Dragon Ball American Release Chronology
Appearance
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The following is a brief chronology of the Dragon Ball franchise's journey to the United States of America, starting back with its first official license attempt via Harmony Gold in 1989. From here, the series makes its way to certain cable channels for specialized broadcasts before ultimately landing in the hands of FUNimation as the primarily license holder in 1994, with Viz also picking up the manga in 1998.
For a listing of Dragon Ball's release history in Japan, see: Dragon Ball release chronology
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1988 | |
| Early 1988 | The Nintendo Famicom video game Dragon Ball: The Mystery of Shenlong receives an English release as "Dragon Power" on the Nintendo Entertainment System with altered character sprites and names |
| 1989 | |
| December 1989 | Harmony Gold (known for the 1985 Macross-to-Robotech adaptation) attempts the franchise with a cut of Dragon Ball movies 1 and 3 (which air as a special feature on certain local networks) and the first five episodes[1][2] |
| 1992 | |
| January 1992 | Nippon Golden Network, a channel out of Hawaii, begins playing the Dragon Ball television series with their own original subtitle translation[3][4], running through to completion in 1994[5] |
| 1994 | |
| May 1994 | A company called FUNimation is founded in Texas by Gen Fukunaga, Cindy Brennan Fukunaga, and Daniel Coughenhour[6] (the latter-most of sold their family feed mill business to became principal investors)[7]; through a connection with co-founder Gen Fukunaga's uncle Nagafumi Hori, a producer at Toei, the company gets the Dragon Ball license; they produce a pilot version of of the first Dragon Ball movie titled "Curse of the Blood Rubie" (which never goes into wide distribution) and which uses the Harmony Gold character names (e.g., "Zero" for Goku)[8] |
| December 1994 | After completing the original series, Nippon Golden Network moves on to the Dragon Ball Z television series with their own original subtitle translation[9][10]; the subtitled broadcast gets through about 100 episodes of its subtitled broadcast; a Fuji TV mandate comes down, specifically citing broadcasts out of Hawaii, requiring the removal of subtitles on any entertainment-based programming[11][a] |
| 1995 | |
| September 1995 | FUNimation produces a different English dub version of the first Dragon Ball movie titled "Curse of the Blood Rubies" (this time redone with the new/original names) for home video release, as well as the original television series' first 13 episodes which air in syndication that fall/winter, featuring a replacement musical score by Peter Berring and a Canadian voice cast in conjunction with BLT Productions; the company seemed to have plans to go beyond this (in particular at least up through the 21st Tenka'ichi Budōkai)[12], but these plans never came to be contemporary with their original 1995 attempt |
| 1996 | |
| September 1996 | FUNimation shifts to the 1989 sequel series Dragon Ball Z, and through early 1998 they produce two seasons (covering roughly 68 episodes edited down to 53, plus a three-episode-cut of the third Dragon Ball Z movie that air in syndication; this dub features a new replacement score (from Shuki Levy and Ron Wasserman) and a Canadian voice cast in conjunction with Ocean Studios |
| 1997 | |
| Early 1997 | The International Channel begins playing the Dragon Ball Z television series in raw Japanese[13][14], running through to completion in 2002 |
| August 1997 | Pioneer takes on the home video distribution for FUNimation's English dubbed Dragon Ball Z productions, starting with the "Dragon Ball Z: Arrival" VHS release |
| September 1997 | The PlayStation video game Dragon Ball: Final Bout receives an English release as "Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout" by Bandai (featuring non-FUNimation dubbed voices on the character select screen, and the original Japanese voices during fights), marking the first Dragon Ball franchise video game to hit America under its own title |
| December 1997 | FUNimation and Pioneer begin releasing uncut/bilingual versions of Dragon Ball Z movies 1, 3, and 2 (out of order as such) on VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD |
| 1998 | |
| January 1998 | After two seasons of Dragon Ball Z broadcast in syndication (the latter of which is still actively airing at this time), Saban (the company handling the actual network distribution for FUNimation) announces their upcoming exit from the children's programming syndication business[15] |
