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

[Daimo-Rukiri]

There better be home releases otherwise really, what's the point? Almost everything get's a home release.

Yes ocean does have experience, but it's always been the complete opposite with Dragon Ball. Almost every time DB is touched by the English market it get's messed up. I think it's best if ocean does a complete re-casting.
Who honestly cares if Brian or Scott doesn't return? But, replaced by someone who actually sounds like the f****** character.

[Mewzard]

This is a very irritating thing you do a lot. How do you know anything Ocean "would" or "might" do is automatically so much better than what FUNimation is doing? Do you have a crystal ball? Hey, could you tell me what kind of career I'm going to have later in life...?

That's what happens when you barge in to attack me without even reading my post . Now go back and read it again, see if you can find my reasoning behind my statement. Hint, it begins with a B and ends with a R. Aside from that, you can see what Ocean did for the scripts of some of their other dubs, such as Death Note. It's not like it was difficult for a professional dubbing studio to create a better script than Funi, taking into account how Funi's Z script ended up being. None of the rubbish involving crystal balls.

When was this confirmed? As far as I remember from the credits on FUNimation's DVDs, the only time anyone from the Ocean dub was credited was on the redub of seasons 1 and 2, as they reused a lot of the old script verbatim (a big mistake IMO, but that's not the point.)

They are listed in Funi's credits for the Cell and Buu sagas. I posted a video a few weeks ago to show someone, but you can easily look at Funi's credits.

I'm not sure what you mean. What do people who don't speak English have to do with the Ocean dub?

Ocean's dub aired in some non-English speaking countries, I know that the Netherlands even had Dutch subtitles on their Ocean dub broadcast.

Once again, you do realize that, outside of Z, Funi has had many, many good dubs, right? And Kai has been a good dub. So, aside from preferences, I hardly see how you could know that Ocean's dub would be so good, when there are so many factors that could be bad. Bad casting could occur, they could decide to aim for a younger audience right off the bat (and no DVD would mean edited only dub if that occurs), the music could be replaced (and that would be bad, especially if it's from some 80s/90s cartoon), there's potential for problems, just as there is potential for a great dub. You can't just assume one way or another. It could be anything.

And Ocean working with Funi on the scripts doesn't make Ocean look any better, the scripts were okay at times, but not nearly as good as Funi has been doing on their own with Kai.

And I'm curious, why would a non-English speaking country air the Ocean Dub with Subtitles? If you're going to do subtitles, why not use the original product?

And I doubt Kirby would forget about AB, he mentioned a new company when he did mention it. There's still the risk that a deal could fall through. I'm still disappointed that they never finalized and never made Freddy vs Jason vs Ash... : /

But, that aside, do we have any clips or links on Kirby's mentioning of Kai post-original interview?

And I don't think Ocean can legally release North American DVDs due to Funi's owning that. Funi would have to sub-license to Ocean, wouldn't they? We'd probably see Funi DVDs in Canada in any case, with DVDs in European countries that air it, if it is made.

[Daimo-Rukiri]

I think FUNi would allow a sub-license for DVDs as they'd get profit regardless.
Or, they could do tripple audio as many Hollywood DVDs do that. This would mean though that FUNi would have to re-launch any DVD/Blu-ray with Ocean(Uncut) audio.

I do think FUNi would do this as it'd please everyone but c'mon we know FUNi right? Plus, doesn't FUNi own rights for North Amercia? That also includes Canada.

Though It'd be funny if Viz was the "new" company but it's really the only company that I can think of, well they did amazing with InuYasha and Death-Note

[RazorX]

There better be home releases otherwise really, what's the point? Almost everything get's a home release.

Yes ocean does have experience, but it's always been the complete opposite with Dragon Ball. Almost every time DB is touched by the English market it get's messed up. I think it's best if ocean does a complete re-casting.
Who honestly cares if Brian or Scott doesn't return? But, replaced by someone who actually sounds like the f****** character.

The entire Ocean fanbase would care. Scott McNeil and Brian Drummond are 2 of the most popular DBZ VAs for Ocean fans, I can say that because of my discussions over the years, plus the fact that Scott and Brian get asked to do their Piccolo and Vegeta voices at conventions, even if the theme is not DBZ.

Ocean needs to keep the vast majority of their Kai cast the same as their Z dub. If they don't bring back Scott McNeil and Brian Drummond, I cannot see their Kai dub being better than their Z dub. Don't fix what isn't broken, don't change what is perfect. In my view, Brian Drummond as Vegeta and Scott McNeil as Piccolo are perfect English DBZ/DB Kai castings.

Once again, you do realize that, outside of Z, Funi has had many, many good dubs, right? And Kai has been a good dub. So, aside from preferences, I hardly see how you could know that Ocean's dub would be so good, when there are so many factors that could be bad. Bad casting could occur, they could decide to aim for a younger audience right off the bat (and no DVD would mean edited only dub if that occurs), the music could be replaced (and that would be bad, especially if it's from some 80s/90s cartoon), there's potential for problems, just as there is potential for a great dub. You can't just assume one way or another. It could be anything.

