FUNimation Announces "Kai" License ("DBZ Kai")

[Greenman]

Look I really don't care about the voice as much as the US dub being faithful to the original Japanese script. Also, about Funimation making it "Dragon Ball Z Kai" instead of "Dragon Ball Kai," is it seriously that big of a deal? I mean that's like when Viz instead of calling the whole Dragon Ball Manga "Dragon Ball" they call the first part Dragon Ball and the second part Dragon Ball Z. Also about the Fun Z dub being popular, really?

Yes, really. Whether it's good or not, it does seem to be popular.

[Budogenkai]

If the new dub is accurate, well then damn it, I'll have to buy it.

[ka1oken]

I think this is FUNimation's way of releasing DBZ on Blu-ray.

For some reason I don't think they will get to releasing the full series on Blu-ray for a while.

EDIT: Anyway this is great news to me it actually saves me money. I was planning on spending around 200 for just the first 15 episodes..

[penguintruth]

Look I really don't care about the voice as much as the US dub being faithful to the original Japanese script. Also, about Funimation making it "Dragon Ball Z Kai" instead of "Dragon Ball Kai," is it seriously that big of a deal? I mean that's like when Viz instead of calling the whole Dragon Ball Manga "Dragon Ball" they call the first part Dragon Ball and the second part Dragon Ball Z. Also about the Fun Z dub being popular, really?

Yes, really. Whether it's good or not, it does seem to be popular.

In my experience in the general anime fan community, the DBZ dub is mostly seen as a joke, or liked only for its "so bad it's good" value.

In the DBZ community, it seems to be split down the middle. But years ago you could hardly find a good word about the dub.

[SSJSteve]

If it gets released on DVD I'll probably end up buying it. If it gets released on Blu-Ray I wont bother.

[Tsukento]

True, but various other series have been getting the simulcast treatment that weren't widely downloaded already, or were brand new series without established fansubbers. I'll admit it's probably unlikely, especially due to DBZ's established place in the market and fears of it competing with itself too much, but I don't think it's entirely out of the question.

In the case of series' being simulcasted like Fullmetal Alchemist, they started right as the series was starting.

Kai's already at the Freeza saga, right as Goku's about to fight Freeza. I'd say it's a wee bit late to consider doing a simulcast at this point. Making episodes available online, sure. But a simulcast is rather late at this time.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

Kai's already at the Freeza saga, right as Goku's about to fight Freeza. I'd say it's a wee bit late to consider doing a simulcast at this point. Making episodes available online, sure. But a simulcast is rather late at this time.

Unless they upload all those episodes up to the point they are in Japan. But... that's not gonna happen.

[sangofe]

Am I the only one who hopes this results in a streaming simulcast a la One Piece and FMA:Brotherhood? It seems like a logical direction.

Seems a wee bit late for that.


As for Linda Young, the reason we want change is because her voice does NOT work for the Freeza we know. It simply doesn't. It doesn't capture the essence or character in the same way as Ryusei Nakao or even the Mexican voice actor portrayed him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOuVgGQs85A

The french Freeza ain't bad either:
http://www.wat.tv/video/dragon-ball-96- ... wll7_.html
http://www.wat.tv/video/dragon-ball-97- ... wll7_.html

[Lance Freeman]

So, wait a minute... Funimation is interested in putting out a stripped down, censored version of Dragon Ball Z... I could have sworn we got something exactly like that over 10 years ago.

[penguintruth]

So, wait a minute... Funimation is interested in putting out a stripped down, censored version of Dragon Ball Z... I could have sworn we got something exactly like that over 10 years ago.

Heh...

(Shameless self-promotion, I know.)

[Rod]

Dragon Ball Z Kai? I knew they would change the name, but I figured they would call it "Refreshed" or something like that.

I wonder how they're going to handle the dub, are we finally going to get a decent English dub?

[DemonRin]

So, wait a minute... Funimation is interested in putting out a stripped down, censored version of Dragon Ball Z... I could have sworn we got something exactly like that over 10 years ago.

And every time I see this comment being made it just seems more and more asinine.

