Funi has Dragonball Kai (Confirmed)

I actually like most of FUNi's voice actors too, but I agree that some need to be recasted. Especially Reacoom, Kaio Sama and Freeza.

Also unless they pay him big, I'm not sure if Sean Schemmel will fly down to Texas and stay for months to voice for the dub. Maybe they should get someone new to play Goku. It would be interesting if they got a female to play him. :P
 
And your point is....?
Anyways, I just want to see the hardcore fans () reaction about the "Z" in it. If you think about it, it does make since. DBKai is like "Z". Because its taking the old "Z" footage and making its own series. So yeah, Leave the "Z".
 
Crapsicles, I just realized a name change means a new logo, a new logo means altering the footage. FUNimation doesn't put out alternate angles anymore...


Is Dragon Ball ever going to be good enough as-is FUNimation?
 
Just out of curiosity, how much info do we have on the aspect ratios of Funi's Kai releases? The Japanese releases are such a confusing mess (cropped widescreen HD television airings, cropped widescreen SD DVD release, and uncropped 4:3 HD Blu-Ray release when last I checked), I have to wonder whether Funi plans to follow the Japanese releases or pull some weird random switcheroo.
 
Knowing FUNi?
And especially with their Orange Bricks, and I've seen a lot of people who like the idea of a HD Widescreen DBZ.
Though the big thing is of course the cropping.
Now if FUNi does release the Widescreen, I'll still buy it, mainly because, well it was a Japanese release as well. Biggest thing? At least the remastering is done.. supremely.
 
The name is just a distinction without a difference. Kai is the DBZ series heavily abridged, that is plain, so the presence of the Z is certainly not without merit. In fact, to me, it always should have been there simply out of principle--in my judgment Kai is DBZ in the sense that it's basically the literal story that Toriyama wrote. All that padding in classic DBZ we'd mostly call superfluous if it were happening in the present day. And we do--many fans dislike parts of Naruto Shippuden and Bleach.

In sum:

DBZ = Classic series adaptation
DBZ Kai = Originalist DBZ

Fair enough, no?

Karl raises a good point about TV. I wonder if Cartoon Network cares anymore? If not, well, Shippuden could always use a companion on Disney XD...

On the release timing, I make no assumptions whatsoever that it's at all problematic. Dragon Ball sells, there are fans that likely prefer (or can afford) one or the other, and there are people that will actually buy both. Not to mention that if Kai eventually adapts beyond Namek, Funi will be well into its work on the series already.



16:9 is the broadcast version, correct? In any case, this I still do not understand. Why put out different aspect ratios for different format releases? Why didn't they just broadcast in 4:3 if they considered it the best video for the Blu-Ray? Were I Funi, I wouldn't be sure what to pick. I suppose 4:3, since a Blu-Ray release of this is probably a sure bet? Assuming they actually choose and don't just emulate what the Japanese did, that is.
 
Wow, because FUNi put "Z" in it? Look, I see your point of view. I mean, at this point, FUNi been dubing anime like the JP dubs, why change? But, little bit over reacting over one simple change?
At least be happy your (maybe) getting it. Change it to the JP dubs, and everything will be good.
 
I think the main problem with the cast is that 80% of the characters are voiced by one guy. Seriously, with their talent pool as it is, there isn't a single reason to have the same actor voice Vegeta, Piccolo, Kami, Mr. Popo, Yamcha, Zarbon, Reacoom, and Jeuice (and those are only the ones I remeraber).

Oh yeah, and replace Linda Young with John Swasey and Freeza would be perfect.
 
Why does a licensor get to decide these things? Toei felt Dragon Ball Kai was a perfectly suitable title for their fourth Dragon Ball series, it is the name fans have called it for a year now.

'Originalist DBZ'? Dragon Ball Z is the first adaptation of chapters 195-519 of Dragon Ball. If fans wanted 'Originalist DBZ' they'd be reading the comic. 'Originalist DBZ' is Dragon Ball Z, the behomoth 291 episode series created as the sequel to Dragon Ball, the anime adaptation of the Dragon Ball comic's first 194 chapters.

Dragon Ball Kai may recut the footage of Dragon Ball Z (because it's cheaply thrown together and is a celebration of Dragon Ball Z's 20th anniversary), but otherwise they're completely different entities all together, with completely different feels.



