International Kai Buu saga- An analysis

[RazorX]

This has been on my mind since mid 2011 and I wanted to create a topic about it, but I needed to do research which I was either too busy or couldn't be bothered to do, but I've done it now...somewhat.

I never accepted that Kai was 'cancelled' after the Cell Games, as some people tried to claim. I maintained that Kai was postponed. In 2010 I replied to a topic where I pointed out, with evidence, that Dragon Ball Kai was becoming a global phenomenal , like Dragon Ball Z is. 2011 saw Kai grow. Kai stopped broadcast in Japan at the Cell Games but I believe that there will be a Buu saga. However, the announcement of the new Dragon Ball Z film has altered my opinion, but I'll post my original thoughts first, with analysis, and at the end I'll post my revised opinion.

Dragon Ball is Toei's most successful international franchise, by far. Here's a graph to illustrate:



The overseas film income for Dragon Ball film (ie series rights) for the 3 quarters of FY (Financial Year) 2011 was higher than the entire (4 quarters) of FY2010. I am certain that Kai's success helped in the revenue growth for that period. The overseas film income for Dragon Ball was just over 30% higher in FY2010 compared to FY2009. Dragon Ball has the highest overseas film market for Toei:



Given how successful Dragon Ball is and how Kai has helped increase revenue for Toei, it'd be stupid of them to stop at the Cell Games.

Over the course of 2011, there were other, sometimes major, hints of the possibility of plans for the Kai Buu saga. Among them is the fact that no country has used the DBZ Majin Buu saga to try and 'continue' the story after Kai Cell Games. That, to me, is a major sign. There were theories as to why Nicktoons US didn't broadcast the Majin Buu saga and went straight to GT after Kai Cell Games, even though it wouldn't make sense to new fans. Some thought that they'd need to edit the Buu saga further, some pointed out that they'd need to take out the Faulconer music due to the litigation Faulconer brought on Funimation. I want to cover the latter point briefly.

Faulconer brought a lawsuit against Funimation which lasted AFAIK 3 years. The outcome of the case was that Funimation would have to pay royalties to Faulconer if they used the Faulconer Productions music on any TV broadcasts, however they don't need to pay Faulconer anything for DVD/Blu Ray releases. Now, if Funi decided they didn't want to pay Faulconer, they could've used the Japanese music on the edited Buu saga and supplied that to Nicktoons. The cost involved would be insignificant compared to the revenue that would be brought in, but they didn't. France didn't use Z Buu after Kai Cell.

Why? Because if US, France, or any other country used Z Buu to try and 'fill the gap' then that might potentially saturate the market and potentially reduce the demand for a Kai Buu saga. I think all the countries were instructed by Toei to not use DBZ Buu saga to try and 'continue the story' because they have the Kai Buu saga planned.

And, if less popular shows like Big O, Ultimate Muscle, Sonic X can continue overseas after 'stopping or being cancelled' in Japan. Then of course Dragon Ball Kai, which is not cancelled and is very popular, can continue overseas.

So why the postponement after Cell? I have a theory.

The Majin Buu saga sees the biggest shift in the series since the Saiyan saga. There's a brand new opening and ending. 7 years pass, which reflects the characters ages. The Buu saga introduces more new characters than any other saga and it also sees the biggest musical change since the Saiyan saga.

That, and the Buu saga has the most merchandising potential. Super Saiyan 3, Fusion, new characters. In terms of merchandise, I would say the Buu saga is the most popular.

Also, Kai helped bring in new fans to Dragon Ball all over the world. Toei only have a set amount of DBZ episodes to work so, so they probably didn't want to use them all in one go. Kai was consistently in the top 5 and always in the top 10 in ratings. Toei know they can rely on Dragon Ball to bring them revenue and ratings.

So, my original opinion was that Toei would continue Kai for the international audience, but they would only supply the film, sound effects and perhaps music. They would not record a Japanese voice track.

However, the announcement of a new DBZ film and the fact that it takes place after the Majin Buu saga has altered my original opinion. I now believe that Toei would produce a Kai Buu saga for Japan and the rest of the world, which means they'd record a Japanese voice track.

And, I want an Ocean dub of Kai Buu saga so I'm not giving up hope.

Toei probably wanted new episodes of Kai Buu saga being broadcast while the new DBZ film is being released. If Toei continued with the Buu saga straight after the Cell Games, it would be finished before the new film is released.

[Thanos]

Interesting analysis... well written.

What you said about all the popularity and merchandising potential for the Buu era of the series is true... which makes me think the plan has been to hold off on it until 2013 or even 2014. Maybe the thinking is that the movie, some merchandise, and perhaps a video game or two centered around it will tide the fandom over for 2013, and then 2014 can be when they start putting out new Kai episodes, toys, games, etc. which might even bleed into 2015. In addition, 2014 is the 30th anniversary of Dragon Ball will which most likely bring about some unexpected new material.

[RazorX]

Interesting analysis... well written.

