Should I buy the Dragon Box Movie Singles?

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

The initial announcement said that they acquired 291 episodes and 13 movies.

The point that bothers me is why Toei didn't and still doesn't want to grant FUNimation access to more than just the Z episodes and movies, while they gave Spain access to the TV Specials. I know they were reluctant to give anyone Dragon Box footage anyway, but exactly why they don't want to give FUNimation certain aspects of the Dragon Box is beyond me. And, what others say is true. The TV Specials are not extras. They aired in syndication with the television series. So, in a way, they are part of the television series. I understand that they would want to keep the OVA and other extras for themselves, but I find it rather peculiar on Toei's part that they would willingly give someone else the rights for something FUNimation is likely never to get.

I wouldn't discount the possibility just yet. Remember, FUNimation typically just counts them as movies, and even then, they ususlly just say "13 movies".

This line from the "History of DBZ" section of FUNi's official DBZ website would more-or-less indicate how unreliable they are in regards to such information:

The Dragon Ball franchise has also generated 17 movies and made-for-TV features.

[Ashura]

The initial announcement said that they acquired 291 episodes and 13 movies.

And between then and now, who knows what's changed. I think people thought it was a big impossibility that we'd get any of the Dbox material, and look where we are now.

Toei's choice not to release the DBOX masters to sublicensors right away likely had more to do with reverse importation than anything. They must figure 5 years is enough time to wait that most people who were going to buy the DBOX already bought it or the singles.

[GotenDaisuki]

And between then and now, who knows what's changed. I think people thought it was a big impossibility that we'd get any of the Dbox material, and look where we are now.

Toei's choice not to release the DBOX masters to sublicensors right away likely had more to do with reverse importation than anything. They must figure 5 years is enough time to wait that most people who were going to buy the DBOX already bought it or the singles.

I see, so what you're saying is that if Toei were to give out sublicenses for the Dragon Box footage right away, then people in Japan would turn to other, cheaper (in this case, FUNimation's releases) ways of getting the same material? I agree, I would do the same, instead of buying the Japanese Dragon Boxes or the singles, I would resort to a less expensive way to own the same experience, like FUNimation's Dragon Boxes. Toei is smarter than I thought.

[Ashura]

Yes. Japanese companies are (either rightly or not) very concerned about reverse importation. It's the whole reason region encoding existed in the first place, and it actually surprises me the Bluray consortium got away with the US and Japan being the same region.

This is a big reason Japan is slow to allow certain sets of show masters and other extras out there into other countries. Either they don't allow them to be licensed at all for a long time, or they ask for a huge price for them up front. Even back when series consisted of 4-5 episodes on a disk for 30 bucks, that trumped the Japanese's standard 2 episodes a disk for 80.

Today with Funi's super cheap boxsets, it's even crazier. Just look how crazy cheap the Kai blurays are vs. the Japanese ones. There's only two things detering a Japanese person from ordering the US ones; The first being the fact that their blu-ray release is ahead of the US release, and the second is the fact that the credits and title screen are localized. And even then, that would probably only deter extreme purists from going for the foreign release over the Japanese one if they were smart.

Japanese companies seem to be opening up a bit more to cheaper prices and giving companies better materials, though; just look at all of Funimation's headway. I think they've done a lot to get Japanese companies to play ball, and 99% of the time their releases are pretty top notch nowadays.

[Kendamu]

The initial announcement said that they acquired 291 episodes and 13 movies.

And between then and now, who knows what's changed. I think people thought it was a big impossibility that we'd get any of the Dbox material, and look where we are now.

Yes, but usually we get some sort of announcement that it's gonna happen. We haven't had anything said about the Specials yet so I'm not going to count on them showing up until something is said.

It's not like I want to be right. Hopefully we do get the specials, but it's like saying, "We got color chapters in the VIZBIG so it's obvious that the Kanzenban is right around the corner!"

Toei's choice not to release the DBOX masters to sublicensors right away likely had more to do with reverse importation than anything. They must figure 5 years is enough time to wait that most people who were going to buy the DBOX already bought it or the singles.[/quote]

I would agree if the Specials had been released as singles in Japan. However, they only exist as part of the DBox extras. It doesn't seem extremely likely as of this moment.

[Raithos]

Hmm does anyone think the Dragon boxes will be released as a "complete edition" or whatever the case may be after all of them are released? I think I'll wait for that...

