TITLE- "The Stingy Truth About FUNi's DVD History"



Ladies and gents, the definitive truth regarding FUNi's DVD treatment to the DragonBall trilogy, is now here.


Through out the years, DragonBall Z and its 2 anime counterparts, original DragonBall and GT, have been gladly available at stores anywhere to purchase on DVD. Thanks to the pleas of many hard-core fans back in the old days, FUNi finally caved and released their first soul bilingual DVD; "Captain Ginyu - Assault". This DVD contained the first Japanese DBZ material that was legally available since the Pioneer release of the first 3 DBZ movies. When we received those 3 features from Pioneer (in cooperation with FUNi), we were offered a taste of the true DBZ that only buyers of corner street video store fansubs have been able to experience. Uncut, true subtitled DBZ, and this was 100% uncut; Kanji filled openings, endings, and all. However, that was just a mere taste of the Japanese version, as the next taste would be bitter sweet at best.


In 2000, a year following the VHS release and TV airings of the Ginyu and Frieza sagas, FUNimation went for the long shot and released their first ever bilingual DVD since Pioneer's awesome work on the first 3 movies. Unfortunately, they hadn't learned enough from the (at the time) superior dubbing company about releasing anime. The release consisted of three episodes being shown with no recaps, no eye-catchers, and absolutely no next-episode previews. To make matters worse, no opening-intros were put in for episodes 55 and 56, nor were ending-credits for episodes 54 and 55. The only things retained besides the actual episode footage were the episode titles for the individual episodes, the ending credits for episode 56, and...hold on, that's not the opening-intro for episode 54, hell that's not even a textless version. What FUNi did in place for the actual opener for episode 54 was put in the opening to the Dead Zone feature, which is very obvious considering it uses the first animation style of "CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA" that was used in Japan's airings of DBZ episodes 1 - 21, and also to anyone who can recognize Japanese Kanji, the inserted song Masako Nazowa sings in Dead Zone was listed in the opening Kanji credits. This is a VERY bad start for FUNimation's home base uncut DVD releases, and it makes it even worse that the separate video track containing the dub version was out of sync with the Japanese version (reason why they had to be on two entirely separate video tracks), as well as their was a digital paint edit that wasn't present in neither the Japanese video track, nor the uncut VHS release of these episodes. Very strange.


Anyhow, that was FUNi's first crack at a bilingual release, and considering they didn't dub-title the thing like another certain company did for their first uncut DVDs *cough 4Kids cough*, it was translated pretty damn good, though they (Gen Fukunaga) did screw around with Steve Simmons' translation for the episodes (dub-naming the characters, removing Simmons' Japanese suffixes, as well as toning down the cursing to a 5th grade level). However, following their second release, they finally bucked up with the Frieza saga, releasing the episodes' Japanese and dub tracks on the same sync range, and even including a next-episode preview for each DVD's last episode (though dub-only). Not only that, but their unannounced re-release of the Frieza and Trunks sagas have actually gone back and reinserted the eye-catchers for the episodes, so score 1 there. Unfortunately, the episodes were still using, evidently, the wrong openings (Trunks and Vegeta turning SSJ in "CHA-LA" during the battle with Frieza shouldn't be there). With investigations into the reasons by such DBZ fans as Chris Psaros, and this site's very own GreatSaiyaman777, it's been discovered that this isn't entirely FUNi's fault. As mentioned in GSM's DVD editorial on Vegetto EX's Daizenshuu EX website, the fault actually rests in Toei's hands. For reasons involving their destined dragonbox releases, they gave FUNi incomplete masters of DBZ, these masters apparently having no audio for all of the next-episode previews, as well as using the wrong openings and endings for all of the episodes (save for the end of Ginyu Assault and a lucky Trunks saga DVD, both incidents of which seem like flukes).


With this situation, Toei now had the upper hand on FUNi, as their dragonbox releases of DBZ would definitively prove to be the only 100% uncut releases (though still completely unsubbed). Because of this, FUNi took to the best step next to using wrong animation intros/outros, they used textless openings and endings given to them by Toei for the "proper" openings and endings. Now, while there would be no Kanji credits, these openings and ending credits would be the same animation themes as used in the Japan aired version. However, this posed a problem for FUNi's release of the "Ultimate Uncut" and Dead Zone redub DVDs. For episodes 1 - 21 of DBZ, an animation opening where instead of Gohan running next to Shenron and the shadowy appearances of Vegeta and Nappa were present, a different animation opening was used featuring (in place of Gohan running alongside Shenron with the side heroes) a long pan of a beautiful landscape as the Nimbus coasts across, as well as (in place of the fiery shadow figures of Vegeta and Nappa) a few cars running off in a far distance in an apparent race. The same was true with the ending credits, since for episodes 1 - 21 and the Dead Zone feature, only Gohan would be shown just running up along a mountain (with no scene cuts like in the "ZENKAI Power" ending we all know and love where Gohan runs along the Budokai arena and is scared of Piccolo). Because FUNi didn't get proper openings/outros from Toei, they were forced to use the textless versions of "CHA-LA" and "ZENKAI Power" for the ultimate uncut episode releases, however this posed a problem with their whole "Ultimate Uncut" advertisement.


