DBZ Returning to Toonami, Pretty Likely.

[SRB2Unleashed]

First things first: I have NO official statement of this. However, I do have two main supporting factors.

I'll cut to the cream cheese: We all know DBZ's exposure in the US came from Toonami and saturday mornings a year before. We all know Toonami's popularity was involved with Goku and friends. Toonami went off the air in 2008. In 2010, Cartoon Network passed on airing Kai, in which Nicktoons got the series. In 2012, Toonami came back as an April Fools stunt involving DBZ, however it's post revival didn't have the popular beloved anime on the block. Regardless, for every year Toonami has been on air, DBZ has aired at one point. It finally seemed like in 2013, we'd be having our first full year of a DBZ-less Toonami. Recently, that doesn't seem to be the case. As some of you recall, towards the end of spring/beginning of summer, both Z Kai and GT were abruptly pulled from Nicktoons. Most of us assumed this was a temporary thing and rest assured, the shonen will see the light of the day on Nicktoons.

It should be noted that while GT's page is still on the main grid, Dragon Ball Z Kai's show page has been removed from Nicktoons menu. http://nicktoons.nick.com/
At the same time, the toonami tumblr has posted 4 pictures/gifs of Dragon Ball on their page. Now under most circumstances this is just tribute to the great Toonami series as they with most of their shows. But the past tends to repeat itself. Not only is 4 a high amount of photos to be on a tumblr within the span of the week, especially for a show that's not even on the block the same thing happened with Naruto and One Piece. Frequent pictures of the shonen were being reblogged onto the Toonami tumblr as much if not more than their other shows, as with DBZ. What happened shortly after? The shows were announced to return to Toonami and added onto the lineup. The Toonami staff themselves even stated in the past frequent pictures of a show on the tumblr can be viewed as hints.

While it is a shame the series wouldn't be getting a fair treatment on Nicktoons (occasional but huge marathons, weekday evening runs, etc) many casual viewers and long time Toonami fans alike more than likely would enjoy seeing the show return. Jason DeMarco, creator of Toonami even stated at MomoCon back in March they're interested in airing DBZ but couldn't at the time being due to Viacom having the Cable rights. It's been made known for months now the Toonami team has been working on getting a "secret show" on the air and Sword Art Online not being said show. Since it's revival, FUNimation has had a healthy and strong relationship with Adult Swim and Toonami as the block is currently airing their titles such as One Piece, Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Cowboy Bebop in the past year Toonami has also aired Deadman Wonderland, Samurai 7, Casshern Sins and Tenchi Muyo! GXP Not to mention Toonami has aired both Neon Genesis: Evangelion rebuild movies in the past 6 months.

With all this presented, the odds of Toonami airing Dragon Ball once again is likely. For now we can only speculate on where they would start, if they would air the original or Kai, etc.

Opinions, feedback, whatever you guys think on this matter. If Dragon Ball Z truly is returning, it can come as soon as October/November when the show IGPX finishes it's run.

[bkev]

I wouldn't be too surprised.

The question is, 16:9 or stretched 4:3 footage? My money is on the former.

[penguintruth]

Unless it's Kai, I'll be upset. I don't want a whole new generation exposed to that horrible, horrible DBZ English dub.

[El Diabeetus]

Unless it's Kai, I'll be upset. I don't want a whole new generation exposed to that horrible, horrible DBZ English dub.

This echoes my thoughts to a tee. I love the original Z for what it was. But, since they only play things dubbed it should be Kai. Hey, maybe they can inform people that there's such a thing as uncut Kai.

[Hellspawn28]

Unless it's Kai, I'll be upset. I don't want a whole new generation exposed to that horrible, horrible DBZ English dub.

Toonami comes out on late at night. I'm betting most kids under the age of 10 are not old enough to stay up for it. I think Kai is the best choice for Toonami these days since it's a recent show and Toonami tends to play anime that has made in the several years. Kai is lucky to get on Nick Toons because they hardly make anime for kids these days in the US. It's just Pokemon, Bakugan and Yu-Gi-Oh now from what I've seen. Anime now these days are always market for teenagers and young adults. Bleach, FMA and Inuyasha could have been easily edit for kids on Toonami several years ago since they are kid shows in Japan.