| March 1998 | Viz begins releasing the Dragon Ball manga in monthly floppy format (akin to American comic books) as a split "Dragon Ball" and "Dragon Ball Z" production[16] |
| August 1998 | Cartoon Network picks up the first two syndication seasons of Dragon Ball Z from FUNimation to air on their afternoon cartoon block Toonami |
| December 1998 | FUNimation produces an English-dubbed version of the second Dragon Ball movie ("Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle") with local Texas voices (while keeping the original Japanese score), which gets released on VHS, marking the first total "in-house" production[17] |
| 1999 | |
| May 1999 | FUNimation continues their English dub of the Dragon Ball Z television series, picking up where syndication broadcast "season two" ended with "uncut" and "edited" versions of two VHS releases ("Captain Ginyu - Assault" and "Captain Ginyu - Double Cross")[18] with yet another replacement score (from Faulconer Productions) and local Texas voice actors cast through an audition process largely meant to mimic the original Canadian cast |
| September 1999 | A third season broadcast of Dragon Ball Z begins on Cartoon Network's Toonami block from FUNimation beginning with material released earlier that year on VHS and moving onward into material that debuts through this broadcast (and will also itself see VHS releases)[19]; over the course of several more seasonal blocks of episodes, the series runs through to completion on Toonami in 2003 |
| November 1999 | In response to a father's outrage over "borderline soft porn" images of "naked boys and girls" after purchasing Dragon Ball manga for his four-year-old son at Toys"R"Us, the company removes all Dragon Ball manga from its store shelves[20][21] |
| December 1999 | The Wall Street Journal publishes an article entitled "Kids Are Glued to a Violent Japanese Cartoon Show" (later retitled to "Violent Japanese Cartoon Show Draws Kids' Eyes, Parents' Scorn") discussing the show's rising popularity in America[22][23] |
| 2000 | |
| January 2000 | Local texas news outlet Dallas Observer publishes a behind-the-scenes feature article about FUNimation's work on the Dragon Ball Z English dub entitled "International incident"[24] |
| April 2000 | The Garlic Jr. filler arc, the final batch of English dubbed Dragon Ball Z "Season Three" content yet to air, begins on the new "Rising Sun" block on Cartoon Network[25] |
| May 2000 | FUNimation partners with Burger King for its "Big Kid's Meal" offering that includes seven different figures and the potential to mail in the proofs-of-purchase from these figures to receive the Dragon Ball Z: Z Warriors Prepare VHS tape (which was, at the time, the only way to obtain English dubbed Dragon Ball Z episodes 124 and 125, then still using the edited numbering of "109" and "110")[26] |
| June 2000 | FUNimation begins producing and releasing their own line of uncut/bilingual DVDs, featuring a faithful subtitle track translation by Steven J. Simmons, starting with the Dragon Ball Z "Season Three" content |
| August 2000 | Viz begins a "Graphic Novel" (collected edition) release for their "Dragon Ball" portion of the manga |
| Future Daizenshuu EX contributor (and Kanzenshuu co-founder) Julian Grybowski publishes a letter to Viz on PetitionOnline.com advocating for an uncensored manga release and aiming for 10,000 signatures[27][28]; the petition does actually grab the attention of Viz, and is one of the factors considered in the move to a less-censored version | |
| September 2000 | Viz begins a "Graphic Novel" (collected edition) release for their "Dragon Ball Z" portion of the manga |
| November 2000 | Infogrames (later folded into the "Atari" brand) secures a sub-license to distribute Dragon Ball video games in North America[29]; this license ran through to 2009, at which point Bandai (then "Namco Bandai Games") takes back full control |
| 2001 | |
| March 2001 | The Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game launches its 2nd National Mall Tour[30][31], beginning in Las Vegas and hitting 12 cities across the United States, featuring the DBZ CCG Hummer and voice actors Eric Vale and Sonny Strait |
| FUNimation holds a vote on their website for fans to choose their preferred voice (out of two total choices) for a new voice for little Goku in their upcoming revisit of the original Dragon Ball television series | |
