Has Funimation ever released DBZ properly?

[Gaffer Tape]

Well, of course, you can't forget the idea of "DBZ properly." Does that mean individual episodes or the entire series? Because if it's the latter, sadly, the singles can't qualify because the entire series was never released that way.

[DinoChow]

Well, of course, you can't forget the idea of "DBZ properly." Does that mean individual episodes or the entire series? Because if it's the latter, sadly, the singles can't qualify because the entire series was never released that way.

No argument there. I just guess, looking at my own history with the series, that I felt 'satisfied' with those singles when I was younger, and trying to watch as much of the series in Japanese as possible. No, the 'entire' series could not be obtained, but I would just personally say that this does not render those releases 'improper.' Singles were the culture at the time in the American anime industry, and for Dragon Ball, Funimation put out some good ones. And it was a difficult task, given that they had 291 episodes (and two other separate series and 13 movies and 2 specials, etc.), to get through. So I think that for the time (and they should be evaluated in the context in which they were released), that was an adequate way to experience the series, even if the series could not be experienced as a whole (though it is again worth noting that in the early 2000s, a lot of people were not accustomed to getting 'whole' releases of a long-running TV series). Again, if the question being asked is 'has the series been released properly,' I think Funimation should get some credit. Even if we take the singles out of the equation, we still got the Dragon Boxes, and the fact that those went out of print does NOT make them an 'improper' release.

[Gaffer Tape]

I'm not even talking about the format. Yeah, I realize that 3-4 episodes a release was the standard. I'm not talking about that. I'm just saying there was a huge chunk of episodes that was NEVER released that way. So, yeah, I agree that, individually, they are a decently good release. However, overall, it's a totally incomplete release. About 30-35 episodes are entirely missing. So I don't know it can be considered a good, proper release overall.

[Gotham22]

From a fan who loves both the dub and the original, no Funimation hasn't yet. The DBZ BD were in the right direction of that.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

Considering there are two separate box sets that allow you to watch Dragonball Z in full, I'd say so. Hell they have a box set, dedicated to the most hardcore of fans where you can watch the series in it's intended quality with the Japanese voices taking precedence over their own. Yes, it was a limited release but it's in full and (was) sold at a fair price.Their is also Kai, which honestly after all this is the set I prefer. I don't fans realize how good we have it.

[dbboxkaifan]

Their is also Kai, which honestly after all this is the set I prefer. I don't fans realize how good we have it.

It used to be a whole lot better when Kai actually had its own music.

[MarCas92]

It used to be a whole lot better when Kai actually had its own music.

That is the reason I refuse to buy Kai. I'm only going to buy once it is all available, with a new score.

[penguintruth]

The Dragon Boxes were the proper release.

[Super Sonic]

I'd say they have as they did release the entire series. Remember Sailor Stars? And DBZ has better translators for their subs than some of its sister series. Saw an ep of Rosario + Vampire Capu 2 where the dialogue in the subs don't quite make a lot of sense/look weird and redundant. (The dub of that scene has different dialogue avoiding that problem thankfully).

[theoriginalbilis]

I agree. The Dragon Boxes were the most proper release of DBZ so far. FUNimation really went above and beyond their normal standards on the presentation, translation, and packaging fronts. The only other release to come that close were the "Level" Blu-Rays, but alas, no NEPs or original titles/credits. And... the whole getting canceled thing...

In my mind, proper = closest to the original product. For the people upset about the Faulconer score not being included, that is the "less proper" of the two English dub tracks, with the dub w. JPN music track being slightly more proper in terms of accuracy to the original product.

[Super Sonic]

With guys not happy about no Next episode previews, I have to ask, is it a completionist thing, or do guys just want to hear more Goku talking, or what? Always wondered why guys make such a big deal of them, if they're just on the disc continuously, there's almost no point to them. Or am I the only one who skips next episode previews unless they're different like the Negima ones?

[theoriginalbilis]

I don't really watch the NEPs either, but knowing Japan got them for their DVDs, and that they're normally considered part of the episode content (along with OPs/EDs/eyecatches), they should be in there by default. And yes, it's a cool thing to have for completionists and collectors.

[DBZ Mick]

Sometimes there are some small funny character moments in the next episode previews.

Like for example Kai had. For the episode preview for either the episode when Ginyu uses body swap or after. In it Ginyu goes on about how the show will now be called Ginyu Special Corps Kai: Freeza-sama and his Merry Men. Gave me a little chuckle.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

The Dragon Boxes were the proper release.

Not exactly. They are awesome, but the colors have aged, the sound is low quality & slightly off.

[VegettoEX]

It was still a proper release of the product, meaning they didn't fuck around with it and just put it out as-is related to what the expectations were. They left it alone, did 1-291, and there was much rejoicing.

[ABED]

The Dragon Boxes were the proper release.

Not exactly. They are awesome, but the colors have aged, the sound is low quality & slightly off.

The question was whether it was released properly, not whether it was the ideal release.

[Duo]

The Dragon Boxes were the proper release.

Indeed. I do not understand how this thread was started, taking that into consideration.

[El Diabeetus]

It all depends on what you consider proper. If just getting all 291 episodes, then yeah, it's been twice. If you're someone who wants the proper aspect ratio, yes once with the Dragon Boxes. But, those seem to be limited so that's a bit grey-area. If you're hoping for a proper 4:3 like the Blu-ray sets without it being limited like the Dragon Boxes... Then no it has never been properly released. It all depends on what you define as proper.

I personally think it has been properly released since I already own all 7 Dragon Boxes.

[TheBlackPaladin]

The Dragon Boxes are the closest to being a "proper" release. I think in order to make them completely proper, FUNimation should have included the audio track found on the orange bricks with the English dub and the revised English music. I say that, by the way, as someone who prefers Kikuchi's music. However, I do think they should have included that audio track in the interest of pleasing as many potential customers as possible. I would not have minded. I simply wouldn't have listened to it....I'd have no problem with it just being there for those who wanted it.

That's just as far as making it "proper." In order to make it "excellent," a few more improvements would need to be made, and on Toei's end. In hindsight it would appear that the quality of the Dragon Boxes were...overstated. They probably looked like divine items next to the orange bricks, but it wasn't quite the "perfect" release that many were making it out to be. I used to consider them perfect based on what I saw, heard, and read...

But after seeing the footage in the Level sets, hearing the audio that Kei provided of the original broadcast, and reading a few whispers here and there of Japanese fans who said that the Dragon Boxes were like "their" orange bricks...I think that it would probably be more accurate to say that the Dragon Boxes are a far cry from "excellent." It's consistent. It's proper. It's even good. "Excellent," though....not quite.