Dragon Ball Kai Still Kicking Around in Japan?

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

In the build up to Battle of Gods, I noticed a lot of Kai stuff was being advertised (namely the DVDs) and included in the multitude of promotional pamphlets we recieved over the course of the films pre-release. This just struck me as being really bizarre since I was under the impression that they were trying to boot that thing aside and act like it never happened- that's how it felt in the latter half of 2011 through to the start of 2012. They even acknowledge its existence in the Chozenshuu and figures and cards also continue to sport the Kai branding. Maybe I was wrong to make an assumption that Toei would just brush Kai under the rug, but then again it kinda made sense at the time.

It almost seems like they're gearing up for the series to return, except it's supposedly only being broadcast and sold to international audiences. Maybe they wanted to keep it in the public eye, just in case Battle of Gods was successful enough to warrant bringing the rest of the series back home.

I dunno.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I wouldn't be...that...surprised if the Kai-Buu arc ends up airing in Japan after all. True, the plan right now may be to only put it out to international markets, but if "Battle of Gods" does well enough, I suppose there's a small chance Toei might end up saying, ".......Y'know what, let's just put it on TV."

[Insertclevername]

I agree with Black Paladin. The decision to not air it in Japan was made way before the success of BoG. Perhaps they'll reconsider since popularity for the franchise is high?

[Metalwario64]

I think it'd be neat if the Boo arc was aired in Japan. I mean, they seem to be spending an unusual amount of money on it, since we have a new score, and not just lazily reusing Kikuchi for the rest of the series.

[kei17]

It seems that they restarted advertising Kai after re-releasing all the DVDs/Blu-rays with the Kikuchi score in this February. Before that, they had been acting like it never happened.

[JulieYBM]

I wonder if Toei is gearing up to air the Majin Boo episodes on a cable channel? If Dragon Ball Kai still has a re-run slot this would be the best chance to do so.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

The thing is, the Chozenshuu and stuff were obviously printed way before Toei could get any sort of idea on how successful the movie was gonna be. So the decision to revive Kai in Japan can't be based around how much money the movie brings in.

[kei17]

"Reviving Kai" sounds ironical considering that it was to revive Z. Now it needs to be revived even though Z is pretty much alive.

I wonder if Toei is gearing up to air the Majin Boo episodes on a cable channel? If Dragon Ball Kai still has a re-run slot this would be the best chance to do so.

I doubt it will happen because as I said before, in Japan, there rarely are anime shows that go straight to cable/satellite channels especially when it comes to children's programs. Fuji TV Two only repeats what terrestrial Fuji TV has aired, and Animax still repeats DBZ and has never broadcast Kai before. Though, in the beginning of this May, Animax will start airing a new series of Ninja Hattori-kun which was specifically made for India, so it's still not impossible.

[JulieYBM]

I doubt it will happen because as I said before, in Japan, there rarely are anime shows that go straight to cable/satellite channels especially when it comes to children's programs. Fuji TV Two only repeats what terrestrial Fuji TV has aired, and Animax still repeats DBZ and has never broadcast Kai before. Though, in the beginning of this May, Animax will start airing a new series of Ninja Hattori-kun which was specifically made for India, so it's still not impossible.

I see. I do think, though, that with these episodes supposedly being made for broadcast internationally I think it would make sense enough to air these as part of Fuji TV Two's repeat timeslot. I doubt Toei would care to put forth the effort for a marketing run in Japan, anyway, and if you can make a few bucks back home for them anyway they might as well.

[DemonRin]

I think it'd be neat if the Boo arc was aired in Japan. I mean, they seem to be spending an unusual amount of money on it, since we have a new score, and not just lazily reusing Kikuchi for the rest of the series.

Source for this?

I agree tho, it'd be strange for it to NOT air on Japan at some point... I mean, if Toei is making it and therefore has it sitting at their office... why not try to make SOME domestic money on it and get it a time slot?

[songohan619]

I think it'd be neat if the Boo arc was aired in Japan. I mean, they seem to be spending an unusual amount of money on it, since we have a new score, and not just lazily reusing Kikuchi for the rest of the series.

Source for this?

kei17 said so, I believe.

[Cold Skin]

I'm sure the Boo saga will end up being aired in Japan, or I want to believe so anyway.
As you guys said, they are putting efforts into it, why go as far as having a new score if it's not to be able to sell it on a soundtrack - a soundtrack that wouldn't be released for a show that's not available.
And with the Battle of Gods hype, how could they skip the chance to have everyone wanting to watch more about that era on TV?

Since they make the episodes ready to go, they might as well toss them on TV, it can't hurt and can only further promote the franchise and be a chance to show commercials about the Battle of Gods toys currently available.

[Thanos]

Japan's continued vague advertising of Kai is probably so the public (at least those paying attention) is aware that it isn't a dead property. It is, in point of fact, in limbo, so this isn't all that surprising that they don't want it to completely disappear off the radar.