Ocean Studios' "Dragon Ball Kai" Dub Turns 16; Still Unreleased

[Mewzard]

Well, I imagine Ocean would still have to go through Funi for a home release, so how that would work would be interesting (unlike the old days where Ocean Dub got some wider releasing, their Kai dub seems to have far less places to release).

I can't imagine they put in all the work they did just for a dub that will only air on one channel in Canada (unless they end up getting some merchandising money from the deal, then I could see it) and no home release or international release.

...I suppose they could have negotiated something with Funimation ages ago, given they were involved in the editing of the Funi Kai dub for TV.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I totally forgot about the "Canadian content" law, and I'm beginning to wonder if that's the reason that the Ocean dub was produced (and I'll believe that more strongly if it ends up airing exclusively on Canadian TV). I also wouldn't be surprised if this dub was intended to be released much sooner, but that some sort of technical or legal snafu has prevented it from being released.

[Super Sayian Prime]

Canadian content laws wouldn't restrict Funimation's dub of Dragon Ball from airing in this country. There was a brief time when YTV actually aired Funimation's US produced dub of Z, and ultimately at the end of the day, Dragon Ball is still a foreign show. A Canadian dub would only make it less of a foreign show, but the system is weighted and it wouldn't count as much as a fully Canadian production.

The only way that could come into play is if someone decided to create a Dragon Ball television channel or regularly devote more than half of their broadcast day to the series. No one is going to do that.

[NitroEX]

My basic understanding of it is that broadcasters must have around 60% of content that counts as Canadian and that includes shows partially produced by Canadians (correct me if I'm wrong here). We of course know the voices are going to be Canadian but we also know the music will be Canadian too and that's not including the possibly new Canadian script and who knows if the additional sound effects count towards this. My point is surely this production would be Canadian enough to justify it filling that quota and not merely being a foreign show.

I have no idea what went on during the time when the Funimation dub aired over there but maybe the quota was already filled at that time by other shows perhaps? Either that or Dameon Clarke (who is Canadian) somehow allowed the show a free pass? Who knows, I'm just theorising at this point.

[TheBalishChannel]

My basic understanding of it is that broadcasters must have around 60% of content that counts as Canadian and that includes shows partially produced by Canadians (correct me if I'm wrong here). We of course know the voices are going to be Canadian but we also know the music will be Canadian too and that's not including the possibly new Canadian script and who knows if the additional sound effects count towards this. My point is surely this production would be Canadian enough to justify it filling that quota and not merely being a foreign show.

I have no idea what went on during the time when the Funimation dub aired over there but maybe the quota was already filled at that time by other shows perhaps? Either that or Dameon Clarke (who is Canadian) somehow allowed the show a free pass? Who knows, I'm just theorising at this point.

I don't even think the whole "Canadian Content" issue is even a thing. Does it apply to every show that graces Canadian television? If I catch a re-run of House, for example, on a Canadian network is it going to have re-dubbed voices, different scripts, artificial sound effects, and a redone music score?

[NitroEX]

I don't even think the whole "Canadian Content" issue is even a thing. Does it apply to every show that graces Canadian television? If I catch a re-run of House, for example, on a Canadian network is it going to have re-dubbed voices, different scripts, artificial sound effects, and a redone music score?

No, I don't think it would affect popular American shows at all. I think the broadcasters just have to make sure their whole channel lineup isn't comprised of only foreign shows and has Canadian produced content on there as well to balance it out. I believe even Canadian advertisements and promos count towards this.

Maybe this isn't an issue at all but if it wasn't you'd assume they'de have just aired the Funimation version by now and an Ocean version wouldn't need to be made. It clearly hasn't been made for a UK or US audience since Kix aired the Funimation version and the Toonami promos indicate the same on that channel.

[eledoremassis02]

Lord Beerus kinda touched on this

buuuuuut...what if U.S Toonami airs Ocean Kai until Goku defeats Racoom and then they just play those episodes for years until finally finishing it off with with Funi. How's that for Toonami nostalgia??

In all seriousness, I wonder if FUNi is backing or has any rights to this dub (content, script, etc) I wonder if they had a say where it does and the U.S getting Kai (FUNi) on Toonami coincides with who gets the Canadian dub? I mean, it was kind of a shock to see Kai going back to Cartoon Network here in the states.

Also, what about the Philippines or Singapore? Have they gotten Kai yet??

[Super Sayian Prime]

Maybe this isn't an issue at all but if it wasn't you'd assume they'de have just aired the Funimation version by now and an Ocean version wouldn't need to be made.

The real assumption here is that you think a Canadian television network would want to air Dragon Ball Kai. Canada's equivalent to an Adult Swim/Toonami block ended prior to Kai even airing in the US and well before we caught a whiff about Ocean's dub. Since that departure, no mainstream Canadian broadcaster has aired an anime series (dubbed in Canada or otherwise) that didn't have an extensive line of merchandise propping it up.

A show like Dragon Ball currently has no outlet in Canada. That could change, but the fact that it's taken this long should be proof that Kai's Canadian dub wasn't produced because of broadcast laws.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Maybe this isn't an issue at all but if it wasn't you'd assume they'de have just aired the Funimation version by now and an Ocean version wouldn't need to be made.