How does Funi supposedly having good dubs for other Anime help their Z dub?

I'm expecting Ocean's Kai dub to be good based on Ocean's track record and, more importantly, Ocean's work on DBZ.

And Ocean working with Funi on the scripts doesn't make Ocean look any better, the scripts were okay at times, but not nearly as good as Funi has been doing on their own with Kai.

And I'm curious, why would a non-English speaking country air the Ocean Dub with Subtitles? If you're going to do subtitles, why not use the original product?

I didn't say working with Funi on the scripts made Ocean look good, if anything I implied such an arrangement made Ocean look bad.

I can't say 100% why but I would think they were very happy with Ocean's DBZ dub and chose to broadcast it with their own language subtitles.

[penguintruth]

I like Scott McNeil and Brian Drummond, and do think there's no reason to fix what's not broken, but I would hardly say they're "perfect". They certainly weren't "perfect" in the later Westwood dub. But I can't put my finger on why. McNeil's performance in the first three movies hold up nicely, but he's not that great in the Westwood dub. It's like he actually got worse. Willems directed it, didn't he?

Admittedly, though, my experience with the Westwood dub is clips on YouTube.

Ocean makes a decent dub for most shows they do, though. Not amazing dubs, but decent ones. They're about as good as Funimation overall. I still prefer LA dubs, Animaze and Bang Zoom.

(Though given GT Final Bout, I don't think Steven Blum would have made such a great Goku.)

[Attitudefan]

Well about changing the VA's, that would be like changing FUNi's Goku or Vegeta. The fans would hate that!

Having a multidub DVD would be THE SMARTEST move that FUNi would do. Imagine, you make everybody happy; the sub fans and both English dub fans. I would do that if I were running the DBkai dvd releases. It's a win-win situation.

[RazorX]

I like Scott McNeil and Brian Drummond, and do think there's no reason to fix what's not broken, but I would hardly say they're "perfect". They certainly weren't "perfect" in the later Westwood dub. But I can't put my finger on why. McNeil's performance in the first three movies hold up nicely, but he's not that great in the Westwood dub. It's like he actually got worse. Willems directed it, didn't he?

Admittedly, though, my experience with the Westwood dub is clips on YouTube.

Ocean makes a decent dub for most shows they do, though. Not amazing dubs, but decent ones. They're about as good as Funimation overall. I still prefer LA dubs, Animaze and Bang Zoom.

(Though given GT Final Bout, I don't think Steven Blum would have made such a great Goku.)

I cannot see anyone else doing a better Vegeta and Piccolo than Brian Drummond and Scott McNeil. Also they were great in the Buu saga. Listen to Piccolo's attempts to convince Super Buu to wait an extra day before fighting Gotenks for example. McNeil exhibits the confidence as Piccolo tempts Buu, yet you can sense the desperation in his voice, as well as the realisation when his actions lead to Buu's extinction attack. For Vegeta, you can listen to Drummond in episode "Union of Rivals" especially his "The saiyan prince will not fall again." There are many examples, you can judge a lot better if you watch whole episodes as opposed to youtube clips. Ocean's Buu saga is better acted than their movies 1-3.

ANN has Willems as the director but McNeil supposedly mentioned they went through a couple of directors, not sure how much ground this rumour holds as I have not seen him quote it directly.

If Bang Zoom make good Anime dubs, why was their DB Final Bout game dub so bad?

[Mewzard]

The entire Ocean fanbase would care. Scott McNeil and Brian Drummond are 2 of the most popular DBZ VAs for Ocean fans, I can say that because of my discussions over the years, plus the fact that Scott and Brian get asked to do their Piccolo and Vegeta voices at conventions, even if the theme is not DBZ.

Ocean needs to keep the vast majority of their Kai cast the same as their Z dub. If they don't bring back Scott McNeil and Brian Drummond, I cannot see their Kai dub being better than their Z dub. Don't fix what isn't broken, don't change what is perfect. In my view, Brian Drummond as Vegeta and Scott McNeil as Piccolo are perfect English DBZ/DB Kai castings.

How does Funi supposedly having good dubs for other Anime help their Z dub?

I'm expecting Ocean's Kai dub to be good based on Ocean's track record and, more importantly, Ocean's work on DBZ.

I didn't say working with Funi on the scripts made Ocean look good, if anything I implied such an arrangement made Ocean look bad.

I can't say 100% why but I would think they are very happy with Ocean's dub and chose to broadcast it with their own language subtitles.

Well, if they do bring in a better script, and good voice actors, it could still be better. But, you want both, and I won't fault you that. You losing Drummond and McNeil is like me losing Schemmel and Sabat, it defeats the purpose of a Kai dub.

Not supposedly, Funi has done many excellent dubs. It helps in the matter that Z was their first Dub, they've improved greatly over the years, and have brought some of that to Kai.

That still seems strange. Conceptually, it makes more sense to watching the original subbed or producing their own dub.

[penguintruth]

If Bang Zoom make good Anime dubs, why was their DB Final Bout game dub so bad?

Clearly nearly no effort was put into it.