| April 2001 | FUNimation holds a vote on their website for fans to choose their preferred voice (out of four total choices) both for a new voice for Shuu ("Shao")[32] as well as for Pilaf[33] in their upcoming revisit of the original Dragon Ball television series |
| June 2001 | FUNimation returns to an English dub of the original 1986 Dragon Ball television series with the VHS release Dragon Ball: Tournament - Roshi's Request covering episodes 14-16 (effectively picking up where they left off in 1995) |
| August 2001 | FUNimation's return to an English dub of the original 1986 Dragon Ball television series begins its broadcast on Cartoon Network, including a redub of its first 13 episodes; over the course of several more seasonal blocks of episodes, the series runs through to completion on Toonami in 2003 |
| Alongside their work on the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z television series, FUNimation picks back up with movie releases starting with the fourth Dragon Ball Z movie on edited and uncut English dubbed VHS; an uncut/bilingual DVD follows the next month | |
| 2002 | |
| May 2002 | Infogrames releases the first western-produced (non-Japanese-developed) video games for the franchise: Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game (developed by ImaginEngine) and Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku (developed by Webfoot Technologies), both for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance |
| November 2002 | The International Channel begins their broadcast of the Dragon Ball GT television series in raw Japanese[34], running straight through to completion in 2004 |
| Infogrames releases an English version of Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors for the Nintendo Game Boy Color (also released earlier that year in Japan by Bandai) | |
| December 2002 | Infogrames releases an English version of the PlayStation 2 video game Dragon Ball Z retitled as "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai"; the Japanese version won't actually release until February 2003, despite originally being conceived of and produced as a grab for the Japanese nostalgia market[35] |
| Akira Toriyama visits New York for the launch party in support of Viz's new monthly Shonen Jump print magazine | |
| Viz begins releasing their monthly Shonen Jump print magazine, which takes over as the primarily serialization source for their ongoing "Dragon Ball Z" manga release; picking up with "Dragon Ball Z chapter 134," the series runs through to the end of the Cell arc with "Dragon Ball Z chapter 226" in the May 2005 issue, after which point "Dragon Ball Z" moves back to "Graphic Novel" format only for the run of the Boo arc | |
| 2003 | |
| January 2003 | FUNimation begins releasing two-disc sets of the original Dragon Ball television series on uncut/bilingual DVD, at the time skipping ahead to episode 14 (here with the "Tournament Saga" set) due to a holdover home video distribution sub-license of the first 13 episodes (and first film) to Kidmark / Trimark / Lion's Gate (dating back to their original 1995 production) |
| February 2003 | FUNimation partners with Burger King once again for a new "Big Kid's Meal" double-promotion with Dragon Ball Z (specifically promoting the company's release of the seventh Dragon Ball Z movie) in conjunction with The Powerpuff Girls; buyers received a bag with one figure from each respective franchise; DBZ figures included those for No. 13, Goku, Trunks, and Vegeta[36] |
| March 2003 | FUNimation's new "Be a Star" contest soliciting amateur performance art of their Dragon Ball GT replacement theme song is actively running[37]; the deadline (originally planned for March) is later extended into May[38]; the contest winner is eventually included as a DVD extra on the June 2003 release of "Dragon Ball GT: Creation" |
| April 2003 | Viz begins the shift to Japanese tankōbon-sized releases with their "Shonen Jump"-branded "Graphic Novel" release line; previous "Dragon Ball" and "Dragon Ball Z" volumes are re-released under this line[39][40], and continue onward to the end of their series in 2004 and 2006, respectively |
| FUNimation begins their home video release of the 1997 Dragon Ball GT television series on edited English dubbed VHS, uncut English dubbed VHS, and uncut/bilingual DVD; this release initially skips the first 16 episodes (instead featuring their own, dub-only recap episode) before eventually looping back around to the beginning which they release on home video starting in July 2004 and on Cartoon Network in February 2005 as "The Lost Episodes" (which were never actually lost); the whole series is ultimately kept all together in its proper order with subsequent home video and streaming re-releases | |