The insinuation that Kai is "exactly" like the Ocean dub as far as censorship and cutting goes is laughable and quite plainly wrong. Ocean didn't allow a drop of blood, even if gushing has been downplayed in Kai, there has been plenty of blood. Ocean didn't allow death, people "Fazed in to the Next Dimension". In Kai, Son still dies just as he did before, there were no "Parachutes" in that plane, and that wasn't a "Cargo Robot" that Nappa killed. Tenshinhan doesn't say he can regrow limbs this time either.
And The Ocean release occurred at a time where getting the show Uncut wasn't officially possible, the edited version was given to you and you were told "This is DBZ, we didn't do anything to it, this is how it should be".
Kai is being released in both territories after a GREAT Uncut DVD release has been made. (Japan got the Dragon Box and the DBox Singles, we're in the middle of our DBox Release now) Kai was renamed entirely as a "Refreshed" version, directly stating they'd changed it, and was advertised from day 1 as the "Akira Toriyama Cut".

Now, as for the subject at hand. I'm really excited about this! This is FUNimation's chance to get the job done right this time! We just need to flood them with "WE WANT A FAITHFUL DUB! GOOD SCRIPT! RECAST SOME OF SABAT'S ROLES!! RECAST FREEZA! SPELL 'FREEZA' RIGHT! IT'S 'KAI-OH-KEN' NOT "KAY-OH-KEN"!" Comments. They need to satisfy AT LEAST these things for me to consider the dub truly "Fixed".

[Mountain]

I, for one, don't like anything about the name change. I'm a purist. Also, it doesn't add up that they would keep the Japanese "kai" kanji in the logo, yet take out the rest of the Japanese in the "A" below the new Dragon Ball Z part of the logo. Dragon Ball Z Kai is just not the name of the show.

As for a new dub... I'd like to see an entirely new cast, accurate script, original music--and all openings, closings, recaps, next episode previews, eye-catches, and whatever else that I'm leaving out, to be kept intact. It's a small wish, eh?


EDIT: I just wanted to add that I think it's hilarious that the refreshed logo has already been refreshed. That is all.

[Kaboom]

Now, as for the subject at hand. I'm really excited about this! This is FUNimation's chance to get the job done right this time! We just need to flood them with "WE WANT A FAITHFUL DUB! GOOD SCRIPT! RECAST SOME OF SABAT'S ROLES!! RECAST FREEZA! SPELL 'FREEZA' RIGHT! IT'S 'KAI-OH-KEN' NOT "KAY-OH-KEN"!" Comments. They need to satisfy AT LEAST these things for me to consider the dub truly "Fixed".

I concur. FUNimation really needs to revamp the dub portion of this release in a big way, and make it the best, most faithful one they've ever done with DragonBall. THAT will be the big hook. Otherwise, it'll be little more than just another release of Z.

[MCDaveG]

Wow, that much bitching around last letter in alphabet

You should better hope that US DB comunity will get ''flawless and hi quality dub'', because in some countries, companies don't care that much about dubbing anime, including mine.

[russ869]

Hmm... I think Dragon Ball Z Kai actually makes more sense as the title. Since it is really just a redo of Dragon Ball Z. It's not like they started over at the beginning or anything.

[Mountain]

From the FUNimation forums:

I was looking on walmart.com and came arcross Dragonball Kia on Blu Ray and DVD not shure if this is fake or not.... To be relased 5/18/2010

BLU RAY: http://www.walmart.com/ip/13724201
DVD: http://www.walmart.com/ip/13724200

[ShadowDude112]

You know I think that if FUNi does this right I'll be able to watch their dub of Dragon Ball Kai. I'm going to have the first episode on and have subtitles on as well to see how accurate it is. I'm just glad we're getting Kai also.

[Khalid Shahin]

From the FUNimation forums:

I was looking on walmart.com and came arcross Dragonball Kia on Blu Ray and DVD not shure if this is fake or not.... To be relased 5/18/2010

BLU RAY: http://www.walmart.com/ip/13724201
DVD: http://www.walmart.com/ip/13724200

"Not shure if this is fake" What.

Anyways, as someone else mentioned it says it is Japanese only. Did Funimation mention they are dubbing Kai, just to make sure?

[Shiyonasan]

This does not surprise me in the least bit. The name change, while sounding completely silly (and reminding me of my friend's reference to GT as "Dragon Ball Z GT"), makes sense since it involves Dragon Ball Z anyway. Hopefully it will be faithful to the original, I mean, except for the name of course since that's a done deal....