Toei Officially Acknowledges Yamamoto's Kai Rip-Offs

[MetalMadness]

I have a question, are we still going to see a release of the rest of Yamamato's music? Or is that going to be cancelled?

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

I have a question, are we still going to see a release of the rest of Yamamato's music? Or is that going to be cancelled?

The last announced DB Kai soundtrack release was canceled near the beginning of the month.

[linkdude20002001]

I wonder if it's going to be possible to put together an English-dub audio track with Yamamoto's score... We've got plenty of released tracks on CD, we've got the Nicktoons airings of the show (for at least MORE episodes than we have on BD and DVD), and we've got the Japanese airings (to at least use as a guide to know exactly when a song should begin and end). ...How are the sound channels set up on FUNi's BDs and DVDs?

[TonyTheTiger]

I think a project like that is bound to come up at some point, regardless of how hard it may turn out to be. But my guess? It won't be easy. At all.

Right now I'm more annoyed that the last three episodes are forever musically inconsistent. So Japanese, English or otherwise, it's Kikuchi or bust unless somebody decides to get cute and score the footage with the Yamamoto tracks that would likely have been used.

[MetalMadness]

I wonder if it's going to be possible to put together an English-dub audio track with Yamamoto's score... We've got plenty of released tracks on CD, we've got the Nicktoons airings of the show (for at least MORE episodes than we have on BD and DVD), and we've got the Japanese airings (to at least use as a guide to know exactly when a song should begin and end). ...How are the sound channels set up on FUNi's BDs and DVDs?

It is indeed possible to rip the voices only on the Funi DVDs and BDs, and one could add in the Yamamato music if they chose to.

However, there are certain cases where the original music would have to be kept. Scenes where people talk in their heads, or battle scenes with a lot of SFX going on have stuff mixed in with the music, so if you isolate the voices, you lose a lot of the SFX and echo effects and it sounds weak.

[Aoi]

Guys, like many I have been very dissapointed by this news. I loved Yamamoto's music.
I remember watching the interviews done by FUNImation (the actors who play Goku and Vegeta) saying how happy they were with the new score because it
sounds more modern and relatable to north american audiences.FUNImation has a long history of fighting against the usage of the original tracks. One alternative that I heard is that FUNimation would actually put their original Falcouner score in for the last three episodes for the DVD/Blu Ray releases.
I'm not sure what will happen, but if FUNImation is forced to change the tracks in the long term, I have a feeling they would just input their North America (Falcouner) score throughout the entire series. They have more than enough tracks to accomplish this with ease.

What are your thoughts on this potential solution?

[Gaffer Tape]

I doubt many here would be terrible pleased. But it's also highly unlikely it's going to happen. Toei has already started replacing Kai's music with the original score, and, if this past Saturday's Toonzai airing is any indication, Kikuchi's Z score is going to be used in America as well.

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

I'm not sure what will happen, but if FUNImation is forced to change the tracks in the long term, I have a feeling they would just input their North America (Falcouner) score throughout the entire series. They have more than enough tracks to accomplish this with ease.

What are your thoughts on this potential solution?

They won't use Faulconer Productions' music, or any other replacement music for that matter. FUNi has even admitted that they disliked it and have been phasing it out since 2007 (defaulting to EN w/ JP score on the season sets/steelbooks, and using only the original music on the Dragon Boxes, remastered single releases of the TV specials, and Hulu streams).

[Aoi]

Ah. Thanks for clarifying this.
Do you think there's any way that they might keep Mr. Yamamoto's score for the DVD releases? I just outright refuse to buy all of my DBZ Kai Dvds again and I won't buy the rest of the show if it has a completely different soundtrack.

[TonyTheTiger]

I'd call any hope for Yamamoto from FUNi wishful thinking at this point. We have to just face facts that Kikuchi Kai will be the only consistent version of the show. And 40-something episodes of Yamamoto Kai will never be available in any retail release period.

[Gotham22]

FUNimation never said they didnt like the Faulconer music. It's just rumors probably.

[Gaffer Tape]

Well, that depends, actually. If you consider Schemmel and Sabat speaking in an official capacity in the Kai promotion videos as being representative of FUNimation, then, yes, FUNimation did say they didn't like the Faulconer score. If not, then you could just believe that those two individuals don't like Faulconer's score. Personally, I'm not entirely convinced that they weren't just speaking out of their asses in order to promote Kai.

[Kendamu]

Ah. Thanks for clarifying this.
Do you think there's any way that they might keep Mr. Yamamoto's score for the DVD releases? I just outright refuse to buy all of my DBZ Kai Dvds again and I won't buy the rest of the show if it has a completely different soundtrack.

Sounds to me like you're stuck not buying Kai.

[TonyTheTiger]

Are we certain there will even be a rerelease of the first four Kai volumes? FUNi likes to consolidate individual volumes into large box sets. Maybe they just resigned themselves not to print more and they'll just sell out of whatever current stock they have, waiting until they're ready to release a couple of 50 episode box sets to put out the early episodes with the replaced score.

[Aoi]

Sounds to me like you're stuck not buying Kai.

No, I'll still buy it I was just upset at that moment. 'Frustrated' would be a better word to use. I'll do anything to support Dragonball release in North America. I have been living in Toronto for the last few years now. To be honest, I have been very impressed with the new "remixed" score seen in Episode 96 and the Toonami re-released episodes.
At first I was terrified that it would have been a rushed job. For example, the song used for Cell's death was one I never thought would work with that scene. In the original series, it's the one used immediately after Chichi faints after Gohan had turned SSJ2.

[Vhanos]

Episode 89 with Kikuchi's score aired in Okinawa today.

That's like a revising version right?

I don't know where I could see these but I want to see them personally.

[Arique]

And 40-something episodes of Yamamoto Kai will never be available in any retail release period.

Netflix will still have the Yamamoto version of Kai. Hell, they still have the Ocean dub of DBZ Movies 1-3, the Heavily edited and hard-to-find Ocean dub episodes of DBZ, and the 4Kids edit of One Piece (Along with FUNi's dub), so I don't think Netflix will replace the current DVDs of Kai, unless FUNi asks Netflix to do so.

BTW, for those that actually have a Netflix account with Kai Parts 1 & 2 in your queue and are wondering why it's on "Short Wait"... Well, I'm the reason for it. I haven't returned my DVDs back due to this fiasco.

[TonyTheTiger]

No, I mean episodes 53-95. They aired in the original run with Yamamoto's score but will never see the light of day on a home release in North America. I think Yamamoto episodes 77-95 are the ones that will never see a home release in Japan.

[Sadako]

It looks like Funimation has a couple Industry Panels this weekend over at Megacon in Florida.

I wonder if anyone going is willing to give it a shot and ask them how the Yamamoto Incident will affect their Broadcast / Release Plans for Kai.

[GS7X7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoLnGigtFe8

People steal/borrow or are "inspired" by other music all the time. Just pay the person that got ripped off some royalties and keep releasing the stuff I say. It's still good music and Robo's theme is still good even if it did rip off Rick Astley.