| May 2003 | Infogrames reorganizes all subsidiaries under the Atari banner (notably "Atari Interactive, Inc." for its Dragon Ball content), the overall branding and title for which it became owner of in 2001 |
| June 2003 | Atari releases Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II (developed by Webfoot Technologies) for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance; this will be the sole western-developed game that receives a "reverse importation" release in Japan, in 2004 as "The Legacy of Goku II: INTERNATIONAL"[41] (featuring revised character sprites and rewritten dialog more closely reflecting that of the original series, rather than FUNimation's English dub which the "original" Infogrames/Webfoot version was based on) |
| August 2003 | Pioneer's home video distribution sub-license expires[42], paving the way for an uncut/bilingual release of the first two Dragon Ball Z broadcast seasons by FUNimation (which eventually comes starting in 2005) |
| November 2003 | FUNimation's English dub of the Dragon Ball GT television series begins its broadcast on Cartoon Network, skipping the first 16 episodes and instead starting with their own dub-only recap episode (a la the home video release from earlier in the year); as the series reaches its end in early 2005, it loops back around to the actual first 16 episodes and completes its full run |
| December 2003 | Atari releases an English version of the PlayStation 2 video game Dragon Ball Z 2 retitled as "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2"; like the prior entry in this game series, the Japanese version comes out after the international version, and won't actually release until February 2004 |
| 2004 | |
| June 2004 | Ben Ramsey is tapped to write the script for an American live-action adaptation of Dragon Ball[43] |
| July 2004 | FUNimation's DVD release of the Dragon Ball GT television series loops back around to the actual beginning (having originally skipped the first 16 episodes), kicking off "The Lost Episodes" spanning five DVDs[44] |
| August 2004 | Bandai producer Daisuke Uchiyama visits the Sony PlayStation Store at The Metreon in San Fransisco for a special public preview of "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3"[45] |
| Atari preps a re-release of 1997's "Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout" on the PlayStation with all new cover artwork[46]; shipments seem to slip into September[47]; the re-release is otherwise identical to the 1997 version in terms of on-disc content, including the non-FUNimation dub voices as originally used | |
| November 2004 | Atari releases an English version of the PlayStation 2 video game Dragon Ball Z 3 retitled as "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3"; like the prior entries in this game series, the Japanese version comes out after the international version, and won't actually release until February 2005 |
| 2005 | |
| March 2005 | Atari releases Dragon Ball Z: Sagas (developed by Avalanche Software) for the PlayStation 2, Gamecube, and Xbox; this marks the only mainline console (non-portable gaming), western-developed Dragon Ball video game release |
| April 2005 | Following Pioneer's 2003 home video sub-license expiration, FUNimation begins releasing "The Ultimate Uncut Special Edition," an uncut/bilingual re-release of the first two Dragon Ball Z broadcast seasons (which will ultimately be cancelled after nine volumes in favor of "season"-based box sets starting in 2007) |
| May 2005 | FUNimation is acquired by the multimedia publisher and distribution company Navarre[48] |
| June 2005 | FUNimation's "Ultimate Uncut Edition" English dub begins airing on Cartoon Network, running Monday to Thursday at 10:30 pm[49] |
| October 2005 | Atari releases an English version of the PlayStation 2 video game Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! (developed by Spike) retitled as "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi"; though the soundtrack is replaced (switching out newly synthesized versions of Shunsuke Kikuchi's original television series and movie score for recycled tracks from Dimps' "Budokai" video game series), Japanese voices are selectable (in addition to the default English dub) for the first time in an American Dragon Ball video game release |