[Kendamu]

Like I said earlier in this thread, I hope so. It's certainly possible considering that it'd be a 6-disc set with a book if they do it that way.

[GotenDaisuki]

A six-disk set would be a good release. I don't exactly want to buy Dragon Box movie singles from FUNimation.

[Xane]

If you want ALL the movies, go for the 4 DB movies in singles, and wait for the US Dragon Box.

[What Up Namek!]

If you want ALL the movies, go for the 4 DB movies in singles, and wait for the US Dragon Box.

What's wrong with the 4 DB Movies box set? I was thinking of getting it because i haven't seen movies 2-3 yet and i'd get to see 1 and 4 again in high quality.

[Krycek7o2]

If you want ALL the movies, go for the 4 DB movies in singles, and wait for the US Dragon Box.

What's wrong with the 4 DB Movies box set? I was thinking of getting it because i haven't seen movies 2-3 yet and i'd get to see 1 and 4 again in high quality.

They are not the best quality (picture and JPN audio), but for the price its nice! The dubbing on 2 really shows its age.

[What Up Namek!]

If you want ALL the movies, go for the 4 DB movies in singles, and wait for the US Dragon Box.

What's wrong with the 4 DB Movies box set? I was thinking of getting it because i haven't seen movies 2-3 yet and i'd get to see 1 and 4 again in high quality.

They are not the best quality (picture and JPN audio), but for the price its nice! The dubbing on 2 really shows its age.

Ugh, another orange bricks situation? I thought they fixed that with the GT sets looking so good and having good audio. Man, why does Funi keep releasing stuff with bad Japanese audio and ugly "remastered" quality? I guess no one will notice.

[Krycek7o2]

ugh, another orange bricks situation? i thought they fixed that with the GT sets looking so good and having good audio. Man why does Funi keep releasing stuff with bad japanese audio and ugly "remastered" quality? I guess no one will notice.

No, I believe its just the masters that FUNi has. They are not the best of shape. To be honest, I didn't notice blurring but the colors were not the most appeasing . Check out the review they have here.

http://www.daizex.com/general/reviews/cotbr.shtml

[Pokewhiz7]

Ugh, another orange bricks situation? I thought they fixed that with the GT sets looking so good and having good audio. Man, why does Funi keep releasing stuff with bad Japanese audio and ugly "remastered" quality? I guess no one will notice.

It's definitely not on the level of the orange bricks. There are some scenes where it's oversaturated, but it's not unwatchable.

[What Up Namek!]

Apparently that's the first time that movie was released in US so i have no other choice but to get that. I doubt they'll release the first Dragonball TV series or its movies in DBOX quality anytime soon. Guess i'll hunt down the single sets for the other movies.

[Pokewhiz7]

Technically, no. It was released around 1995-96 edited, and if you wanna go even farther back it was released on TV around 1989-90 by Harmony Gold. It's the first time uncut, but not the first time ever.

[Dizrythmia]

Taking it back to the original question: I was purchasing the Dragonbox Movie Singles from CD Japan, but after buying just under half of them I worked out that it was cheaper to just spring for a Dragonbox on Japan Yahoo Auctions than to buy the rest of the movies needed. It's the second Dragonbox I've purchased from there & it's complete (according to Kanzentai & Daizenshuu EX) with all the inserts & no issues with the discs.

It depends if you want to take your chances with Japan Yahoo Auctions or not. Like Ebay it can be hit & miss but unlike Ebay you have next to no chance of getting your money back if anything is wrong with the item. One could argue that's also the case with Ebay at times though...

If Funi release a Dragonbox Movies set as well I'll be all over that. I'm happy to support the English releases but I love those sexy Japanese Dragonboxes.

[Pokewhiz7]

So, wait. You bought some singles and then bought the Dragon Box?

[Krycek7o2]

So, wait. You bought some singles and then bought the Dragon Box?

He bought half of them. Besides, the singles and the Dragon Box are identical. Actually, the singles have special previews not included on the DBox. I still want that Promo DVD Toei gave away with the special previews!

[fps_anth]

Stupid question (that isn't worth a new thread)... anyone have the FUNimation Blu Rays of the movies? Are they any good? Judging from random youtube clips they look pretty damn nice. Worth picking up one of them?