Funimation's 30th anniversary collectible home video release

[PremiumSalt]

If you missed out on the Dragon Boxes that is your fault.

Let's say you're currently 15 years old and you recently started getting into Dragon Ball after seeing some episodes of Super or playing FighterZ with a friend. Ruling Kai out because you want to see the original uncut version of the show, your only options are tracking down dozens of old single disc releases with only four episodes a piece or getting the cropped smeary season sets. What's that? You didn't buy the limited run collectors editon sets that came out when you were seven? Sucks to be you, then.


And generally speaking, the type of people that are okay with it being cropped are also the people that will have their tvs stretch 4:3 images into 16:9 anyway so that's kind of a moot point. I have never seen anyone complain when any given 90s or earlier show under the sun gets released in its proper ratio.

Here's my question to those 15 year olds. Would additional footage at the top and bottom of the screen help in your experience? Would it radically change the DBZ Experience? Would it suddenly turn into something 10x better because of the additional footage?

Those are all rhetorical questions, the answer to all of them is no. If you're 15, and want to watch the show, the blu-rays will do just fine and you won't really miss out on anything.

I'm not sure why most of you can't be more open minded, I went out of my way to collect the Japanese and American Versions of the DragonBoxes because of the purist within me, but even then I realize that there isn't a significant upgrade to my experience of watching them on the Dragon Boxes.

Yeah, admittedly I was the weird kid in High School so maybe I'm not a good example but...yeah no I cared about that shit when I was 15. And even if I didn't, I sure as hell do now (18 now). But guess what? I was nine when the US Dragon Boxes came out. I honestly didn't know or care about them at the time. But I do now. And I had to drop 700-ish bucks just to get the set. Is that okay in your mind? Does that make sense, that I had to make a fucking massive financial investment that I saved up for ages for just because I didn't luck out enough to be old enough to know about the DBoxes when they came out, just to get a non shitty looking version of the show? Christ.

[ABED]

It's not false equivalency, it's an analogy. One is a logical fallacy, one is metaphorical.

Next.

Regardless of what you want to call it, comparing it to real life trauma and considering something so banal to be evil shows a complete lack of perspective.

[Robo4900]

A lot of people here being unnecessarily nasty toward their fellow fans. I think it’s a small chance at best, but I’m really going to laugh if the ‘footage isn’t final’ ends up being the case.

They're just in denial; can't face the fact they've likely wasted $350 on something arguably worse than the Season BDs that you could probably get for half that price or less.

[clutchins]

It's not false equivalency, it's an analogy. One is a logical fallacy, one is metaphorical.

Next.

Regardless of what you want to call it, comparing it to real life trauma and considering something so banal to be evil shows a complete lack of perspective.

I'm not here to argue about differing opinions. Obviously this doesn't affect you as much and that's okay. But I don't need you to tell me how I can and can't feel about this.

[AnimeMaakuo]

Lol! Just look at how bad this release is compared to the gorgeous level sets! Talk about going ass backwards. This is FUNi’s definition of “perfection”.

Level sets:



30th anniversary:



Level sets:



30th anniversary:

Ugh, I just can’t get over how bad the 30th anniversary is.

[Robo4900]

I've made a discovery.

The Season BDs, bought individually off Amazon: $200.
This set: $350.
The boxset on Amazon: $400.

So, you can pay $200 for the whole set, then either pay $150 extra to cut off the sides and get a figurine, or pay $200 extra to get... A kinda crappy cardboard box.

[KBABZ]

Ugh, great, now we've got the Vic thread part 2 in here.

Calling these the Black Bricks would be a massive missed opportunity, and I'm sure you'll all agree that there's a far better, far more correct name, assuming this release is as bad as it appears (and I'm sure it will be)...

The shit bricks.

Named, of course, after what happened to each of us upon seeing the trailer.

Either way, similar to the Orange Brick name, it's a derogatory term because the release certainly doesn't warrant it's original, and to be honest quite lengthy, name.

I actually decided to rip and back up all of my FUNi Dragon Boxes to m4v files to watch on my computer any time, in which the good thing in doing that is it prevents the discs from receiving more use than they already have and getting any more scratches at a risk of having playback issues from said scratches.

Now i can watch the show anywhere i go and not have worry about the discs themselves breaking down on me in the future.

I actually did this with my OG Dragon Ball Box whatever I'm supposed to call it as part of my old T1C project. Not exactly sure what this disk wear thing is, I thought that was only for VHS tapes.

