FUNimation Announces "Kai" License ("DBZ Kai")

[fps_anth]

HOLY SHIT. I did not expect for it to be coming to North America this quickly. At least finish the Dragon Boxes or the broadcast in Japan? No? Fine by me =)

And we're going to be getting releases in May? ISAIDGODDAMN!

But wait...

[Kendamu]

Concerning the dub: Same cast (where possible) but with a more accurate script? I can certainly handle that. Will it keep me from watching the Japanese version? No. I'll still watch it in Japanese. However, I will be a lot more accepting of the dub since we'll all be able to agree that they're saying the same things in both versions.

Concerning the release date: May?! Of this year?! Fantasmo!! I couldn't be happier! This'll certainly cut into my purchasing of the Dragonbox, though.

Concerning formats: DVD and BD, eh? I'll have to compare the two before I decide which version I would like to get. There's a lot of things to factor in including how many discs there are, aspect ratios, how many episodes are available per set, how much they cost, etc. Once more information becomes available I can decide from there.

[LeprikanGT]

I'm almost sold on the DVD version since everything else is DVD but this IS supposed to be the all new shiny cleaned up version so IDK, itll come down to the price and packaging I guess.

[DemonRin]

I don't see the point in buying Kai on DVD at all. At its core, Kai was made for the HD Format. That was the point of the whole thing from the start. Getting it in SD doesn't seem... right to me...

[Kendamu]

I don't see the point in buying Kai on DVD at all. At its core, Kai was made for the HD Format. That was the point of the whole thing from the start. Getting it in SD doesn't seem... right to me...

I don't have a BD drive on my computer therefore I can't rip the discs for personal use on portable media devices. Also, I'm one of the only people I know with a BD player (my PS3) so it'd be hard to just bring it to a friend's house and pop the disc in.

On the other hand, I have to take into consideration how often I'd actually use portable versions or take the discs with me to watch them with a friend.

Like I said, I'll decide when more information about either version is a available.

[Gozar]

I don't see the point in buying Kai on DVD at all. At its core, Kai was made for the HD Format. That was the point of the whole thing from the start. Getting it in SD doesn't seem... right to me...

But you've got to consider the market. They ARE a business after all. They need to make money and the fact is that the DVD market is larger than the Bllu-Ray Market right now.

Anyway, I am friggin ecstatic about this news. I didn't see Kai coming this fast. But this is just simply amazing. Just please FUNi, for the love of christ...DON'T FUCK WITH THE SCRIPT!!!!

Let me not have the rely on the Video games to hear the voices I love with the correct dialogue for once.

I think FUNi will do this right though. Considering how they're finally trying to appeal to the Japanese Fan crowd. Dating back to 2007 with the inclusion of the JP Music in the Dub. And now with the DBOX and, well...Them out right saying it was for the JP Fans.

I really think they'll do the script right. Hell, they do it right in all of the Video Games.

As for the cast. The FUNi cast is here to stay. It's been 11 years. They're not going anywhere. This is how the characters sound in America. It's not gonna change.

Just think how upset fans of the Japanese version were with the replacement of ultimately minor characters. Nappa, the Ginyu Tokusentai, etc...Well just imagine if that got done to American fans, but on a much larger scale. Vegeta, Picccolo, Freeza.

[Blue]

I'm not surprised by this news but I am happy. I hope they redo the script (like everybody else). I doubt they'll replace the cast for major characters however minor ones may be passed off to different voice actors. Which would mean less roles filled by Chris Sabat which is always a plus.

[DemonRin]

I don't see the point in buying Kai on DVD at all. At its core, Kai was made for the HD Format. That was the point of the whole thing from the start. Getting it in SD doesn't seem... right to me...

But you've got to consider the market. They ARE a business after all. They need to make money and the fact is that the DVD market is larger than the Bllu-Ray Market right now.

I'm not saying they shouldn't sell Kai DVDs at all, I'm just saying that I don't see the point in Buying Kai on DVD.

They're already Releasing SD DBZ, its called "The Dragon Boxes".

Kai is for HD.

[penguintruth]

As for the cast. The FUNi cast is here to stay. It's been 11 years. They're not going anywhere. This is how the characters sound in America. It's not gonna change.

Just think how upset fans of the Japanese version were with the replacement of ultimately minor characters. Nappa, the Ginyu Tokusentai, etc...Well just imagine if that got done to American fans, but on a much larger scale. Vegeta, Picccolo, Freeza.

Why should that matter? They should concentrate on accuracy, even with voices, not cow to the eight year olds who they lied to a decade ago. If they want to meet the standard they've set with other dubs, they ought to ditch most of that cast.

Comparing the Japanese cast with the English one is laughable. DBZ is not an American program.

[TheLiberator]

Am I the only one who hopes this results in a streaming simulcast a la One Piece and FMA:Brotherhood? It seems like a logical direction.

Yeah, that's a really good idea. I don't think it matters that it's been almost a year since the series started. When Viz started doing the Naruto Shippuden simulcast, they were already near episode 100. FUNimation could post episodes from the beginning and new episodes at the same time.

[Gozar]

Why should that matter? They should concentrate on accuracy, even with voices, not cow to the eight year olds who they lied to a decade ago. If they want to meet the standard they've set with other dubs, they ought to ditch most of that cast.

