Viz Release Censorship Guide

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linkdude20002001
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Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by linkdude20002001 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:43 pm

Who wants to be helpful? I don't own all of the printings or releases, but if everyone pools together what we do have, we can make a complete list. I'll update and extend the list as new information is received. Being descriptive is helpful, and pictures are even better. I can scan anything I have if necessary. Also, PLEASE MENTION WHICH PRINTING. Thank you.

Background information: Censorship began in August, 2000 after an angry parent complained in November, 1999. Then censorship ceased in March, 2001 after angry fans complained. Then censorship began again at some point.

Red = Censored.
Orange = Some are censored. (Though, for DBZ, I am simply assuming. I believe that they might have censored words with during certain printings. Is there any nudity I should check for?)
Green = Uncensored.

Special "Manga-Style" Edition
                        First        Second         Third
DB                      Printing       Printing        Printing
  • Part One (#1~12)   Ch. 1~23    Mar '98 ~ Feb '99*
    Part Two (#1~15)   Ch. 24~54   Mar '99 ~ May '00
    Part Three (#1~14)  Ch. 55~83   Jun '00 ~ Jul '01**
    Part Four (#1~10)   Ch. 84~113  Aug '01 ~ May '02
    Part Five (#1~7)   Ch. 114~134  Jun '02 ~ Dec '02
    Part Six (#1~2)    Ch. 135~142  Feb '03 ~ Mar '03
DB(Z)
  • Part One (#1~9)   Ch. 195~212  Mar '98 ~ Nov '98
    Part Two (#1~14)  Ch. 213~239  Dec '98 ~ Jan '00
    Part Three (#1~10) Ch. 240~260  Feb '00 ~ Nov '00**
    Part Four (#1~15)  Ch. 261~291  Dec '00 ~ Dec '01**
    Part Five (#1~6)   Ch. 292~309  Jan '02 ~ Jun '02
*In chapter 5, page 12, the nipples are removed in ALL releases by Viz.
**DB Part Three - Issues 3~9
 DB(Z) Part Three - Issues 7~10
 DB(Z) Part Four - Issues 1~3

Viz Graphic Novels
                 First  Second  Third   Fourth
DB               Printing Printing Printing Printing
  • Vol. 1    Ch. 1~11     Aug '00 XXX '0X XXX '0X Jun '01
    Vol. 2   Ch. 12~24     Oct '00 XXX '0X Nov '01
    Vol. 3   Ch. 25~36     Dec '00 Nov '01
    Vol. 4   Ch. 37~48    Feb '01
    Vol. 5   Ch. 49~60    May '01
    Vol. 6   Ch. 61~72    Sep '01
    Vol. 7   Ch. 73~84    Jan '02
    Vol. 8   Ch. 85~96    May '02
    Vol. 9   Ch. 97~108    Sep '02
    Vol. 10  Ch. 109~120   Dec '02
DB(Z)
  • Vol. 1   Ch. 195~204   Sep '00
    Vol. 2   Ch. 205~216   Nov '00
    Vol. 3   Ch. 217~228   Jan '01
    Vol. 4   Ch. 229~240   Mar '01
    Vol. 5   Ch. 241~252    Jul '01
    Vol. 6   Ch. 253~264   Oct '01
    Vol. 7   Ch. 265~276   Dec '01
    Vol. 8   Ch. 277~288   Mar '02
    Vol. 9   Ch. 289~300    Jul '02
    Vol. 10  Ch. 301~313    Oct '02
Shonen Jump
DB(Z)
  • Vol. 1 (#1~12)   Ch. XXX~XXX   Jan '03 ~ Dec '03
    Vol. 2 (#1~12)   Ch. XXX~XXX   Jan '04 ~ Dec '04
    Vol. 3 (#1~12)   Ch. XXX~XXX   Jan '05 ~ Dec '05
Shonen Jump Graphic Novels
                 First  Second  Third  Fourth  Fifth
DB               Printing Printing Printing Printing Printing
  • Vol. 1    Ch. 1~11     Mar '03 Sep '03  Mar '04 Sep '04 Oct '04
    Vol. 2   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 3   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 4   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 5   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 6   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 7   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 8   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 9   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 10   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 11   Ch. 121~132  May '03
    Vol. 12   Ch. 133~144  Aug '03
    Vol. 13   Ch. 145~156  Aug '03
    Vol. 14   Ch. 157~169  Jan '04
    Vol. 15   Ch. 169~180  Mar '04
    Vol. 16   Ch. 181~194  Jun '04
DB(Z)
  • Vol. 1    Ch. 1~11     Mar '03 Sep '03 Mar '04 Sep '04 Oct '04
    Vol. 2   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 3   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 4   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 5   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 6   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 7   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 8   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 9   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 10   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 11   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 12   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 13   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 14   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 15   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 16   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 17   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 18   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 19   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 20   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 21   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 22   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 23   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 24   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 25   Ch. X~X  X
    Vol. 26   Ch. X~X  X
Last edited by linkdude20002001 on Sat Mar 30, 2019 10:53 pm, edited 4 times in total.
The Many English Dubs of DB, DBZ, and DBGT
Viz Release Censorship Guide

Scsigs: "Y'know, it actually makes sense that they waited till today to announce [the 30th Anniversary] set. It's Akira Toriyama's birthday."
Shaddy: "I too want my legacy destroyed as a birthday gift."

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by matt0044 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:50 pm

Well, it was that parent's own damn fault for reading a 13+ years Manga.

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by Pokewhiz7 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:01 pm

http://www.kanzenshuu.com/forum/viewtop ... =7&t=18184 There actually was something like this before, but most ignored it. I guess it would good to use the one you made.

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by linkdude20002001 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:03 pm

Hopefully because I already have a good deal of information, people will be more willing to help out.
matt0044 wrote:Well, it was that parent's own damn fault for reading a 13+ years Manga.
The comics weren't given ratings till they decided to release them uncensored again. Then at some point they began censoring them again even though they were still marked at "recommended for ages 13 and up".
The Many English Dubs of DB, DBZ, and DBGT
Viz Release Censorship Guide

Scsigs: "Y'know, it actually makes sense that they waited till today to announce [the 30th Anniversary] set. It's Akira Toriyama's birthday."
Shaddy: "I too want my legacy destroyed as a birthday gift."

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by matt0044 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:49 pm

matt0044 wrote:Well, it was that parent's own damn fault for reading a 13+ years Manga.
The comics weren't given ratings till they decided to release them uncensored again. Then at some point they began censoring them again even though they were still marked at "recommended for ages 13 and up".[/quote]
Point taken. But why did Viz make that rating yet still censored?

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by shonenhikada » Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:25 pm

What's the difference between censored and non censored ?

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by linkdude20002001 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:21 pm

Well, in the early censored releases, they removed Gokuh's penis and put sound effect text over Bulma's breasts to cover them up. Later censored releases like the Viz Bigs put more effort into removing nudity so it looks less noticeably like censorship, but I don't have the VizBigs. I'll get pictures in a bit, once I have some free time to figure out how to get the scanner to work.
The Many English Dubs of DB, DBZ, and DBGT
Viz Release Censorship Guide

Scsigs: "Y'know, it actually makes sense that they waited till today to announce [the 30th Anniversary] set. It's Akira Toriyama's birthday."
Shaddy: "I too want my legacy destroyed as a birthday gift."

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by Pokewhiz7 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:43 pm

The VizBigs actually have Goku's penis intact, but Bulma's breasts are covered up with bubbles.
ImageImage
Terrible scans, I know, but my scanner sucks and the VizBigs are hard to scan. The point should be clear, though.

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by Ketchup_Revenge » Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:24 pm

Pokewhiz7 wrote:The VizBigs actually have Goku's penis intact, but Bulma's breasts are covered up with bubbles.
*snip*
Terrible scans, I know, but my scanner sucks and the VizBigs are hard to scan. The point should be clear, though.
I did notice that the Viz Bigs have more censored in them than the original Viz volumes they released. For example, in the regular Viz volume, the scene with Bulma's shower, it's just a streak across the window covering her nips.

The scene with Oolong doing the "puff puffs" when Goku and Bulma first meet him, the chick is fully clothed in VizBig while in the Tokabon knock-off, the nips have just been edited out.

