FUNimation and Toei announce online streaming of DBZ!

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

And for those of you complaining about complaining... other than that being counter-productive... no, I don't think anyone's incapable of understanding why it is that FUNimation's chosen to go with the dub+broadcast English track for the streaming. It's moderately surprising, though, because of all the strides they've made in the exact opposite direction over the recent years. I mean, that's already been stated several times in this thread.

And yes, they are clearly going after the piracy scene with this. The only way to compete with free is to offer a more-convenient and higher-quality "free", yourself. If you can find a way to make money off of it, great. That's called "a business model".

So what is there to be disappointed in?

Those who spent good money on the Dragonboxes still have value/justification in there products. I know there are sales but even then we are talking about $30+ thrown away now that the show is free online. With this business model you are getting decent quality(at least compared to pirated products) and still the incentive to purchase both Kai and the Dragonboxes.

Sure they are going a step back(I guess) but really they are playing to the bigger crowd. If Youtube and the DB wiki is any indication, there is still a crowed that likes the Falconer score. And while, I know a part of you wants to say "fuck you, I've sat in the corner too long now it's my turn," that doesn't stop them from spamming the hell out of youtube and other video sharing sites with DB clips and idiotic comments praising Falconer for his "awesome" music. I'm so sick of seeing comments like "the Original music is soooo old and stupid." and "falconer's music is epic!!" By choosing to use this score, they discourage the need to post these types of videos online, thus making me a happier person. Besides for those of us here who have purchased the Dragonbox what do we need to watch the streams for?

The only people I feel bad for are the fans who can't afford the Dragonbox, however when they finally can afford it they will be rewarded with a better experience, instead of feeling like their money went to waste.

[jjgp1112]

I mean, the Dragon Box was made for a niche audience. Likely, the exclusion of the dub score from that wasn't them "phasing it out" but just not including it because it'd be pointless to their target audience.

[Sketch]

I fully understand some people are concerned that keeping the Falcouner score around and using it in these streams is a bad thing for new viewers. They would rather FUNimation stream the dub with the original score and never use Falcouner's music again because they never should have produced a different score for the series.

Those people consider supporting the Falcouner score being present with the dub akin to supporting the hackjob dubs of Yu-Gi-Oh! and One Piece. That's not exactly the same thing though, DBZ at least has an uncut dub it just happens to sometimes include the broadcast music.

In my opinion the dub is made no better by including the original music. To put it bluntly, crap with whip cream on it is still crap. Simply including the original music does little for improving that dub as it's just as inconsistent and inaccurate regardless. And I know at least one person who jokingly says "using the original music will make it easier for people to notice how bad the dub is" and that may be true but come on, that's just petty.

Chances are FUNimation is using the Falcouner score because it's what casual DBZ fans have come to expect and want to hear. What they are doing here is no different than both uncut Go-Lion and Voltron or uncut Macross and Robotech getting streamed on the same website. It's to hook nostalgics. Maybe it's not the best way to handle anime but there is certainly money to be made in it. They offer the Japanese version as well to show some love to fans of the unaltered original series though in this case they're dropping the ball there with the cropped poorly remastered video.

The fact of the matter is, as archaic as the practice has become you have to consider that music has been appreciated for over a decade now and while it never needed to exist, it none the less does exist and is part of Dragon Ball Z history just as all dubs and revisions of the material are.

That said I wouldn't mind if they used the original score as that would be par for the course but I'm not going to hide my appreciation that they are using Falcouner's music with the dub. I'm not all that concerned about ruining the first impression of the show for other people. I'm just drinking in the nostalgia. I bought the Dragon Box, there's no Falcouner to be found there and I fully understand why it isn't there. So I'm happy they're using it for the streams but I wouldn't exactly be mad if they didn't. I would have only been slightly surprised either way. I'm slightly surprised they're using the Falcouner score after somewhat phasing it out in recent years and I might have been slightly surprised if the didn't use it because it's a good way to bring in those nostalgic fans.