[KentalSSJ6]

Unless it's Kai, I'll be upset. I don't want a whole new generation exposed to that horrible, horrible DBZ English dub.

This.

Let the old dub fanbase kill each other in the youtube comments. Toonami needs to nab DBZ Kai and air it uncut. Maybe then, the more ignorant fans will see Kai isnt "just for kids" or "toned down". I have seen so many people and comments who thought Kai only existed on Nicktoons and were shocked there was a uncut version. Plus, its 98 episodes, just under a two year run on Toonami.

[TheGmGoken]

Unless it's Kai, I'll be upset. I don't want a whole new generation exposed to that horrible, horrible DBZ English dub.

Toonami comes out on late at night. I'm betting most kids under the age of 10 are not old enough to stay up for it. I think Kai is the best choice for Toonami these days since it's a recent show and Toonami tends to play anime that has made in the several years. Kai is lucky to get on Nick Toons because they hardly make anime for kids these days in the US. It's just Pokemon, Bakugan and Yu-Gi-Oh now from what I've seen. Anime now these days are always market for teenagers and young adults. Bleach, FMA and Inuyasha could have been easily edit for kids on Toonami several years ago since they are kid shows in Japan.

Kids these days are MUCH less restricted than most kids was in the 90's and early 2000's. So I would't be shocked if they was up. Seeing as most kids are up ALL night. I mean from NIGHT to early AM. From 8PM to 5AM. So I could see kids watching Toonami. But honestly if it's not Kai I would' watch(Not like I watch Toonami anyways). Only because of pacing issues as I can handle the voice acting due to my amvs that forces me to use them. Wonder if they do show Z if it can change people minds can show nostalgia fans have bad it was. Opinion btw. I doubt it could though. However if it's Kai. I can see Nostalgia fans going to war on the internet.

[KentalSSJ6]

Unless it's Kai, I'll be upset. I don't want a whole new generation exposed to that horrible, horrible DBZ English dub.

Toonami comes out on late at night. I'm betting most kids under the age of 10 are not old enough to stay up for it. I think Kai is the best choice for Toonami these days since it's a recent show and Toonami tends to play anime that has made in the several years. Kai is lucky to get on Nick Toons because they hardly make anime for kids these days in the US. It's just Pokemon, Bakugan and Yu-Gi-Oh now from what I've seen. Anime now these days are always market for teenagers and young adults. Bleach, FMA and Inuyasha could have been easily edit for kids on Toonami several years ago since they are kid shows in Japan.

Kids these days are MUCH less restricted than most kids was in the 90's and early 2000's. So I would't be shocked if they was up. Seeing as most kids are up ALL night. I mean from NIGHT to early AM. From 8PM to 5AM. So I could see kids watching Toonami. But honestly if it's not Kai I would' watch(Not like I watch Toonami anyways). Only because of pacing issues as I can handle the voice acting due to my amvs that forces me to use them. Wonder if they do show Z if it can change people minds can show nostalgia fans have bad it was. Opinion btw. I doubt it could though. However if it's Kai. I can see Nostalgia fans going to war on the internet.

Let them go to war. Sooner or later the nostalgia goggles will come off as the newer generation will hopefully be won over with Kai. If they see its uncut then hopefully that will help win them over.

[AgitoZ]

Don't care in any aspect. I don't watch the block nor does it hold the same weight it did. I guess I should worry about newer fans being first exposed to DBZ through its return but those people don't exactly watch Toonami. I honestly don't see the point to it return.

[TheGmGoken]

Let them go to war. Sooner or later the nostalgia goggles will come off as the newer generation will hopefully be won over with Kai. If they see its uncut then hopefully that will help win them over.

I mean let's be fair. They will bash Kai to death, start a petition, and even boycott Toonami just cause it's Kai. I honestly never seen such nostalgia. How can they say other anime(s) have bad voice acting but praise USA Z voice acting. I know it's opinion but that can only go so far until you're blinded by it. Never knew what was so great about OVER 9000!!!(Ocean dub), Mr. Bruce, or talking while there is no talking.

