is a big deal for them, which could make a lot of additional revenue. And the addition of the Buu Arc of Kai could be a real deal breaker in terms of getting people to sign up to the service, with new episodes added on a weekly basis.

Though knowing Toei, they probably won't budge, and we'll have to wait for Toonami.

Manga UK doesn't make their own Dragon Ball releases but licences from Madman who've done the Blu-ray / DVD publishing and then Manga UK produces their own covers, despite if the covers don't make much logical sense with the DVDs/BDs (i.e, the DB DVDs are in "Saga Sets" but the covers are per Seasons).

[Cure Dragon 255]

Just a thought. It's a possibility (although remote) that Toei may allow FUNi to just go ahead and stream "The Final Chapters" via their "Funimation Now" service.
As we all know, the UK will be getting access before the end of the month, I know Manga UK have the rights to the first 98 episodes, but they won't for the Buu Arc, freeing FUNi up to stream it there as well.

The company branching out to the UK is a big deal for them, which could make a lot of additional revenue. And the addition of the Buu Arc of Kai could be a real deal breaker in terms of getting people to sign up to the service, with new episodes added on a weekly basis.

Though knowing Toei, they probably won't budge, and we'll have to wait for Toonami.

You might have meant "Kix". Because as far as I know there's no Toonami on the UK. I REALLY hope Kix will air the Buu Saga.

[Wezenheim]

FUNimation's Twitter account posted another GIF earlier today of Goku arriving on the battlefield during the Saiyan arc after being revived. https://twitter.com/FUNimation/status/7 ... 8989702144
I'm also skeptical about these, but if they are actually announcing something I don't think it would be a Super dub. (If) something new is releasing, I'd bet it might be Boo Kai. Still its odd that the GIFs are all from the Saiyan arc, unless they are just trying to link Kai's revival to Goku's or something.

I don't want to speculate too much though, to avoid getting my hopes up. Maybe we'll be getting another 16:9 release A new 4:3 release might be cool though.