Thanks

What you said about all the popularity and merchandising potential for the Buu era of the series is true... which makes me think the plan has been to hold off on it until 2013 or even 2014. Maybe the thinking is that the movie, some merchandise, and perhaps a video game or two centered around it will tide the fandom over for 2013, and then 2014 can be when they start putting out new Kai episodes, toys, games, etc. which might even bleed into 2015. In addition, 2014 is the 30th anniversary of Dragon Ball will which most likely bring about some unexpected new material.

I've been away from the forum for months. I come back, make this topic and then read that actually, Kai Buu saga IS being made but it hasn't been announced. It was leaked by a member of the cast, bit like how the Ocean dub of Kai was leaked. But according to Ms Tanaka who talked about it, its looking like it won't be broadcast in Japan so it's being made for the international market. It makes sense to continue Kai for the international market considering how Kai has boosted revenue for Toei. However I was of the opinion if Toei are going to continue Kai for the international market only, they would not record a Japanese voice track. They are recording a Japanese voice track and Tanaka claims Kai Buu is for the international market only. So either she's right and Toei cares for the international market more than I thought, or she's being misled and Kai Buu would be released in Japan. I think that Toei does care enough for the international market to record a JPN track for them but I believe that Kai Buu saga would be released in Japan, even if it's a direct to DVD/ Blu Ray release, which I also mentioned the possibility off some months ago.

It's an interesting point you bring up about the 30th anniversary of Dragon Ball, we may see some new material. With the production of Kai Buu and a brand new DBZ theatrical film, I wouldn't be surprised if we see something big for DB's 30th anniversary.

[penguintruth]

Maybe Toei was just waiting to accumulate a certain amount of capital for the project of doing more Kai, or perhaps they didn't want to do it until somebody said, "Eh, what the hell?" Maybe a restructuring of the people who make these decisions led to somebody who disagreed with the stopping of Kai to make a majority vote to revive it. Maybe a rabid DBZ fan did "favors" for a Toei exec. Maybe the Illuminati decided to fund it, planning to use it to brainwash our children for the lizard people. Maybe Kai did well enough as it was after all and Toei planned this all along to test the waters for direct international marketing of their programs, thus cutting out the middle man (Funimation). Or maybe it's ancient aliens.

[Innagadadavida]

Yo! I'm all about the Buu Saga Kai-ified. And I was always on board with that theory. I remember when Kai was cancelled that it occurred to me that the program could resume production for international markets, I'm pretty sure I even said it (with the examples of Sonic X and Big O). It seemed logical.

But I was pretty damn sure the show wasn't going to get cancelled in the first place. I never placed any hope in the possibility of a continuation because I had already been wrong. That and I was unsure of the numbers. I was only speculating Kai did well overseas based on a few tenuous clues. I didn't know if it was economically viable. Turns out it is! And hooray for that. I'm looking forward to checking out the new version! I'm glad Nicktoons didn't air the DBZ episodes (which was an idea I also once supported).

[RazorX]

Maybe Toei was just waiting to accumulate a certain amount of capital for the project of doing more Kai, or perhaps they didn't want to do it until somebody said, "Eh, what the hell?" Maybe a restructuring of the people who make these decisions led to somebody who disagreed with the stopping of Kai to make a majority vote to revive it. Maybe a rabid DBZ fan did "favors" for a Toei exec. Maybe the Illuminati decided to fund it, planning to use it to brainwash our children for the lizard people. Maybe Kai did well enough as it was after all and Toei planned this all along to test the waters for direct international marketing of their programs, thus cutting out the middle man (Funimation). Or maybe it's ancient aliens.

It looks like you're trying to be a bit snarky. I've provided logical reasoning for my thoughts, if you want to dispute them then by all means, I don't mind a debate on the subject.

Yo! I'm all about the Buu Saga Kai-ified. And I was always on board with that theory. I remember when Kai was cancelled that it occurred to me that the program could resume production for international markets, I'm pretty sure I even said it (with the examples of Sonic X and Big O). It seemed logical.

But I was pretty damn sure the show wasn't going to get cancelled in the first place. I never placed any hope in the possibility of a continuation because I had already been wrong. That and I was unsure of the numbers. I was only speculating Kai did well overseas based on a few tenuous clues. I didn't know if it was economically viable. Turns out it is! And hooray for that. I'm looking forward to checking out the new version! I'm glad Nicktoons didn't air the DBZ episodes (which was an idea I also once supported).

When Kai stopped broadcast, I refused to believe it was cancelled. I desperately wanted a Kai Buu saga mostly because I want to see Ocean dub it. The Ocean dub of the Z Buu saga is by far the greatest dub material and I wanted to see if Ocean can top themselves on that. I went through Toei Animation's annual reports to see how Dragon Ball was doing. What I discovered seemed to validate my view that Dragon Ball Kai would continue.

Oh and I doubt Nicktoons US would've refused the opportunity to broadcast Z Buu. They probably approached Funi about it, who in turn approached Toei, who told Funi to stuff it, who went to Nicktoons and told them to stuff it and that they'll take GT and like it

However, if the Kai Buu saga in Japan is a direct to DVD release, I would be very interested in its sales numbers. I am fairly certain it'd sell better than the previous Kai DVDs. If Toei bring in Hiroshi Takaki for the music (which I hope they do) rather than reuse Kikuchi's music, it should help boost sales.