[Fennekin]

The Z Kai page isn't removed off Nicktoons, it's just not appearing on the main page. If they did lose the rights, they would have had to remove it's page entirely.

http://nicktoons.nick.com/shows/dragon-ball-z-kai/

[penguintruth]

Sooner or later the nostalgia goggles will come off

We're talking about DBZ fans.

[KentalSSJ6]

Sooner or later the nostalgia goggles will come off

We're talking about DBZ fans.

Call me a sometimes optimist. I have seen some fans on youtube who defend Kai even after seeing both versions. I myself have gotten various amounts of thumbs ups when commenting against anti-Kai comments. There is hope, its just the Kai supporters on places such as youtube are in a small minority. We need only expand that minority and things should balance out, at least I hope.

[TheGmGoken]

Sooner or later the nostalgia goggles will come off

We're talking about DBZ fans.

Call me a sometimes optimist. I have seen some fans on youtube who defend Kai even after seeing both versions. I myself have gotten various amounts of thumbs ups when commenting against anti-Kai comments. There is hope, its just the Kai supporters on places such as youtube are in a small minority. We need only expand that minority and things should balance out, at least I hope.

Did you just use Youtube DBZ fans .Just kidding a lot of them are honestly cool and follow accurate stuff(Daizenshuu, manga, JPN audio at times, and Kai). It's just so easy to bash something like Kai because honestly. It will NEVER be as popular as Z. Nostalgia > Common sense on Youtube.

[Hellspawn28]

Unless it's Kai, I'll be upset. I don't want a whole new generation exposed to that horrible, horrible DBZ English dub.

Toonami comes out on late at night. I'm betting most kids under the age of 10 are not old enough to stay up for it. I think Kai is the best choice for Toonami these days since it's a recent show and Toonami tends to play anime that has made in the several years. Kai is lucky to get on Nick Toons because they hardly make anime for kids these days in the US. It's just Pokemon, Bakugan and Yu-Gi-Oh now from what I've seen. Anime now these days are always market for teenagers and young adults. Bleach, FMA and Inuyasha could have been easily edit for kids on Toonami several years ago since they are kid shows in Japan.

Kids these days are MUCH less restricted than most kids was in the 90's and early 2000's.

I know a lot of kids who still have to go to bed before 9:00 PM on weekdays and before 11:00 PM on weekends. I remember a group of kids in my neighbor that I baysit back in 2007 had parents that told me that they have to go to bed before 9:00 PM and can't watch Adult Swim.

[Bardo117]

Who even cares about this lol, we all own the series somehow someway by now

[theoriginalbilis]

Not saying this will happen, but if they do re-air DBZ, I think running DBZ Kai uncut would be the best thing for them. It would fit right in with their existing lineup, all of which air pretty much unedited. That, and they can use the uncut, new dub as a good marketing/promotional tool.

[Blade]

The old Funimation dub was enough to capture the hearts and minds of millions, and is probably responsible for the catchment of majority of the fans who post on this site. Plus I think if Toonami were to bring back Dragonball Z it's likely they'd be doing it to play on the the nostalgia of the old audience anyway, which makes the old dub particularly apt.

Kai's dub may be superior, but for me the original material (for the most part) has a better flow and weighting. As a kid I always thought that the long, drawn-out battles contributed positively to the epic nature of the series, my problem with Kai is that it tries to emulate that sometimes to the expense of giving air time to other plot material. Persevering with Z's pacing as an adult can be tedious, but I certainly never had a problem with it when I was younger - and I don't really recall many people who were my age back then who did.

[TheGmGoken]

I know a lot of kids who still have to go to bed before 9:00 PM on weekdays and before 11:00 PM on weekends. I remember a group of kids in my neighbor that I baysit back in 2007 had parents that told me that they have to go to bed before 9:00 PM and can't watch Adult Swim.

That's just a handful of people(Not literally). Trust me. Kids today really do be staying up later by their parents. They're less restrictive. More of them swear now(Starting at age 3), do MUCH more stupid shit, and staying up all damn night.

[Big Green]

DBZ on Toonami would give me purpose to actually watch Toonami, at all.

I like watching episodes in order, and I seem to have missed a lot of the episodes of the shows they are airing now, so basically, if I started to watch what they have now, I'd be completely lost.