Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[The GREAT D.]

Sabat talks about the English cast needing Kai more than the Japanese cast.

...but if Funi wanted to do a proper dub of the series, why did they have to wait until Toei had some chopped-up footage and new music for them? They could've easily done something like this on their own.
All Kai really is is the new music, the chopped-up footage and the new Japanese voice recordings. Anything Funi did to it, they could've done with the DBZ they already had. So why wait?

Money.

Pretty much the same reason they moved everything down to Texas back in 1999. Only now they can't afford to redo 508 episodes, seventeen films and three television specials.

There's also the fact that at the time they were dubbing Dragon Ball Z Funimation had different producers, such as Barry Watson, who weren't interested in making an accurate dub. They were interested in marketing the show to kids. Which to them meant a re-done "modern" musical score and a heavily rewritten script. Since Barry Watson left Funimation, and Justin Cook took over as producer Funimation has strived to make much more accurate dubs. That's why Kai is getting a lot better treatment than Z ever did, because the powers that be have changed.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Sabat talks about the English cast needing Kai more than the Japanese cast.

...but if Funi wanted to do a proper dub of the series, why did they have to wait until Toei had some chopped-up footage and new music for them? They could've easily done something like this on their own.
All Kai really is is the new music, the chopped-up footage and the new Japanese voice recordings. Anything Funi did to it, they could've done with the DBZ they already had. So why wait?

Money.

Pretty much the same reason they moved everything down to Texas back in 1999. Only now they can't afford to redo 508 episodes, seventeen films and three television specials.

To be fair, who does have the kind of money that would be needed to do that?

[JulieYBM]

To be fair, who does have the kind of money that would be needed to do that?

People who likely wouldn't do it anyhow. :p

[dan2026]

Had they axed all the filler and carefully cut out footage so it didn't screw with the music

They have axed most of the filler.
And the new musical score is very good in my opinion, easily equal to, if not surpassing the original.

[GS7X7]

Well, good riddance to Barry. Did he even have any producing experience prior to Dragon Ball? (and Cyboars doesn't count)

Also, why'd he leave Funi and what's he up to these days?

[linkdude20002001]

He quit back in 2005 (after 11 years with FUNimation) and founded his own company: Illumitoon Entertainment (in which he is the President/CEO); they produced the awful Bobobōbo Bōbobo DVDs.

[JulieYBM]

Well, good riddance to Barry. Did he even have any producing experience prior to Dragon Ball? (and Cyboars doesn't count)

I'm pretty sure he framed houses. Or maybe that was his brother?

Either way...not very...impressive...

[Adamant]

Had they axed all the filler and carefully cut out footage so it didn't screw with the music

They have axed most of the filler.

No, Toei axed most of the filler. I'm talking about Funi.

There's also the fact that at the time they were dubbing Dragon Ball Z Funimation had different producers, such as Barry Watson, who weren't interested in making an accurate dub. They were interested in marketing the show to kids. Which to them meant a re-done "modern" musical score and a heavily rewritten script. Since Barry Watson left Funimation, and Justin Cook took over as producer Funimation has strived to make much more accurate dubs. That's why Kai is getting a lot better treatment than Z ever did, because the powers that be have changed.

That's not what I was saying. What was done with English-dubbed Dragonball was done, but if Funi really wanted to do a non-terrible "redub", there's no reason why they'd have to wait for Toei to produce "Kai" before started.
Take the footage they already had, make a new title card, write a new, accurate script, toss out the shitty VAs and replace them with good ones, keep the Kikuchi music, toss out Garlic Junior and whatever other expendable filler episodes no one really cares about, and market it as "Dragon Ball ZX" or something. And there you go - potentially a better product than their current Kai dub, and one they could've done years and years earlier with no input from Toei. The things you people praise dub Kai for never required the original Kai to exist in the first place. Kai isn't it's dub.

[Adamant]

Had they axed all the filler and carefully cut out footage so it didn't screw with the music

They have axed most of the filler.

No, Toei axed most of the filler. I'm talking about Funi.

