Toei Looking to Shop Dr. Slump and "Refurbished" Sailor Moon for TV Deal

[Funkatron]

http://www.mania.com/toei-shopping-s...le_121814.html

We've recently seen the resurgence of Sailor Moon overseas with the title making an appearance in Italy again, which has been welcome news since Toei essentially took the title off the market for several years. Now ICv2 is reporting that Toei Anime is presenting 200 "refurbished" episodes of the series at MIPTV in Cannes where broadcasters and other licensors go to acquire new and old shows alike. In addition to the Sailor Moon episodes Toei is also offering the rights to the 243 episodes of the 1980s TV anime Dr. Slump, which is based on the manga series by Dragon Ball-creator Akira Toriyama.

ICv2 states that "The 200 episodes of Sailor Moon would presumably include all the Sailor Moon TV anime series including the original series (46 episodes), Sailor Moon R (43 episodes), Sailor Moon S (38 episodes), Sailor Moon Super S (39 episodes), and Sailor Moon Stars (34 episodes, the only episodes that have never been available in the U.S.)."
With the series having such a checkered release in the US with edited versions and releases across a couple of distributors as well as the last season never being released here, it's likely just a matter of price as to whether any domestic anime company will step up for it. FUNimation has expressed some interest in it in the past by mentioning it during their licensing request polls and have stated at conventions that it's a title they'd certainly be interested in taking a look at. ADV Films previously released the separate editions of the original show with dub only and sub only releases while Geneon released the follow-up shows along with the movies.

Finally! This is pretty good news

[GWOtaku]

You left out Dr. Slump!!! *edits title*

This isn't too surprising to me considering recent news, but it's good. Here's hoping that something actually comes of it. Good on Toei for not just leaving older properties on the shelf.

[Classic Speedy]

I asked this in the previous SM thread, but when they say "refurbished", do they mean improved image quality a la the Platinum Evangelions or Aika re-release? Because for a TV title from 1992, a better picture would really be beneficial.

Normally I'd say FUNi would be the most likely candidate given how big they are, but with another older show, Dirty Pair, licensed out of the blue by RightStuf, maybe they'll nab Sailor Moon as well.

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Also of note, the Dr. Slump masters being offered are supposedly the Dragon Box level masters, or those are at least available.


If anyone picks these up, I'd hope it's FUNimation so Daimao can do Dr. Slump's subs...

[soundmonkey44]

FUNIMATION PICK THESE UP & PUT THEM ON TV & DVD! NOW!!!! (Please!)

[zoombie]

I hate to be begger that is a chooser, but as I mentioned in another thread. I hope they don't forget to include the three Sailor Moon movies, and the two pre movie specials, and the hour long tv special.

Does Toei have any power over the Sailor Moon and Sailor V mangas? Ever more cool would be a relicense of the Sailor Moon manga, with the books being the proper size and going right to left, and the original bonus art. And the license of Sailor V for the first time. If not Toei, who has the rights for the mangas?

[Jacob T. Paschal]

The thing with Dr. Slump is the humor is very Japanese-based. You'd almost have to createa dub that was like Shin-chan by rewriting everything, which is why it's a hard pick-up. Of course, I'm sure there are legions of fans who would be happy to pick it up sub-only, but FUNimation doesn't seem privy to doing that.

Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon could be sold, depending upon where they wanted to pick up a(nother) title from the nineties. Either do it sub-only or slap an accurate, non-Westernized dub on it, and it's sure to sell.

[King]

The thing with Dr. Slump is the humor is very Japanese-based. You'd almost have to createa dub that was like Shin-chan by rewriting everything, which is why it's a hard pick-up. Of course, I'm sure there are legions of fans who would be happy to pick it up sub-only, but FUNimation doesn't seem privy to doing that.

Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon could be sold, depending upon where they wanted to pick up a(nother) title from the nineties. Either do it sub-only or slap an accurate, non-Westernized dub on it, and it's sure to sell.

I think they already releases a SUB-ONLY Sailor Moon DVD set.

[zoombie]

I finally got all of the first four season DVD sets and they cost a lot of money, and know they might reerelase them in better quality making the previous DVD sets worthless.

[Jacob T. Paschal]

While the series has already been released (or at least a few of them have) before in the US, finding the DVDs can be hard. If FUNimation picks up the series there's a chance their release could be much less expensive.

I finally got all of the first four season DVD sets and they cost a lot of money, and know they might reerelase them in better quality making the previous DVD sets worthless.

Not if you consider them prized artifacts!