I'm not the least bit worried about the current anime viewers who have never really looked into DBZ, getting a bad first experience with it and here is why. Kai is in the forefront and FUNimation has done a great job with it IMO. Most of these new viewers tend to have a preference for subs anyway and it's also the most common way people can find to watch streams (dubs are actually in the minority on sites like Hulu). Those youngens watching Naruto, One Piece and Bleach don't have the limitations we did back when DBZ was airing on Toonami. They have the whole internet at their disposal. If they want to see the original they know where to find it. Maybe they wont like the dub at all and if they don't like it I really doubt the music would have made much of a difference in this case. And if they do like the dub is it really that big of a deal? Just be humble in your fandom and bring them into the circle educating them if they saw not fit to educate their selves on the differences and be nice about it. That dilemma isn't exactly new for the people at this board I'm sure. No sense getting bent out of shape about it when the music is the least of issues with that quality and accuracy of that dub.

I know some people think that FUNimation is making some dumb choices here and using the Orange Box footage was a dumb choice but using Falcouner's music shouldn't be considered that big of a deal. It's really not going to harm fandom anymore than that dub already has. Until FUNimation ever gives DBZ a proper redub that problem is going to persist. Just please don't give the new kids the cold shoulder because they're watching an "inferior version".

[Daimo-Rukiri]

After seeing the video's now at the main DBZ website I'm now convinced that the streaming will use the season set footage. Why would FUNimation use "worse" footage of the series when the have the best available prints available? This makes no sense and you can be dammed sure I'll be looking at the site at 6:30 Central time.

Their faux remastered stuff needs to be phased out completely!

[Sketch]

Well many have made the legitimate argument that using the Dragon Box footage would devalue owning the Dragon Box and I agree with this but I'm also willing to share the love so if FUNi used the Dragon Box footage I wouldn't be mad about that.

They should have another option though. The prints they used for the original uncut DVDs should still be around and there's no reason not to use those because even if they think their re-master isn't garbage (and it is) they're still cropping the image and they should know better than that.

[Kaboom]

Yeah, I'd rather they have used the original 4:3 singles' footage, since in most ways those look BETTER than the "remastered" season sets (for DBZ, anyway). I don't want the Dragon Box footage to be devalued by broadcasting either, but using the season sets footage is kind of a step too far in the opposite direction.

Unless, of course, FUNi no longer HAS masters of any kind for those older releases.

[SonEric84]

I don't expect them to (nor do I really care if they did) stream the Dragon Box footage, but I don't think it would devalue it. Part of the draw of owning the Dragon Boxes is, well, actually owning the physical product. Not only do you get the series with amazing footage, but you also have the awesome box/art and books that come with them, which is something a mere stream could never emulate.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

I don't expect them to (nor do I really care if they did) stream the Dragon Box footage, but I don't think it would devalue it. Part of the draw of owning the Dragon Boxes is, well, actually owning the physical product. Not only do you get the series with amazing footage, but you also have the awesome box/art and books that come with them, which is something a mere stream could never emulate.

You have a great point, which is why I've always valued owning physical copies over digital ones. However, there are four Dragonboxes out correct? Assuming you purchased all four at $40 each(the seems to be the average price for the sets), that would make your total spending to be $160. That $160 value would go to waste if Dragonbox quality video showed up for free on the site(especially so soon). Sure you can't fully emulate owning the physical copy but the primary reason for buying the sets would be destroyed(unless you want to spend $40 on a small little info book). This is a person argument now, but I can't really keep up to date with all the releases; I go to college and I have priorities when it comes to spending money. Buying the Dragonbox and owning that awesome package is like a treat to me. To have that "treat" shattered by online streaming would be disheartening in the least. We aren't talking about a ten dollar purchase, we are talking about gas money, food money hell...savings thrown away for something that would now become free.

So, to see that they are using the orange brick quality instead is a bit relieving. You get what you pay for and while free Dragonball is still Dragonball, there will always be room to upgrade when people like me have the money spend.

As for worrying about new fans, I don't think them listening to Falconer would be an issue. Most new fans are fans of Kai and that's the show they'll go to see. Again speaking for myself, but if I was 8-11 years old and was familiar with Kai I wouldn't watch Z. I would probably click the first episode to see what it is but then get confused at the fact that it is just a longer Kai. If anything I'd go to Dragonball and GT and with those Funimation versions, there is nothing to worry about musically.

[SonEric84]

I understand your point, but I still wouldn't be angered by it. Streaming can't match the "magic" of popping the actual DVD into your player and watching it on the big screen. I guess I am just like that about everything digital vs. physical though. I do the same thing with CDs vs. mp3s, and when it comes to video game emulation I never use ROMs unless it is a game which is impossible to own by any other means (such as translations of Japanese RPGs or the BS Zelda games).

