Was Nicktoons the best fit for Kai to air in hindsight?

[SRB2Unleashed]

Okay. So Kai's finishing it's run on the home release (not counting the season sets being released) and honestly, with Kai pretty much over and through, I think it's time to bring this up.

When Kai was first announced to be airing on Nicktoons most were shocked that the series would not be on the station that raised Dragon Ball in America...Cartoon Network. While Nicktoons did give Kai more airtime and reruns then Cartoon Network surely would've, I feel like, at the same time, Nicktoons put a slight dent to Kai's chances in the US.

Even though many say censorship today would still affect it, I strongly believe Cartoon Network wouldn't have edited Kai as much Nicktoons or 4Kids would've. I mean look at Regular Show, Adventure Time, etc. Those have a PG rating and get away with a lot of stuff. Kai on CN would've gotten a PG rating I assume, even not, their TV-Y7-FV shows have punches to the face, blood and mentions of death (may not have been as frequent as Kai, but you get the picture) Whenever I'm on chats on some sites (like Toonami Aftermath's Ustream chat) and mention Kai, literally 5 or more people will instantly say "Kai sucks" exactly like that. Sometimes I ask why they'll be like "They took out all the blood" or "The blood on Kai is orange" or as my close friend said "They edited it out all the violence" Why do people think this? Becauase Nicktoons never advertise the DVD/Blu-rays...let alone advertise that it would be uncut and show some side by side comparisons of an action scene for example. But this could also be partly Funimations fault, but hey, shortened versions of the trailers could've been aired as well.

Another thing is, Nicktoons is only in very few homes. Cartoon Network is common in homes. I still don't get why they turned it down. Outside of it not being a 'toy deal anime' or whatever they target nowadays, I also think it could've been because they couldn't have found a good timeslot for it. Who knows what they were thinking since DBZ WAS their highest rated show.

Maybe not just Cartoon Network, but some channel similar that would've done more for Kai. I know Cartoon Network ALWAYS advertises for DVDs of their shows. Hell, they aired commercials for the Season Sets and Blu-rays just a few months ago.

Well that's my 2 cents, anyways. I just feel like if it was on Cartoon Network or any bigger station and ADVERTISED the uncut home releases it would've sold like hotcakes.

[dbboxkaifan]

From what I've seen of Nicktoons Kai, they didn't cut way too much, they censored but most was kept IIRC.

The blood was lightened up or changed to orange, and Cell killing the military forces Nicktoons cut out the last part where they'd be blown away.

One scene that made me WTF was Cell beating the shit out of Piccolo and in Nicktoons version it made no sense to me, TheWhiz93 uploaded it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnCRiOTFLNc

Other than a couple nonsense scenes, Nicktoons Kai is really good, I wouldn't mind it if it aired in UK or elsewhere.

[KingofWisdom]

The dub would have probably been better if it stayed off TV, or was finished before being put on TV. In general, I prefer anime being straight to DVD, as even Adult Swim doesn't air it in a 100% uncut fashion. Could have been worse, I guess.

[matt0044]

The dub would have probably been better if it stayed off TV, or was finished before being put on TV. In general, I prefer anime being straight to DVD, as even Adult Swim doesn't air it in a 100% uncut fashion. Could have been worse, I guess.

I actually like Anime (well dubbed) being on TV since they'll get more exposure and create more fans. You can only get so far with DVD only releases and if not for Toonami, many Anime fans wouldn't be Anime fans. Sure, edits can often be a hassle but I can grin and bear it if they don't do (much) damage to the story. As long as there's an Uncut version available here, it's all good.

Plus, CN purposely refused DBZ Kai so FUNi went with Nicktoons so more kids could be exposed to the series and maybe Anime in general. Quite frankly, I salute this act.

Yeah, the Kai haters are the result of FUNi and NT not advertising the DVDs and making it clear that it's Uncut but I suppose FUNimation guessed that Anime fans (sane ones) knew that their Anime DVDs are always uncut since it has been for a long time. It never occurred to them that anyone would think that DBZ rated TV Y7 would be "uncut and not edited" but I guess they overestimated some people's knowledge.

