The week of May 24th through May 28th, Cartoon Network held a special DragonBall Z marathon entitled “DBZ20XL.” During their Toonami timeslot (4pm-6pm EST), four half-hour episodes of FUNimation’s English dubbed DragonBall Z were shown. To conclude the marathon, on Saturday, May 29th, starting at noon EST, all three of the DragonBall Z movies that FUNimation had dubbed in English were shown all in a row during the day.

FUNimation’s new VHS volumes for “Season Three” of their English dub of DragonBall Z are ready for pre-order as of today, just as “Agent Mai” had reported. These videos will not, however be shipped until May 15th.

To pre-order these episodes, head on over to FUNimation’s website, and click the link to go to their store. From there, you will need to browse to the very last page of the “DragonBall Z Episode Videos” section to reach the pre-orders for these videos:

Episodes 54-56 — Captain Ginyu: Assault

Ginyu Assault: Burter and Jeice of the fearsome Ginyu Force launch an attack on Goku. But the tables turn as Goku’s new power is way too much for them to handle. After Goku easily defeats Burter, Jeice rushes to retrieve the fiercest of all Ginyu… Captain Ginyu himself. But can their collective force match up to the new Goku?
Incredible Force!: An angry Captain Ginyu initiates a battle with the fearless Goku, as the ruthless mercenary attempts to uncover Goku’s true strength. But Goku cleverly conceals his power level from the militant monster. Finally, at the insistence of the captain, Goku astounds both Jeice and Ginyu by revealing his true power… A power unlike anything they had anticipated.
Frieza Approaches: Captain Ginyu and Jeice face up to Goku only to discover the truth about what they’re up against. Elsewhere, Guru bestows a special gift of healing upon the young Namek, Dende. And Nail returns to defend Guru from the villainous Frieza. But will Nail’s special training be enough?

Episodes 57-60 — Captain Ginyu: Double Cross

Goku is Ginyu & Ginyu is Goku: Frieza battles Nail in an effort to discover the password for the Dragon Balls. But can his skills measure up? Elsewhere, a powerful Goku faces the remaining Ginyu force. But careful Goku! Captain Ginyu has some fiendish trickery in store.
Calling the Eternal Dragon: Vegeta’s plan to recapture the Dragon Balls is put on hold as Gohan and Krillin are first to find the buried treasure. But all three are in for a big shock as Captain Ginyu shows up in Goku’s body.
Gohan Defeat Your Dad!!: Gohan and Krillin battle Captain Ginyu, disguised in Goku’s body. But watch out! Vegeta’s taking action with a strength no one expected! Is Vegeta really a Super Saiyan?
Captain Ginyu… The Frog: An injured Captain Ginyu awaits Vegeta’s onslaught. But the weakened warrior has devious plans up his sleeve. Will he be able to switch bodies with Vegeta the way he managed to switch with Goku? And what will become of Goku, now struggling in Captain Ginyu’s crippled body?

Once again, Adrian Saavedra passes on the latest news from “Agent Mai” at FUNimation. Fans and non-fans alike of their English dub works should find some interesting tidbits in this one:

*Hey everbody! It’s that time of the month again. It’s been a while, but here it is. The latest FUNimation Q & A session with Agent Mai. I can’t even remember what number this is. Oh well, enjoy*

03/05/99

Dear Agent Mai,

How are you today? First let me say thank you for your latest response. It was both informative and well thought out. I believe you are a wonderful person to continue this correspondence.

Agent Mai:
I apologize about the long wait for me to reply. It’s a nightmare around here as far as job assignments go.

Adrian:
1. I’ve been informed that 50 episodes are planed for Season 3. Is this true?

Agent Mai:
This is true, there are exactly 50.

Adrian:
2. Since episode 53 ended in the middle of Japanese episode 67, I am guessing that you will continue from that point. Now here is the question. Just how many cuts will you make or will FUNimation keep the English episodes in line with the Japanese ones? What I’m asking is the new fifty would end around Japanese episode 117, which would relate to English episode 103. Is this a correct assumption?

Agent Mai:
We do end at the Japanese 117.

Adrian:
3. Now for part two of the question, if you don’t make any edits, that will mean that English DBZ will end right at the end of the Garlic Jr. saga, and right before the arrival of Trunks. Is this assumption correct?

Agent Mai:
We do begin at the Japanese 68 and end at the Japanese 117. I don’t know exactly where that gets us in the story line.

