Dragon Ball Z HD Re-airing in April.

[Bilis]

As of now, this release is for Japan only. Not sure what this means for DVD/Blu-ray releases in the future, but:

* 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

Sources: http://www.daizex.com/ and http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-06/dragon-ball-z-to-rerun-on-japanese-tv-in-hd-in-april

[djanss]

* This is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of DBZ

(And just off a tangent, also mentioned in the article:
The more excited we see the Japanese get about promoting the US Dragonball:Evolution movie in connection with the 20th-anniversary...the more I keep thinking "Remember how excited the Japanese were that we were going to make an American Godzilla movie? :sd: "

I'm keeping an open mind, but somebody really needs to break the bad news to them soon.)

[Quarkboy]

* This is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of DBZ

(And just off a tangent, also mentioned in the article:
The more excited we see the Japanese get about promoting the US Dragonball:Evolution movie in connection with the 20th-anniversary...the more I keep thinking "Remember how excited the Japanese were that we were going to make an American Godzilla movie? :sd: "

I'm keeping an open mind, but somebody really needs to break the bad news to them soon.)
There's no need for that. The people promoting the hell out of Dragonball Evolution in Japan are exactly the same type of people that are promoting it here in the US... Studio executives who have no clue about anything.

The otaku, and even the general Japanese population, see Dragonball Evolution as exactly what the west sees it as: A giant pile of garbage waiting to be dumped on its shores.

In fact, I've read a number of 2ch threads about the movie and they read almost identical to similar threads on here and ANN. Japan and america are in agreement.
The fact that they are promoting it has to do with Fox's idiotic belief that it will do well in the box office in Japan. But I really don't see that happening. It'll do as well as a local kids movie like the recent gegege no kitaro movie, but compared to a usual US blockbuster film it'll tank.

[DeadlyMessiah]

This really intrigues me, for as much as I love DBZ, there is just way too much bs going on in it. If they cut it down to 100 episodes, it will be outstanding.

BTW, this also means Funimation is going to be in business for at least 10 more years.

[Mazinkaizer]

I was thinking about if they would use Kappei Yamaguchi (who is dubbing the character in the movie's JP dub) to voice Son Goku instead of Masako Nozawa. But being a Saint Seiya and Hokuto No Ken fan who have been suffering since they changed the original seiyuu for crappy reasons (especially Saint Seiya) i wouldn't want the DB fans to suffer something similar. Either ways they'll probably re-cast couple of the characters especially the ones whom seiyuu passed away.

Though re-casting Gohan with a different seiyuu (aka: Hiroya Ishimaru just like the live action JP dub) would be a good idea IMO.

For DBZ, i enjoyed the 1st DB show more as that i couldn't stand the mighty fillers and unnecessary extended scenes/battles in DBZ. I am glad that they're refining that now in the updated re-run.

Now the most important part for me is to keep the original Shinuske Kikuchi music !! as that it's the major thing that helped me go finish DBZ.

[djanss]

I was thinking about if they would use Kappei Yamaguchi (who is dubbing the character in the movie's JP dub) to voice Son Goku instead of Masako Nozawa. But being a Saint Seiya and Hokuto No Ken fan who have been suffering since they changed the original seiyuu for crappy reasons (especially Saint Seiya) i wouldn't want the DB fans to suffer something similar. Either ways they'll probably re-cast couple of the characters especially the ones whom seiyuu passed away.

I'm guessing the re-dub is to cover super-HD stereo for a show that was originally recorded in standard television audio--
Harder to remix the original, since stereo broadcast wasn't being used for kiddie cartoons back in the day, but redoing it from scratch seems to be gilding the lily a tad.

(At least ADV's with-Mari Macross redo had an excuse.)

[Fencedude]

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


Quite possibly the best part of the entire project.

[Westlo]

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


Quite possibly the best part of the entire project.

Garlic Junior Saga cut out = awesome.

[Raye]

The title of the remastered DBZ is now Dragon Ball Kai. It was announced the most recent Jump. Doesn't really matter to me, but having a new title really differentiates that this is not the original Dragon Ball Z people worldwide associate with.

It would be great if the series was trimmed down and there weren't a ton of panning shots or still frames of characters gritting their teeth and one another. Though, I'm a bit skeptical about this considering that reports have been claiming this to be "remastered" and not "redone." I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If it's going to be anything like the web OAV that came out a few months ago, it should be worth watching. Too bad that Dragon Ball (the original) was not included in the update.

[Bilis]

Original DB may be done later on depending on the success of this project...

[KudosForce]

I have to say that I've been very interested by this project. The cut-down number of episodes will make it easier for me to initiate my dad to the universe of DBZ.

Also, since Japan is doing the remastering themselves, Funi will have no choice but to pick up Japan's HD version the next time they want to re-release DBZ! :devil:

On a side note, I'm glad to see that both America and Japan are in mutual agreement on Dragon Ball:Evolution's "quality".