[KingofWisdom]

Yeah, but even with a so-called "uncut" DVD release, the companies will cut corners and redub as few lines as possible for the uncut release. Ultimately, a better dub is received if the anime stays off TV. Though, of course popularity is important too. I just wish it didn't hurt the overall product. When it comes to redubbing, it seems like both FUNi and Viz are more concerned with throwing in swearing than fixing other things. Which is why we have attack name inconsistencies (English and Japanese names are used) and other such problems. I feel like some of these errors would not have happened if the dub was direct to DVD.

[matt0044]

Yeah, but even with a so-called "uncut" DVD release, the companies will cut corners and redub as few lines as possible for the uncut release. Ultimately, a better dub is received if the anime stays off TV. Though, of course popularity is important too. I just wish it didn't hurt the overall product. When it comes to redubbing, it seems like both FUNi and Viz are more concerned with throwing in swearing than fixing other things. Which is why we have attack name inconsistencies (English and Japanese names are used) and other such problems. I feel like some of these errors would not have happened if the dub was direct to DVD.

Wait, don't they dub it uncut first THEN edit it for TV? I mean, 4kids just edits it for TV and then some but for DBZ Kai and Naruto, aren't they dubbed uncut then edited for TV usually?

Plus, not everyone will BUY Anime DVDs if they're not already a fan via TV or the internet. I mean, why would a non-fan (likely starting to get interest) buy a series that for all (s)he know could be utter crap and a waste of his/her cash? If (s)he see an Anime like DBZ Kai or Naruto on TV and is very interested in it, (s)he might get curious enough to buy the uncut DVDs and then check out other neat looking Anime.

Not to mention that while streaming helps too, putting it on the TV screen that MILLIONS over the nation alone watch gives a better chance to catch the eyes of other potential Anime fans.

I know that inconsistencies and a few other nuances can be a bother but nothing and nobody is perfect. However, Viz and FUNi do a damn good job either way. I honestly don't care so long as others can be able to appreciate DBZ and Anime altogether. I love the medium of Anime and I want to share it with others who can possibly love it too.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

When it comes to redubbing, it seems like both FUNi and Viz are more concerned with throwing in swearing than fixing other things.

I really hate this argument. I don't see "damn" or "hell" as real swears. Why would you want someone in a dire situation to yelling out "darn". It's so unnatural. It's not like South Park language. It's just a more realistic dialog.

Do you honestly like "darn" better?

[superrayman3]

Wait, don't they dub it uncut first THEN edit it for TV? I mean, 4kids just edits it for TV and then some but for DBZ Kai and Naruto, aren't they dubbed uncut then edited for TV usually?

You're correct matt0044 FUNi dubs their shows uncut first and then redub certain lines and edit the show for a TV broadcast, if you think I'm wrong try this, take an episode and compare a line from a scene in the edited version with the original line from the same scene in the uncut version and you'll notice that the line in the edited version has a slightly different tone and pitch compared to the uncut version, for example in Kai episode 53 after Freeza says "none surpass me no one even comes close" in the edited version he says "burn this into your mind", while in the uncut version he says "etch this into your skull", when you listen to the uncut "etch this into your skull" Freeza sounds natural and has the same tone as the previous line because they did the scene during the initial recording session, however when you hear the edited "burn this into your mind" Freeza sounds a little less agressive and more forced in comparison because FUNi went back after recording all audio for the uncut episode and had Ayers record a new line and spliced it in with the already exsting audio instead of re-doing the scene from the ground up.

[dbboxkaifan]

I really hate this argument. I don't see "damn" or "hell" as real swears. Why would you want someone in a dire situation to yelling out "darn". It's so unnatural. It's not like South Park language. It's just a more realistic dialog.

It's not really swearing to me, at all.

But nor is it realistic, they just bloody abused of the damned words more than they should. Even if they weren't needed at the precise time/script.

Dat Kai

[Hades]

I'd say that CN would have been preferable, since they would have done less censorship (face it, there's no way it would air uncut on tv) than Nicktoons, which while annoying, isn't anywhere near as bad as what Saban did to Spiderman or X-Men. The idea that it should have been DVD exclusive is terrible, since it would garner less of a profit for Funimation, and thus would be more likely to be written off as a failed investment, thus makint it less likely for there to be the new dub.

[penguintruth]

Being on CN would probably have increased the awareness of the product, but didn't it do well on Nicktoons?

[Lord Eeyore Haw-Haw]

When it comes to redubbing, it seems like both FUNi and Viz are more concerned with throwing in swearing than fixing other things.

I really hate this argument. I don't see "damn" or "hell" as real swears. Why would you want someone in a dire situation to yelling out "darn". It's so unnatural. It's not like South Park language. It's just a more realistic dialog.

Do you honestly like "darn" better?

Just agreeing with this. "Damn" and "Hell" pretty much are okay to say before the watershed here, and recently, "Crap" was given all the clear, considering its use in Eastenders. So, obviously even the moral guardians at Aunty Beeb are okay with those words. The only reason I can see that they might be censored somewhat more is religious connotations. Hell, on Emmerdale, I quite often heard "bitch". I'd have thought was a bit too strong, but evidently not.

I also don't consider referring to Hell as a case of swearing. Like Freeza's "I told you, didn't I? That I'd show you a terror beyond the horrors of Hell" and what-not. Or Gokuu talking about not falling into Hell. It's the place. That'd be like saying Heaven is a swear word. ... Oh, wait... Considering how THAT gets censored for America...

[ChahikoDBZ]

Not much to say. I have to agree with the original post.

I think Kai would have came out better if it had come out on Cartoon Network.

[Pokewhiz7]

Not sure if there's any truth to it, but I heard Cartoon Network wasn't interested in Kai. I guess Nicktoons is the next best option.

[dbboxkaifan]

Dragon Ball Z Kai was indeed aired on Cartoon Network, not in US, but elsewhere. ^_^

[Rory]

Dat Kai

Damn. S'alotta damns.

[Cure Dragon 255]

I think that not only was NIcktoons the best place for DBZKAi, it would have been pointless if it aired on CN. So pointless in fact as to make it worthless.

Why? Because DBZKai actually filled a purpose by airing in NIcktoons. It introduced NIcktoons to anime and made it fall in love with DBZ. If it aired in CN it would have been left to die on SatAM at best, and would have been just a pointless remake, because when you have seen Z, which included thee Buu saga, you have seen it all.

How do I know this? Because DBZKai aired on CN in Latin America and it was a MISERABLE failure because people compared to DBZ and found it inferior to DBZ which WAS AIRING IN THE FRIGGIN CHANNEL ALREADY (DBZ never left the channel in LatAM)

So dont go around thinking it would have been a bigger success in CN.

[dbboxkaifan]

I think that not only was NIcktoons the best place for DBZKAi, it would have been pointless if it aired on CN. So pointless in fact as to make it worthless.

Why? Because DBZKai actually filled a purpose by airing in NIcktoons. It introduced NIcktoons to anime and made it fall in love with DBZ. If it aired in CN it would have been left to die on SatAM at best, and would have been just a pointless remake, because when you have seen Z, which included thee Buu saga, you have seen it all.

How do I know this? Because DBZKai aired on CN in Latin America and it was a MISERABLE failure because people compared to DBZ and found it inferior to DBZ which WAS AIRING IN THE FRIGGIN CHANNEL ALREADY (DBZ never left the channel in LatAM)

So dont go around thinking it would have been a bigger success in CN.

So the Latin Spanish was airing DBZ and DBK? That's quite a clash they had there.

I'm not from US but 'NickToons' name-channel gives the idea they'll also broadcast anime, cartoons and whatnot. I.e, if you think about the name-channel 'Toonami' too.

[Cure Dragon 255]

Its the -nami part that implies anime.

[Gonstead]

Its the -nami part that implies anime.

Uhh, no.

Simply, Toonami is a play on words with the word "Tsunami".