Because FUNi had gone with these textless versions of "CHA-LA" and "ZENKAI Power", they were back to using the wrong openings and endings for the DVD releases, though this would only be for episodes 1 - 21, point is they're using the wrong animation intro/outros for the episodes for the Japanese version. Because they never received a textless version of the first animation versions of "CHA-LA" and "ZENKAI Power", they found themselves in an odd position with the Dead Zone redub DVD release. It certainly didn't help things that a Hanna-Barbara sound effect was inserted in the Japanese version of this DVD, but now they went with using the second animation versions of "CHA-LA" and "ZENKAI Power" for the redub-dub of Dead Zone, even though they clearly had the first animation opener and ending credits in the Japanese version. They could have included those versions in the dub version, however it would seem they don't wanna retain the Japanese Kanji (that's all correct by the way) for the feature, and since they don't have textless versions of these intro/outros, they chose oddly to use the wrong versions for their redub-dub. Well, at least the Japanese version was able to retain its 100% uncut aspect...oh, but wait, that's sorta been killed by the fact that FUNi (accidentally or purposely, who knows) inserted a Hanna Barbara sound effect that was in the Pioneer DUB of Dead Zone into the JAPANESE version on the redub DVD, whilst the redub-dub has the normal sound effect from the Pioneer DVD's Japanese version. Very odd, very odd situations.


Anyway, as it would seem, Toei have only allowed FUNimation so much to use in their DVD releases. All this, just so Toei can pronounce loudly their the only ones on Earth releasing 100% uncut DB DVDs, yet with no subtitles, and not even Kanji subs are included for the Japanese hearing impaired. Basically, Toei stripped FUNi of; every episode's correct Kanji opening-intros and ending-credit sequences (didn't even provide a textless version of the first "CHA-LA" and "ZENKAI Power" animation sequences, thereby forcing FUNi to use the wrong animation intro/outros for the Japanese version of episodes 1 - 21 on their Ultimate Uncut releases), Toei's made certain to see that all of the next-episode previews were stripped of their audio (not even Steve Simmons got to sample it from the masters), and Toei never did give FUNi the second animation intro/outros to original DragonBall, not to mention original DB not getting any nest-episode previews to speak of. Damn, it seems Toei went to so much trouble, yet they've let the DB and DBZ movies, as well as the Bardock and Trunks specials, slide by basically fully uncut (and yes, the Bardock special did get its TV special blip from Toei, as evidenced when its edit version aired on cartoon network). Though FUNimation can't be FUNimation without making their own alterations to the Japanese versions of the movies. Such casualties are DBZ movies 4, 6, 7, and 8 getting their Toei "Waves and Rocks" logos removed, as well as the already mentioned fact that the Japanese version on the Dead Zone redub DVD contained an inserted (Hanna Barbara) sound effect that was never there to begin with on the Pioneer Japanese version. It all seems like both Toei and FUNi just don't want us to have the DragonBall trilogy completely uncut, yet something rather unique escaped their grasp.


As everyone who's anyone knows, the DBGT dub was royally screwed into the ground by FUNi, bringing in the horrible Mark Menza to musicly compose the entire series' score, as well as bringing back Christopher Neel to do a lot of writing for the episodes *ugh*. However, like in the beautifully animated series, Fullmetal Alchemist, it seems that FUNi's DVD releases had a little equivalent exchange of their own going on. Though the dub was HORRIBLY composed and written, the Japanese version surprisingly suffered no casualties from Toei. The episodes were in fantastic quality (hell, they were just animated in 96 and 97), the correct DAN DAN animation openings were used with every episode's intro/outro's Kanji credits retained (it's true, the first 2 released DVDs even contained separate Japanese version angles showing the Kanji credits fully translated). Toei had evidently given FUNi both DAN DAN openings (first one ending with Goku, Pan, Trunks, and Gill escaping a cave, while the second ends with Goku transforming into all of his SSJ forms). All of the ending sequences, animated by Toei, are retained for each's own respective episode as well, all the rightful Kanji credits being retained. Not only that, but every episode's next-episode preview; audio and all, had been finally included with each and every episode, making the Japanese version of GT on FUNi's DVD releases truly, 100% uncut.


When it came time for the Goku Jr. special on the other hand, Toei had seemed to wanna see fit to have their GT dragonboxes unique in the aspect of the GT special being "all the way, fully uncut" on their release. So, unfortunately, they snipped out the GT TV special blip, the DAN DAN theme song, and all of the special's unique eye-catchers out of the feature. Now that I look back on it, I don't really all mind it, considering the ending "Field of View" credits were retained, and both Toei and FUNi saw fit to keep the Japanese version in stereo; score 1 there! While everything seemed to turn out all right with GT (unless people wanna be nit-picked about the GT special), there is some controversy surrounding episode 64. Namely; the final Kanji credits that scroll the screen as Goku makes his final, montage departure at the outside of the Tenkaichi Budokai arena. It was believed by many, including myself, that Toei had snipped these on purpose to further enforce "uncut authority" on their GT dragonbox release. However, as it would seem, their dragonbox version of this episode lacked the final Kanji credits as well, and instead (like the FUNi release) had a textless version of Goku's final stroll while the usual ending credits rolled right after the "ending". Because of this whole incident, it would seem the only prints of episode 64 that featured the actual strolling Kanji credits had been the original airing in Japan, as well as the airing on the International Channel. Well'p, it is now over and done with.


