"Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters" FUNimation English Dub Official Announcement and Discussion Thread

[ShadowDude112]

I believe the reason is because Japan and North America share the same Blu-ray region. So the Japanese could theoretically import FUNimation's version. Although, it's strange cause the version that aired in Japan is different than the international version. So, it's more Toei being stupid than anything else. France was able to release it cause they have a different region code for Blu-rays.

[Valerius Dover]

Then why was this not the case for Kai 1.0? It started airing in Japan in April of 2009, and the first releases in the US were already starting to come out in May of 2010. No idea when it was actually announced, though, since I wasn't a fan back then and the site doesn't seem to mention it anywhere. Going by the 2014-2015 equivalent, it's been longer than that without any word.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

Then why was this not the case for Kai 1.0? It started airing in Japan in April of 2009, and the first releases in the US were already starting to come out in May of 2010. No idea when it was actually announced, though, since I wasn't a fan back then and the site doesn't seem to mention it anywhere. Going by the 2014-2015 equivalent, it's been longer than that without any word.

Perhaps that is the reason right there, the first Blu-rays for Kai starting coming out Sep '09 and as you said FUNi starting coming out May '10 so maybe TOEI noticed sales dropping and they didn't want to take the risk again with this?

[ChibiGoku]

Then why was this not the case for Kai 1.0? It started airing in Japan in April of 2009, and the first releases in the US were already starting to come out in May of 2010. No idea when it was actually announced, though, since I wasn't a fan back then and the site doesn't seem to mention it anywhere. Going by the 2014-2015 equivalent, it's been longer than that without any word.

Perhaps that is the reason right there, the first Blu-rays for Kai starting coming out Sep '09 and as you said FUNi starting coming out May '10 so maybe TOEI noticed sales dropping and they didn't want to take the risk again with this?

I seriously doubt DVD/BD sales for Toei are much of a concern. The biggest market is the merchandising part of the franchise. Most long running shows tend to do poor in the DVD/BD market, while succeed elsewhere.

[Samwize78]

Let's all just take a deep breath here. This is just one of many other cons this summer, with many other opportunities for an announcement. Whether it be announced at a con or through their release schedule for the fall, the dub will be coming sometime in the near future (most likely 2016 now, but hey what can ya do).

Just because The Final Chapters wasn't announced at Anime Expo doesn't mean it's gone the way of Ocean Kai.

[DBZ_Lee]

Seeing as we know Sean Schemmel tied up recording only a few weeks ago, it is possible of course that they are still recording. I highly doubt they will wait until 2017.

[Darkblade1995]

But Sean Schemmel was already recording lines back in 2013 April. How much is there left to record then if he started ages ago?

[ShaneisMC]

so did anyone ever manage to find out anything at the convention this weekend? casually meeting a cast member an asking or just anything? Or was no one at that whole convention able to or smart enough to ask if given the opportunity?

[funrush]

But Sean Schemmel was already recording lines back in 2013 April. How much is there left to record then if he started ages ago?

For all we know, maybe Toei was taking a long time to animate the episodes, and Funi just got the last batch?

[Valerius Dover]

But Sean Schemmel was already recording lines back in 2013 April. How much is there left to record then if he started ages ago?

For all we know, maybe Toei was taking a long time to animate the episodes, and Funi just got the last batch?

Again, the guys in France have already had their entire thing for a long time, so I don't think that could be it. Whatever it is, the ball is clearly in Funi's park, and not Toei's.

[DBZ_Lee]

They know they've already failed the demand for this product. That's most likely the reason why they aren't in a hurry to announce this.
FUNi say DBZ is a big part of everything they do, yet they are very slow to get this done, and I have no idea when they'll announce Super.

[ShadowDude112]

But Sean Schemmel was already recording lines back in 2013 April. How much is there left to record then if he started ages ago?

For all we know, maybe Toei was taking a long time to animate the episodes, and Funi just got the last batch?

Kai is already animated. It's just reused Z footage mastered in HD. This is just either FUNimation being lazy or Toei saying that FUNimation can't release Buu Kai until Toei says they can.

[sintzu]

Does the French release have an English sub option ?

[TheBlackPaladin]

But Sean Schemmel was already recording lines back in 2013 April. How much is there left to record then if he started ages ago?

Schemmel may not be the best way to measure the dub's progress, since he doesn't live in Dallas (where the dub is recorded), and has to fly in periodically to do his recordings in batches, unlike the rest of the Dallas-based cast, who can record more consistently. Same deal for Kyle Hebert.

Does the French release have an English sub option ?

Nope. It's exceedingly rare that any release other than an official English release would feature English subtitles.

Rare, but of course, not unheard of. The Hong Kong release of Battle of Gods, which came out on home video before the official FUNimation release, had English subtitles. I'm told they were not as good as the ones we eventually got from FUNimation, but that they were passable.

[DBZ_Lee]

They won't be announcing this anytime soon. This whole situation has been a mess from start to finish for FUNi. It is an odd situation, as there is high demand for the product, but FUNi doesn't seem to care about it.

[sayian_nation_]

Would Funi really not release the last Arc of Z to the public, leaving the set incomplete? Yea they may have done it before but I mean we are talking about the last Arc of the series....could they just do that? I believe they won't I'm sure it will surface.

[TheBlackPaladin]

It is an odd situation, as there is high demand for the product, but FUNi doesn't seem to care about it.

Again, though, FUNi may not be the problem. It could be that Toei gave them an order to hold off until a certain date, or for some reason.

It wouldn't be the first time a weird order from above has been made. It was revealed (not sure when....but at least) a year ago that Kix, the UK TV network that airs Kai, was aware of the Ocean dub, but Toei did not give them the option to use it. They said it had to be FUNimation's dub or they didn't get the show.

[DBZ_Lee]

It is an odd situation, as there is high demand for the product, but FUNi doesn't seem to care about it.

Again, though, FUNi may not be the problem. It could be that Toei gave them an order to hold off until a certain date, or for some reason.

It wouldn't be the first time a weird order from above has been made. It was revealed (not sure when....but at least) a year ago that Kix, the UK TV network that airs Kai, was aware of the Ocean dub, but Toei did not give them the option to use it. They said it had to be FUNimation's dub or they didn't get the show.

There could be a multitude of reasons, as the English dub affects many regions. I just don't see why Toei would prevent them from announcing it, they didn't do it with the first Series.

Dubbing began while it was still airing in Japan, and Nicktoons were showing it while it was still airing.

This is the reason as to why I believe it is more down to FUNi not announcing it, which could be due to them wanting a TV deal.

[BojGrass]

I won't pretend I know how TV deals work, but I'd imagine it could also be that there's something in their agreement with Cartoon Network that says they can't put any home releases out until after it airs or after a certain amount of time has passed from the time they signed the contract. Not unless the deal they signed specifically said "Dragon Ball Z Kai," then they might could get away with saying "Dragon Ball Z Kai: the Final Chapters" is technically a new property. This also works off the assumption that they've had this done for a while and that Buu Kai is ready to go and they simply haven't pulled the trigger on it. It could easily be that none of this is the case as well.

[sintzu]

Funimation are having an hour and a half panal at comic con tomorrow so hopefully they'll announce it there.