What if simulcast of classic anime series (original, Z, and GT) existed back then?

[PowerPhantom245]

Let's imagine if simulcast of classic series (original, Z, and GT) existed back in 80's and 90's, where the show was aired uncut and uncensored, subbed and/or dubbed, across the world; no "It's Over 9000!" meme, no "other dimension" replacing death, no Goku-wearing-underwear fishing, no tomato soup splashing gag, etc.

How would audience across the world reacted?
Would the franchise been just as popular in real life?
Would American audience gotten Dragon Box DVD, not just for Z, but original and GT as well?

For this scenario, let's disregard the censorship for TV station internationally, so that discussion won't end with something like "TV station would cancel due to being too violent and too much sexual innuendo!".

Here is my take.
I was introduced to the anime, long before Ocean and Funimation dub, where I watched it uncut and uncensored, with English subtitle on cable channel, Nippon Golden Channel. I made a discussion on this thread.
viewtopic.php?p=1771920#p1771920

So even if aforementioned simulcast happened, I probably would have felt the same way.
I was lucky that my parents/family weren't too sensitive with censorship for TV series.
I'm glad that I was introduced to anime uncut and uncensored; even though, I still have nostalgia and appreciation for Ocean/Funimation edited versions.

[Cure Dragon 255]

Let's imagine if simulcast of classic series (original, Z, and GT) existed back in 80's and 90's, where the show was aired uncut and uncensored, subbed and/or dubbed, across the world; no "It's Over 9000!" meme, no "other dimension" replacing death, no Goku-wearing-underwear fishing, no tomato soup splashing gag, etc.

How would audience across the world reacted?
Would the franchise been just as popular in real life?
Would American audience gotten Dragon Box DVD, not just for Z, but original and GT as well?

For this scenario, let's disregard the censorship for TV station internationally, so that discussion won't end with something like "TV station would cancel due to being too violent and too much sexual innuendo!".

Here is my take.
I was introduced to the anime, long before Ocean and Funimation dub, where I watched it uncut and uncensored, with English subtitle on cable channel, Nippon Golden Channel. I made a discussion on this thread.
viewtopic.php?p=1771920#p1771920

So even if aforementioned simulcast happened, I probably would have felt the same way.
I was lucky that my parents/family weren't too sensitive with censorship for TV series.
I'm glad that I was introduced to anime uncut and uncensored; even though, I still have nostalgia and appreciation for Ocean/Funimation edited versions.

Now THIS is a topic that hasnt been done before, great job with it!

[TechExpert2021]

If the classic DB trilogy is simulcast in English-speaking countries, the English-speaking Dragon Ball fanbase would be much different compared to the post-FUNimation English-speaking DB fanbase. If simulcast with English subtitles with no dubs, classic DB trilogy's presentation in English-speaking countries would be same like in Japan. If it was like that, there would be no power level debates, no sub vs. dub wars, no "It's over 9000!", no "HFIL", no "next dimension", no replacement music, and no FUNi dub-isms.

For other countries, if simulcast subtitled without dubbing, it's the same thing. For the non-English speaking fanbases outside Japan, I'm not sure.

[UpFromTheSkies]

In the US back in the 80s, conservatives had a lot of influence over what was on TV, so the violence and adult gags in Dragon Ball wouldn't have gone over well and the show would have been forced off the air or censored. It would have been fine in the 90s though, audiences would have eaten it up. A lot of companies were afraid of investing in anime during the early 90s though thinking a lot of it might be " too japanese" for American audiences, but they were obviously wrong, and anime developed a huge following throughout the 90s in the US as it was drip fed to them through smaller distributors, eventually leading to main stream breakthrough success by the end of the decade and early 00s.

[Cure Dragon 255]

In the US back in the 80s, conservatives had a lot of influence over what was on TV, so the violence and adult gags in Dragon Ball wouldn't have gone over well and the show would have been forced off the air or censored. It would have been fine in the 90s though, audiences would have eaten it up. A lot of companies were afraid of investing in anime during the early 90s though thinking a lot of it might be " too japanese" for American audiences, but they were obviously wrong, and anime developed a huge following throughout the 90s in the US as it was drip fed to them through smaller distributors, eventually leading to main stream breakthrough success by the end of the decade and early 00s.