| December 2005 | Atari releases a "Greatest Hits" version of "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3" for the PlayStation 2 that is intended to contain minor bonuses previously exclusive to the Japanese release of the game, as well as selectable Japanese voices; due to a manufacturing error, the original 2004 version of the game was distributed in the new "Greatest Hits" packaging, forcing Atari to offer up a replacement program and distribute corrected versions of the game the following month[50] |
| Cartoon Network's Robot Chicken airs a Dragon Ball parody Christmas segment[51] | |
| 2006 | |
| January 2006 | Alongside other ex-FUNimation executives, Barry Watson leaves to found anime distribution competitor Illumitoon with Beet the Vandel Buster as their flagship property[52]; the company ceased operations the following year[53] |
| March 2006 | FUNimation presents a limited theatrical release of the twelfth Dragon Ball Z movie (as a double-feature with the the sixth) ahead of its upcoming DVD release[54][55] |
| July 2006 | Atari releases the fighting game Super Dragon Ball Z on the PlayStation 2; unlike other mainline console game as of the previous year (and as will largely continue after this point), only English dub voices are included[56] |
| November 2006 | Following the interrupted release of "The Ultimate Uncut Special Edition" single-disc DVD releases, FUNimation announces that the Dragon Ball Z television series will received a new version that is "Digitally Remastered in High Definition and Restored" based on a new film scan by Video Post & Transfer[57]; this release will manifest as the cropped/widescreen "orange brick" DVD sets the following year, setting the stage for decades of compromised international home video releases |
| FUNimation releases the "Dragon Ball Z: First Strike" DVD box set, containing the previously-released "Ultimate Uncut" version of the first Dragon Ball Z movie along with newly-redubbed versions (as part of the overall uncut/bilingual format) of the second and third films[58], replacing the original versions of these films released by FUNimation and Pioneer back in 1997-1998 (albeit with this new release containing a replacement score in the English dub, unlike the joint Pioneer release which kept the original Japanese score) | |
| 2007 | |
| February 2007 | FUNimation begins releasing "complete season" sets of the Dragon Ball Z television series in a cropped-to-widescreen "remastered" version on DVD (colloquially known as the "orange bricks"); the series runs to completion with nine sets through May 2009, marking the first complete, sequential, consistent release of the Dragon Ball Z television series in America[59] |
| October 2007 | Tai Seng re-releases the Hong Kong live-action movie "Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins" in a newly-remastered version as "Dragon Ball: Ultimate Edition" featuring new special effects, as well as Cantonese and Mandarin audio tracks in addition to the previously-released English dub[60] |
| Bandai announces that it is returning to the franchise as the North American master toy licensee[61] | |
| FUNimation and Atari get into a legal spat with each other, with FUNimation accusing Atari (who is posting loss after loss[62], not to mention losing its CEO[63] and various board members[64]) of breaching their agreements and threatening to cancel their overall license; the companies enter talks to find a temporary agreement[65] | |
| December 2007 | FUNimation and Atari settle their legal spat with each other; FUNimation is paid $3.5 million (comprised of a cash payment of approximately $2.7 million and a reduction of $0.8 million in the amount of the recoupable royalty advance made to FUNimation)[66] |
| 2009 | |
| March 2009 | The American live action movie Dragonball Evolution is released in theaters |
| July 2009 | At the anime convention Otakon, FUNimation announces their license of the Japanese Dragon Ball Z "Dragon Box" DVD sets for American distribution[67] |
| September 2009 | FUNimation begins releasing DVD box sets of the original Dragon Ball television series (labeled as "seasons"), now able to start at the proper beginning of the show due to the expiration of their home video distribution sub-license to Kidmark / Trimark / Lion's Gate (dating back to their original 1995 production); five sets of these "blue bricks" release over the course of 2009-2010 covering all 153 episodes |
