Is Dragon Ball Owned by Warner Bros.?
Dragon Ball is a popular Japanese manga series created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. It has since been adapted into several anime series, films, video games, and other media. The franchise has become one of the most successful in Japan and around the world.
The question of whether or not Dragon Ball is owned by Warner Bros. is a complicated one. While the original manga series was published by Shueisha, the anime adaptation was produced by Toei Animation and licensed to Funimation for distribution in North America.
Funimation’s Rights to Dragon Ball
Funimation holds the rights to distribute the Dragon Ball anime series in North America. This includes streaming rights on their own platform as well as licensing rights for home video releases. Funimation also owns the English dubs of the series, which they produce themselves.
Warner Bros.’ Involvement with Dragon Ball
While Warner Bros. does not own Dragon Ball, they do have some involvement with it. In 2018, Warner Bros. acquired Funimation, giving them access to Funimation’s library of anime titles including Dragon Ball. This means that Warner Bros. now has a stake in the distribution of Dragon Ball in North America.
In addition, Warner Bros. also owns the rights to distribute the live-action adaptation of Dragon Ball called “Dragonball Evolution”. This movie was released in 2009 and was met with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike.