900 Minutes of Uncut Action, DBZ Season 1 Arrives

[Kula]

By any chance, does anyone have a number to reach someone at FUNimation to talk to them about this?

And if so... why aren't you yourself calling them?! >.<

Because calling America is too expensive. Seriously though, I already sent them a letter (Almost 3 months and no reply).

So to recap FUNI's excuses...

• 'The way it was meant to be seen'/'No compromises' - It was MEANT to be seen in 4:3, chopping off footage is definately a compromise.
  Overscan - Redundant arguement
  Preserving integrety - *No comment*
  Using movie footage in the trailer - Misleading
  No mention of cropping in trailer, 4:3 images on the box, only one mention of widescreen on the box - Misleading
  Comparison pics of Gregory - Complete Bullsh*t
  Each frame painstakingly remastered - Chopping the frame to avoid glue damage doesn't sound 'painstakingly' to me

Please bear in mind I'm also not on the 'I HATE FUNI!' bandwagon. I'm just stating the facts. If anyone from FUNI is reading this and wants to offer their side of the story, I'd be more than happy to listen.

[JAPPO]

It's also important to note that the image quality is much better than the Uncut DVDs, albeit maybe less footage.

We do, however, get to see footage normally never seen like they have promised. In the process, we also lose footage we've already seen.

The price is the best you'll find for any TV box set, and the audio is also high quality in the industry (5.1 surround with 3 options of audio).

New audio means they recorded a new voice track (probably not a new script), meaning they probably perfected the aligning of the voices with the mouths moving or something like that.

As for the extras, it is a MODEST set of extras. I mean, afterall, it's an anime, not a hollywood motion picture.

In the end, what can we really ask for with the price 34.99? You get new audio, new video (EVEN THOUGH IT IS LESS FOOTAGE IN THE LONG RUN), and some new extras and a new box.

Worth it to me.

[Acid_Reign]

If you're willing to cut your losses, (and I do mean that literally) then yes, this is a very good deal, but unfortunately for a lot of us the "new" presentation is unacceptable.

[MajinVejitaXV]

It's also important to note that the image quality is much better than the Uncut DVDs, albeit maybe less footage.

With poorly applied DVNR removing detail from the entire series.

We do, however, get to see footage normally never seen like they have promised. In the process, we also lose footage we've already seen.

Seen where? These episodes were never fully released uncut in North America.

The price is the best you'll find for any TV box set, and the audio is also high quality in the industry (5.1 surround with 3 options of audio).

Gungrave is in 6.1 DTS if memory serves. 5.1 is not bad, but it's not the best.

New audio means they recorded a new voice track (probably not a new script), meaning they probably perfected the aligning of the voices with the mouths moving or something like that.

No, it means they had discrete masters.

In the end, what can we really ask for with the price 34.99? You get new audio, new video (EVEN THOUGH IT IS LESS FOOTAGE IN THE LONG RUN), and some new extras and a new box.

Yes it's cheap. Cheap doesn't always equal good however. Funny thing is, I think people would have been 100x happier if they'd just done a cheap set of the previous masters. 4:3 episodes, UUE quality, same price.

-Corey

[Mystery Person X]

New audio means they recorded a new voice track (probably not a new script), meaning they probably perfected the aligning of the voices with the mouths moving or something like that.

Um, no. That's totally inconsistent with everything we know on the subject. They have not rerecorded the entire voice track, they have simply rerecorded some parts, which may or may not include script changes (we don't know yet). None of the changes have any relationship to how well the voices align with the lip flaps - that has never been an issue.

In the end, what can we really ask for with the price 34.99?

The show not to be completely mangled in every single frame? I'd pay a higher price to get that, whereas the current release is totally worthless to me.

[JAPPO]

It's also important to note that the image quality is much better than the Uncut DVDs, albeit maybe less footage.

With poorly applied DVNR removing detail from the entire series.

We do, however, get to see footage normally never seen like they have promised. In the process, we also lose footage we've already seen.

Seen where? These episodes were never fully released uncut in North America.

The price is the best you'll find for any TV box set, and the audio is also high quality in the industry (5.1 surround with 3 options of audio).

Gungrave is in 6.1 DTS if memory serves. 5.1 is not bad, but it's not the best.

New audio means they recorded a new voice track (probably not a new script), meaning they probably perfected the aligning of the voices with the mouths moving or something like that.

No, it means they had discrete masters.

