Dragon Ball films in high-definition

[jpranevich]

I'm gradually rewatching all of Dragon Ball in order and I'm trying to slot in the movies where they would have been released. I'm almost up to the first film! (I'll watch it around EP43 of the anime.)

When "Shenron no Densetsu" ("Curse of the Blood Rubies") and other DB films were released at the various anime events, were they produced in "high definition"? That is, was it animated to film standards or was it produced just like the TV episodes and just blown up to full screen?

If they were "high-definition", is there anywhere out there (for physical purchase or for streaming) that has the film version? All I've been able to locate are DVD-quality ones which might have been nicely mastered but not quite the same thing.

[simtek34]

They aren't, but FUNimation's streaming service, FUNimationNow has the 4 Dragon Ball movies in 1080p HD. The only downside is, the Blacks are a bit crushed, but I don't really notice it. Now I really want a Blu-ray Movie 4 Pack.
Screenshots:

[clutchins]

The movies were produced on 35mm film, not digitally. There is no "resolution" for film based materials. The film is scanned at a certain resolution when it's transferred to home video. When 35mm film is scanned digitally, it can theoretically have a resolution of up to 4K depending on the quality of and care put into preserving said film.

Funimation likely has 2K scans of their masters for the movies. (Maybe 4K for the DBZ ones). The DB movies are streaming on their website and the DBZ Movies were released on Blu-ray.

[Danfun64]

Also, the transfer for DB Movie 2 (Sleeping Princess in Devils Castle) is infamous for cutting the framerate in half. There's no reason to watch it streaming, and the only reason to get the 2010 dvd with the same transfer is because of the Dragon Radar project from thejeremymenace. If you want a physical copy of DB Movie 2 and don't want to go the Dragon Radar route, then get the 2005 DVD instead.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

These movies were shot on 35mm film, there's no set resolution. It could be mastered as low or as high a resolution as conceivably possible (with diminishing returns, of course). The only thing that matters when it comes to these things is what number they chose, and they chose 480p for the older movies, as far as I know. They may be HD on Funimation's site, though, I really don't know.

[Puto]

FUNimation's video transfer for the DB movies has also been released on Blu-ray in Latin America (Latin American Spanish dub only, no English or Japanese).

[jpranevich]

How did the development / animation process differ for the films vs the weekly TV show? I don't know enough about how the TV show was developed to understand how the films differed.

[Bianju]

How did the development / animation process differ for the films vs the weekly TV show? I don't know enough about how the TV show was developed to understand how the films differed.

Well, for one thing, the films were shot (and stored) on 35mm film instead of the 16mm film which the TV series was shot and stored on. Not only does this mean much higher-quality video, but also better audio. The fact is, most 35mm just keeps better than 16mm.

[TheGreatness25]

Do they look better on FunimationNow than on DVD? Hm. Either way, for some reason, I don't like watching Dragon Ball on their app. I feel like I spent thousands of dollars owning a physical copy, so hell no lol Even though right now, I do watch Dragon Ball Z on their app solely for the dub subtitles for the "Ultimate Uncut" episodes. I'm going to do a little project and I need them. It's brutal to sit through all of this (AGAIN) while writing down everything they say. I wish there was an option to watch it twice as fast and be able to pause it every time they say something.

Anyway!

I suppose it's cool that the movies were done in better quality than the series (on better film), but I never cared for any of the movies much. I will always have a soft spot for "Path to Power," though, as it was the very first Dragon Ball-related DVD that I owned. And the rest is history.

[sangofe]

Do they look better on FunimationNow than on DVD?

The HD versions look a heck of a lot better.

[TheGreatness25]

I'm sincerely surprised they haven't released them on Blu-ray then.

"For the first time ever... Own Dragon Ball! The Movies! The way they were meant to be seen! Digitally remastered! Uncut (except Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle)! So much Dragon Ball action, it will blow your mind!"

[simtek34]

I'm sincerely surprised they haven't released them on Blu-ray then.

"For the first time ever... Own Dragon Ball! The Movies! The way they were meant to be seen! Digitally remastered! Uncut (except Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle)! So much Dragon Ball action, it will blow your mind!"

Hopefully they Re-Remaster Movie 2. Please FUNi! Open wallets are waiting!

[sangofe]

I'm sincerely surprised they haven't released them on Blu-ray then.

"For the first time ever... Own Dragon Ball! The Movies! The way they were meant to be seen! Digitally remastered! Uncut (except Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle)! So much Dragon Ball action, it will blow your mind!"

Interestingly enough, they were released in Blu Ray in a Latin American country...

[successoroffate]

FUNimation's video transfer for the DB movies has also been released on Blu-ray in Latin America (Latin American Spanish dub only, no English or Japanese).

Licensed?

[Bruma rabu]

Any reason why they haven't released these on blu ray if they all ready have them at HD? It seems strange that they have HD versions of the movies on a streaming service but physical release. Also while I lament the way the colors are all messed up I would really love to own the Dragon Ball movies in HD.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

I'm sincerely surprised they haven't released them on Blu-ray then.

"For the first time ever... Own Dragon Ball! The Movies! The way they were meant to be seen! Digitally remastered! Uncut (except Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle)! So much Dragon Ball action, it will blow your mind!"

There's really no reason for a Blu-ray release, the market just isn't there. Most who own it on DVD won't care enough to upgrade, and there isn't a huge fanbase for the pre-Z material to begin with. Basically the same reason Pre-Z episodes and GT haven't gotten Blu-ray releases (and GT really needs one, interlaced DVD's are every bit as antiquated as VHS tapes).

[TheGreatness25]

Sure, but why bother putting it up on their streaming service abs not release it? They could have gone the easy route and just uploaded their DVD release footage.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

Sure, but why bother putting it up on their streaming service abs not release it? They could have gone the easy route and just uploaded their DVD release footage.

Because they have the movies in HD, and uploading it to their site is far easier than putting out a physical release. They have to pay for everything accompanying a Blu-ray, after all, including disk materials, designing cover-art, printing the cover-art, encasing materials.

Considering that pre-Z Dragon Ball isn't near the cash cow Z is, there's no reason for them to take a risk by producing a physical release, especially when the majority of us are already satisfied with our DVD's or streaming service. Even more especially since it's literally the best DB release available in from Funimation today.

[rereboy]

Sure, but why bother putting it up on their streaming service abs not release it? They could have gone the easy route and just uploaded their DVD release footage.

Because they have the movies, and uploading it to their site is far easier than putting out a physical release. They have to pay for everything accompanying a Blu-ray, after all, including disk materials, designing cover-art, printing the cover-art, encasing materials.

Considering that pre-Z Dragon Ball isn't near the cash cow Z is, there's no reason for them to take a risk by producing a physical release, especially when the majority of us are already satisfied with our DVD's or streaming service. Especially when it's literally the best DB release available in from Funimation today.

Not to mention that the cost of a physical release increase per unit produced. In a streaming or digital service, the costs are basically the same .

[TheGreatness25]

No, I meant why bother acquiring such a high definition version of the film when they're just going to sit on it? They could have let Toei keep it and just used the one they already had.