In the eyes of the 99.999999% of fans who have purchased the Orange Bricks, Blu-Rays, they have been absolutely perfect releases.

Not to sound elitist, but those people don't know what they're talking about or "what's best" for the show from an archival and preservation perspective. They would support the destruction of the video footage just to make it fit their modern TV, and the destruction of the japanese audio to cater to their dub and soundtrack preferences.

Honestly, they've been pulling this weird sh** on us for the last 20 years, and we're still here. We're not going anywhere even if FUNI's enire history is filled with bad releases. There's ALWAYS a controversy.

Just because there's always a controversy doesn't mean we're being unreasonable. To me it shows that Funimation are basically incapable of remastering this show correctly because they're unwilling to put the money in to make sure their releases are for forever. Instead we've had this silly back-and-forth with the picture being great-but-cancelled or complete-but-doctored. If they'd released the Level Sets as the complete HD release we wouldn't be in this situation, the only complaint about the Black Bricks is that they'd be reusing great footage with no original broadcast audio.

If anything this whole debacle is a reminder that Funimation is a dubbing studio, not a video production studio.

Ugh, I just can’t get over how bad the 30th anniversary is.

Glad you quoted that entire thing for a one-sentence response?

[ABED]

The problem isn't that they weren't willing to put in the money for a great release. The level sets didn't sell enough to justify the expense. DB's popular, but it's not like Bond movies where a new edition comes out after seemingly every film and people will buy it. DB doesn't have a big enough market to justify that sort of remaster.

I don't know why so much money has to be put into a remaster anyway. As long as the footage is halfway presentable and the price point is good enough, people will buy.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Ugh, great, now we've got the Vic thread part 2 in here.

Calling these the Black Bricks would be a massive missed opportunity, and I'm sure you'll all agree that there's a far better, far more correct name, assuming this release is as bad as it appears (and I'm sure it will be)...

The shit bricks.

Named, of course, after what happened to each of us upon seeing the trailer.

Either way, similar to the Orange Brick name, it's a derogatory term because the release certainly doesn't warrant it's original, and to be honest quite lengthy, name.

I actually decided to rip and back up all of my FUNi Dragon Boxes to m4v files to watch on my computer any time, in which the good thing in doing that is it prevents the discs from receiving more use than they already have and getting any more scratches at a risk of having playback issues from said scratches.

Now i can watch the show anywhere i go and not have worry about the discs themselves breaking down on me in the future.

I actually did this with my OG Dragon Ball Box whatever I'm supposed to call it as part of my old T1C project. Not exactly sure what this disk wear thing is, I thought that was only for VHS tapes.

In the eyes of the 99.999999% of fans who have purchased the Orange Bricks, Blu-Rays, they have been absolutely perfect releases.

Not to sound elitist, but those people don't know what they're talking about or "what's best" for the show from an archival and preservation perspective. They would support the destruction of the video footage just to make it fit their modern TV, and the destruction of the japanese audio to cater to their dub and soundtrack preferences.

Honestly, they've been pulling this weird sh** on us for the last 20 years, and we're still here. We're not going anywhere even if FUNI's enire history is filled with bad releases. There's ALWAYS a controversy.

Just because there's always a controversy doesn't mean we're being unreasonable. To me it shows that Funimation are basically incapable of remastering this show correctly because they're unwilling to put the money in to make sure their releases are for forever. Instead we've had this silly back-and-forth with the picture being great-but-cancelled or complete-but-doctored. If they'd released the Level Sets as the complete HD release we wouldn't be in this situation, the only complaint about the Black Bricks is that they'd be reusing great footage with no original broadcast audio.

If anything this whole debacle is a reminder that Funimation is a dubbing studio, not a video production studio.

Ugh, I just can’t get over how bad the 30th anniversary is.

Glad you quoted that entire thing for a one-sentence response?

If you didn't get exactly what i was saying as to the whole "disc wear" thing i meant to say as in what happens as DVDs are used and get more and more scratched as time passes. Because of course the more it happens chances are that they will start glitching and whatever else, so that's why i ripped my FUNi Dragon Boxes to digital video copies in order to be able to have the episodes to watch on my computer and not have to stress over the discs getting ruined with scratches and the like.

[PremiumSalt]

Honestly, I'd take just a straight scan of FUNi's film prints over this. Tape marks and all.

[clutchins]

The problem isn't that they weren't willing to put in the money for a great release. The level sets didn't sell enough to justify the expense. DB's popular, but it's not like Bond movies where a new edition comes out after seemingly every film and people will buy it. DB doesn't have a big enough market to justify that sort of remaster.

