What if 4Kids got DB?

[UltimateHammerBro]

That may have something do to with the fact that they're dealing with Sega in that one, and they might have forced them to keep all the original names. We can only dream about what would have happened if they had dubbed DB. Well, in fact we have one precedent: Harmony Gold. Remember Zero and his friends?

For example, in the anime "Detective Conan" ("Case Closed" in UK and US) Funimation did change many names. However, the Latin American Spanish dub was a lot worse with name changes, and it was eventually revealed that Japan had forced them to do that (which still doesn't explain all the changes between names). It's possible that Toei wouldn't have allowed severe name changes to happen.

[thomas1up]

That may have something do to with the fact that they're dealing with Sega in that one, and they might have forced them to keep all the original names. We can only dream about what would have happened if they had dubbed DB. Well, in fact we have one precedent: Harmony Gold. Remember Zero and his friends?

For example, in the anime "Detective Conan" ("Case Closed" in UK and US) Funimation did change many names. However, the Latin American Spanish dub was a lot worse with name changes, and it was eventually revealed that Japan had forced them to do that (which still doesn't explain all the changes between names). It's possible that Toei wouldn't have allowed severe name changes to happen.

I'll never understand the Harmony Gold name changes since they are even weirder than the Japanese names, Zero... really? Whiskers the Wonder Cat? God no...

I guess they just changed the names because they can, or some other weird legal reason or something....

[Weejus]

Ultimate Muscle
C.U.B.I.X
Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

All of these shows I think should also be added under the "Good" 4Kids dub category. And while YMMV on Yu-Gi-Oh, I think, for the most part it was a good dub. Same with 5D's.

I know this is off topic, but I loved all of those shows! (Even if they changed the title of 'Kinnikuman' completely)

Sorry, just had to get that out there.

Anyway, if 4Kids got the entire licensing rights to DB, provided they kept the FUNi cast like what was done with Vortexx Kai, not much would change as far as a home release is concerned. Of course the TV version of all series would be more aligned to the censorship standards of Vortexx Kai.

[Valerius Dover]

^I think the OP was talking about getting the series in terms of having their cast and their composers and Fox's strict edits. Honestly, I don't hate their dubs (just see my signature) especially since I'm always going to end up seeing the original anyway.

[thomas1up]

^I think the OP was talking about getting the series in terms of having their cast and their composers and Fox's strict edits. Honestly, I don't hate their dubs (just see my signature) especially since I'm always going to end up seeing the original anyway.

I hate 4kids just because of the fact they refuse to ever release uncut versions, if they did I wouldn't care about their dubs so long as I can legally watch the Japanese version, even though their Yu-Gi-Oh dub was my childhood I'd have much rather grown up on the Singapore dub or Japanese Sub.

People give Funimation a lot of shit for their stupid choices but they are definitely better than the likes of 4kids.

[Valerius Dover]

^As you stated, the lack of uncut releases is the only thing that really bugs me. Some of their series don't even have fansubs. The weird thing is that Al Kahn said that uncut releases would be available at some point when asked about it in an interview. However, I don't think he had any clue what he was talking about. Every series they've done have the music clearly synced to the edited version, proving that they have not even recorded uncut versions. I'm not familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh or Shaman King, but I have heard the first few episodes of those were released uncut. How did they handle this?

[thomas1up]

^As you stated, the lack of uncut releases is the only thing that really bugs me. Some of their series don't even have fansubs. The weird thing is that Al Kahn said that uncut releases would be available at some point when asked about it in an interview. However, I don't think he had any clue what he was talking about. Every series they've done have the music clearly synced to the edited version, proving that they have not even recorded uncut versions. I'm not familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh or Shaman King, but I have heard the first few episodes of those were released uncut. How did they handle this?

The uncut episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh were actually very well done, the original music was kept in-tact and the script is very, very close to the original (Kai levels) but they cancelled them after 3 volumes (9 episodes) such a shame too.

[Valerius Dover]

^Oh, so they completely redubbed it, like Funi's 90s Tree of Might dubs? That's oddly out of character, it would seem. I think I heard their releases were canceled because they were "competing" with their edited releases.......I'm not even going to begin to go into what's wrong with that.

[ImmaDeker]

The uncut episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh were actually very well done,

The acting was a bit weak (the voice actors seemed so tired) and the scripts were very stilted.

[theoriginalbilis]

The acting was a bit weak (the voice actors seemed so tired) and the scripts were very stilted.

I'd rather have a slightly lethargic dub with an overly-literal script over "How-They-Lied-O'-Vision" any day of the week. But that's just me...

[ImmaDeker]

The acting was a bit weak (the voice actors seemed so tired) and the scripts were very stilted.

I'd rather have a slightly lethargic dub with an overly-literal script over "How-They-Lied-O'-Vision" any day of the week. But that's just me...

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster's dub isn't even really that bad. Hell, it improves on the source material in some places

I say this as an embarrassingly obsessive Yu-Gi-Oh! fan.

[Valerius Dover]

Ok, going back to 4Kids DB.

I honestly don't think it'd be that different from when Funimation originally had it. The difference is that it would've stayed that way.

[ChibiGoku]

I thought I should clear up something regarding 4Kids and Uncut releases:

Although for one reason or another, the uncut DVD releases of Shaman King and Yu-Gi-Oh! were halted, they were never against releasing uncut versions of the anime they produced: Problem is, because of how they produce their productions, doing a proper release with the right materials wasn't feasible at the time. However, come around 2008-09, 4Kids Entertainment began to experiment with streaming of their shows. Down the road, they opted to try and stream subtitled shows of series that they had produced, which included Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, 5D's, and Zexal, plus Sonic X. Although Sonic X was the only one that finished, Yu-Gi-Oh!'s subtitles are still being worked on, though there isn't any ETA as to when they'll be finished, partially due to new ownership of the property and management change.

4Kids during it's last years as it's own entity, seemed like they really intended to change. In fact, with plans with the Vortexx, they seemingly wanted to become more Anime friendly and co-work with other distributors, not just their own. They wanted to become more friendly towards the fans, they were reaching out to various communities, via facebook, youtube, and even being interviews by Anime News Network, plus getting ad space on there as well. However, due to complications that surrounded the company at the time, such as the whole lawsuit surrounding the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, plus the financial situation over there at the time, things just happened a little too late.

Honestly, if 4Kids had acquired Dragon Ball, it probably would've taken them years to release it uncut, but it would've probably happened down the road. But as it stands now, 4Kids is now a relic of the past, with other companies to fill their shoes forming (Saban Brands, Dentsu USA, and companies like Nelvana and the like still existing). They still exist, but to what capacity, is unknown. They still hold the license to several shows, but I'm unsure if they'll actually try to acquire new content or even do anything with what they already have on hand.