Summary
Lost media has become something that internet detectives have really embraced these days. From the long search for thelost pilot for the American version ofSailor Moon, to the original pilot ofJimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, to (what is looking like a very likely) search forCoyote vs. ACME, lost media has always been a thing. Before ‘lost media’ became a common term, episodes of TV shows that would be pulled from reruns (or even original airings) would be referred to as a ‘lost episode.’ These would be episodes that would no longer air or (in the case of many older Doctor Who episodes) would truly be considered ‘lost’ to the sands of time.
Yet many years ago, Funimation decided to use the idea behind lost episodes as a marketing idea when it came time to release their (for Americans anyway) new seriesDragon Ball GT. Yet the whole marketing campaign behindDragon Ball GThaving ‘lost episodes’ was more of a marketing ploy than anything, and the reasons for even doing it were more complicated than fans even realized at the time.
What is Lost Media?
Lost media refers to any form of recorded content, such as films, television episodes, music, books, or video games, that is no longer available to the public for various reasons. The content may be considered “lost” due to destruction, deterioration, intentional suppression, or simply because it has not been widely distributed, and its whereabouts are unknown. To be clear: lost media is NOT DVD’s that are out-print-print or books that are no longer being published! Lost media is material that is unavailable in any form, and may have even be destroyed. Some examples include:
What is Some Notable Lost Media?
To give a better example of what true lost media is, the following is media that is lost and may never be recovered. Some notable examples of lost media that are coveted by internet detectives include:
What is Dragon Ball GT?
Dragon Ball GTis a Japanese anime television series and the sequel to the popular Dragon Ball Z series. It was produced by Toei Animation and originally aired in Japan from July 09, 2025, to July 20, 2025. Unlike its predecessors,Dragon Ball GTwas not directly based on the manga written by Akira Toriyama. Instead, the story and character designs were developed by the animation staff. The series takes place five years after the conclusion ofDragon Ball Zand follows the adventures of Goku, who has been transformed back into a child by a wish gone wrong using the Dragon Balls.
The Series introduces new characters and features Goku, Pan (Goku’s granddaughter), and Trunks (Vegeta’s son) as they embark on a quest across the universe to retrieve the scattered Black Star Dragon Balls and prevent the destruction of Earth. The series received mixed reviews from fans and critics, with some praising its action sequences and others expressing disappointment in the departure from Toriyama’s original manga.
What Are the ‘Lost Episodes?’
WhenDragon Ball GTwas first brought to the West, the first several episodes that aired on television in the United States had significant edits and changes compared to the original Japanese version. Multiple episodes were combined into one to create a “preview episode,” with the second “real” consisting of episode 15. After the series finished its run on Cartoon Network, Funimation then announced that they would be releasing the episodes that they skipped as ‘The Lost Episodes’ on DVD the following year.
Other ‘Lost’ Anime Episodes in America
While Funimation skipped several episodes ofDragon Ball GT, it would not be the only anime in America to do so. Other examples include:
Why Did Funimation Skip these Episodes?
WhileDragon Ball GTwas one of the most anticipated series after the conclusion ofDragon Ball Zin the west, Funimation was concerned because the series was tonally very different in the beginning. The Japanese producers wanted to return to the humor roots of the originalDragon Ballseries. This was not met warmly in Japan, and Funimation was concerned it would be worse in America. Therefore, the decision was made to skip the first fifteen episodes and begin the show when the series' first main antagonist - Baby - comes into the picture.
This not only got the series to the action faster, but it also gave Funimation some extra episodes you could only buy on DVD. The tactic did work, as those discs containing the ‘Lost Episodes’ ultimately did sell well, and fans were happy to see bonus items like posters and trading cards included with each disc! Years after the fact, the entire series would be collected into complete series box sets the way they were always intended to be, and the series is presented complete on all the major streaming platforms. While some fans may think this whole thing is silly, you have to keep in mind that hadDragon Ball GTaired on Toonami as originally created, it could have lost the action-loving audience long before it got to the action fans in the west were expecting. Doing it this way ensured that the audiencesdidn’t get put off by the humorous early episodes, as well as gave Funimation some exclusive stuff for the lucrative DVD market. From the companies perspective, everyone won in this situation.
You can streamDragon Ball GT(including the ‘Lost Episodes’) onCrunchyroll.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is a franchise by Akira Toriyama which follows the adventures of Goku, a powerful warrior who protects the earth with his group of friends. A recent title from the series is Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an action style game where 7 players have to survive being hunted by the Raider.
