FUNimation & Dragon Ball Super licensing hold up

[DBZ_Lee]

FUNimation have apparently been in negotiations with Toei Animation since late last year over licensing Dragon Ball Super. We're now in June, and still no announcement, of course, it is entirely possible they have it in the bag, but are holding off until they have a solid air date.
France (dubbing is due to start in the coming days), Portugal (though not 100%) & the unnamed Asian English dub that will be debuting on Toonami Asia from next month have all successfully negotiated contracts.

From what I know about them, negotiations are a very complicated and drawn out process. I assume the French have been quick due to the dub being handled by Toei France - they most likely don't have the same problems that the other companies do, purely because they are a division of Toei Japan.
What do you all think is the hold up here? a TV deal? I guess that is most likely, but could it be that FUNi are talking with various networks, and this is what is taking the time?. Or is it simply the fact that they haven't reached an agreement with Toei yet?. Sean Schemmel mentioned he thinks it will happen soon, but we'll have to wait and see.

I'm just baffled that this Asian English dub has come out of nowhere, and FUNi don't seem to be able to get it done (at least not to our knowledge, anyhow).

[Lord Beerus]

My guess is that the money that Funimation is offering Toei to gain the licensing rights for Super is just not enough and Funimation most likely want to reach a deal where they don't have to overspend, because lets face it, the Dragon Ball franchise has become more profitable and valuable at that this point than it has in God knows how many years.

[Geekdom101]

My guess is that the money that Funimation is offering Toei to gain the licensing rights for Super is just not enough and Funimation most likely want to reach a deal where they don't have to overspend, because lets face it, the Dragon Ball franchise has become more profitable and valuable at that this point than it has in God knows how many years.

This is not it.

[Lord Beerus]

My guess is that the money that Funimation is offering Toei to gain the licensing rights for Super is just not enough and Funimation most likely want to reach a deal where they don't have to overspend, because lets face it, the Dragon Ball franchise has become more profitable and valuable at that this point than it has in God knows how many years.

This is not it.

Any suggestions you have?

[Hellspawn28]

Probably a TV deal has to wait and be made. It won't surprise me if Toei wants Kai to end on Toonami first before Funimation can dub Super. Funimation had to wait for Z to be done before GT was dubbed. I think a similar thing can be said too since Super is a sequel to Kai and could be apart of a license agreement with Toei.

[rs_chaosmaster]

The real question is will Toonami just call it after the Cell Saga airs on Kai and head straight to Super or will they head into the Buu Saga after. I would think possibly it would be better for Funimation if they head straight to super and skip Buu Kai. Then while Super is airing the first few arcs on Toonami, release Kai Buu Saga on Blu-Ray. If they don't take this course of action, we are looking at a July 2018 premiere date for Super :/

[DBZ_Lee]

I don't think Toei actually care for the Buu Arc of Kai, and certainly not enough to insist it airs before Super. FUNi have paid for that license already, and is up to them what they do with it.
I don't recall Toonami Asia airing it? they've aired the FUNi dub of Kai. It is a possibility that FUNi may finish at Cell, and go straight to Super, but as I've said in other topics, I can't see Toei being ok with it airing on Toonami, as in France, there are rumours Toei are insisting it goes onto a children's channel.

I maintain that it won't air on Toonami, a channel which broadcasting block starts at midnight isn't appropriate to air a show primarily aimed towards children

[Meirizone]

While we are at it, after funimation finally gets the license and releases the dubbed series, do you think they will change the soundtrack again?
While Bruce Faulconer most certainly wont come back, i still think the DBS soundtrack is not suited to the american audience. it's too "japanese" sounding, if you know what i mean.

[coola]

Personally, i still don't get, why there is no official streaming of subbed version at least? So many anime can be watched on Crunchyroll or Netflix, yet with Dragon Ball, One Piece, Precure, you have to use fansubs or crappy online stream.

[Power Metal]

Toonami could just give a full hour to DB with one new episode of both Kai and Super each week.


Or Funimation could just go with Netflix or Hulu and release entire arcs at a time

[Naruto6583]

While we are at it, after funimation finally gets the license and releases the dubbed series, do you think they will change the soundtrack again?
While Bruce Faulconer most certainly wont come back, i still think the DBS soundtrack is not suited to the american audience. it's too "japanese" sounding, if you know what i mean.

They won't change it. They didn't change kai's when it aired on nicktoons originally and they won't change super's that's not a practice they do anymore

[Hellspawn28]

It's possible that they will skip Buu saga Kai on Toonami and go directly to Super. However the Buu saga Kai is still remind to be unseen. Buu Saga Kai will probably have to air first on TV before we get Super if it's apart of some TV deal with Toei. Having both Kai and Super on the same time slot would be cool, but it would never happen. They need to use the other time slots for other new TV shows.

[DragonHermit]

It's possible that they will skip Buu saga Kai on Toonami and go directly to Super. However the Buu saga Kai is still remind to be unseen. Buu Saga Kai will probably have to air first on TV before we get Super if it's apart of some TV deal with Toei. Having both Kai and Super on the same time slot would be cool, but it would never happen. They need to use the other time slots for other new TV shows.

Record 100 episodes and go straght to DVD? Find that hard to believe. We'll get Super by the time we're in retirement.

[ryou766]

Question is, if Toonami were to add Super to their line up, would it be wise if they broadcast the original EP5 or its redone DVD version?

[Valerius Dover]

Question is, if Toonami were to add Super to their line up, would it be wise if they broadcast the original EP5 or its redone DVD version?

International distributors are always given the updated versions when it comes to stuff like this.

[DBZ_Lee]

The Portuguese dub is legit, and will be starting on SIC this year. France, Asian English and now Portugal have all confirmed their dubs are underway.
I think its clear now, that the TV deal is the most likely reason for the hold up here. Very disappointed that absolutely no children's TV station in the United States wants to show Super.

[sintzu]

Question is, if Toonami were to add Super to their line up, would it be wise if they broadcast the original EP5 or its redone DVD version?

They should just release the 1st 2 arcs on home video and start with the Champa arc.

[ekrolo2]

Question is, if Toonami were to add Super to their line up, would it be wise if they broadcast the original EP5 or its redone DVD version?

They should just release the 1st 2 arcs on home video and start with the Champa arc.

Nah, air the movies before the Champa arc and skip the recap episodes.

[Muffin Man]

Question is, if Toonami were to add Super to their line up, would it be wise if they broadcast the original EP5 or its redone DVD version?

They should just release the 1st 2 arcs on home video and start with the Champa arc.

Nah, air the movies before the Champa arc and skip the recap episodes.

Yeah that would definitely be for the best. At this point we're already going to be waiting an eternity for Super, it'd be great if we didn't have to wait an extra 27 weeks for them to get to actual new material.

[DBZ_Lee]

Still no announcement, Funi's panel at Anime Expo was another no-show for any DB content. At this point, it is difficult to see a resolution, we have no idea what is going on behind the scenes, and the fact other territories don't appear to be having these issues, who knows why there is a hold up.

Taiwan have already started airing Super, and began 2 days ago with the first episode. Portugal are about to start dubbing, along with France. The Asian English dub will apparently debut on Toonami Asia this month.
Nothing from Funi, so, so disappointed right now.