(Footnote* Did you notice what Mai said. She said that the new episodes start at Japanese episode 68. Therefore, since English episode 53 ended right in the middle of 67, FUNimation decided not to bother with the rest of what happens in 67 and just skip to 68. This means that perhaps FUNimation may go back and re-dub the 53 English (67 Japanese) DBZ episodes in the future)

Adrian:
4. Just out of curiosity, how far is FUNimation along with the new episodes? If they’re not to far ahead, then perhaps you could skip the Garlic stuff, and just get to the Trunks section where he finishes Frieza and his Dad for good, but before the Androids arrive. This would make for a better cliffhanger. Having left season two where it ended, is probably the biggest reason people were outraged. It was in the middle of the story, and since DBZ is a cartoon soap opera, it made many angry with DBZ withdrawal.

Agent Mai:
We are working on several at once, the scripts are written while others are being recorded and others are being mixed. We are just at the beginning, though. We will release them to video as they are finished, so you’ll be able to keep up with how far along we are. We don’t have any intention of skipping episodes, especially now that we are releasing them uncut and trying to keep the censorship down to a minimum.

Adrian:
5. Is your deal with Pioneer over? Was that it for them? 17 volumes of the TV show, and the first 3 DBZ movies.

6. If not, a while back you told me Pioneer had permission to subtitle DBZ. Is this still true? Or is this only true for the 53 (67 Japanese) they already have? Either way, what I am asking, is whether Pioneer cansubtitle DBZ? Even if they can only do the episodes already released.

7. Here’s the problem, if FUNimation doesn’t attempt to subtitle the series, will you let Pioneer at least have the subtitling privileges. It would save you the time and money, if you put Pioneer in charge of subbing DB and DBZ.

Agent Mai: (Answer to 5, 6 & 7)
We’ve had some legal problems with Pioneer. I have no idea where we stand with them now, or whether we’ll have any dealings with them in the future.

Adrian:
8. Last question, how does FUNimation feel about subtitling DB and DBZ? I’m just curious, because, while I enjoyed the second DB movie in all its unedited glory, I was slightly disappointed that FUNimation made no attempt to release a subbed version.

Agent Mai:
There are no plans to subtitle.

Adrian:
9. One last suggestion, most people are in no hurry to see DBGT. It’s the least popular of the three series, mainly because Akira Toriyama didn’t write it. I would hope that FUNimation gets through DB and DBZ before evenattempting the TOEI spawn called DBGT.

Agent Mai:
We have no plans to do DBGT. We are open to lots more DB and DBZ.

Once again, thank you for everything. I hope to hear from you soon. Takecare and good luck on FUNimation’s newest revival.

Sincerely,
Adrian Saavedra

====================================
*Now for my second email interview*
====================================

03/26/99

Dear Agent Mai,

It’s been a while. I pressume that things are still going well and that you are to busy too answer my questions. No pressure, but if you find the time could you answer them? Thank you.I have some more questions to add to the previous ones. When you can, I would appreciate it if you could answer these with the previous ones.

Adrian:
1. When do you expect the new episodes to come out?

Agent Mai:
We still do not know an air date on Cartoon Network, but the first uncut/uncensorred video will be released April 15th. The video will at first only be available on our website because it takes time to distribute it to stores. We will continue to release them as the episodes are completed.

Adrian:
2. When will the new Dragon Ball movie come out?

Agent Mai:
I’m confused about this one. If you are asking about the Sleeping Princess movie, it is working it’s way into retail stores now. If you are talking about Mystical Adventure, we are currently paused on that because the DBZ episodes are taking up all of our time.

Adrian:
3. What other future plans does FUNimation have for DB and DBZ? (DB episodes? More DB & DBZ movies? DB & DBZ on DVD?)

Agent Mai:
We hope to do as much as we can as the demand grows. We are up to doing anything with DB and DBZ as far as more episodes and movies go. I don’t think we are planning the DBZ eps to be on DVD, but maybe a licensee will step in and want to do it, who knows. There are more and more requests for Dragon Ball, maybe we will show it again if the hype keeps going up. We would like to show it now, but we don’t have any interested TV stations.

So there you have it. I look forward to hearing from you when you can.Thank you for everthing. Good luck.

Sincerely,
Adrian Saavedra

*Okay. There it is. This is the most recent news I’ve received. I hope you all enjoyed it.*

**remember–I’m open to any questions from you all. Just be honest. I’d like it if you gave me your real name and age or whether you are male or female because I’m sure Mai and her fellow colleagues would be interested in the fan demographics of DBZ. Also, kid questions for some reason get more love than questions from adults. So send your questions to adriansaavedra@hotmail.com instead of my University email account**

-The End?-

We are lucky enough to be able to share some new information to you all regarding FUNimation’s upcoming work on the franchise — Adrian Saavedra has been more than kind enough to pass on an e-mail response from a contact at FUNimation who goes by “Agent Mai”. We know that more episodes are in the works in terms of their English dub, but additional tidbits are revealed in this short Q&A session:

Adrian:
1. Is this for real?