I don't know why so much money has to be put into a remaster anyway. As long as the footage is halfway presentable and the price point is good enough, people will buy.

I would argue that if any anime has the market for a proper it is DBZ. The Level Sets had several factors contributing to its failure like oversaturation, price point per episode, and being released right after the DBOX (also Kai). Don't let that cloud any kind of need for a remaster though. Dragon Ball Z is THE show that made anime popular in America. If it doesn't have a market for a remaster, then no anime does.

[Forte224]

It's not false equivalency, it's an analogy. One is a logical fallacy, one is metaphorical.

Next.

Regardless of what you want to call it, comparing it to real life trauma and considering something so banal to be evil shows a complete lack of perspective.

I'm not here to argue about differing opinions. Obviously this doesn't affect you as much and that's okay. But I don't need you to tell me how I can and can't feel about this.

You're missing his point. If you're honestly saying this is affecting you as much as someone who has gone through real life abuse then you're just being immature and ignorant.

[Robo4900]

and being released right after the DBOX (also Kai)

Not after, during.

And of course, DBox and Kai were happening at the same time right after the OBs, which were right after the UUEs, which were right after the DVD singles... Yeah, no one wanted to buy DBZ at that pricepoint in 2011.

You're missing his point. If you're honestly saying this is affecting you as much as someone who has gone through real life abuse then you're just being immature and ignorant.

To be fair, while his comparisons are extreme, his points are valid, and criticising him and declaring his argument invalid purely on that basis... Well, it's not arguing with him, you're not engaging with him, you're criticising how he's arguing, and using that as your argument. Which is also kind of what I'm doing now. It's not pleasant. You're also going into ad hominem there.

[Forte224]

If you've seen any of my posts Robo4900 you'll know I'm against how awful this remaster is too. I take issue with his comparing it to relationship abuse. It's stupid and ignorant.

[clutchins]

If I sound extreme it's because I'm fucking pissed because this keeps fucking happening. I'm not apologizing for my tone just because you took offense to it. Provide a better argument.

[ABED]

The problem isn't that they weren't willing to put in the money for a great release. The level sets didn't sell enough to justify the expense. DB's popular, but it's not like Bond movies where a new edition comes out after seemingly every film and people will buy it. DB doesn't have a big enough market to justify that sort of remaster.

I don't know why so much money has to be put into a remaster anyway. As long as the footage is halfway presentable and the price point is good enough, people will buy.

I would argue that if any anime has the market for a proper it is DBZ. The Level Sets had several factors contributing to its failure like oversaturation, price point per episode, and being released right after the DBOX (also Kai). Don't let that cloud any kind of need for a remaster though. Dragon Ball Z is THE show that made anime popular in America. If it doesn't have a market for a remaster, then no anime does.

Price is the biggest reason.

[Forte224]

If I sound extreme it's because I'm fucking pissed because this keeps fucking happening. I'm not apologizing for my tone just because took offense to it. Provide a better argument.

I think this remaster is awful too. But I know people, my mother included, who went through severe relationship abuse, both physical and emotional. And you comparing that to a children's cartoon show is sickening.

[Robo4900]

Price is the biggest reason.

Source?

If you've seen any of my posts Robo4900 you'll know I'm against how awful this remaster is too. I take issue with his comparing it to relationship abuse. It's stupid and ignorant.

Fair. However, responding to tone is a logical fallacy. Feel free to call out his tone for being offside, but using it against the points his making is poor form.

[Forte224]

Price is the biggest reason.

Source?

If you've seen any of my posts Robo4900 you'll know I'm against how awful this remaster is too. I take issue with his comparing it to relationship abuse. It's stupid and ignorant.

Fair. However, responding to tone is a logical fallacy. Feel free to call out his tone for being offside, but using it against the points his making is poor form.

I'm NOT arguing his points!! What the hell man? I think this remaster is awful and shouldn't be purchased! Did you hear me?! I DON'T disagree with the remaster being awful. Read all of the words before replying.

[ABED]

Price is the biggest reason.

Source?

If you've seen any of my posts Robo4900 you'll know I'm against how awful this remaster is too. I take issue with his comparing it to relationship abuse. It's stupid and ignorant.

Fair. However, responding to tone is a logical fallacy. Feel free to call out his tone for being offside, but using it against the points his making is poor form.

So is clear false equivalency.

I don't have one, but price is ALWAYS at the top of the list of people's buying decisions, if not the number one criterion, for what should be obvious reasons. Why do you think the Season sets sold so well?