The Definitive "Dragon Ball Z" Collection

[GotenDaisuki]

In everyone's opinion, what is the definitive collection for the "Dragon Ball Z" anime?
It could range from any release, even the "Ultimate Uncut Releases" (though I highly doubt that will be chosen).
My choice would be Kai. The uncut dub is amazing and there's no filler.

[Kaboom]

For "Dragon Ball Z" strictly? FUNimation's Dragon Boxes. They offer everything in its purest form possible, with the added bonus of subtitles and translated Dragon Books, and even an English dub for the heck of it. Kai is awesome, but I wouldn't so much label it "definitive" as simply rather "the best way to watch." If you get what I mean.

[GotenDaisuki]

For "Dragon Ball Z" strictly? FUNimation's Dragon Boxes. They offer everything in its purest form possible, with the added bonus of subtitles and an English dub for the heck of it. Kai is awesome, but I wouldn't so much label it "definitive" as simply rather "the best way to watch." if you get what I mean.

Yes, the Dragon Box Z sets are also an amazing release on FUNimation's part.

[Ultimate_DB_Fan]

For the fan who likes both versions of the Z anime, it's mandatory to own the DBoxes & the Season Sets. The sets for the Faulconer BGM, & the DBoxes for the better picture, with the sub version available on the spot.

[Toriyama-sama]

The Japanese Dragon Boxes are the ultimate Dragon Ball collection. Seriously. They are sheer perfection down to the slightest detail, and pictures don't make them justice. My expectations were already very high before I got them, but when I first saw them with my own eyes and held them with my own hands, I couldn't believe just how far above anything else they truly are.

Yes, they lack subtitles, but collectors (in the truest sense of the word) want their collections simply to own them. Besides, one can always learn Japanese

[Bardo117]

For "Dragon Ball Z" strictly? FUNimation's Dragon Boxes. They offer everything in its purest form possible, with the added bonus of subtitles and translated Dragon Books, and even an English dub for the heck of it. Kai is awesome, but I wouldn't so much label it "definitive" as simply rather "the best way to watch." if you get what I mean.

Pretty much this.

[rereboy]

The Japanese Dragon Boxes are the ultimate Dragon Ball collection. Seriously. They are sheer perfection down to the slightest detail, and pictures don't make them justice. My expectations were already very high before I got them, but when I first saw them with my own eyes and held them with my own hands, I couldn't believe just how far above anything else they truly are.

Yes, they lack subtitles, but collectors (in the truest sense of the word) want their collections simply to own them. Besides, one can always learn Japanese

The Funimation Dragon Boxes have more advantages than the Japanese ones. The only "real" advantage of the Japanese Boxes is their added collector value, which doesn`t really matter all that much to most people.
So, I would say that the collection that is the closest to the ultimate release to most people is the Funimation Dragon Box collection (pretty much all the good things about the Japanese Dragon Boxes plus subtitles, an extra dub and a way more cheaper price).

[Son Geeko]

The Dragon Boxes.

Nuff said.

[Toriyama-sama]

The Funimation Dragon Boxes have more advantages than the Japanese ones. The only "real" advantage of the Japanese Boxes is their added collector value, which doesn`t really matter all that much to most people.
So, I would say that the collection that is the closest to the ultimate release to most people is the Funimation Dragon Box collection (pretty much all the good things about the Japanese Dragon Boxes plus subtitles, an extra dub and a way more cheaper price).

You say that because you haven't seen the Japanese ones. Believe me when I say those things are worth every yen they cost. Don't think the DVD extras, the special presents and the quality of the manufacturing, among other things, don't contribute greatly to the overall value.

Also, the thing about being a collectors-only set is pretty much what I said. They are items for the most avid collectors only, the same ones who want them just for the simple pleasure of owning them. Being extremely expensive and unacessible to most people doesn't stop them from being the ultimate collection.

[Kiyza]

For "Dragon Ball Z" strictly? FUNimation's Dragon Boxes. They offer everything in its purest form possible, with the added bonus of subtitles and translated Dragon Books, and even an English dub for the heck of it. Kai is awesome, but I wouldn't so much label it "definitive" as simply rather "the best way to watch." If you get what I mean.

I wholeheartedly agree with Kaboom here. But still, the Dragon Boxes aren't exactly the perfect release for dub fans who can't stand the series without the Faulconer score. For them, I suppose, there's no true definitive release. I feel a little sympathetic for them, considering the fans of the Japanese version, myself included, are the ones getting what they asked for and fans of the dub with the Faulconer score pretty much only have the Orange Bricks with their slightly crappy remastering and top and bottom cropped off.

But then again, Kai's (specifically the Blu-rays) pretty good too if you if you want all of the filler cut out, don't mind a few minor voices changed, new BMG, and a fresh new dub. Personally, I'm all for that, and I'll probably pick it up when I have more spare cash. For me, though, I think the Dragon Boxes are just what the doctor ordered.

[GotenDaisuki]

The Funimation Dragon Boxes have more advantages than the Japanese ones. The only "real" advantage of the Japanese Boxes is their added collector value, which doesn`t really matter all that much to most people.
So, I would say that the collection that is the closest to the ultimate release to most people is the Funimation Dragon Box collection (pretty much all the good things about the Japanese Dragon Boxes plus subtitles, an extra dub and a way more cheaper price).

