Dragonball Kai (FUNimation English) Dub: General Discussion

[dan2026]

I think Kai was probably just a happy coincidence for Funimation.
They probably wanted to correct their earlier mistakes and make a better dub, but like has been said, it wouldn't be profitable.

Then of course Toei decided to do Kai and Funimation jumped at the chance.
Seriously, if they moved any faster to dub Kai, they would spontaneously combust.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I think Kai was probably just a happy coincidence for Funimation.
They probably wanted to correct there earlier mistakes and make a better dub, but like has been said, it wouldn't be profitable.

Then of course Toei decided to do Kai and Funimation jumped at the chance.
Seriously, if they moved any faster to dub Kai, they would spontaneously combust.

To me, it would seem FUNimation has been making a couple of symbolic apologies over the years for their treatment of Z. Like the dubbing of the GT songs, for example. Think about it, it's not like they were going to sell any more box sets of GT by dubbing the songs. They never advertised it on any scale, they didn't advertise it on commercials and they didn't even write it down on the back of the box sets that the songs were dubbed. They didn't have to do it at all, they could have kept their god-awful rap song in there and the box sets would have sold just as well, but they dubbed them anyway. Then there's things like including the Japanese music alongside the English dub for their newer releases, and then of course, releasing the Dragon Boxes (without Bruce Faulconer's score, no less). To me, these have all been symbolic instances of, "Umm....yeah......sorry about that...."

I popped in a DVD of "Dragon Ball" a few days ago, from the first box set they sold with the edited, dub-only Ocean dub DVDs. Watching it now, I'm amazed how far FUNimation has come over the years as an anime company. Granted, it would have been best if they were good from the start, or if Z got the treatment that Pioneer gave it in their three uncut movies from the start, but there's something cool about the fact that FUNimation used to be a terrible anime company and is now one of the best--it proves that, over the years, they actually do listen to what their fans want. Does that mean they're flawless now? Most certainly not.They've made mistakes before even in fairly recent history (*COUGH* ORANGE BRICKS *COUGH*), but it seems like they always make an effort towards redemption later for every mistake they make. For that reason, I can't really think of any other company that I'd want to handle this property.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

To me, it would seem FUNimation has been making a couple of symbolic apologies over the years for their treatment of Z. Like the dubbing of the GT songs, for example. Think about it, it's not like they were going to sell any more box sets of GT by dubbing the songs. They never advertised it on any scale, they didn't advertise it on commercials and they didn't even write it down on the back of the box sets that the songs were dubbed. They didn't have to do it at all, they could have kept their god-awful rap song in there and the box sets would have sold just as well, but they dubbed them anyway. Then there's things like including the Japanese music alongside the English dub for their newer releases, and then of course, releasing the Dragon Boxes (without Bruce Faulconer's score, no less). To me, these have all been symbolic instances of, "Umm....yeah......sorry about that...."

I popped in a DVD of "Dragon Ball" a few days ago, from the first box set they sold with the edited, dub-only Ocean dub DVDs. Watching it now, I'm amazed how far FUNimation has come over the years as an anime company. Granted, it would have been best if they were good from the start, or if Z got the treatment that Pioneer gave it in their three uncut movies from the start, but there's something cool about the fact that FUNimation used to be a terrible anime company and is now one of the best--it proves that, over the years, they actually do listen to what their fans want. Does that mean they're flawless now? Most certainly not.They've made mistakes before even in fairly recent history (*COUGH* ORANGE BRICKS *COUGH*), but it seems like they always make an effort towards redemption later for every mistake they make. For that reason, I can't really think of any other company that I'd want to handle this property.

This. I really like when Ocean dub fans badmouth FUNimation, and conviently look past the Dragon Boxes, the Kai dub and all the good work they've done with other series. Maybe DBZ would've turned out better from the start, if Viz or Geneon had aquired the rights to the series. I don't know. But the point is that after all this time, us fans are getting great uncut releases. And that's really all that matters to me.

