Eyecatches and the distraction/interruption factor

[TheBlackPaladin]

Did anyone else HATE the first set of eyecatchers for DBZ? I did. To make sure we're talking about the same thing, I'm talking about the eyecatcher where Gohan and Goku are both smiling, and then Gohan runs to Goku, they look at the camera and they're both smiling. I HATED that eyecatcher and still do. In my humble and certainly non-definitive opinion, it ruined the drama of the show so many times. For example, the Gallick-Ho vs Kamehameha beam struggle between Goku and Vegeta when they first fought on Earth. The music and the drama were building up, and then all of a sudden...HI, LET'S SMILE AND PLAY HAPPY MUSIC!

Anybody else feel this way?

[Rory]

Absolutely, it really can kill a dramatic moment. The biggest being in the Trunks TV special. An absolutely astounding transformation scene.. followed by the cherry eye-catcher.

[Rocketman]

Possibly the worst part is when it plays right after Dodoria snaps the old Namek's neck.

[Chuquita]

I think that while it is a cute eyecatcher, it is really ill-placed during certain episodes.

At least Kai's eyecatchers never really brought me out of the moment as much.

[LeprikanGT]

I'm glad Kai is giving up a new one every few episodes although they dont really move. >.>

@Chuquita: What page are you talking about?

[MajinVejitaXV]

I don't really hate them, but they can admittedly come in at moments where the timing is a bit awkward.

It's infinitely preferable to the FUNi approach on their original DVDs though, with them being excised and creating such great moments as Kuririn summoning Porunga twice in a row.

[Gaffer Tape]

creating such great moments as Kuririn summoning Porunga twice in a row with a random, clipped horn note in between.

There. Fixed that for you.

[MajinVejitaXV]

creating such great moments as Kuririn summoning Porunga twice in a row with a random, clipped horn note in between.

There. Fixed that for you.

Ah yes, their great editing job that left the random high F note from the horn section. I think it even left an actual frame of the eyecatch animation, but it has been about 8 years since I had those discs.

[jjgp1112]

FUNimation actually continued removing the eyecatchers in the VHS tapes. All of the Cell and Buu Saga VHS tapes I have don't have the eyecatchers.

[Chuquita]

I'm glad Kai is giving up a new one every few episodes although they dont really move. >.>

@Chuquita: What page are you talking about?

I'm sorry, I'm really confused by what you mean by what page. ^^;
I didn't mention anything about a page in my post.

[sangofe]

I always thougth those eye cathers were cute.

[The Time Traveller]

They're great, they didn't ruin anything...

[laserkid]

I think, especially on dramatic moments, they're a necessary breath of air.

Rule one of writing a drama, don't overdo the grim 'n gritty. While some people really love that, a lot of people need a breath of fresh air. When it comes to shows like the Slayers, they often interject a silly one liner in the middle of some serious parts, and their eyecatches can be pretty silly sometimes.

Dragon Ball is no different, when the tension is really getting high, there's often a pan away to Master Roshi, or the nice warm eyecatches, these remind you WHAT the fight is all about, as well as relieve the tension.

[Blue]

It's not so much that they exist, it's that they're placed at the most random moments. Couldn't they have paced the show so it cuts off for commercials at an appropriate time? I mean shows like One Piece or Death Note have eye catchers too but they're not placed smack dab in the middle of a struggle without any slow down.

[Kendamu]

I love the DBZ eyecatches. They're pretty awesome. If you've ever watched Kai live as it broadcasts, that's what it'd be like. It's not a tiny interruption that breaks the drama. It's a cliffhanger that keeps you interested while a few minutes of advertisements try to get you to buy stuff.

[GizmoKSX]

Most of the time, they don't match the tone of the show. DBZ Abridged points this out nicely when Vegeta fiercely attacks Goku. The shot cuts quickly to the happy eyecatches, then immediately resumes with Goku coughing up blood.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Most of the time, they don't match the tone of the show. DBZ Abridged points this out nicely when Vegeta fiercely attacks Goku. The shot cuts quickly to the happy eyecatches, then immediately resumes with Goku coughing up blood.

Yeah, exactly. I always interpreted that that bit was supposed to be a funny way of pointing out how those eyecatchers ruin the mood at times.

[Makaioshin]

What makes the first Z eyecatchers any different from the other eyecatchers for the series?

[Rocketman]

Dragon Ball is no different, when the tension is really getting high, there's often a pan away to Master Roshi, or the nice warm eyecatches, these relieve the tension.

Yeah, I was almost getting emotionally invested in the drama, good thing they shifted gears without a clutch there and kicked me back out of it.


That's the whole reason I don't watch movies on TV. I can't imagine watching something like The Sum of All Fears where the whole last 45 minutes piles on the tension as the world thunders towards nuclear war and then it gets interrupted by BUY OUR PRODUCT FOR YOUR STANK COOCHY.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

I don't hate them but they can come at really inappropriate times, like Kikuchi's score sometimes.



While were on the subject, another thing that wrecks the episode for me are the Japanese episode titles.