FUNimation and Toei announce online streaming of DBZ!

[Cipher]

Mixed feelings about this.

The source footage is, as far as I'm concerned, neither here nor there. I have my Dragon Boxes. This is a free stream. Frankly, it's only going to be used to satisfy Dragon Ball kicks when I don't have my DVDs with me, so it doesn't have to look amazing. The Dragon Boxes are supposed to be premium collector's sets anyway. If this is the free alternative, then that's fine.

As for the decision to use the Funimation score, frankly I'm just surprised. I really thought they'd been fazing it out. Maybe they're doing it because this is aimed at Toonami nostalgics and they think it'll be more profitable. I'm actually kind of glad I'll be able to go back and watch an episode or two just to relive fifth grade. I am a little miffed that new fans will continue to be introduced to a score that shouldn't have existed though.

All in all, it's still free, legal, quality, bilingual streaming Dragon Ball. That's just too convenient to throw a fit over details.

[NeoKING]

All in all, it's still free, legal, quality, bilingual streaming Dragon Ball. That's just too convenient to throw a fit over details.

Especially for guys like me. This is going to be my first time seeing the original series in Japanese. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Ultimate_DB_Fan]

Great move by Funimation. They might've moved on from replacing music via their other anime properties, but they probably realized by now that ignoring the old school dubbies such as myself would've been blasphemous. That's like removing the Superman theme from the Christopher Reeve films. Ya just can't do it. They already slapped me in the face by not including my music on the DBoxes... Now, if I'm at friend's house or something, I can have that pleasure of watching some eps. with that Faulconer BGM, baby.

As for the people complaining, why does it bother you so much? The sub version will be there, and you're all pretty much secure with your DBoxes. Take a chill pill.

[UristtheGreat]

I don't know if anyone has seen this yet but,

I think it's FUNi's own version of "Dream 9".

[Turtle Marked Stone]

That's a cute little nod. 2011 is already off to an interesting start.

[jjgp1112]

I fail to see the big deal in them using the dub music. It's not like this is some brand new dub or anything. And besides, most of you guys complaining don't like the dub anyway, so the sub version is right there. And you likely have the Dragon Box anyway...so what's the big deal?

[penguintruth]

Great move by Funimation. They might've moved on from replacing music via their other anime properties, but they probably realized by now that ignoring the old school dubbies such as myself would've been blasphemous. That's like removing the Superman theme from the Christopher Reeve films. Ya just can't do it.

John Williams' score was the intended music for those films. Shunsuke Kikuchi's score is the intended music for DBZ. I fail to see the parallel between Faulconer's score and Williams'. Kikuchi's is a lot more like Williams' anyway, using a big orchestral sound to create a natural feel.

[Turtle Marked Stone]

Great move by Funimation. They might've moved on from replacing music via their other anime properties, but they probably realized by now that ignoring the old school dubbies such as myself would've been blasphemous. That's like removing the Superman theme from the Christopher Reeve films. Ya just can't do it.

John Williams' score was the intended music for those films. Shunsuke Kikuchi's score is the intended music for DBZ. I fail to see the parallel between Faulconer's score and Williams'. Kikuchi's is a lot more like Williams' anyway, using a big orchestral sound to create a natural feel.

Rumor has it Lady Gaga could compose circles around John Williams.

[Soul]

I don't know if anyone has seen this yet but,

I think it's FUNi's own version of "Dream 9".

I just jizzed. That's so awesome.

[Makaioshin]

After they finish the Cell arc, Dragon Ball Z will be taken down and replaced by free episodes of Toriko.

[Goku100xKamehameha]

After they finish the Cell arc, Dragon Ball Z will be taken down and replaced by free episodes of Toriko.

That's.... not really funny... and beside, there's still no official confirmation that Kai will be cancel.

[Makaioshin]

After they finish the Cell arc, Dragon Ball Z will be taken down and replaced by free episodes of Toriko.

That's.... not really funny... and beside, there's still no official confirmation that Kai will be cancel.

My dreams of becoming a comedian will never come true.

[penguintruth]

Strangely enough, the clip at the site has the English dub with the Japanese music.

Which I wish I hadn't watched, because it reminded me of how terrible Stephanie Naldony is as Gohan.

[Soul]

Strangely enough, the clip at the site has the English dub with the Japanese music.

Which I wish I hadn't watched, because it reminded me of how terrible Stephanie Naldony is as Gohan.

Naldony aside I saw that too.. it's quite off that it showed that clip with the Japanese music.

