Would FUNimation even have survived were it not for Dragon Ball?

[Anonymous Friend]

Disregarding, as someone else pointed out, that FUNi only existed because of Dragonball. If they did not have Dragon Ball, they would have gotten something else. They would essentially be one of their contemporaries with a different show. The real questions are: How would the company who did get Dragon Ball have treated it and How would FUNi have treated whatever show they did manage to get?

You're assuming whatever theoretical show they licensed instead would have print money for them like Dragon Ball. More than likely that wouldn't have been the case.

I'm assuming that they ended up with one of the shows the company that did get Dragonball got in the original timeline as that company would have their plate full with Dragonball.

[jjgp1112]

The better question is would they have even started the company without Dragon Ball, since it seems like the whole operation hinged on Fukunage using his connection to get it.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

The better question is would they have even started the company without Dragon Ball, since it seems like the whole operation hinged on Fukunage using his connection to get it.

Pretty much, seems geek culture mags were under the impression back in early 1995 Nippon Suppan Hanbai / U.S. Renditions had the license to Dragon Ball, only for it to then be announced Funimation had it.

Of course we know the BLT test dub was from 1994 so it clearly flew under the radar that a deal was in the works for Dragon Ball to be licensed to a no-name startup, and really, who would have guessed such a major property wouldn't end up in the hands of a company that already started to dip their toes into anime.

U.S Renditions did some Robotech music projects and then dubbed Macross II, so it seemed logical they would also be interested in another property that was previously in the hands of Harmony Gold.

[AlexSketchy04]

What other things Funimation had then?

I-Man? I don't think that one was even made

Cyboars? Only one episode was made, with apparently two more recorded (One at Ocean, and one in Dallas)

I don't think they would have even survived without Dragon Ball