| October 2009 | In response to a mother's outrage when her nine-year-old son borrowed a Dragon Ball manga volume from a Maryland school library, Wicomico County Council member Joe Holloway presented examples of nudity in the volume to his fellow council members stating that the "drawings and story lines are disgusting" while Wicomico schools Superintendent John Fredericksen followed up with the fact that "it's coming off the shelves as soon as I can get a phone call back to the office"[68][69][21] |
| November 2009 | Following their launches of Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for the Nintendo Wii, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for the Nintendo DS, the American branch of Namco Bandai Games launches the "Goku's Corner" community website hub (run by the Affinitive marketing agency) in conjunction with taking the license back internally for American Dragon Ball video game distribution[70] |
| 2010 | |
| February 2010 | FUNimation's license of Dragon Ball Kai (as "Dragon Ball Z Kai") is announced during a Navarre earnings call[71] |
| December 2010 | FUNimation releases an uncut/bilingual (and newly-English-dubbed) version of the first Dragon Ball film on DVD, still titled "Curse of the Blood Rubies"; this marks the last holdover piece of mainline content previously sub-licensed to another home video distributor (in this case to Kidmark / Trimark / Lion's Gate) that had yet to receive an updated and uncut release |
| 2011 | |
| April 2011 | FUNimation is purchased back from Navarre by co-founder Gen Fukunaga[72] |
| July 2011 | At Comic-Con, FUNimation announces their intention to release remastered Blu-ray sets for the Dragon Ball Z television series presented in its proper 4:3 aspect ratio[73] |
| November 2011 | FUNimation begins releasing remastered Blu-ray sets for the Dragon Ball Z television series presented in its proper 4:3 aspect ratio[74]; after only two sets (released in November and December, respectively) covering 34 episodes, the series was cancelled in January 2012[75] |
| 2013 | |
| June 2013 | Following an aborted Blu-ray release back in 2011, FUNimation issues a survey online asking fans for feedback regarding their purchase history with the franchise and the potential for a new Blu-ray release, and in particular their thoughts regarding the show's aspect ratio[76]; 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[77], leading to another cropped/widescreen release |
| August 2013 | FUNimation releases the "Rock the Dragon" DVD box set, compiling their English dub production of the Dragon Ball Z series as originally aired in syndication from 1996-1998[78] |
| 2014 | |
| July 2014 | FUNimation hosts a special preview screening of their English dub of the 2013 theatrical film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, in Los Angeles, California[79] |
| August 2014 | FUNimation brings the 2013 theatrical film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods to American theaters for a limited run[80] |
| October 2014 | FUNimation releases the 2013 theatrical film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods on home video, including the extended cut that aired on Fuji TV in Japan earlier that year[81] |
| 2015 | |
| March 2015 | FUNimation announces their license of that year's theatrical film, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'[82] |
| April 2015 | FUNimation hosts a special American preview screening of that year's theatrical film, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F', at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles, California; the film was screened in its original Japanese language track and was accompanied by guests from the Japanese production and English dub[83] |
| July 2015 | FUNimation hosts a special preview screening of their English dub of that year's theatrical film, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F', at the anime convention Anime Expo[84] |
| Following its Japanese launch on Android in January[85] and iOS in February[86], Bandai Namco launches the English-language version of the mobile game Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle simultaneously on Android and iOS[87] | |
| October 2015 | FUNimation releases that year's theatrical film Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' on home video[88] |
| 2016 | |
| October 2016 | Toyotarō attends New York Comic Con[89] |
| The Dragon Ball Super television series begins receiving an official subtitled simulcast via Crunchyroll (and other distributors) starting with episode 63[90] | |
| 2017 | |
| July 2017 | Sony acquires a majority stake in FUNimation[91] |
| 2018 | |
| September 2018 | As promotion for the upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Broly theatrical film, Toei and FUNimation present a limited theatrical release of the eighth Dragon Ball Z movie[92] |