There's also the fact that at the time they were dubbing Dragon Ball Z Funimation had different producers, such as Barry Watson, who weren't interested in making an accurate dub. They were interested in marketing the show to kids. Which to them meant a re-done "modern" musical score and a heavily rewritten script. Since Barry Watson left Funimation, and Justin Cook took over as producer Funimation has strived to make much more accurate dubs. That's why Kai is getting a lot better treatment than Z ever did, because the powers that be have changed.

That's not what I was saying. What was done with English-dubbed Dragonball was done, but if Funi really wanted to do a non-terrible "redub", there's no reason why they'd have to wait for Toei to produce "Kai" before started.
Take the footage they already had, make a new title card, write a new, accurate script, toss out the shitty VAs and replace them with good ones, keep the Kikuchi music, toss out Garlic Junior and whatever other expendable filler episodes no one really cares about, and market it as "Dragon Ball ZX" or something. And there you go - potentially a better product than their current Kai dub, and one they could've done years and years earlier with no input from Toei. The things you people praise dub Kai for never required the original Kai to exist in the first place. Kai isn't it's dub.

[GS7X7]

http://www.illumitoon.com/content/view/45/68/

Dude. What a lame site. It makes you login JUST to view the items in their store?

Sigh.... too bad it looks like (according to a 2007 news update on ANN) that the Beet dvd's besides the first one are cancelled, that was a pretty good show.

Oh well, Illumitoon did pick a bad time to open up shop, just before the big crash.

[TheBlackPaladin]

To be fair, everyone who has met Barry Watson--at least according to the interviews--says he's a really nice guy. To me, he sounds like a nice guy, but a nice guy who wasn't particularly in tune with what anime fans want...and as such, he didn't really have a place in FUNimation. It's for the best that Justin Cook now has Watson's job.

[GS7X7]

I'll give him some props, he did a fairly good job w/ the dub of Movie 6. (I think he directed it?)

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

...but if Funi wanted to do a proper dub of the series, why did they have to wait until Toei had some chopped-up footage and new music for them? They could've easily done something like this on their own.
All Kai really is is the new music, the chopped-up footage and the new Japanese voice recordings. Anything Funi did to it, they could've done with the DBZ they already had. So why wait?

Kai was an excuse for FUNimation to do an accurate dub. They were just too lazy to re-dub Z.

[coola]

Could you tell me,please,where can i watch Nicktoons "Behind the scenes" for Kai? I live in Poland,and American Nicktoons isnt available in my country

[Cootie]

Could you tell me,please,where can i watch Nicktoons "Behind the scenes" for Kai? I live in Poland,and American Nicktoons isnt available in my country

I would also like a link to the video.

[linkdude20002001]

What are you two talking about??

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

What are you two talking about??

I'm assuming this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yCZ35eNvGk

[KaiserNeko]

...but if Funi wanted to do a proper dub of the series, why did they have to wait until Toei had some chopped-up footage and new music for them? They could've easily done something like this on their own.
All Kai really is is the new music, the chopped-up footage and the new Japanese voice recordings. Anything Funi did to it, they could've done with the DBZ they already had. So why wait?

Kai was an excuse for FUNimation to do an accurate dub. They were just too lazy to re-dub Z.

Take a moment to comprehend the undertaking that would have been. They would have had to re-dub 291 episode of the series. That in and of itself is INCREDIBLY. COSTLY. How could they pay for that? They wouldn't get another T.V. deal for the same show they'd already aired a dozen times through, only now with a better dub and the original music. Wouldn't have happened. Furthermore, only well established fans would pick it up, you've got to realize that.

Laziness has not a damn thing to do with it. It just wasn't a feasible undertaking for a COMPANY that is trying to make money in a medium that is currently choking to death.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Laziness has not a damn thing to do with it. It just wasn't a feasible undertaking for a COMPANY that is trying to make money in a medium that is currently choking to death.

Alright, I understand. I guess I wasn't thinking about it from a business perspective. There's no need to get defensive about it, though.

[KaiserNeko]

Laziness has not a damn thing to do with it. It just wasn't a feasible undertaking for a COMPANY that is trying to make money in a medium that is currently choking to death.

Alright, I understand. I guess I wasn't thinking about it from a business perspective. There's no need to get defensive about it, though.

I don't mean to sound defensive. FUNimation is just doing its best to keep this industry alive. Not just for their sakes, either.