[Beat]

Um, why? Is there really going to be that big audience? I'm serious. Toei is infamous for its fees, and this a niche property at best, better known for being the butt of a lot of jokes about Japan than actual quality.

...They're not shipping the toku too, are they?

[GWOtaku]

I think Toei is just looking to export in general. Shoot, they're planning to release CG movies of Gaiking and Captain Harlock internationally starting in 2012, we have Fist of the North Star coming on DVD already, and there's also that supposed business with William Winckler Productions going on as well.

[Mandouga]

Does Toei have any power over the Sailor Moon and Sailor V mangas

That would be Kodansha's department, since they're the ones who actually publish the manga. Thus that would be a completely separate thing.

The thing with Dr. Slump is the humor is very Japanese-based. You'd almost have to createa dub that was like Shin-chan by rewriting everything

With all due respect (and I've said this before), that's exactly what I'm hoping doesn't happen. Which means, if this were to get picked up, I hope that Funimation (the most likely candidate because of the Dragon ball connection) doesn't try to make it look as though it's set in the "present day" (but at the same time, I don't want to focus too much on the whole "80's" thing, either). I felt that with "Shin Chan" (as they decided to call it), they were essentially telling viewers "we're sorry, but we don't have time to explain Japanese culture to you". To put it in perspective however, if FUNi were to insert pop culture references that would be considered "current" as of 1981-1986, then it might (repeat: MIGHT) not be so bad. In event, with regards to how they handled the aforementioned "Shin Chan", and how they almost handled Sgt. Frog, I personally feel that "be careful what you wish for applies here".

Another thing, if Funimation (who again is the most likely candidate) does dub the show, I hope they don't try to make it too "adult". While it does have certain "things", it's not that kind of a show, either.

As for Sailor Moon, that's another story...

[stephane dumas]

I asked this in the previous SM thread, but when they say "refurbished", do they mean improved image quality a la the Platinum Evangelions or Aika re-release? Because for a TV title from 1992, a better picture would really be beneficial.

Normally I'd say FUNi would be the most likely candidate given how big they are, but with another older show, Dirty Pair, licensed out of the blue by RightStuf, maybe they'll nab Sailor Moon as well.

Maybe, an improved image quality by remastering the tapes or the films.

Speaking of older shows, although this one was only a OAV, I wonder if the Gunsmith Cats OAV could be licensed again?

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Toei is no stranger to remastering their film. While I suspect only the 16mm masters are all that exist for Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon from there Toei has proven--with Dragon Ball and seemingly Dr. Slump--they poor a lot of money into their remasterings. Unless, by refurbished, they went all Dragon Ball Kai on it. In that case, I pity th' fans...

[Dinobolt]

FINALLY! The greatest anime of all time (in my book) may come back to DVD. I already have most of seasons 1, 3 & 4 of Sailor Moon, as well as the first 2 movies, but it would sure help my collection alot if it was made readily available at video stores again.

[PowerZord]

I don't know but.. the way I read that article it sounds like a Dragon Ball Kai type of thing for Sailor Moon. Noticing the increase in censorship in current modern anime including retelling like DB Kai it's not impossible for them to try it out with Sailor Moon.

[Marvin Tikvah]

Dr. Slump finally getting an American release is a great relief. I've seen the spanish dub and I liked it enough to think it warrants an English release.

Sailor Moon back on the market would be great too. This being Toei though, we've got to be wary of what exactly they have planned for this relaunch, especially considering the way Pretty Cure was handled in Canada.

[Lord Dalek]

Hopefully its just a straight retransfer/restoration from the original 16mm negs. Sailor Moon has always been a show thats looked and sounded like hell.

Unless, by refurbished, they went all Dragon Ball Kai on it. In that case, I pity th' fans...

If Toei claims that all 200 episodes are part of the the deal than a Kai-style overhaul is out.

And besides if you were to essentially cut all the filler out of Sailor Moon you'd lose over half a season of episodes.

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Hopefully its just a straight retransfer/restoration from the original 16mm negs. Sailor Moon has always been a show thats looked and sounded like hell.


If Toei claims that all 200 episodes are part of the the deal than a Kai-style overhaul is out.

And besides if you were to essentially cut all the filler out of Sailor Moon you'd lose over half a season of episodes.

I was thinking they would digitally draw over the footage, ala Kai...but then again...that'd be a lot for two hundred episodes, so I think it's just a Dragon Box-esque remastering from the original 16mm reels, which I am sure will look gorgeous, if Dragon Ball's Dragon Boxes are any indication.