I think it would have failed but not due to censorship, but rather the notion that cartoons are for kids, Sure Dragon Ball is a whole family cartoon, but if it aired uncut it would have aired on an adult or at least family oriented but NOT a kids channel, the viewership would have been too low to keep a broadcast going. Now its the EXACT OPPOSITE problem in the present, kids cant make broadcasts profitable anymore, but adults can. But these are adults who grew up with DBZ or at least arent stuck in the notion that cartoons are for kids.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

I think it would have failed but not due to censorship, but rather the notion that cartoons are for kids, Sure Dragon Ball is a whole family cartoon, but if it aired uncut it would have aired on an adult or at least family oriented but NOT a kids channel, the viewership would have been too low to keep a broadcast going. Now its the EXACT OPPOSITE problem in the present, kids cant make broadcasts profitable anymore, but adults can. But these are adults who grew up with DBZ or at least arent stuck in the notion that cartoons are for kids.

I'm not sure if it would have been a failure, but it certainly would have been a tough sell, assuming there was no censorship, which would be necessary for it to mirror the Japanese broadcasts because the original three anime aired in primetime on Fuji TV.

The biggest problem I see is that a lot of western audiences wouldn't have understood Dragon Ball. The Japanese did because manga is a huge part of their culture and they see the weirdness of gag manga artists like Akira Toriyama as being part of their appeal. Even today you don't see Dragon Ball get as much exposure unless major toy companies and retailers like Bandai and Smyths pump money into giving it airtime, as Pop did to get Dragon Ball Super its UK timeslots (although it seems to have left the channel) and that is aiming for the target audience (kids).

I know Kai and Super have done well on Adult Swim in an era of declining linear TV viewership but a lot of that was thanks to a loyal audience being built up from those who grew up watching Dragon Ball Z on Toonami. Attracting those fans from the ground-up would have probably needed some truly genius and innovative ideas, because, yes sadly there is a stigma against cartoons that says they are all for kids and it was even stronger in 1986-1997.

[Cure Dragon 255]

I think Pop will air Daima once the oportunity arises, I REALLY DOUBT Toei will let that sweet Toy Money go.

[PowerPhantom245]

I'm also curious who the voice actor for English dub (America) would have been like.
Most of the voice actors of English dubbed Z (or any classic series), weren't voice acting at the time of airing (1986~1997).
Would Ian James Corlett and/or Peter Kelamis done voice for adult Goku (for ENTIRE classic series), instead of Sean Schemmel, who wasn't voice acting back then?

I'm also curious if we could have gotten American original continuation series (not like fan fiction Dragon Ball AF), animated by in-house American company, that would be co-production with Toei, had there been enough popularity; similar to Voltron, where new animation was made for that show.

[MasenkoHA]

I'm also curious who the voice actor for English dub (America) would have been like.
Most of the voice actors of English dubbed Z (or any classic series), weren't voice acting at the time of airing (1986~1997).
Would Ian James Corlett and/or Peter Kelamis done voice for adult Goku (for ENTIRE classic series), instead of Sean Schemmel, who wasn't voice acting back then?

Neither Corlett or Kelamis started voice acting until after DBZ started in Japan so probably not.

Though I imagine a simulcast dub of Dragon Ball from 1986-1997 would probably either be based in California or Canada. I don't think there was really a Texas voice acting scene at the time. Seems like part of the reason Funimation initially elected to go to Canada for dubbing, aside from Cancon benefits, was because it was cheaper than California and the idea to just record locally themselves hadn't hit them yet.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

I don't recall there being any voice acting scene in Texas before Funimation, if there was it was incredibly niche. Funimation very much made their mark in that state once they went in-house.

[gokaiblue]

I don't recall there being any voice acting scene in Texas before Funimation, if there was it was incredibly niche. Funimation very much made their mark in that state once they went in-house.

There was ADV films that used the Texas talent pool as early as 1995

[PowerPhantom245]

I don't recall there being any voice acting scene in Texas before Funimation, if there was it was incredibly niche. Funimation very much made their mark in that state once they went in-house.

There was ADV films that used the Texas talent pool as early as 1995

By that time, Dragon Ball Z would have been at Boo saga.
I'm curious if simulcast did exist back then and Dragon Ball was popular enough, would there have been voice acting industry in Texas.

I personally think it would have been interesting if Frank Welker voiced Piccolo, if Dragon Ball English dub existed in 80s, but that just me. lol

[AlexSketchy04]

I don't recall there being any voice acting scene in Texas before Funimation, if there was it was incredibly niche. Funimation very much made their mark in that state once they went in-house.

There was at least some VA work done in Texas during those days, at least Dallas had stuff from DNA Productions, Lyrick Studios, Commercial work and (supposedly) some outsourced animation work

Not sure about Houston