Packaging: Orange Bricks AU/UK Vs. US

[JohnnyCashKami]

We all know it was a terrible release but there were a few good things about it. For example, the packaging difference between countries.

FUNimation originally released it in paper boxes so as time passes it eventually becomes noticeable that the bottom has been worn out, whereas the Madman release (+ Manga UK repackaged release) was made of plastic. I guess FUNi tried being more eco-friendly by not using plastic.

R1 - FUNimation

Spoiler:

R4 - Madman

Spoiler:

R2 - Manga UK

Spoiler:

I recall that the R4 (+ R2) had booklets (not the R2 release though) too but it didn't have dual angles like the R1 DVDs did. Maybe I'm misremembering.

So despite that AU/UK have technically the better packaging, I'd recommend the US version because you can watch the episodes with Japanese credits although cropped in a fake 16:9 AR. And if I recall correctly, "Season 9" looked fairly decent to me with the only con being that it was in 16:9 AR.

"Season 9" DVD vs Blu-ray

Spoiler:

The Blu-ray version turned everything into a smeary, water color paint but that's what you get for a budget automated release.

[Char Aznable]

Manga UK packaging is definitely superior but I have to say, if I owned them on my shelf, having every set with episode numbers except for the first one would trigger the hell out of me.

[nato25]

As someone that owned the Aus Orange Bricks, the packaging is straight garbage. The clips that hold the disc in place break so easily even after little use. The spines don't match up either, if I recall Season 1 Vegeta's face on the spine was thinner or positioned differently.

I traded all my Orange Bricks in for Blu-ray and haven't looked back. For me the pro's outweigh the negatives. Those being less shelf space, better menus and menu music (in my opinion) and cleaner more consistent packaging.

I think I also would take the sharpness, much better sound, selective cropping and much more natural colors of the Blu-ray release.

Sure the orange bricks have less of that water paint effect going on, but to me that's really only an issue on the backgrounds. The booklet is missed as well but is anyone reading that thing more than once if that?

People might disagree with my opinions and I think my opinions on the preservation of the original footage have changed since the time I wrote this review but if anyone wants a good review of the blu-ray feel free to check out my detailed one. The picture of Shenron at the beginning of the visuals section speaks volume to me.

https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/dra ... -8-review/

[JohnnyCashKami]

As someone that owned the Aus Orange Bricks, the packaging is straight garbage. The clips that hold the disc in place break so easily even after little use. The spines don't match up either, if I recall Season 1 Vegeta's face on the spine was thinner or positioned differently.

I traded all my Orange Bricks in for Blu-ray and haven't looked back. For me the pro's outweigh the negatives. Those being less shelf space, better menus and menu music (in my opinion) and cleaner more consistent packaging.

I think I also would take the sharpness, much better sound, selective cropping and much more natural colors of the Blu-ray release.

Sure the orange bricks have less of that water paint effect going on, but to me that's really only an issue on the backgrounds. The booklet is missed as well but is anyone reading that thing more than once if that?

People might disagree with my opinions and I think my opinions on the preservation of the original footage have changed since the time I wrote this review but if anyone wants a good review of the blu-ray feel free to check out my detailed one. The picture of Shenron at the beginning of the visuals section speaks volume to me.

https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/dra ... -8-review/

I had Madman's DBZ Season 4 on DVD and the clips that held the discs were perfectly fine, but I eventually sold it because I didn't want it.

Now, as for the "selective cropping" that's more or less random luck. On the comparison below, the Season DVDs look better and could've even been great had it not been in 16:9 AR.

These screenshots were originally posted by Ajay:

[nato25]

Yeah fair enough on the cropping I fell for the marketing there haha. That last example is bad. No one wins with cropping I guess.

In all honesty 16:9 doesnt phase me, I'm probably in the minority that prefers it as i dont like black bars and to me nothing of importance is really lost. I totally get why people are upset but I'm not in your camp sorry.