Sure, it's free, but you still don't own it if you only stream, so therefore it holds no value. Personally I've paid less than $40 on every Dragon Box release thus far so I wouldn't feel cheated regardless, because actually OWNING the series is more than worth it to me. Especially for that price. Don't get me wrong though, I definitely see your side as I am on a strict budget myself due to some medical issues. Now if they started handing out copies of the Dragon Box for free, then we'd have a problem.

I don't really stream shows that often though, I loathe having to sit in front of the computer to enjoy a show. For people who love the series and can't afford it, or simply have never watched and want to "try before you buy", I guess this is a nice perk. It's too bad they still couldn't use their old 4:3 masters though, because the orange brick footage is just...blah. But hey, I own the whole series so in the end this really doesn't affect me either way. Like you said, it pretty much comes down to personal feelings.

[Cipher]

So, is anyone starting to doubt the accuracy of that Twitter post, having seen that all the current clips feature the English dub with the Kikuchi score?

[Soul]

So, is anyone starting to doubt the accuracy of that Twitter post, having seen that all the current clips feature the English dub with the Kikuchi score?

PenguinTruth had mentioned it, but I think it was just a slip-up by FUNi really. (Heh, "slip-up". Talk about a understatement.)

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

I understand your point, but I still wouldn't be angered by it. Streaming can't match the "magic" of popping the actual DVD into your player and watching it on the big screen. I guess I am just like that about everything digital vs. physical though. I do the same thing with CDs vs. mp3s, and when it comes to video game emulation I never use ROMs unless it is a game which is impossible to own by any other means (such as translations of Japanese RPGs or the BS Zelda games).

Sure, it's free, but you still don't own it if you only stream, so therefore it holds no value. Personally I've paid less than $40 on every Dragon Box release thus far so I wouldn't feel cheated regardless, because actually OWNING the series is more than worth it to me. Especially for that price. Don't get me wrong though, I definitely see your side as I am on a strict budget myself due to some medical issues. Now if they started handing out copies of the Dragon Box for free, then we'd have a problem.

I don't really stream shows that often though, I loathe having to sit in front of the computer to enjoy a show. For people who love the series and can't afford it, or simply have never watched and want to "try before you buy", I guess this is a nice perk. It's too bad they still couldn't use their old 4:3 masters though, because the orange brick footage is just...blah. But hey, I own the whole series so in the end this really doesn't affect me either way. Like you said, it pretty much comes down to personal feelings.

Fair enough, and I agree 100% about owning physical copies over digital ones(it's why I still buy CDs).

[Cipher]

PenguinTruth had mentioned it, but I think it was just a slip-up by FUNi really. (Heh, "slip-up". Talk about a understatement.)

I'm more inclined to think who ever handles Funimation's Twitter was confused by the fairly ambiguous term "broadcast music" than that multiple clips were both put and left up in this way accidentally. But I guess we'll see tonight.

[Soul]

Erm...
It's Kikuchi's score...

[VegettoEX]

Well, that's clearly Kikuchi's score that's playing in this dub version of DBZ episode 15 that's streaming right now. It's whatever dub opening they made at the time (which I have zero familiarity with so I have no idea which numbered one it is)... but yeah.

Huh. The original tweet made it pretty clear going into this:

#DBZ streaming will be uncut eps akin to orange season sets, ENG-dub w/U.S. broadcast music & ENG-sub w/origin JPN music.

Definitely the orange bricks, though.

Well neato, I guess...?

[SonEric84]

Fair enough, and I agree 100% about owning physical copies over digital ones(it's why I still buy CDs).

Well I am glad there are still people who share that old-school sentiment in the "digital age" we live in.

[sniperking323]

Any idea when these go up on Hulu?

[Vegeta1056]

Totally forgot to post this, I was told by Toonzaki, via Facebook, that they will most likely have these episodes, up on there website, via Hulu.

[penguintruth]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't taking some pleasure in the fact that Funimation is using the Kikuchi score for the dub.

Like I said, it doesn't make the dub a good one, but knowing it will irritate people puts a smile on my face. I'd like to be above that, but nobody's perfect.

The weird thing is, they give you a replacement for the OP, but then go into the Kikuchi score. It's a real tease for the replacement score fans. Is Funimation trolling or what?

[Soul]

You couldn't call it trolling because, wasn't that audio still used in the Japanese Sub on the Orange Bricks for the opening right?
I don't think they were able to use Head Cha-La.
Edit: Nevermind, they do.