Ocean Studios' "Dragon Ball Kai" Dub Turns 16; Still Unreleased

[NitroEX]

I think there's another reason why Ocean isn't getting more anime work: they have a mixed reputation within the anime community. You either like their dubs or dislike them. Gundam 00's dub is a very controversial one.

Doubtful. The closing of Bandai Entertainment and Geneon/Pioneer as well as the changing economy and rising of the Canadian dollar had a lot more to do with it than some anime fan's subjective opinion. The rise of Funimation was also a factor, not only for the fact that it's cheaper for them to pretty much dub everything in Texas but they have the resources now to acquire most of the big hit anime shows coming out of Japan. Other anime distributors were basically left to pick the scraps and unless they were financially backed by big animation companies in Japan, they didn't have the cash flow necessary to pay union actors from Vancouver. I would also bet that Canadian TV networks and their refusal to air action anime (that doesn't revolve around selling toys) also had something to do with influencing what get's dubbed and where. There would have been more incentive in the past to dub a show in Canada because, due to the Canadian content laws, it would be almost guaranteed to air somewhere in Canada. Now that the gatekeepers for these channels no longer seem to care for anime anymore that's no longer the case.

[8000 Saiyan]

Ocean will have to put a lot of effort in their Gintama dub. That show is apparently difficult to dub. Well, as long as they have Karl Willems (who probably directed Ocean Kai), the best script writer and the best choices for the characters, it'll be fine. If this dub succeds, then we'll probably get more Vancouver dubs.

[NitroEX]

I don't see why Ocean would need to prove themselves to anybody, the industry already knows they're great at what they do. I've already given valid reasons why they wouldn't get as much anime work in this day and age.

[8000 Saiyan]

I don't see why Ocean would need to prove themselves to anybody, the industry already knows they're great at what they do. I've already given valid reasons why they wouldn't get as much anime work in this day and age.

Well, some people feel that Ocean dubs nowadays are phoned in, so Ocean will have to produce a great dub for Gintama to prove to those people that they still have it in them. I miss Ocean dubs, and their recent dubs of B-Daman, Beyblade Burst, NANA and Kurozuka show me that they haven't lost it.

[Super Sayian Prime]

I think there's another reason why Ocean isn't getting more anime work: they have a mixed reputation within the anime community. You either like their dubs or dislike them. Gundam 00's dub is a very controversial one.

If that was the case, Bang Zoom wouldn't be getting anymore work.

In addition to everything NitroEX said, there's also the small, but ever growing factor of celebrity. It's not a huge push, but over the last few years we've seen western anime distributors try to promote their localization staff similar to how the Japanese would promote their production staff. There are show sponsored voice actor meet & greets, panels, premiere parties, etc. at conventions. They're almost always in Southern California or Texas, which is not coincidentally where the majority of anime distributors are located and do their VA work. Choosing a Canadian cast means a lot more logistical work has to go into planning those events as you have to coordinate schedules, obtain work visas, pay for travel and board, etc. You could host those events at a Canadian con, but the only large ones are in Eastern Canada, which means logistical issues are still going to be at play.

[Bansho64]

I'm starting think the chance of this dub actually coming out, is about similar to the chance of an excellent dub of the original Yu-Gi-Oh anime coming out. Both will probably never happen

[Dbzfan94]

I'm starting think the chance of this dub actually coming out, is abour similar to the chance of an excellent dub of the original Yu-Gi-Oh anime coming out. Both will probably never happen

Well, if you want to go by the first 4 episodes only there -was- a version like that released (uncut too) but sadly never went beyond that.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I'm starting think the chance of this dub actually coming out, is abour similar to the chance of an excellent dub of the original Yu-Gi-Oh anime coming out. Both will probably never happen

Well, if you want to go by the first 4 episodes only there -was- a version like that released (uncut too) but sadly never went beyond that.

I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is, more than four episodes were dubbed by 4Kids uncut and with a faithfully-adapted script!

Bad news is...only five more.

It's also quite possible that a few more episodes were produced and never released, because a forth DVD was announced, but then abruptly canceled without explanation.

[Dbzfan94]

I'm starting think the chance of this dub actually coming out, is abour similar to the chance of an excellent dub of the original Yu-Gi-Oh anime coming out. Both will probably never happen

Well, if you want to go by the first 4 episodes only there -was- a version like that released (uncut too) but sadly never went beyond that.

I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is, more than four episodes were dubbed by 4Kids uncut and with a faithfully-adapted script!

Bad news is...only five more.

