Dragon Ball Z to be renewed for HDTV (Dragon Ball KAI)

[The Time Traveller]

(Copying this from a post on Daizenshuu EX.)


(From Shonen Jump)

Translation:

20th anniversary of Dragon Ball Z!
The legend of Z will be back with the newest digital technology!!
Starts at 9:00AM in April 5th 2009, on Fuji TV!!

1. More exciting by re-editing!!: The footage will be totally re-edited and HD-remastered!!
2. New opening and ending!!: Both footage and songs will be renewed! The sound effects in the show will also be renewed!!
2. Superb seiyus will gather for the show!!: The show will be re-dubbed by the original casts!!



They'll be reconstructing the 291 episode series to about 100 episodes, to update the old animation, fix the errors, sound effects and even the music and Opening/closing themes. This is for the 20th Anniversary of the sequel to Dragon Ball.

And this is from an update on the main Daizex homepage:


The DBZ TV series is receiving an extensive "refresh" for Japanese television airing

This is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of DBZ

While based on the original animation production, it is being updated with new technology
This includes extending the frames for formatting on an HD 16:9 display (note: not cropping the image)

The original Japanese cast is re-grouping to re-voice the show (where available, and unfortunately not including those that have passed on, such as Hirotaka Suzuoki [Tenshinhan])

Sound effects are being updated

Unlike the general show, the OPs and EDs are being completely redone

While not in the above announcement, other reports are noting that the number of episodes is being reduced from 291 to approximately 100

This begins 05 April 2009 @ 9 am

This means the filler scenes will be completely gone and inconsistencies will be completely fixed, like Vegeta's Orange and Lime flavoured Armour. And no more Garlic Jr. or any other painful filler.

[Gohan5]

I can't wait! but will Finimation pick this up though, especially after they've nearly finished releasing their "Remastered" box sets.

[Max Takeshi]

What interests me the most about this is the fact how 291 episodes will now become about 100. Over 50% of the series is eliminated.

This is a good thing, take out all the filler, keep just the minimal talking, all the fighting and try and follow the manga scene by scene (I guess).

So, the actual music in the show will stay the same I guess? Or maybe they will put in the American music, just to keep the 'new' aspect of it in touch.

[Lyco]

O_O Holy ****, holy ****, HOLY ****!!

This is wonderful news!

[Jet-Pack Jack]

Oh wow. I can't wait for this. It's going to be sooo awesome

[aki-T]

WOW! this is going to be so amazing. i cant waite to find out what the new voice actors are going to sound like

[SympathyX]

will definately kick ass but I fail to see the point in ANOTHER series renewal.

Funi are probably having a heart attack at the thought of doing the entire series AGAIN.

[The Time Traveller]

Originally Posted by aki-T

WOW! this is going to be so amazing. i cant waite to find out what the new voice actors are going to sound like

They'll be the same voice actors, except for Tenshinhan and Kame-sennin because their voice actors passed on a long time ago.

If Funimation do this series, I want to hear it done properly, no "TIEN", no "MASTER ROSHI", no "SEIYAN", and definitely no "KEIOKEN"...


I just realised, will Gregory be taken out completely? Since he's a filler character and all, I guess so...

[Lyco]

Originally Posted by SympathyX

will definately kick ass but I fail to see the point in ANOTHER series renewal.

Funi are probably having a heart attack at the thought of doing the entire series AGAIN.

I agree it's most definitely a 20th anniversary cash-cow, but it'll still be interesting to see what they do ^.^

And I wonder if Funimation know yet ...? Oho I'd love to see their reaction. They've only just finished the first version, haven't they! @_@

Originally Posted by The Time Traveller

no "SEIYAN"

Aww, I've gotten so used to that though XD But it would be nice to hear the dub adhere more strictly to the original names/terms.

[The Time Traveller]

Dragon Ball might also be redone after Z, but that'd be a shame since the filler for that is pretty sweet, the 22nd Tenkaichi Training arc was kind of bad, but the Wedding arc was nice.

The Reason for Z to come before DB is probably sometimes to do with the money made with the series, the Dragon Ball Z franchise is still making a lot of money in English with loads of DVD sales and video games being made all the time, along with toys and cardgames.