As Video Ops director for Katsucon, I stay pretty tight (more or less) with Adam at FUNi among other studio/company reps, keeping tabs on when new titles will be ready to show, what titles are being announced, and such. I can pretty much say — even if he doesn’t say it outright — but I’m willing to put money that he DOES read this blog, he DOES visit Daizex.com (and its forum), and he DOES know you’re out there. As any good businessman knows, it’s important for a company to listen to its customers and do what’s necessary to meet the customers’ demands. I’m not sure when FUNi’s license extension (for DB/Z/GT) was made, but I’m pretty sure that the license extension caused the turn of events since May 26. It has allowed FUNi to clear up a lot of Dragon Ball related issues that the hardcores have complained about, such as Dragon Ball DVD’s being out of print for years (and of course those elusive first 13 episodes not seeing the light of day in the States).

One might say, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” However, I say, “Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is just one more try.” Maybe this time, after all these years, FUNi will finally get it right in releasing Dragon Ball / DBZ in the States again. Here’s hoping.

Great article, VegettoEX! It’s really well put together, and I hope FUNimation sees it, because it’s something they really need to consider.

I have VHS tapes (which I have copied into 2 DVDs for easier storing and watching) for the first 13 eps, but I would love to have the redub. Really…really like to have the show back on the shelves. You probably knew that though, cnsidering half my questions to the podcast ask about it >.>

As for entitlement, its a serious problem with the anime industry as a whole, but outside of making available I dont really know what you can do with it, since as you say – everyones already made their minds up on this.

Really, that’s actually a bargain considering DBZ’s a 291 episode series. Plus, at most places it’s usually 29-35 dollars.

Oh, my god. People who actually pay for anime? Blasphemy!

I hate when people are like that…

I don’t see anything wrong with downloading/watching online… IF you have the product you’re going online for.

Unless, I misread the post, that’s what I think about it.

In the four examples I used, I at least went after English-speakers, which would have a higher probability of being served either by FUNimation themselves, or by someone distributing FUNimation properties (for example, Madman down in Australia). If you click through on the four people, one lives in Amsterdam, one lives in Wisconsin, and the other two don’t list where they live. The likelihood of the argument being dead-on is still relatively high. I stand by my assessment of the sense of entitlement being rather universal and the immediacy of FUNimation needing to take back control of their property’s distribution.