I'm pretty sure they have all middle fingers completely edited in VizBig as well.
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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by Bussani » Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:07 am

The tankobon style releases Viz did really vary in the degree on censorship they have. In my copies--which were printed around 2010, I think--Bulma isn't censored at all when she's in the shower. Oddly, though, the nipples are still edited out of that tiny puff puff panel.
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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by linkdude20002001 » Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:58 am

Yeah, ALL of Viz's releases have those nipples removed. Just those ones, I don't know why. But the VizBigs put clothes on her?? Is that true?
The Many English Dubs of DB, DBZ, and DBGT
Viz Release Censorship Guide

Scsigs: "Y'know, it actually makes sense that they waited till today to announce [the 30th Anniversary] set. It's Akira Toriyama's birthday."
Shaddy: "I too want my legacy destroyed as a birthday gift."

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by G1Ravage » Fri Aug 31, 2012 5:07 am

Pulled my copy out. In this 2002 printing, Bulma's shower nudity is unaltered, but yes, puff-puff girl has been de-nippled.

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by Taku128 » Fri Aug 31, 2012 5:43 am

In addition to visual edits there are some text edits between certain editions, though those differences seem almost entirely undocumented. I think I've posted about the differences between the versions of volume one with the classic and modern VIZ logos on the spine before, but I don't have the write up I did on-hand. One I can remember off-hand is Bulma offering to let Goku touch her butt in exchange for the Dragon Ball in the classic logo version being changed to getting to look at it in the modern logo version.
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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by linkdude20002001 » Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:35 am

I guess I should mention that it would be helpful if people would mention which version which PRINTING it is they're talking about. One part of this guide is just to show which versions and printings are censored and which are uncensored, the other part is to go into more detail about the differences in the censorship between releases and printing.
The Many English Dubs of DB, DBZ, and DBGT
Viz Release Censorship Guide

Scsigs: "Y'know, it actually makes sense that they waited till today to announce [the 30th Anniversary] set. It's Akira Toriyama's birthday."
Shaddy: "I too want my legacy destroyed as a birthday gift."

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by dbboxkaifan » Sat Sep 01, 2012 1:56 pm

matt0044 wrote:Well, it was that parent's own damn fault for reading a 13+ years Manga.
Wait, the manga was and is for children.
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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Sat Sep 01, 2012 2:33 pm

dbboxkaifan wrote:
matt0044 wrote:Well, it was that parent's own damn fault for reading a 13+ years Manga.
Wait, the manga was and is for children.
I have some volumes of the manga (UK version I thin), and they clearly say "13+".
James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.

Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by dbboxkaifan » Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:46 pm

In Japan it was for children, and nontheless, it's still a kids comic book.

Just because they rated 13+ in UK doesn't mean it's actually correct, a lot of ratings are a load of bs.
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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:06 pm

dbboxkaifan wrote:In Japan it was for children, and nontheless, it's still a kids comic book.

Just because they rated 13+ in UK doesn't mean it's actually correct, a lot of ratings are a load of bs.
It is correct for the UK standards. Japan doesn't have the same standards with other countries. For example, the DB/Z/GT anime was rated 14+ in Greece. That makes it correct for Greece's standards, but not nessesarily for Japan's standards. The fact that both manga & anime were heavily edited in US (and not only there) also proves that Dragon Ball was not a show for children by the US standards.
James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.

Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.

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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by dbboxkaifan » Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:19 pm

Wasn't the Greek dub of DBZ an even worse dub due to the stupid voice filters and the use of FUNimation's script? The Greek version is possibly worse than FUNimation's old dub.

Whether or not people agree, Dragon Ball (DB/Z/GT/Kai/etc) is for kids, and there's no denying so.
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Re: Viz Release Censorship Guide

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:29 pm

dbboxkaifan wrote:Wasn't the Greek dub of DBZ an even worse dub due to the stupid voice filters and the use of FUNimation's script? The Greek version is possibly worse than FUNimation's old dub.
The dub really is far, far worse, so much that the FUNi dub sounds like a masterpiece. However, the video it self is not edited at all, so you have all the blood, violence, and Goku's & Gohan's penis scenes there.
James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.

Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.

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