The box set
Some negative stuff:
In the same fashion as the Z boxes, they've once again used a gloss finish for the DVD cases and the Dragon Book covers. I *do not* like this. Sure, it looks good at the moment, but the gloss is easily scratched and destroyed. Especially on the book cover, which even shows every fingerprint. I definitely preferred the DB Dragon Box, which had everything done in a mat finish (doesn't show any damage).
The disks in this set are very beautiful, with a colourful collage of characters and a line or two from an episode title on the disk. My main gripe is with the case, though. Instead of putting a picture under the disks in the case, it's just the same red star under every single disk. Also, instead of listing the episodes under the disk, they list them *around* the disk (literally in a circular style). I understand it’s supposed to be more convenient (since you don’t have to lift the disk to see the episode listing), but it’s also very awkward and confusing. Compared to the other sets, this design was very lazy (the DB Box was my favourite).
Here's what I'm talking about...
Dragon Box Z Vol. 1
Dragon Box Z Vol. 2
Dragon Box
Dragon Box GT
Finally, my biggest gripe is with the placement of the book. Basically, it just sits loose in the box (except replace the word “loose” with “extremely tight”). If all 3 DVD cases and the book are in there, it becomes too tight to get anything out (also, because of the gloss finish, it scratches the hell out of them). So as it is now, the GT book is just sitting on my desk. The simple solution here would have been to expand the spine of the 3rd DVD case, making it wide enough to fit the book inside and keep it protected. But, what can you do…
Dragon Book GT
This book is much smaller than the last 3, being only 64 pages in length (how appropriate).
1. A picture of SSJ4 Goku and a note by Akira Toriyama. (There was also a note by Toriyama in both Z books)
2. “What is GT?” – Gives the start/end dates for all 3 series and briefly explains the history of the TV series.
3. Book index.
4. Character relation chart.
5. Character descriptions (8 pages, organized by saga). There are also location descriptions, with original production art provided for each location.
6. The different “types” of Goku (his different character designs, such as SSJ, SSJ3, Gogeta, etc.) There are actually 15 different Goku models in total!
7. Complete episode guide:
Each episode listing includes:
- Episode title
- Original air date
- Credits for: Director, Screenplay, Art Production Supervisor, Artwork (credit also given for Continuity on particular episodes)
- Episode description
- Screen-cap
Also:
-Each page of the episode guide includes several “Guest Characters” pieces, which just look at some of the more minor characters on that disk.
- Each page also includes one or two “GT Columns” which briefly talks about various things, often relating to stuff from past episodes of DB/Z (only a couple sentences each, nothing major).
- There’s also a page at the end dedicated to the special disk
8. “Goku’s obvious secret” – asks several questions about Goku, and then answers them. It’s basically just a feature on Goku.
9. Kouzou Morishita interview. A 6 page interview with the producer of GT, it includes several pictures of him, and a pile of artwork for GT drawn by Toriyama.
10. Character design art by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru (4 pages). Each piece of art includes a comment by Nakatsuru himself, usually several sentences in length.
11. Scene designs (2 pages), basically just a sketch of various scenes. Kind of like a storyboard, but more detailed.
12. Q&A’s about the story of GT (4 pages), answered by Jun Maegawa (in charge of the scenarios for all 64 episodes, also wrote episode 28 + the TV special).
13. “GT secret materials collection” – Includes the original GT logo submitted by Toriyama (with instructions on coloring, etc.), a script cover (episode 61), “scenario” (it looks like an episode bill for episode 1), the planning book for the series (showing a shot from one of the pages with Toriyama’s art), a page from a storyboard, and an original poster.
There’s also a full page with a bunch of original GT Box advertising junk, and a picture of some foreign products (including a whole pile of FUNi’s GT disks).
14. Song collection – credits and lyrics for all the songs (unfortunately, the lyrics are TV-size, unlike in the previous Dragon Books).
15. A quick episode reference page, which shows what case, disc, and saga each episode is in (very useful, much easier than flipping through the entire episode guide).
This is very cool…in the back of every Dragon Book there are instructions on how to navigate the DVD menus and other various junk, which is basically just a waste of a page. But in the GT book, they also put a picture of a piece of genga art from the very last scene from episode 64 (after the huge credits, where Goku first turns around and looks at the camera). Written on the genga is “A⑤ END”. This was the last piece of genga art drawn for the entire series!
Dragon Radar
This is the really cool (although unpractical) special present that came with this particular Dragon Box. It's a universal TV/DVD remote designed to look like a Dragon Radar.
Positives:
- It works!
- It’s built 1/1 scale, and is just really cool to have and hold.
- It covers *many* brands of TVs/DVD players.