Also, even Bang Zoom and Animaze have put out a couple of bad dubs which are not indicative of their overall quality.

[Attitudefan]

Yeah, subbing Ocean dub in another language seems way weird, but if you see the Polish/Czech dubs oh boy!!! It's just a monotone voice over French voice acting. WTF man! Anyways, I don't see why Ocean would make a bad Kai dub. It's a pretty big studio with plenty of talent, I don't see the need to worry unless it's super rushed again.

[RazorX]

Well, if they do bring in a better script, and good voice actors, it could still be better. But, you want both, and I won't fault you that. You losing Drummond and McNeil is like me losing Schemmel and Sabat, it defeats the purpose of a Kai dub.

Not supposedly, Funi has done many excellent dubs. It helps in the matter that Z was their first Dub, they've improved greatly over the years, and have brought some of that to Kai.

That still seems strange. Conceptually, it makes more sense to watching the original subbed or producing their own dub.

Funi's experience up to this point certainly helped their DB Kai dub. And I think Funi's realisation of their mistakes in their Z dub also helped, as Sabat and Schemmel mentioned.

I don't see any reason why Ocean's scripts won't be accurate. The accurate Blue Water DBGT & DB dubs were produced in association with Ocean, who probably worked in some capacity on the scripts.

As far as DVD/Blu ray releases of Ocean's Kai dub, it's certainly possible in Europe. Maybe even in Canada. If Canada can broadcast the Ocean dub despite Funi's rights, there may be a way to get it released there too.

[Mewzard]

Well, if they do bring in a better script, and good voice actors, it could still be better. But, you want both, and I won't fault you that. You losing Drummond and McNeil is like me losing Schemmel and Sabat, it defeats the purpose of a Kai dub.

Not supposedly, Funi has done many excellent dubs. It helps in the matter that Z was their first Dub, they've improved greatly over the years, and have brought some of that to Kai.

That still seems strange. Conceptually, it makes more sense to watching the original subbed or producing their own dub.

Funi's experience up to this point certainly helped their DB Kai dub. And I think Funi's realisation of their mistakes in their Z dub also helped, as Sabat and Schemmel mentioned.

I don't see any reason why Ocean's scripts won't be accurate. The accurate Blue Water DBGT & DB dubs were produced in association with Ocean, who probably worked in some capacity on the scripts.

As far as DVD/Blu ray releases of Ocean's Kai dub, it's certainly possible in Europe. Maybe even in Canada. If Canada can broadcast the Ocean dub despite Funi's rights, there may be a way to get it released there too.

I would think that Funi has to license the TV rights out. Unless they only control North American DVD sales. But, they should have rights to most of it across the continent.

[Attitudefan]

I would think that Funi has to license the TV rights out. Unless they only control North American DVD sales. But, they should have rights to most of it across the continent.

Well here in Canada we got no DBkai on TV. So bleh! Funi only has DVD rights I guess.

[RazorX]

Clearly nearly no effort was put into it.

Also, even Bang Zoom and Animaze have put out a couple of bad dubs which are not indicative of their overall quality.

During the time Bandai were dubbing Final Bout, Ocean were the only studio dubbing DB/Z, yet Bandai chose Bang Zoom to dub Final Bout, which, I was informed by someone, was a cost cutting measure. Interestingly Bandai themselves use Ocean Group's services. They should've got Ocean to dub Final Bout.

Yeah, subbing Ocean dub in another language seems way weird, but if you see the Polish/Czech dubs oh boy!!! It's just a monotone voice over French voice acting. WTF man! Anyways, I don't see why Ocean would make a bad Kai dub. It's a pretty big studio with plenty of talent, I don't see the need to worry unless it's super rushed again.

Ocean might not have time to find the VA who could portray Goku as accuratly to the Japanese version as they'd like if they were rushing. I think Ocean are taking their time dubbing DB Kai.

[Attitudefan]

Well Kelamis was the best role for sounding like the original Goku. He did a damn fine job I may add.

[RazorX]

Maybe they can't get Kelamis. Someone mentioned he's working on a show called Stargate Universe.

Or maybe they did get Kelamis but are being quiet about it

But at the moment if I were to speculate, I'd say I think they got a new voice actor for Goku.

[Attitudefan]

NO!! Oh well, "you can't always get what you want..."

[penguintruth]

Maybe they can't get Kelamis. Someone mentioned he's working on a show called Stargate Universe.

I'm just glad he's getting work.

[Attitudefan]

Maybe they can't get Kelamis. Someone mentioned he's working on a show called Stargate Universe.

I'm just glad he's getting work.

Yeah, me too. I thought he just disappeared into the black void of nothingness and only remained as a memory.
By the way, has anyone read the interview with him on Dragonball. It seems though that the interview is not there anymore....

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

FUNiFanFags, Here is No.1 Proof that Ocean Studios Dub is the Best DBZ dub! [Vegeta Pissed Off]

This. Going back to a similar point I made, no video exists with the complete opposite of intentions (immaturely badmouthing the Ocean dub and it's fans, while promoting the FUNimation dub). That video is truly a testament to the lengths Ocean fans go, to hate on FUNimation fans.