In the end, what can we really ask for with the price 34.99? You get new audio, new video (EVEN THOUGH IT IS LESS FOOTAGE IN THE LONG RUN), and some new extras and a new box.

Yes it's cheap. Cheap doesn't always equal good however. Funny thing is, I think people would have been 100x happier if they'd just done a cheap set of the previous masters. 4:3 episodes, UUE quality, same price.

-Corey

Unless FUNimation lied to me, the voice actors got together and made a whole new audio track.

Notice how I didn't say 5.1 was the best in the industry. I said HIGH QUALITY in the industry.

And by unseen footage, I meant the left and right sides.

[nathantheguitarist]

(snips the stuff he said)

Worth 34.99? NO, not too me... worth 15.99? Yes lol.

But I don't put the price as part of the set... I mean sure it's cheap as hell, but it could also be expensive as hell. If it WERE say 60 - 90 bucks, then it would be twice of an outrage... But for me, the price isn't something that I'll be keeping in mind for the years to come... 5 years from now, I wouldn't want to go to someone watching it, and noticing the cropping, "Oh, but it was only $30! It was a good deal!"
If I want a good deal, I'll go buy $2 vhs tapes of the Babidi and Saiyaman Sagas from Dollar General.

The fact is:

Widescreen is NOT the way it is intended, and it looks terrible. Sure the audio is nice... but the widescreen is unacceptable to me, and many others. And I honestly think the remastering process was BS. It was mentioned earlier that "Bright things were made TOO bright, resulting in pale skin, and dark thing were made TOO dark, making it seem black rather than dark purple or dark blue" And wtf was that blotch in that one Vegeta/Goha shot? Remastered nothin'....

Even the packaging is ridiculous... A crosseyed Vegeta, on the cover of a bullshit digipak with the discs overlapping...

For the price, is it worth it? Yes... In the long run, when price doesn't matter, is it worth it? Hell no...

And on a personal note, I'm with the others who have cancelled their pre-orders: I will NOT be supporting FUNimation into thinking that this was anywhere near a good idea...

[Mystery Person X]

Unless FUNimation lied to me, the voice actors got together and made a whole new audio track.

FUNimation certainly haven't said that publically. As I said, it's totally inconsistent with what we know about these box sets.

Did someone from FUNimation tell you this personally? If so, who was it, what was the context, and what was the exact wording?

[MajinVejitaXV]

Unless FUNimation lied to me, the voice actors got together and made a whole new audio track.

Notice how I didn't say 5.1 was the best in the industry. I said HIGH QUALITY in the industry.

And by unseen footage, I meant the left and right sides.

FUNimation lied to you. The only confirmed track that was cut was Kyle Hebert doing the narrator on episodes previously recorded before he joined the cast. There was mention of some changes, but it was far from a full redub.

Also, you said the best for a TV series, and Gungrave was a TV series also (an anime) hence my reply.

And unseen footage, yes. Worth seeing? Not really. ("Oh look, a rock! Hey, where'd Oolong's head go?")

-Corey

[JAPPO]

I think you guys are really taking this too personal.

Let's try to think of it this way:

If someone who has never watched DBZ in their life buys this set (maybe not likely, but it could happen), will they be disapointed with the quality?[/b]

[MajinVejitaXV]

Well, I've shown pictures to a few people with no love for DBZ who laughed at the crops. Make of that what you will.

-Corey

[nathantheguitarist]

It's been said that someone who doesn't watch the series could notice it.

But are we people who haven't seen the show before? No...

And taking it personally? Yes, a lot of us do, because we grew up on Dragonball, and it holds high value as part of our lives (well.. for me anyways)

TOO personally? No, not really... I could be sending death threats to them and holding people hostage until FUNi changed it

[JAPPO]

Well, I've shown pictures to a few people with no love for DBZ who laughed at the crops. Make of that what you will.

-Corey

Did they laugh at the originals?

[Kendamu]

By any chance, does anyone have a number to reach someone at FUNimation to talk to them about this?

And if so... why aren't you yourself calling them?! >.<

I'll PM it to you.

[Smooth Criminal]

I picked up my set today.

My opinion? You guys are totally blowing this out of proportion... You're focusting SOLELY on the negative aspects and ignoring the positive ones. Honestly, there's no pleasing you guys, and if I was Funimation I'd just tell you all to fuck off, honestly.