[Choujin Daizenshuu]

Is the first episode slated to go up at midnight? I want to see this "faux widescreen" Orange Box footage for myself.

Now to address a few things:

Overall, no it wouldn't drop sales. Most of those people would just pirate the show anyways, so sales are the same. But all people are different. Some still pirate because: "Fansubs are better translated", "'This site' has them a few days sooner", or "Fansubs don't have commercials".

Then they're supporting theft, period. Once a show is licensed, the gray area surrounding fansubs becomes officially black and white. Personal preference is no excuse to not support a licensed product.

And for some people, if they can watch it for free, they won't buy when they otherwise would have. But as I said, overall, things are unaffected. At least with sites like Hulu, FUNi's getting money that they should.

As long as FUNimation is getting money and providing people with a legal means to watch streams, then all is right with the world. It's just selfish pennypinchers that really get under my skin due to their lack of support and unreasonable entitlements.

I believe the reasons for the discontent have been given. Terrible masters are being perpetuated and the replacement music is being brought to potential new fans, further splintering the fandom. All FUNimation had to do was use their old 4:3 masters and the original background music. FUNimation was on the track towards repairing the fandom with their choices the past two years. Something like this only throws fuel on the fire.

Here's the problem though:

FUNimation can't use their original 4:3 master copies anymore. Those copies were already put through the "remastering" process for the Orange Box releases and it's impossible for them to reverse the process. If FUNimation made a copy of their original 4:3 master copy that was given to them by Toei, they could've simply used that copy for the current online streams instead.

Hell, it's even possible that FUNimation wouldn't have needed to license the Dragon Boxes if the original un-remastered version of the master copy given to them by Toei was still accessible to them. Then, FUNimation could've redone the mastering process correctly without spending excess licensing costs to purchase the series again just so there could be a version that can satisfy 4:3 fans.

As for the issue with Faulconer's score:

Seriously, it doesn't matter to me. Hell, I even love Faulconer's rendition of the Ginyu Force theme (the flute is a total win) and music tastes are subjective anyway. We can argue till the cows come home on this all we want but in the end, the music is there and there's nothing any of us can do about it.

P.S. Love that poster. Makes me wish that Toei would actually animate Cross Epoch.

[jjgp1112]

FUNimation used a completely different master for their singles, which were digi-beta masters that were already framed. Theoretically, they could've used those.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

I saw the front page update and I might be late but, I don't mind that the crap videos and score be used for the free streaming. I mean you get what you pay for right? I'd be pissed if the Dragonbox quality video showed up after I just bought the first set. Now I can justify my purchase; better score, better footage.

It's not a step back, they are playing to a specific audience, and I'm willing to bet they are combating piracy with this. There was a site that streamed every episode of DB, DBZ and GT using the bricks and Funi music. This is probably their way of killing that site and others like it.

[penguintruth]

I'm willing to bet they are combating piracy with this. There was a site that streamed every episode of DB, DBZ and GT using the bricks and Funi music. This is probably their way of killing that site and others like it.

An interesting thought. It's a good idea in that regard, at least.

[VegettoEX]

FUNimation can't use their original 4:3 master copies anymore. Those copies were already put through the "remastering" process for the Orange Box releases and it's impossible for them to reverse the process.

That's... not true at all. It's not like the film spontaneously combusted after it was digitally scanned. Remember that the film used to create what eventually become the orange bricks was itself a new film print separate from what they had been using up until 2007, so that means they had two physical sources (one likely digi-beta) before the Dragon Box masters came into the picture.

And for those of you complaining about complaining... other than that being counter-productive... no, I don't think anyone's incapable of understanding why it is that FUNimation's chosen to go with the dub+broadcast English track for the streaming. It's moderately surprising, though, because of all the strides they've made in the exact opposite direction over the recent years. I mean, that's already been stated several times in this thread.

And yes, they are clearly going after the piracy scene with this. The only way to compete with free is to offer a more-convenient and higher-quality "free", yourself. If you can find a way to make money off of it, great. That's called "a business model".

(OK, so if that's the extent of your business model, you're not going to last very long... but we've seen FUNimation prove themselves on a variety of stages, so that's good!)

[Adamant]

Then they're supporting theft, period. Once a show is licensed, the gray area surrounding fansubs becomes officially black and white. Personal preference is no excuse to not support a licensed product.

Uh, no, some random American company licensing a Japanese series doesn't suddenly make it more illegal to watch digital copies. They're just as completely illegal as they've always been.