You say that because you haven't seen the Japanese ones. Believe me when I say those things are worth every yen they cost. Don't think the DVD extras, the special presents and the quality of the manufacturing, among other things, don't contribute greatly to the overall value.

Also, the thing about being a collectors-only set is pretty much what I said. They are items for the most avid collectors only, the same ones who want them just for the simple pleasure of owning them. Being extremely expensive and unacessible to most people doesn't stop them from being the ultimate collection.

Yes, I've heard great things about the original Dragon Boxes released in 2003... I do not own either of them, so I cannot compare them to the American releases (other than the fact that American Dragon Boxes are brighter, since American NTSC standards are a bit different). Yes, the abundance of extras seen on the original Japanese box sets are missing from their American counterparts, but maybe FUNimation will add some starting with Dragon Box 5 (since there are only 41 episodes from each set from there on). If not... FUNimation still doesn't understand that there are fans of the original Japanese version that would greatly appreciate those extras on an American release.

[Toriyama-sama]

I sure hope they release them (the specials at the very least), as well as DB, DBGT and the movies. FUNimation's Dragon Boxes are very good products, and the best option to watch the show in Japanese with English subtitles.

[GotenDaisuki]

I sure hope they release them (the specials at the very least), as well as DB, DBGT and the movies. FUNimation's Dragon Boxes are very good products, and the best option to watch the show in Japanese with English subtitles.

Well, if they ever do, fans of the Japanese version of the series will be happy... It all depends on FUNimation.... the fate of the entire Japanese fandom rests in their hands.... unfortunately.

[AgitoZ]

Well, if they ever do, fans of the Japanese version of the series will be happy... It all depends on FUNimation.... the fate of the entire Japanese fandom rests in their hands.... unfortunately.

Well the English speaking portion at least. I don't think Japan is relying on FUNi for their DB fix.

[jjgp1112]

Whenever FUNimation makes a Dragon Box with the dub music, I suppose

[penguintruth]

A definitive set would be the Dragon Boxes with an English track done by the Kai cast with an accurate script. Until then, the current Dragon Boxes.

[rereboy]

The Funimation Dragon Boxes have more advantages than the Japanese ones. The only "real" advantage of the Japanese Boxes is their added collector value, which doesn`t really matter all that much to most people.
So, I would say that the collection that is the closest to the ultimate release to most people is the Funimation Dragon Box collection (pretty much all the good things about the Japanese Dragon Boxes plus subtitles, an extra dub and a way more cheaper price).

You say that because you haven't seen the Japanese ones. Believe me when I say those things are worth every yen they cost. Don't think the DVD extras, the special presents and the quality of the manufacturing, among other things, don't contribute greatly to the overall value.

Also, the thing about being a collectors-only set is pretty much what I said. They are items for the most avid collectors only, the same ones who want them just for the simple pleasure of owning them. Being extremely expensive and unacessible to most people doesn't stop them from being the ultimate collection.

An higher deluxe quality packaging, a few extras and a few toy products, despite being definitely advantages (don`t get me wrong), aren`t nearly enough to trumph the advantages of having english subtitles and a price many times cheaper than the original price of the JAP Dragon Boxes. Specially considering that, even though the packaging isn`t as good as the JAP boxes, the packaging of the USA Boxes is very nice, and apart of the few toy products and a few extras, everything else is virtually the same.

I believe most people would agree with me, and that is why I stated that, for most people, the ultimate release would be the american dragon boxes and not the japanese dragon boxes.

In fact, given the choice between buying the USA Boxes or the JAP Boxes, why would any non-japanese fan of dragon ball buy the JAP Boxes? What is the "real" advantage that could make a fan prefer the JAP Boxes? The answer is: its value as a collection item, and only that. The nicer packaging and the few extras aren`t worth the terrible price difference, not to mention the lack of any subtitles. Of course, this is a matter of opinion, but like I said, I believe most people would agree with me.

[Bardo117]

Whenever FUNimation makes a Dragon Box with the dub music, I suppose

And that it also includes the Spanish DUb.

[jjgp1112]

Whenever FUNimation makes a Dragon Box with the dub music, I suppose

And that it also includes the Spanish DUb.

While we're at it let's include every dub ever!

See the problem here?

[xzero]

Existing or hypothetical?

I'll do both:

Existing
Dragon Ball Z Kai DVD Sets (assuming the series covers all of the Buu material)

Reason
- By far the best existing English dub
- Good, if repetitive, music
- Great picture quality
- Best OP/EDs in my opinion (sorry purists. For my money, Dragon Soul > Cha La Head Cha La no contest. We Gotta Power and We Were Angels are up there, though)

Hypothetical
DVD Set released in 2 separate releases that includes:
Dragon Box footage; all of the episodes, movies, and TV specials for the Z era; 3 Audio Options: Japanese, English complete redub w/Kai cast and Japanese audio (with the audio panned to the front speakers a bit more; as it stands, it's too quiet), and English complete redub w/Faulconer audio all the way through (rearranged in parts to add some silence and eliminate the stupid tracks); 6 chapters per episode along the lines of the Funi singles; some extras, like behind the scenes at Toei or at least a few good specials on dubbing anime with the Funimation cast and crew

Reason
- This would pretty much cover everyone. Don't like the filler? Skip it with chapter selection. Like the Kikuchi score? You've got it. Like the Faulconer score? Here you go.
- The dub would be basically perfect, or as close to perfect as we're going to get (plus, more Chris Ayers as Freeza)
- Some extras are always a welcome bonus on sets like this