Now-a days, people, there're very few remaining DVD releases of the DragonBall trilogy that FUNi have left to release. The entire GT series (and TV special) has been released, so FUNi has no worries there. They've finished releasing all of the DBZ sagas following the Captain Ginyu saga as of a few months ago, and their release of DBZ movie 11 was just put on shelves last August. Also, they've at last released original DB movie 2 in a $20 DVD box-set with DB movie 3 and the 10th anniversary feature. With all that said and done, it would seem FUNi only has but literally a few releases left. The rest of the Ultimate Uncut DVDs, their supposed redub DVD releases of DBZ movies 2 and 3, the releases of DBZ movies 12 and 13 of course, as well as the first 13 DB episodes of the uncut (FUNi redub) Pilaf saga. The Pilaf saga release, by the way, has already been released in Australia (though its copy of DB movie 1 was the edit-only version, as seen in North America's "Saga of Goku" DVD release), and are as of yet to be released here in the U.S. due to FUNi's confusing licensing issues on those episodes, as well as the first DB movie, with Kid/Trimark. Well, sooner or later, everything DB/Z/GT related will be on shelves, FUNi and licensing issues can't hold off these DVD releases forever. Kinda like destiny, Goku's was fulfilled in GT episode 64, but the fate of the DVD releases are still far from over.




(Notes from GreatSaiyaman777- Wow, that's a lot of info on the dvd's! A lot of this is stuff I didn't even know about or had just plumb forgotten about. There are a couple of details to add though, which I guess isn't surprising for a 2-decades old 500 episodes and 20-some movies/specials 3-part series, heh. Conan asked me to add a few details of my own in the opinion so here they are. I think this about covers it but let me know if there's anything missing and I'll add it here.


1. "The credits aren't Funimation's fault." Actually they're Toei's as Toei sent them that way on the tapes they sent to Funimation. I guess it was just another of Toei's "fun" ways of making the tapes "incomplete" for the very, very, very small number of hardcore Japanese that'd import them, so that they'd "hold out" for the lengthily awaited, and finally released DBZ complete Dragon Box sets. Also I think a very small handful of episodes managed to have some accurate credits escape from Toei's dvd cleaver. And finally, Funimation had to pull a few strings with Toei in order to get the DBZ Specials on dvd dual before they had been released on dvd in Japan. I'm don't know if I can say who but thanks to the person who gave me this info but, thanks man.

2. "Thanks to EX." No, EX isn't the guy from above. Actually VegettoEX told me about the previews issue, and how Toei did the same with Sailor Moon for sales. I asked him about this years and he gave me the story after thanking me for having researched this much in depth before mentioning the issue to him. (since most people don't) Heh, man that was a while ago. Ol EX mentioned this story once on his old webiste, but he only mentioned it once briefly and even then it was in the middle of a lengthy editorial reply to some insults he'd gotten back in the height of the DBZ Site Wars.

3. "Toei's imaging is better." Some comparisons were done on the original images vs. Funimation's and Toei's. Funimation's heighten up the color to make it look more modern although the "less colorful" Toei tapes are actually crisper and more accurate to DBZ's original animation.

4. "Eyecatchers missing from DBZ." Funimation cut out the eyecatchers from DBZ from the Freeza saga up to about mid-Cell. Carly Hunter and Chris Sabat, after about a week of complaining/begging from Jon Allen, finally decided what the hell and put the eyecatchers back in starting with one of the Majin Buu saga episodes. (I think the Budokai one) This event's credited with being the last hammer thud to get the eyecatchers back, but it's also due in part to the hardcore Dbz fanbase that was unsatisfied with the dvd's and that actively complained about and opposed material being unnecessarily cut from them.

5. Finally (and this one really pisses me off)- Funimation has cut out ORIGINAL ANIMATION YOU CAN'T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE from the movies! What is it? It's not from the film itself but basically it's "preview animation" shown from before the movies that apparently ran in Japanese theatres to promote the film. Uncut fansubs of 7-9 are great examples of this kind of animation. Movie 8 has this really wonderful and awesome dark silhouette of Broly in the background over space and Movie 9 showed a chibi Mr. Satan over the a Brady Bunch style background of 9 characters competing in the tournament. Why'd this stuff being cut anyway? I wonder if it's Toei's fault but then again Funimation did act pretty anal about removing Toei's "Rocks and Waves" bit from some of the movies. I think someone really should gather this animation up and put it all on animesuki.com as one downloadable file as it'd probably fall in the same category as the Kimagure Orange Road tv pilot.)

- SSJ Conan
<ShadowSilenter@aol.com>