| October 2018 | A panel supporting the upcoming release of the theatrical film Dragon Ball Super: Broly is held at New York Comic Con featuring Masako Nozawa, Sean Schemmel, Chris Sabat, Ian Sinclair, Monica Rial, Jason Douglas, Vic Mignogna, Akio Iyoku, and Norihiro Hayashida.[93][94] |
| November 2018 | As promotion for the upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Broly theatrical film, Toei and FUNimation present a limited theatrical double-feature release of the twelfth Dragon Ball Z movie and the Bardock television special[92] |
| Goku makes his debut appearance as a float at the 92nd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade[95] | |
| 2019 | |
| April 2019 | FUNimation releases the previous year's theatrical film Dragon Ball Super: Broly on home video[96] |
| 2021 | |
| August 2021 | Sony (FUNimation) completes their acquisition of Crunchyroll[97] |
| October 2021 | A panel supporting the upcoming release of the theatrical film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is held at New York Comic Con, hosted in-person by Justin Rojas, Ian Sinclair, and Monica Rial, with video presentations from Japan by Norihiro Hayashida and Akio Iyoku alongside panel host Sascha and translator Kyle Carr[98] |
| 2022 | |
| March 2022 | "FUNimation" branding sunset begins with streaming content, marking the move for all future branding to/as/from Crunchyroll[99] |
| August 2022 | Crunchyroll brings that year's theatrical film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero to American theaters (alongside other international releases), marking the first American Dragon Ball animated product release to not sport the "FUNimation" branding since 1994[100] |
| 2024 | |
| October 2024 | Alongside its Japanese debut, the Dragon Ball Daima television series begins its official subtitled simulcast on Crunchyroll[101] |
| November 2024 | The "Dragon Ball DAIMA North America Tour" kicks off at Mall of America in Minnesota (followed by stops at American Dream in New Jersey in December, and finally at West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada in February 2025)[102] |
| 2026 | |
| February 2026 | The "Dragon Ball POP-UP TOUR USA 2026" kicks off at Woodfield Mall in Illinois (followed by stops at American Dream in New Jersey in February 2025, Aventura Mall in Florida in February, Barton Creek Square in Texas in March, and finally The Shops at Santa Anita in California in March)[103] |
| March 2026 | Crunchyroll is scheduled to release the Dragon Ball Daima television series on Blu-ray (in both standard and "Limited Edition" formats) in America[104]; while some sets from certain retailers do make their way out to a small number of customers who pre-ordered[105], Crunchyroll later quietly reschedules the release for some unspecific future timeframe for unspecified reasons[106] |
Notes
- ↑ The specific letter referenced here is dated by Fuji TV as 01 July 1998, citing an April 1998 guideline; Nippon Golden Network's subtitled broadcast appears to have ended sometime in late 1996, predating this letter by two years
References
- ↑ "The Lost 80s Dragonball Dub" (14 August 2000). Temple O' Trunks. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Dragon Ball Z American Debut Date" (01 September 2021). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Dragonball the series" (03 January 1992). rec.arts.anime. Retrieved: 19 October 2019.
- ↑ "Authorized Viewers Guide to Jones Spacelink of Hawaii, Inc". Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Sunday, January 5, 1992. (p. 51). Retrieved: 15 June 2021.
- ↑ "Authorized Viewers Guide to Jones Spacelink of Hawaii, Inc". Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Sunday, December 11, 1994. (p. 75). Retrieved: 15 June 2021.
- ↑ "FUNIMATION GENERAL PARTNERSHIP (OTHER ENTITY)". comptroller.texas.gov. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Fun Factory: Inside Funimation, the Anime-Dubbing Powerhouse That’s Keeping Dallas Actors in Work" (08 March 2016). Dallas Observer. Retrieved: 09 April 2024.
- ↑ "A Different Missing Link: From Zero to Goku (Again)" (28 May 2020). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Authorized Viewers Guide to Jones Spacelink of Hawaii, Inc". Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Sunday, December 18, 1994. (p. 74). Retrieved: 15 June 2021.
- ↑ "REQ; Dragon Ball Z In Hawaii??" (03 January 1995). rec.arts.anime. Retrieved: 19 October 2019.
