FUNimation June 2013 Dragon Ball Z Blu-ray Survey
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On 20 June 2013, FUNimation launched a survey distributed via email, social media, and Internet forums ostensibly asking for fan feedback regarding future releases of the Dragon Ball Z television series on Blu-ray. Entitled "Dragon Ball Z - We Want To Know", the survey became a centerpiece in the criticism of the company's ongoing re-releases of the series for years. Feedback received from the survey regarding aspect ratios was ultimately ignored internally at FUNimation, and a widescreen-cropped version of the series began its release later that same year.
Historical Context
From February 2007 to May 2009, FUNimation released "season sets" (colloquially referred to both internally at FUNimation and externally by fans as the "orange bricks") for the Dragon Ball Z television series on DVD. This was FUNimation's first consistent, fully-complete release of the series on a single home video format. Cropped, etc...
From November 2009 to October 2011, FUNimation released seven DVD box sets collecting the Dragon Ball Z television series' "Dragon Box" master, originally released in Japan.
Beginning in May 2010, FUNimation began releasing the Dragon Ball Kai "refreshed" television series (under the branding "Dragon Ball Z Kai") on both DVD and Blu-ray...
From November 2011 to December 2011, FUNimation released two Blu-ray sets under a new "Level" branding line... Marketing, live stream with Gen Fukunaga, behind-the-scenes documentary footage...
Survey
The "Dragon Ball Z - We Want To Know" survey from FUNimation was hosted on the Zoomerang web service[1] and distributed primarily through email and social media.[2]
We need your help.
FUNimation is looking into releasing Dragon Ball Z on Blu-ray at an affordable price with a brand new remaster using new technology to make the show look brighter and crisper.
Before we make this decision, we need your input. Please take a few minutes to answer a few questions. Your feedback is valuable to us.
— FUNimation email, "Interested in more DBZ Blu-rays? We need your help."
Interested in more #DBZ Blu-rays? We need your help. Please share and retweet. http://owl.li/meTx9 #DBZBluray
— FUNimation, tweet
The survey itself began with the same introductory text from the email distribution, and contained standard questions asking if fans had previously purchased the series on DVD, and if they would be interested in purchasing the series on Blu-ray. The survey eventually moved on to questions about aspect ratios, ultimately asking directly, "Which screen size format would you want to see Dragon Ball Z on Blu-ray?"
Internal Reception
In July 2015, Lance Heiskell, former Marketing Director and Director of Strategy at FUNimation, shared on his Twitter account that the majority of survey results voted for the original 4:3 broadcast aspect ratio, but this was ultimately ignored internally at FUNimation:[3]
Majority of surveys voted 4:3. Then it was ignored internally. Past sales of 16:9 sold better than 4:3.
— Lance Heiskell, Twitter
Speaking with Mike LaBrie of Kanzenshuu on episode 404 of the website's podcast, Heiskell elaborated:[4]
To be transcribed
— Lance Heiskell, Kanzenshuu - The Podcast: Episode #0404 (interview)
Additional text...
Subsequent Responses
When directly asked by Kanzenshuu in December 2013 whether or not the survey earlier that year had played into the company's decision to release another cropped version of the show, the response received skirted the issue:[5]
We took multiple factors into consideration when deciding how to approach the topics of restoration and remastering the Dragon Ball Z Blu-ray releases. The survey data was only one of those factors. Others included past performance of the Level Sets and Orange Bricks, as well as what experience we’re trying to deliver with this release, just to name a few.
— FUNimation, response to Kanzenshuu
Additional text...
External Sites
References
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z - We Want To Know" (20 June 2013). Zoomerang. Retrieved: 19 January 2020.
- ↑ @funimation (20 June 2013). Twitter. Retrieved: 19 January 2020.
- ↑ @lheiskell (21 July 2015). Twitter. Retrieved: 19 January 2020.
- ↑ "Podcast Episode #0404" (17 May 2016). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 January 2020.
- ↑ "FUNimation Responds to Kanzenshuu Community Blu-ray Questions" (31 December 2013). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 January 2020.