What's here?
You can either click the links below, or use the menu to the right.
DB & DBZ TV shows (Points below)
DBGT TV show (Another page)
DB Movies (Another page)
IN JAPAN:
Following up on the success of Dr. Slump, the DB animated TV
series hit the broadcast waves on February 26, 1986. The work
was done by Toei Animation, and the adventures of Goku unfolded
during supper time on Fuji TV on Wednesday nights at 7:00, the
same slot as Dr. Slump.
Basically, the TV show followed the events of the comic book, but fleshed out the episodes to fill the 30 minute slot. A number of original episodes were included as well. There are a lot of cool special FX that they used for the fighting scenes.
After the first series run, it was renamed as "Dragon Ball Z," to signify a change in direction in the story. The new series aired on April 19, 1989. After a long run, Dragon Ball Z ended on January 31, 1996, following the end of the comics version a year before. However, a new TV series was started, called Dragon Ball GT (Grand Tour or Galaxy Touring), with the story based on an original plot created independently of the book version. Toriyama Akira was part of the creative team for the new series. DBGT, after almost a two-year stint, ended in November, 1997.
It appears that the original Dragon Ball is being rebroadcast across Japan through various TV stations. Also, a newly souped up version of Dr. Slump is airing across Japan, I believe, in the same time slot as DBGT.
IN THE US:
Dragon Ball was finally released in the United States in 1995 by a company called FUNimation, founded by Gen Fukunaga and his wife, Cindy. Some difficulties seemed to have occurred with the initial release, such as the 5:30 in the morning airing times (at least in the NYC area). The company translated the first 13 episodes.
After the first series run, there was some hesitation, and nervous moments for DBZ fans, but Dragon Ball Z was released for the 1996-1997 season. FUNimation teamed up with Saban Entertainment (The Power Rangers, VR Troopers folks) and 23 episodes were created. For the next season, 97-98, 26 more episodes were be released.
At this point in time, DBZ is no longer in syndication, so it is not being shown on many local TV stations. However, you can catch it on the Cartoon Network, being aired from Monday to Friday. Here's a list of times:
| Hawai'i Time | 3:00pm |
| Alaska Time | 4:00pm |
| Pacific Time | 5:00pm |
| Mountain Time | 6:00pm |
| Central Time | 4:00pm |
| Eastern Time | 5:00pm |
Why has DBZ gone out of syndication? It appears there were complications arising from the fact that Saban shutdown syndication. FUNimation desires to create more episodes, but this hinges on its contract with its current distributor, Cartoon Network, and whether they order more shows or not. FUNimation encourages fans to e-mail ( ToonNet@aol.) or write to Cartoon Network (Cartoon Network, 1050 Techwood Dr. NW, Atlanta GA, 30318) supporting the show.
A NOTE ABOUT THE GAP BETWEEN THE US RELEASES OF DB & DBZ
The original DB episodes were aired in the US, but the viewer response seemed to be rather tepid. The early-in-the-morning time slots didn't help either. So it appears as though FUNimation changed strategy and introduced DBZ instead for the following 96-97 season.
They also teamed up with another company that is experienced in introducing Japanese TV shows to the US (albeit much edited), Saban. This leap from DB to DBZ was probably a logical step, as Cindy Fukunaga explains,"...DBZ is much more action-packed, and so in some ways it's a really good fit for the US market today.*" Even in Japan, the manga Dragon Ball didn't really take off in popularity until the beginning of the battle-packed Tenkaichi-budoukai tournament. Although DBZ is now airing across the country, Funimation has not ruled out re-broadcasting the DB series.
* Animerica, Vol 4, No. 11, Viz Communications. (PO Box 77010 / San Francisco, CA 94107)
[MAIN PAGE]
[AUTHOR] [MERCHANDISE] [COOL PICTS] [COOL LINKS]
© Buu 1997, 1998
[TV/MOVIES] v
|_DB TV <
|_DB GT
|_DB Movies