[penguintruth]

I agree. Funimation's making strides. I'm not crazy about them patting themselves on the back for it, since that's their job, but I will be buying Kai sets largely because of those strides. They need to know that we appreciate their work, and there's no better way to show them.

[GS7X7]

So.... will either Japan or America have "uncut dvd releases"? (I know, I've asked this before but I don't think I got an answer)

[Big Momma]

So.... will either Japan or America have "uncut dvd releases"? (I know, I've asked this before but I don't think I got an answer)

Do you mean "Uncut" as in, all the blood/nudity that was in Z? If so, then I doubt that it will happen.

[GS7X7]

Knowing Toei they'll unleash an "uncut" version a year or two after Kai sales have dwindled worldwide, then the fans will have even more DBZ stuff to buy all over again.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Knowing Toei they'll unleash an "uncut" version a year or two after Kai sales have dwindled worldwide, then the fans will have even more DBZ stuff to buy all over again.

Re-release the whole series, just with a bit more blood? I also don't think that's going to happen. Dragon Ball Z will always be available in it's bloody glory.

[Big Momma]

Dragon Ball Z will always be available in it's bloody glory.

Don't you mean "gory"?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Dragon Ball Z will always be available in it's bloody glory.

Don't you mean "gory"?

Either way works.

[GS7X7]

Knowing Toei they'll unleash an "uncut" version a year or two after Kai sales have dwindled worldwide, then the fans will have even more DBZ stuff to buy all over again.

Re-release the whole series, just with a bit more blood? I also don't think that's going to happen. Dragon Ball Z will always be available in it's bloody glory.

If there's money to be made they will.

[Gaffer Tape]

I really hope people aren't stupid enough to drop down money just to see Dragon Ball Kai with more blood. If that doesn't solidify the negative stereotypes of the fandom, I don't know what will. I mean, at least it made sense back in the old day when FUNimation was censoring Z, but this is what Kai is originally like.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

If there's money to be made they will.

But in the case, there might not be. Not many people are going to want to buy a whole series again, just with a bit more blood in it.

[Zephyr]

I really hope people aren't stupid enough to drop down money just to see Dragon Ball Kai with more blood. If that doesn't solidify the negative stereotypes of the fandom, I don't know what will. I mean, at least it made sense back in the old day when FUNimation was censoring Z, but this is what Kai is originally like.

If they put the blood back and add Z's soundtrack I would graciously spend money (and sell the older sets). But, that's never going to happen.

[Gaffer Tape]

Hopefully it won't. There are already enough different versions already...

[Kendamu]

Hopefully it won't. There are already enough different versions already...

Agreed. While I would personally buy Kai with all the injuries showed in Z in-tact and with the original Z music, I don't really want to see it happen because there's already enough division between Dragonball fans. I don't really want anymore music wars.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Hopefully it won't. There are already enough different versions already...

Agreed. While I would personally buy Kai with all the injuries showed in Z in-tact and with the original Z music, I don't really want to see it happen because there's already enough division between Dragonball fans. I don't really want anymore music wars.

Well if what Sean said is true, we have yet another music war coming up if the Ocean dub of Kai chooses to re-do the music.

[GS7X7]

Oh, there's going to be an Ocean dub too! That's really going to kick ass!

(btw, I know this was an issue ages ago but did Ocean ever get around to making their episodes on dvd available for purchase? Or was there some sort of weird contract thing that prevented it and still does?)

[linkdude20002001]

We never got a home release. And there wasn't really anything preventing it aside from licensing costs.

[MetalMadness]

You know, if you some of you hardcore fans really want Z's original soundtrack in Kai and are willing to work for it, you could always extract your Kai episodes onto the computer, edit out the Kai music, and replace it with Z's music, and there you go!

For added bonus, you could edit the video as well and replace the censored scenes with Z's uncut scenes.