- ↑ "Yuusha Raideen, UHF Subtitles & The Great Fuji-TV Freakout Of 1998 " (21 February 2015). Let's Anime. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Spotlight – Dragon Ball Synopses". Protoculture Addicts, November/December 1995: Issue 37. America: (TBD). (pp. 22-24)
Kanzenshuu Press Archive: Protoculture Addicts "Dragon Ball Synopses" - ↑ "DBZ to begin airing on International Channel" (25 February 1997). rec.arts.anime.misc. Retrieved: 15 June 2021.
- ↑ "DBZ ON THE I-CHANNEL/NA DBZ A REPEAT! HMMM!" (03 March 1997). rec.arts.anime.misc. Retrieved: 15 June 2021.
- ↑ "Viz Announces Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z Manga English Release" (05 January 1998). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Television News" (05 March 1998). ZENtertainment. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "FUNimation To Release Second DragonBall Movie" (06 November 1998). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "“Captain Ginyu” VHS Available For Pre-Order" (15 April 1999). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Next Dubbed Video Releases, Air Date For Third Season" (13 August 1999). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Trouble in Texas" (March 2000). Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ Jump up to: 21.0 21.1 "Maryland School Library to Remove Dragon Ball Manga (Updated)" (07 October 2009). Anime News Network. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Violent Japanese Cartoon Show Draws Kids' Eyes, Parents' Scorn" (03 December 2009). The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Kids Are Glued to a Violent Japanese Cartoon Show". Daimao's Home Page. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "International incident" (20 January 2000). Dallas Observer. Retrieved: 09 April 2024.
- ↑ "THEY DID IT AGAIN!!" (08 April 2000). alt.fan.dragonball. Retrieved: 09 April 2024.
- ↑ "BURGER KING CORPORATION LIGHTS UP DRAGONBALL Z® PROMOTION IN U.S. RESTAURANTS" (23 May 2000). Burger King. Retrieved: 09 April 2024.
- ↑ "A Request for the Availability of Unedited Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z Manga" (23 August 2000). Petition Online. Retrieved: 09 April 2024.
- ↑ "The petition to Viz is UP!!!!!!" (23 August 2000). alt.fan.dragonball. Retrieved: 09 April 2024.
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z Finally Comes Home" (15 November 2000). IGB. Retrieved: 24 October 2019.
- ↑ "Hummer Meets Vegas". Dragon Ball Z Card Game. Retrieved: 24 October 2019.
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- ↑ "FUNimation Announces DBZ TV Series Blu-ray Release" (21 July 2011). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
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- ↑ "Android版「ドラゴンボールZ ドッカンバトル」の配信がスタート。ログインすると1日1個の「龍石」がもらえるスタートダッシュキャンペーンが実施中" (30 January 2015). 4Gamer. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
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- ↑ "FUNimation “Resurrection ‘F'” Home Release Coming October 20" (20 August 2015). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Interview: Dragon Ball Super's Toyotarou" (26 October 2016). Anime News Network. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Toei Animation & Crunchyroll Announce “Dragon Ball Super” Simulcast" (20 October 2016). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
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- ↑ Jump up to: 92.0 92.1 "“Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan” and “Saiyan Double Feature” Scheduled For American Theatrical Screenings in 2018" (19 June 2018). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’ NYCC 2018 Panel: English Trailer Makes a Debut" (05 October 2018). Newsweek. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
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- ↑ "92nd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to Introduce Goku Balloon" (06 November 2018). Anime Herald. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "“Dragon Ball Super: Broly” FUNimation Home DVD/Blu-ray Release: Quick Facts" (16 April 2019). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
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- ↑ "“Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” Panel Hosted at New York Comic Con" (07 October 2021). Anime News Network. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Funimation Content Moving to Crunchyroll for World’s Largest Anime Library" (01 March 2022). Crunchyroll. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
- ↑ "Crunchyroll Announces International Screening Dates for “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” Theatrical Film" (15 June 2022). Kanzenshuu. Retrieved: 19 June 2026.
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