- You just click that little button on the top to switch between TV and DVD mode (very cool).
Negatives:
- The actual remote buttons are spread all over the place, and it’s very unpractical in use.
- The text on the back of the box is printed upside down (not really a negative, just something I noticed).
- It takes AAA batteries (who the hell has AAA batteries lying around???)
Well, even though I’ll never actually use it to watch TV, it’s still a very cool item to have on the shelf. Anyways, if you’re interested in technical mumbo-jumbo, here’s all the brands it supports, and a scan of the instructions.
Dragon Radar instruction sheet.
Aiwa – TV/DVD
Sony – TV/DVD
PS2 – DVD
Toshiba – TV/DVD
Hitachi – TV/DVD
Mitsubishi – TV/DVD
Sanyo – TV/DVD
Victor – TV/DVD
Sharp – TV/DVD
NEC – TV
Zeneraru (?) – TV
Pioneer – TV/DVD
Funai (?) – TV/DVD
Panasonic – TV/DVD
Samson – TV/DVD
LG – TV/DVD
Phillips – TV/DVD
Kenwood – TV/DVD
Full-house Bonus
Ok, so everybody who got this set should also have found a neat little bonus in the box when they opened it. It's nothing much, but as a thanks for going beyond their expected sales records, we were treated to a little extra money (Zeni, that is).
There was a little envelope (the type of envelope in Japan which would contain money), and in it was 10 x 10,000 Zeni as well as a note.
Here's the envelope (which says "full-house bonus") and the Zeni (or Zenny).
And here's a translation of the note:
DRAGON BALL GT DVD BOX
DBGT (Dragon Box GT)
We request your cooperation for a user questionnaire
Thank you very much for purchasing DBGT. Also, thank you very much for your cooperation with the change of the sale date. Once more, we thank you for this.
Though it is small, we are giving you some Zeni money from the world of Dragon Ball as a showing of gratitude. We hope you enjoy it and are happy with it. (I’m sorry to say, you can’t actually use it. Please understand this.)
Also, it allows us to carry out the user questionnaire on the internet from the period of June 15, 2005 until July 31, 2005 in order to take consultation on the planning of future products.
You can access it at www.jumpland.com (It can not be done over a cellular phone.)
Though it is troublesome, we request your cooperation.
Customers who cooperate will receive a DBGT special-made PC wallpaper as a sign of gratitude.
DBGT user questionnaire is from the companies Shuueisha, Fuji TV, Toei Animation, as well as in joint collaboration with the manufacturing company, Pony Canyon.
As soon as we are finished our work, we will dispose of any personal information you had provided to us.
June 15, 2005
Companies: Shuueisha/Fuji TV/Toei Animation
Manufacturing company: Pony Canyon
DVD Menus
First, here's the main logo for the DVDs...
The main menu plays the recap song in the background. The image is static, except for some meteors, etc. flying around in the background. Overall, a very nice looking menu.
The episode menu is silent except for a soft bleeping noise and some faint spaceship-type sounds (like the engine or something). The image is static again, except for the meteors and stuff flying around in the background.
Special Disk
Extra #1:
The TV special! It's the complete special, including the preview, "GT Special" screen, opening, closing, eyecatches and all!
[I just noticed, on the GT Special page it lists "no opening theme", but the special actually does use Dan Dan for the opening, just so you know]
Extra #2:
Dan Dan Kokoro clean opening (version 1).
Hitorojanai clean closing.
Dan Dan Kokoro clean opening (version 1, karaoke version).
Hitorijanai clean closing (karaoke version).
Extra #3:
The preview for the first episode of GT (from episode 291 of DBZ).
Extra #4:
Commercials!
Koizumi desk (long and short version included).
Sure Note GT series school supplies (long and short version included). This is a very strange commercial.
Nichiryo DBGT mushi pan snack (with collectable cards!).
GT Carddass set.
Extra #5:
Dragonball Z 3 full promotional video. Seriously awesome! It's runs about 3:30min and is basically a very kick ass music video of gameplay footage. Sorry, I couldn't get any gameplay screencaps, they all just came out blurry (I'm sure you all know what it looks like anyways...).
What's missing...
Well, the most obvious exclusion here is the giant credit roll at the end of episode 64. Other than that, everything seems to be perfect. If you wanted to get really picky, you could also argue that the Dr. Slump previews at the end of episodes 63 and 64 (narrated by Masako Nozawa) are missing. Also, the GT sponsorship spot right after the opening credits is missing. However, it's no surprise that these were not included.
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I really love the disk designs for this set!
(I actually haven't seen much of GT).
).
).
I like GT. But it will be interesting once someone decides to translate it!