Agent Mai:
Yes. That’s the bulk e-mail I sent out the last couple of days.

Adrian:
2. Who made this possible? FUNimation? Pioneer? Cartoon Network?

Agent Mai:
Pioneer doesn’t have anything to do with it. We have a deal with Cartoon Network. I’m not sure if the contract is ironed out completely or not.

Adrian:
3. Was this financed entirely by you or an outside party?

Agent Mai:
I don’t know.

Adrian:
4. Are the videos that will be released Pioneer or your own like the recent DB movie?

Agent Mai:
We will be releasing them ourselves.

Adrian:
5. Will the same voice actors from the previous episodes be used, or will new voice actors be used (please don’t say there’s going to be a new Vegeta)?

Agent Mai:
All the characters will be recast. We are doing the voices in-house now. Episodes 1-53 were recorded in Canada. The first project we tried this on was the DB Sleeping Princess movie.

Adrian:
6. When can we expect to see the first video in stores?

Agent Mai:
??Too soon to know. I would think summer at the latest.

Adrian:
7. Is this it for FUNimation, or will FUNimation finish the rest of DBZ (Android, Cell, Majin Boo series) and plan on going back to finish Dragon Ball (Red Ribbon and Piccolo series)?

Agent Mai:
I’m sure it depends how these next episodes go.

Adrian:
8. What about more DB and DBZ movies? Will there be any soon?

Agent Mai:
We are working on DB Mystical Adventure.

Adrian:
9. Just out of curiousity, how big was fan out cry for the rest of the series to be done? Did CN cave in?

Agent Mai:
I’m sure the fan out cry was just as tremendous for Cartoon Network as it was for us. I am glad that people hung in there and kept e-mailing for new episodes. I know the rumor was starting to go around that DBZ in America was over.

Adrian:
10. Speaking of the new episodes, will they be uncut, less edited, or the same as when SABAN was calling the shots? Also, will the original Japanese music be left alone?

Agent Mai:
There will definately be less censorship than 1-53. I know it can’t be that extensive because we would not be able to keep up with the schedule. There will most likely be an uncut and cut of each episode. I hope the original music is left on the uncut versions.

Adrian:
Once again, thank you for everything. I really appreciate the time and effort you take to answer these questions. It shows you are a wonderful and dedicated person. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Adrian Saavedra
asaavedr@brill.acomp.usf.edu

Agent Mai:
Hope this answers some of your questions.

By the way I’ll be totally redoing the dragonball z section of the site to make it actually informative and fun. I’ll be grabbing all images from the new episodes ( once we get the tapes from Toei ). I might work on it for a couple of months in my off time and then launch it when it’s completely done.
–Agent Mai (note* not real name)

Cartoon Network is currently in the process of airing FUNimation’s English dubs of the first three DragonBall Z movies, albeit in reversed order.

The third movie (“Tree of Might”) was aired on 29 January 1999 at 4:00 pm eastern. The version aired was the censored adaptation originally split into three parts to take the place of TV episode slots during the original syndication run of the second season of FUNimation’s dub of the DragonBall Z TV series.

The second movie (“The World’s Strongest) is set to air 05 February 1999 at 4:00 pm eastern, with the first movie (“Dead Zone”) following suit on 12 February 1999, also at 4:00 pm eastern.

Of particular note is the commercial Cartoon Network is airing for “The World’s Strongest”, which starts out with a quick mish-mash of audio snippets from the original Japanese version of the movie.

Irwin is releasing new figures for ages 4+ in North America (available at Toys”R”Us and The DragonBall Z Specialty Store). They include:

2 inch (6 figures per box; listed by figure series):

• Goku, #16, Super Saiyan Goku, Super Saiyan Vegeta, Cell Jr., Super Saiyan Gohan
• Kuririn, Yamcha, Super Saiyan (Future) Trunks, Mr. Satan, Super Saiyan (Future) Trunks w/ armor, Perfect Cell
• Oob, Super Saiyan Vegetto, Majin Boo, Raditz, Dr. Gero, Freeza
• Super Saiyan Goten, Super Saiyan 2 Gohan, Dai Kaio-sama, Kami-sama (God), (Teenage) Gohan, Vegeta
• Pu’er, Gotenks, Goku (charging a Genki-Dama), Super Saiyan Goku (battle damaged), Caterpy, Super Saiyan Gohan (Cell-era)
• (Little) Trunks, Uranai Baba, Videl, Hildegarn, Psyche-Oni, Kame-Sen’nin
• Trunks, #16, etc. (over 72!)