In Japan Dragon Ball Kai airs cropped in 16:9 because of TV regulations demanding it. The cropping was done carefully, but being sourced from Dragon Ball Z footage, it is for all intents and purposes a 4:3 series. The opening and ending animation was even animated to be viewable in either 4:3 or 16:9. Toei said the decision was made to release the TV version cropped and the Blu-ray 4:3 so that fans could have both editions, or whathaveyou.

FUNimation confirmed to me their Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Blu-rays would use HD masters straight from Japan, so I assume FUNimation might get those very masters for their Blu-ray release. Now, we I them I'd look into get getting those and if possible creating a standard definition master from those, however it is likely their standard definition masters will be the cropped masters for the DVD release.



Changing the language on the DVD to the original version isn't going to change the altered footage for their renamed series logo.
 
Evangelion's case is much like Kai's where while there are similarities it truly is a different series. They did some slight redubbing with the Ultimate Uncuts/Orange Boxes and that became the source dub for the Dragonboxes but Kai is a different beast altogether. If you really think about it if the Dragonboxes was the excuse to get the Japanese version perfect once and for all (because who's going to buy the Dragonboxes for the dub?!...I am being both ironic and sarcastic in this statement) the Kai is Funi's last chance to get the dub right once and for all without any excuses.

But I don't think complete major recasting is needed for the following reasons:

1. Many of the main dub characters have as much of a legacy for lending their voices in the dub as the Japanese actors do.

2. Funi kept the same dub dynamics for both Dragonball and DBGT. While GT is debatable, Dragonball was a MUCH stronger dub compared to DBZ and the acting and delivery was extremely polished. It may not of been like One Piece, or Yu Yu Hakusho but it was well done. (and from a personal standpoint I had a roommate who was firmly Japanese only but he was so impressed by the DB dub he prefered it despite many of its shortcomings).

I think if Funi were to make changes to the cast it should be if it was necessary. We're giving a lot of crap about Funi and their mistakes with Dragonball Z but obviously they know what their doing if every other anime under their belt has shown a grasp of proper dubbing. I think Kai's redub will be an extra notch under their belt and will definitely cement chances that both the casual and the hardcores would jump on the release.

If anything we'll be subjected to tons and tons of comparison videos by Jacob showing how Funi improved (I mean granted if they dub it anew...) therefore leading to more positive promotion.

O-chan
 
We know nothing yet. OdRAB are we should pester @FUNimation on Twitter.

I'm hoping for the 4:3 masters. If they can be safely created standard definition masters for the DVRAB from that, that's be neat.
 
That's what's troubling me about Jacob's comments about the DVD/Blu-ray releases. If Kai was supposed to be the true hi-def widescreen presentation of the DBZ saga, wouldn't it be smart to release the 16:9 version on Blu-ray? Heck, you could technically cram both the 16:9 and 4:3 version on the same Blu-ray disc since there's only like 2-3 episodes per disc anyway for Japan. It's making me think that Funi would be better off releasing their widescreen DBZ transfer on Blu-ray instead of Kai.

And, Jacob, I read your post explaining about Toei's 4:3/16:9 decision. I still would want the 16:9 version on Blu-ray. Heck, I would still go for Funi's 16:9 supposedly high-def transfer of DBZ instead of Kai's bad color edits and toned-down-due-to-seizures violence.
 
They're calling it Dragon Ball Z: Kai? ...eh, fine by me. I could see people buying it going "Haha, a new Dragon Ball series." only to go "What?" if they kept it at "Dragon Ball Kai."

Same cast with better script? Cool. ...I just hope Freeza gets recasted. ...and maybe all of Chris Sabat's roles, with him being limited to either Vegeta or Piccolo. But, honestly, I doubt that's gonna happen.
 
That assumes FUNimation's dub improves, and without recasts I don't think that'll come to pass entirely. God knows I'm hoping for less intrusive noise, but this being Dragon Ball Kai instead of the previous three series', that ain't likely.



"Gee Jacob, you're always such a downer who can't be pleased!"

There's your daily dose of irony, folks.

*Returns to his Dragon Box Volume Two*
 
So we all think a redub would be nice, but out of the main cast (Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Trunks, etc) who should they/would you like them to keep?

I think these days it's either Goku or nothing for Sean Schemmel and FUNimation, he hasn't worked on much for them lately.
 
16:9 does not inherently mean high definition. FUNimation's release will likely be their usual "six episodes on one disc, seven on the second" set-up.

EDIT:



Then it would stop being Dragon Ball Kai and be someting completely different.
 
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