Comparing the Japanese cast with the English one is laughable. DBZ is not an American program.

And kill their sales for the Dub Market? Not likely. This isn't the DBOX here. I have no doubt they will be looking at the greater fan scale here.

Because here's the truth. Acurate Dub cast will not suddenly make people switch their preference to the Dub. People who like the JP Version better are not suddenly going to switch after being acustomed to the JP Cast. Hell, if the Dub Casr was replaced, I'd just watch it in Japanese. Because I'm also acustomed to the Japanese version. Why would I watch a whole new cast in English when I could watch a cast I already know and love in Japanese?

Dub fans deserve the same thing that you are getting. Hearing the actors they love re-doing the series in a more close to the Manga format. Which is the Dub script is acurate. That's EXACTLY what Dub fans will be getting.

[TheLiberator]

Holy shit! It's coming out in May?! I can't believe it's coming so soon! Also, that's the same month they're releasing Dragon Ball Season 4 and Dragon Box 3. Maybe we'll get the first volume of Kai on the same day. That would be so awesome! Well, looks like I'll have to sell my DB Kai Blu-ray Vol. 1 I bought from Japan. I bet they're going to sell quadruple the amount of episodes on that disc for the same price as I bought that for off Amazon Japan.

[penguintruth]

Why should that matter? They should concentrate on accuracy, even with voices, not cow to the eight year olds who they lied to a decade ago. If they want to meet the standard they've set with other dubs, they ought to ditch most of that cast.

Comparing the Japanese cast with the English one is laughable. DBZ is not an American program.

And kill their sales for the Dub Market? Not likely. This isn't the DBOX here. I have no doubt they will be looking at the greater fan scale here.

Because here's the truth. Acurate Dub cast will not suddenly make people switch their preference to the Dub. People who like the JP Version better are not suddenly going to switch after being acustomed to the JP Cast. Hell, if the Dub Casr was replaced, I'd just watch it in Japanese. Because I'm also acustomed to the Japanese version. Why would I watch a whole new cast in English when I could watch a cast I already know and love in Japanese?

Dub fans deserve the same thing that you are getting. Hearing the actors they love re-doing the series in a more close to the Manga format. Which is the Dub script is acurate. That's EXACTLY what Dub fans will be getting.

Please. The dub fans will obviously buy anything. They bought the Season Sets, that's proof enough. Why reward them for it?

[Gozar]

They bought the Season Sets, that's proof enough.

So did a good deal of the members here who despise the Dub -_-

[NekoSayajinZ]

Just heard the news minutes ago, and here are some of my thoughts:

On the name change - The fact that the majority of you went apesh-t on this matter was kinda funny,I'll admit. Anyway, This was pretty much done for brand recognition on FUNi's part, so I don't blame them much for Dragon Ball Z Kai, and at the same time, it's kinda sad that FUNi had to do this in the first place because of the common fan's stupidity.

On the (possible) re-dub - This is one of the main factors I'm excited for thanks to the acquirement. I'm fine with the current FUNi cast as-is, but having a GOOD and ACCURATE script for the DBK dub will do wonders for my viewing.

On the (possible) TV broadcast - This is the other main factor I'm excited for. Wherever it lands, if it does at all, I will watch it there. Another good thing about this is that Toei has already toned down some of the content already, so a possible appearance on maybe Cartoon Network, or more likely Disney XD, is a lot less far-fetched.

On DVD vs Blu-Ray - I currently have means to use both versions at the time being, so I'll wait and see a well to see which one I'll get.


This is all for now from me.

[DemonRin]

Dub fans deserve the same thing that you are getting. Hearing the actors they love re-doing the series in a more close to the Manga format. Which is the Dub script is acurate. That's EXACTLY what Dub fans will be getting.

Are you kidding?

If the dub fans deserve the exact same thing the sub fans are getting, then they deserve to have their dub changed up. Then the Dub fans would hate the series the same way the majority of sub fans hate it.

[Gozar]

Dub fans deserve the same thing that you are getting. Hearing the actors they love re-doing the series in a more close to the Manga format. Which is the Dub script is acurate. That's EXACTLY what Dub fans will be getting.

Are you kidding?

If the dub fans deserve the exact same thing the sub fans are getting, then they deserve to have their dub changed up. Then the Dub fans would hate the series the same way the majority of sub fans hate it.

You're completely missing the point of what I said despite the fact that you put it in bold.

How would you feel if Masako Nozawa or Ryo Horikawa were replaced?

[Innagadadavida]

@penguin
Yeah that's a great idea. Let's just go ahead and kill the franchise, eh? Are you forgetting the this ignorant dub fans are the life blood of Dragon Ball Z in North America. Do you think we would be getting Dragon Ball Kai if DBZ wasn't so immensely popular prior to?

[bkev]

My God people, only 8 pages in. Anyway, my take: while some parts I'd like to see recast, I'm content with them remaining the same. They're certainly NOT no-talent hacks, least not anymore.

[penguintruth]

They're certainly NOT no-talent hacks, least not anymore.

Oh yeah, Tiffany Vollmer has improved so much. And I can't tell you how big a talent Sean Schemmel has become, what with his two roles. And that Stephanie Naldony's really burning up the VA scene with her... what? What? NOTHING.

Some of these people you don't even effing hear anymore. I'm supposed to believe they've improved?!