The real assumption here is that you think a Canadian television network would want to air Dragon Ball Kai. Canada's equivalent to an Adult Swim/Toonami block ended prior to Kai even airing in the US and well before we caught a whiff about Ocean's dub. Since that departure, no mainstream Canadian broadcaster has aired an anime series (dubbed in Canada or otherwise) that didn't have an extensive line of merchandise propping it up.

A show like Dragon Ball currently has no outlet in Canada. That could change, but the fact that it's taken this long should be proof that Kai's Canadian dub wasn't produced because of broadcast laws.

Well in that case, maybe the holdup has been that the producers of the Ocean dub expected to immediately find a TV station in Canada that would air the dub (using, "c'mon, how hard could it be, this is Dragon Ball"-logic), only to keep being told "no, we're not interested." Then perhaps they decided to pass the time by recording more episodes while they kept searching for a network...only to complete the entire show prior to the Buu arc and still not have a network to air it on.

[Bananape]

Canada's equivalent to an Adult Swim/Toonami block ended prior to Kai even airing in the US and well before we caught a whiff about Ocean's dub. Since that departure, no mainstream Canadian broadcaster has aired an anime series (dubbed in Canada or otherwise) that didn't have an extensive line of merchandise propping it up.

Teletoon at Night?

Teletoon is practically the Canadian counterpart of Cartoon Network and Teletoon at Night is the Canadian counterpart of [adult swim]. There is one key difference. The producers of the Toonami block don't get paid anything from [adult swim] to make it. Everything they make, from the promos to the bumpers are made for free. Even Steve Blum voices TOM and doesn't get paid. But because the producers knew the payoff from the ratings would be huge, they took that risk. Teletoon at Night probably wouldn't be as successful since Canadians ratings for one show are typically lower than the American ratings for that exact same show, mainly due to population.

So while I don't expect a Canadian Toonami anytime soon, I could still see Teletoon at Night airing Ocean's Z Kai, just not on a block dedicated to anime.

[Super Sayian Prime]

Yes, I imagine if Dragon Ball ever returns to television in this country it'll be on Teletoon. Right now that's only speculation, though. The only anime currently on that network are YTV's former merch shows.

[ChibiGoku]

. Even Steve Blum voices TOM and doesn't get paid.

He gets paid. Not much, but he gets paid. I think it has to do with him being unionized.

[Bananape]

. Even Steve Blum voices TOM and doesn't get paid.

He gets paid. Not much, but he gets paid. I think it has to do with him being unionized.

Really? I remember near Toonami's actual revival, not the April Fool's airing, that he returned to do TOM for free. Did that change recently?

[ChibiGoku]

. Even Steve Blum voices TOM and doesn't get paid.

He gets paid. Not much, but he gets paid. I think it has to do with him being unionized.

Really? I remember near Toonami's actual revival, not the April Fool's airing, that he returned to do TOM for free. Did that change recently?

Pretty sure the Toonami guys said that he gets paid.

[Bananape]

Pretty sure the Toonami guys said that he gets paid.

I distinctly remember Steve Blum or Jason DeMarco stating that Blum had returned to voice TOM for no money at the beginning of Toonami's return on May 26, 2012. Maybe he eventually got paid for it after a while, but I'm 99.9% sure I heard he got paid nothing to voice TOM at the beginning and only did it out of his love and support for the Toonami block.

[Kirbopher]

I hate to be "that guy" again, but I've got a pessimistic theory going on right now...

I've noticed that Tockar has been retweeting Toonami's announcements of Kai coming back on the network. Does Toonami have any air time in Canada anymore? I don't think they do (but correct me if I'm wrong). So he may just think that he's been given the clear to announce that he's Freeza because he thinks the project is on the verge of airing, what with seeing all this Kai-related activity on Twitter...when in reality, he (innocently) doesn't understand the whole situation, and the Ocean dub is still not going to air in the immediate future.

After all, it needs to be remembered that the dub has still not been officially announced, so we shouldn't really treat his tweet as an announcement.

I'm inclined to agree with this theory, so I sent out some tweets to Lee to ask if that might be the case and if he knows anything yet.

I love how DBZ Kai is the series of "Oh, I thought we were allowed to talk about that! Whoops!" accidental transparency.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I love how DBZ Kai is the series of "Oh, I thought we were allowed to talk about that! Whoops!" accidental transparency.

I know, right? It's arguably the worst-kept secret in the history of anything Dragon Ball-related.

[Kirbopher]

https://twitter.com/leetockar/status/531831072376758272

Boom. He also said he'd call his agent this morning to find some further info; biggest "lead" we've had since Scott. Also maybe give 'em a follow if you're on the twatter.

[Ajay]

I am so excited to hear his Freeza. I just gave his Voice Acting 101 video a watch. Weird guy...but damn, he is seriously talented! Some of his accents were absolutely spot-on. His voice also has that natural crack to it that I'm hoping he used to convey the total insanity of Freeza at times.

[NitroEX]

After browsing his previous roles I noticed he played Half Life in the 2003 Hulk video game. I predict his Freeza will be close to that but minus the rasp and with the calmer tone that we expect from Freeza.

For example at 0:20 when he says "stop playing games" I can definitely imagine those words coming out of Freeza's mouth. The rest is a little too raspy to tell but the voice is tailored to Half Life so obviously his Freeza will have less of that. I recall someone mentioning something along the lines of his performance had a Mark Hamill quality to it so by that alone I expect good things.