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NEWS: Satelight to Relaunch Basquash! for Sports Fans, Kids

I thought the original was aimed at sports fans and kids?
I mean aside from the mecha and the odd fanservice (that was cut for DVD release), there wasn't really much to appeal to 'otaku' or normal anime fans for that matter.

My thoughts exactly. How do you dumb down something that was dumb to begin with? As I've said so often, I continue to be baffled by what Japan decides to produce.

That's what they should have done in the first place! Basquash! had all of the makings of international marketing gold for broader, younger audiences--great-looking art and animation, goofy, fun action involving basketball and robots, Nike's involvement--but they squandered it by making it appeal to the otaku crowd and pumping it with fanservice (and even then, the show didn't seem like it could decide on which side to play to). I might be in the minority, but I really think it has the potential to be a global hit if handled right this time and tied to a Nike campaign (commercials, merchandise, int'l TV broadcasting).

It seems like the producers realized something along those lines at least in terms of audience, if the first series DVD release was any indication. Although, I believe they should have kept it uncut; you already made it with the fanservice, so live with it. There should have been a separate release, in that case.

Now hopefully, they don't water the new series down too much or lessen the artistic effort they made before, otherwise it will look too much like their catering instead of telling a good story within the bounds of a kid/family-friendly range.

There was a lot of production drama behind the scenes. The sponsors who financed the show clashed with the director (who refused to address their concerns) throughout development, eventually firing him and his allies after the series proceeded to tank.

While no explanation for the firing was provided, Thomas Romain implied that the sponsors were uncomfortable with what they perceived to be an overly niche style.

As for the changes to the DVDs, I suspect that it was done as a middle finger to the original staff. They obviously knew that the series was beyond saving (16 episodes already storyboarded, a gutted team, low popularity with the Japanese audience, and the appointment of a director who specialized in salvaging a project to meet broadcast obligations as opposed to producing quality work), yet insisted on reworking the episodes.

As for the changes to the DVDs, I suspect that it was done as a middle finger to the original staff. They obviously knew that the series was beyond saving (16 episodes already storyboarded, a gutted team, low popularity with the Japanese audience, and the appointment of a director who specialized in salvaging a project to meet broadcast obligations as opposed to producing quality work), yet insisted on reworking the episodes.