The tint on colours is actually what bothers me the most, especially on kai. What version do people say has best colour accuracy? Obviously i know orange bricks are over saturated and I've heard people want to colour correct the dragon boxes?

[JohnnyCashKami]

Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT bricks all together sets quite a nice collectible charm to it.

From an Amazon customer:

Spoiler:

It's a shame Manga UK didn't license the GT Singles from Madman rather than the Green Bricks.

[Danfun64]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason Manga UK didn't sell the Blue Brick footage was because Madman never bothered to acquire it for some inexplicable reason, unlike with the orange and green Bricks.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason Manga UK didn't sell the Blue Brick footage was because Madman never bothered to acquire it for some inexplicable reason, unlike with the orange and green Bricks.

Yeah, i guess they decided to just license Manga UK their version of the Saga Sets rather than acquiring the Blue Brick footage from FUNi.

[JohnnyCashKami]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason Manga UK didn't sell the Blue Brick footage was because Madman never bothered to acquire it for some inexplicable reason, unlike with the orange and green Bricks.

Madman didn't bother, you're right. They only released the Saga Sets and that was it. Thank God because that's still way better than the Blue Bricks.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason Manga UK didn't sell the Blue Brick footage was because Madman never bothered to acquire it for some inexplicable reason, unlike with the orange and green Bricks.

Madman didn't bother, you're right. They only released the Saga Sets and that was it. Thank God because that's still way better than the Blue Bricks.

I would've gotten the Saga Sets and definitely considered them, though the thing is the entire first arc is not available that way outside of the Region 2/4 release so the Blue Bricks were my only option there.

[eledoremassis02]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason Manga UK didn't sell the Blue Brick footage was because Madman never bothered to acquire it for some inexplicable reason, unlike with the orange and green Bricks.

Madman didn't bother, you're right. They only released the Saga Sets and that was it. Thank God because that's still way better than the Blue Bricks.

Is the compresson of the non 1-13 episodes better than the FUNi releases? Cause thats a huge flaw for those

[Char Aznable]

Was it Madman or Manga UK with the Baba episodes being messed up on the Japanese side? I don't think it matters if the footage is better than other footage if you have to play games with your player to play the episodes in order.

[JohnnyCashKami]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason Manga UK didn't sell the Blue Brick footage was because Madman never bothered to acquire it for some inexplicable reason, unlike with the orange and green Bricks.

Madman didn't bother, you're right. They only released the Saga Sets and that was it. Thank God because that's still way better than the Blue Bricks.

Is the compresson of the non 1-13 episodes better than the FUNi releases? Cause thats a huge flaw for those

The episodes to me all look really good on the Madman version so my only real complain is the lack of NEPs. I can't say if the compression looks better or worse but I enjoyed every moment of it, though.

Was it Madman or Manga UK with the Baba episodes being messed up on the Japanese side? I don't think it matters if the footage is better than other footage if you have to play games with your player to play the episodes in order.

Manga UK just repackaged it. Madman was the one who screwed up the disc authoring and they never fixed it.

[JohnnyCashKami]

This is yet another interesting comparison screenshot of the DVD vs Blu-ray:



Gotta love that selective cropping on the Blu-rays.

[nato25]

Haha wow that zoom in is ridiculoud. Man do I hate the dub credits on the orange bricks and bluray.

[eledoremassis02]

This is yet another interesting comparison screenshot of the DVD vs Blu-ray:



Gotta love that selective cropping on the Blu-rays.

That was an issue addressed and fixed in later sets. Has anyone noticed and reprints of season one that fixed this issue?

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

Overall Manga UK's packaging is better, but that's not saying much as its still terrible. I wish Manga UK used slipcovers back then like they thankfully do now with their Dragon Ball releases. If they just included slipcovers that had the Dragon Ball Z with Shenron image on the back spines it would have resolved the biggest issue with Funimation's packaging, which was that you had to discard the slipcovers to see that image. Another issue they could have easily resolved was stacked discs