First off, the transfer is fantastic. I've never seen DBZ look this good. All the complaints about the colors, etc, are BULLSHIT. Wait until you actually watch it before you pass judgment... Jesus.. Anyways, I'm very pleased with the image quality.

In terms of audio, I think the English track with JP BGM is really nifty. The 5.1 surround is fantastic.

I admit, the packaging is shit. I don't like how the DVD's are stacked on top of each other, and I don't like the puke orange-ish look to the case. However, I think the booklet was unjustly hated upon. Yeah, the timeline is shit but the rest of it is pretty solid. I like the episode summaries.

I just checked out the bonus features and while I found the whole bit about the remastering process to be quite interesting, the segment was way too short. It seems they edited out too much of the interview, only choosing a few sentences for each segment of the remastering process. I would've liked to hear more.

Overall, I'm happy. The entire Vegeta saga, for a good price, and with fantastic visual quality. That's all that really matters.

[Acid_Reign]

I have a feeling that the people who are rationalizing this set are clinging to what's being provided for them. There really isn't any other way to get the series without importing or waiting out for the next re-release, if it ever comes. I don't blame them. But if you respect the series at all, you'd think twice about ponying up for a chopped-up, mis-colored version of what you originally liked, even if it's relatively inexpensive. It would be far worse to go out and buy them all if we could someday, with enough diligence, get a proper release.

[JAPPO]

I picked up my set today.

My opinion? You guys are totally blowing this out of proportion... You're focusting SOLELY on the negative aspects and ignoring the positive ones. Honestly, there's no pleasing you guys, and if I was Funimation I'd just tell you all to fuck off, honestly.

First off, the transfer is fantastic. I've never seen DBZ look this good. All the complaints about the colors, etc, are BULLSHIT. Wait until you actually watch it before you pass judgment... Jesus.. Anyways, I'm very pleased with the image quality.

In terms of audio, I think the English track with JP BGM is really nifty. The 5.1 surround is fantastic.

I admit, the packaging is shit. I don't like how the DVD's are stacked on top of each other, and I don't like the puke orange-ish look to the case. However, I think the booklet was unjustly hated upon. Yeah, the timeline is shit but the rest of it is pretty solid. I like the episode summaries.

I just checked out the bonus features and while I found the whole bit about the remastering process to be quite interesting, the segment was way too short. It seems they edited out too much of the interview, only choosing a few sentences for each segment of the remastering process. I would've liked to hear more.

Overall, I'm happy. The entire Vegeta saga, for a good price, and with fantastic visual quality. That's all that really matters.

Thanks for the review.

[Kendamu]

I picked up my set today.

My opinion? You guys are totally blowing this out of proportion... You're focusting SOLELY on the negative aspects and ignoring the positive ones. Honestly, there's no pleasing you guys, and if I was Funimation I'd just tell you all to fuck off, honestly.

I'm glad you're happy, but what I want is something a simple fansubber could provide. Imagine an uncut 4:3 set for a similar price that's about of the video quality of the original dub of the first three movies. And, as a bonus, dub voices with Japanese OST.

It would cost almost nothing to make and since the notion around here and possibly at FUNi is that most consumers are too apathetic or dumb to care about Widescreen or not, it would please everyone who isn't out for a remaster.

All I want is uncut consistency in 4:3 that I can watch in Japanese for a decent price.

Is that too much to ask for?

[nathantheguitarist]

Overall, I'm happy. The entire Vegeta saga, for a good price, and with fantastic visual quality. That's all that really matters.

Again with the price?

The price doesn't matter... I would buy this set if it were $150, as long as it was full screen. Hell, even if weren't remastered...

But if the price and episode count is all that matter to you... I guess you would have no problem with buying FUNimations rererererelease of the series, in all new reverse widescreen! Complete with the entire rerereredubed Vegeta and Namek Sagas! For 24.99, on 8 discs! New audio! New video! A whole NEW experience! The way it was MEANT to be seen!!

[Smooth Criminal]

What matters to me is what I get, for how much, and how it looks/sounds.

You're getting an entire saga of DBZ, for 30-40 bucks, in VERY GOOD QUALITY, with terrific audio and the most accurate subtitles you could ask for.

Ask yourself this. Are you REALLY going to miss that little bit on the top and bottom? Is it ruining the experience in any way? Of course not. You're nitpicking.

I think the majority of people are going to be VERY HAPPY with what they're getting. Awesome show, great quality, great price. That's it.