It's also quite possible that a few more episodes were produced and never released, because a forth DVD was announced, but then abruptly canceled without explanation.

Oh my mistake then! Thanks! I thought it only went up to the duel with Weevill (don't know his original name), sorry.

[Bansho64]

Oh my mistake then! Thanks! I thought it only went up to the fight with Weevill (don't know his original name), sorry.

It's Haga Inspector Haga, I think.

And I honestly wouldn't call that dub excellent. Not even great. As much as I hate to say this, many of the performances were wooden and lifeless. And the dub still retained the things I didn't like about the previous dub. The dub names, terms, fake accents, voices. It's definitely not up to par with Kai for me. Not even close.

[Dbzfan94]

Oh my mistake then! Thanks! I thought it only went up to the fight with Weevill (don't know his original name), sorry.

It's Haga Inspector Haga, I think.

And I honestly wouldn't call that dub excellent. Not even great. As much as I hate to say this, many of the performances were wooden and lifeless. And the dub still retained the things I didn't like about the previous dub. The dub names, terms, fake accents, voices. It's definitely not up to par with Kai for me. Not even close.

Script wise it's still an accurate dub. I liked the Yugioh dub voices for what they were so that never bothered me.

[Bansho64]

Script wise it's still an accurate dub. I liked the Yugioh dub voices for what they were so that never bothered me.

You can have all the accuracy in the world and still not be able to attain an excellent dub. Some of those translations were too literal and didn't flow as well as they could. And when I mean excellent, I mean excellent. Spectacular acting, natural sounding voices, natural translations that flow well into the targeted langauge, the whole shebang. Something on par with the likes of a dub like the Latin American dub of DBZ or the Funi dub of FMA. That's what I'm looking for.

Let me hear Yuugi calling The Other Yuugi "the other me" like in the original instead of making up a name that no-one actually calls him in the original story.

[Dbzfan94]

Script wise it's still an accurate dub. I liked the Yugioh dub voices for what they were so that never bothered me.

You can have all the accuracy in the world and still not be able to attain an excellent dub. Some of those translations were too literal and didn't flow as well as they could. And when I mean excellent, I mean excellent. Spectacular acting, natural sounding voices, natural translations that flow well into the targeted langauge, the whole shebang. Something on par with the likes of a dub like the Latin American dub of DBZ or the Funi dub of FMA. That's what I'm looking for.

Let me hear Yuugi calling The Other Yuugi "the other me" like in the original instead of making up a name that no-one actually calls him in the original story.

If I recall correctly nobody calls him Yami in the dub. It was mostly "the pharaoh" which isn't making up a name at all

[Bansho64]

If I recall correctly nobody calls him Yami in the dub. It was mostly "the pharaoh" which isn't making up a name at all

Actually, they do. On many occasions as well. Actually, right after they beat Pegasus, The Other Yuugi introduces himself in the dub as Yami. No joke. And numerous people call him that afterward. Here's the episode for reference. It'd take me a lot of time to find the numerous ones where they call him that but I don't mind doing it.

[NitroEX]

I'm starting think the chance of this dub actually coming out, is about similar to the chance of an excellent dub of the original Yu-Gi-Oh anime coming out. Both will probably never happen

It does seem that way. I still think there's a slim chance it could eventually appear on TV somewhere since it is complete and ready to go but at this point I'm starting to feel like Seymour waiting for Fry.

[8000 Saiyan]

I still have hopes that this dub will be released. It would be a waste of money if it never saw the light of day.

[thomas1up]

Yep, until the day comes where the FUNi dub is aired on Canadian networks there is always hope no matter how slim it is.

[SX10]

I'm holding out big hope! Just hope people have been emailing Teletoon asking for the Ocean dub.

[8000 Saiyan]

Yep, until the day comes where the FUNi dub is aired on Canadian networks there is always hope no matter how slim it is.

The FUNi dub won't air as long as Canadian content laws exist.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

Yep, until the day comes where the FUNi dub is aired on Canadian networks there is always hope no matter how slim it is.

The FUNi dub won't air as long as Canadian content laws exist.

I don't think content laws will prevent the Funimation dub from airing. The fact broadcasters air the American dubs of Pokémon, and now Yu-Gi-Oh! shows it isn't necessary for a Canadian alternate dub to be produced for any anime that airs (and to my knowledge neither Pokémon nor Yu-Gi-Oh! ever had a Canadian dub created for them).

Although no Canadian network seems to be interested in Dragon Ball Kai but if one does in the future I hope they will buy the Ocean dub, the fact it was made in Canada would make it the economically-preferable choice.