5/6 inch (poseable; articulate at arms and waist):

• Janenba
• Super Saiyan 3 Goku (w/ halo)
• Freeza
• Piccolo
• Bardock
• Super Saiyan Gohan
• Vegeta
• Goten
• Majin Boo
• Goku

15 inch (can move arms, waist, feet):

• Goku w/ Gohan
• Super Saiyan 3 Goku (w/ halo)

FUNimation has announced their upcoming VHS release of “Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle”, an uncut and English-dubbed version of the second DragonBall theatrical movie. The approximate running time will be 40 minutes, and the movie will sell for a suggested retail price of $19.95. You will be able to pick this release up at home video stores in December, and both The DragonBall Z Specialty Store and Anime Nation will be carrying the video for online orders.

A box set of the first three DragonBall Z movies was released today. At this point in time the set is only available in an English dubbed version (though the movies were released individually on English dubbed VHS and subtitled VHS). Suggested retail price for this set is $59.98. Not only does the set come with the three videos, but also a 16×22″ poster, a starter deck of the DBZ Ani-Mayhem game, a foil pack of trading cards, and to top it all off, a 1″ figure.

On 14 September 1998, Cartoon Network aired “Escape from Piccolo”, Episode 10 in FUNimation’s English dub of the DragonBall Z TV series. This episode was not aired during its original syndication run in 1996, but is being included on the VHS releases currently being released by FUNimation and Pioneer Home Entertainment.

Viz Comics will release the Dragon Ball manga in English beginning this month. The series will be split into Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z and will be released in 32-page volumes for $2.95 MSRP.

Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z Shipping to comic stores March 6
The most popular japanese comic in the world is coming to the U.S…and it’s only from Viz!

San Francisco, CA (3/6/98)–Viz Comics proudly announces the March 1998 release of two simultaneous Dragon Ball comic titles: Dragon Ball, presenting the humorous adventures of young Son Goku; and Dragon Ball Z, which follows the considerably higher-stakes adventures of adult Goku who, together with family and friends, must fight to save the Earth from the most mighty villains in the universe. To the delight of Dragon Ball fans worldwide, Viz will be presenting both titles in English, available for the first time ever.

Creator Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball isn’t just the most popular Japanese animation program on American TV…it’s the most popular Japanese comic in the world. Beginning in 1985 as a manga series in Japan’s weekly Shonen Jump magazine, Dragon Ball quickly became Japan’s bestselling manga and boosted Jump circulation to over 6.5 million copies. Over a dozen movies and TV specials, hundreds of half-hour TV episodes, and over two dozen video games have been produced, easily making the animated Dragon Ball as popular with Japanese fans as was its original Japanese comic or manga version. The domestic version of Dragon Ball Z is now the highest-rated animated series on American TV, with a whole roster of related videos and merchandise. And now, the English version of the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z manga is poised to become just as big!

DRAGON BALL
The original Dragon Ball manga is the bestselling comic in Italy, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan! Meet a young monkey-tailed boy named Goku (Toriyama’s wry update of the classic Chinese “Monkey King” legend), whose quiet life changes when he meets a girl named Bulma who is on a quest to collect seven “Dragon Balls.” If she gathers them all, an incredibly powerful dragon will appear and grant her one wish. But the precious orbs are scattered all over the world, and Bulma could use the help of a certain super-strong boy…

DRAGON BALL Z
Dragon Ball Z is the basis for the most popular animated series among U.S. teens! Young Goku has grown up, and years of training have made him into one of Earth’s ultimate warriors, if not the ultimate warrior. But the stakes are increasing as more and more deadly menaces begin to appear, including a super-powerful race from outer space that lives for the thrill of conquest. Now Goku and his friends must put their very lives on the line in the ultimate test of martial arts skill. More action-packed than the stories of Goku’s youth, Dragon Ball Z is pure adrenaline, with battles of literally earth-shaking proportions!

Viz Comics supports the launch of the Dragon Ball manga with major advertising, crosspromotions, and no less than four promotions for distributors and retailers. In March, comic retailers will receive a free 8-page Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z sample comic; a full-color, 20″x27 1/2″ Dragon Ball poster showing other Dragon Ball products; a Dragon Ball Z sticker; and, courtesy of Bandai and Viz Comics, up to 100,000 free 1″ action figures to give to customers–one for every Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z copy they buy!

DRAGON BALL is a 12-issue monthly series (March 1998-February 1999) written and drawn by Akira Toriyama. DRAGON BALL Z is a 9-issue monthly series (March 1998-November 1998) also written and drawn by Toriyama. Each issue is 32 pages long and is printed from right to left in the original Japanese format, with English dialogue and sound effects. Each issue retails for $2.95 in the U.S. and $4.00 in Canada. Let the great fighting tournament begin!

Thanks to Jason Thompson on alt.fan.dragonball for the heads-up!