Dragon Ball Z "Seasons" On Blu-ray: News & Discussion

[Gaffer Tape]

Thinking about the Kai dub, the levels sets and the freaking Dragon Boxes (just think about that for a second, the fought to get us the Dragon Boxes) I feel really bad about Funimation being spammed with angry comments about this particular product being cropped. They clearly do want to please the hardcore fan base as well as the casuals. It makes us look like spoiled brats throwing tantrums because our parents bought us the wrong colour iPhone.

I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. Expecting an entertainment company to put out a quality release is not being a spoiled brat. It's being a discerning consumer. FUNimation are not our parents. They're not giving us Dragon Ball as a gift. We are PAYING them for it. A previous competent release or a dozen competent releases do not negate a future bad decision. And if they release an incompetent product, they deserve negative feedback for that, and they deserve to not have us buy it. Hell, that's our job in this relationship. It's the only way they'll learn not to do stupid things. It blows my mind that so many people see FUNimation as this wonderful benefactor. As others have said, they're doing this for the money. That's the nature of this relationship. They are the producer. We are the consumer. To see it any other way takes away any power we're supposed to have.

[KingofWisdom]

So true. I understand why this release would upset people but at the same time there are multiple releases available if this one's not your cup of tea then get another.

Let's not forget that future Level sets have been cancelled, and for whatever reason, the Dragon Boxes are out of print now too. I didn't even know it was some limited edition release until it started going out of print. Let's not also forget that the Dragon Boxes didn't come out long after the orange bricks, so people who bought the latter not knowing any better got screwed out of a better release if they didn't want to immediately buy the series again. Right now, the orange bricks are the only sets of the DBZ episodes (from start to finish) on the market. I know, I know, "Woe is me," but it's ridiculous that anyone who missed the Dragon Box release is left waiting for something better.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

But yes, you're right - that's how the world works. We may support it or not.

People act like Funimation should take some moral stand about treating Dbz as a work of art instead of trying to making money.

I think that people want a solid product and they don't give a sh*** about FUNimation's money.

I'm having huge Nintendo Wii flashbacks right now; you're not a peon for understanding the logic behind a product decision you don't agree with.

Thinking about the Kai dub, the levels sets and the freaking Dragon Boxes (just think about that for a second, the fought to get us the Dragon Boxes) I feel really bad about Funimation being spammed with angry comments about this particular product being cropped. They clearly do want to please the hardcore fan base as well as the casuals. It makes us look like spoiled brats throwing tantrums because our parents bought us the wrong colour iPhone.

I'm sure they don't feel bad. They're gonna get angry comments no matter how it's released.

^ And that. Anyone ever see a "No superior (Falcouner) music, no buy" review on the Dragon Boxes? I have; and it sure as heck ain't the only one out there.

Thinking about the Kai dub, the levels sets and the freaking Dragon Boxes (just think about that for a second, the fought to get us the Dragon Boxes) I feel really bad about Funimation being spammed with angry comments about this particular product being cropped. They clearly do want to please the hardcore fan base as well as the casuals. It makes us look like spoiled brats throwing tantrums because our parents bought us the wrong colour iPhone.

I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. Expecting an entertainment company to put out a quality release is not being a spoiled brat. It's being a discerning consumer. FUNimation are not our parents. They're not giving us Dragon Ball as a gift. We are PAYING them for it. A previous competent release or a dozen competent releases do not negate a future bad decision. And if they release an incompetent product, they deserve negative feedback for that, and they deserve to not have us buy it. Hell, that's our job in this relationship. It's the only way they'll learn not to do stupid things. It blows my mind that so many people see FUNimation as this wonderful benefactor. As others have said, they're doing this for the money. That's the nature of this relationship. They are the producer. We are the consumer. To see it any other way takes away any power we're supposed to have.

Of course Funi's not a benefactor- that's not what anyone is arguing. They're arguing that you cannot tell me Funi's releasing two good and complete products in a row of the same series (Kai's kind of hard to call) less than three years ago is far back enough for us to suddenly forget them. Frankly, the only reason cropped Blu-Ray reactions should be this charged is because there isn't an easily-obtained DVD alternative; if the Dragon Boxes were in better circulation, we'd be say "psssst, that's awful, glad these DVDs work", like with... a lot of other media, actually. In any other case, you can effectively ignore a bad release by hanging on to past good iterations; thanks to the Orange Bricks there is no previous good iteration that's not Kai.

[Gaffer Tape]

I think you're latching onto the "benefactor" part too strongly. That's not the point. (It's also not a positive or negative. It's simply the way it is.) The point I was arguing against is that people are somehow wrong or spoiled or ungrateful to complain about a bad decision and equating that to a parent (ie. a benefactor) giving a gift to a child that the child doesn't appreciate. And I find that logic both backwards and damaging. Only a few posts ago, someone mentioned people who complain that the Dragon Boxes didn't have Faulconer's score. And I really couldn't care less. In fact, part of me is glad it's not there. But I would never have the audacity to tell someone they were WRONG for saying so. And, hey, apparently it worked. The point is, as consumers, we are only armed with two things: our voices and our money. Obviously the latter means much more than the former, and any idiot who uses his/her voice to condemn while using his/her money to support is wasting both. But to say that we shouldn't use those voices... I just don't see how anyone could possibly get behind such a stifling notion.

[bkev]

Well, here's hoping the DragonBox prices on amazon go down once this collection's done and over with. It happened with the 2-disc "saga" sets for DragonBall after all. I know it's a little different considering the target audiences, but one can hope right?

[eledoremassis02]

Well, here's hoping the DragonBox prices on amazon go down once this collection's done and over with. It happened with the 2-disc "saga" sets for DragonBall after all. I know it's a little different considering the target audiences, but one can hope right?

I hope so too. Once I get box 2 and 4, I'm done with getting DBZ.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

I think you're latching onto the "benefactor" part too strongly. That's not the point. (It's also not a positive or negative. It's simply the way it is.) The point I was arguing against is that people are somehow wrong or spoiled or ungrateful to complain about a bad decision and equating that to a parent (ie. a benefactor) giving a gift to a child that the child doesn't appreciate.

Ahh. Yeah, I get that.

Obviously the latter means much more than the former, and any idiot who uses his/her voice to condemn while using his/her money to support is wasting both. But to say that we shouldn't use those voices... I just don't see how anyone could possibly get behind such a stifling notion.

Absolutely.

[Martinrock]

How many released versions are there of Dragon Ball Z since the Vhs? This is all about money. Funimation is not big fan of Dragon Ball but a trading company.

Of course it's about money. I don't see why people have a problem with this idea. It's how the world works.

I think "the world" fell on mercantilist and plutocratic doctrines. "The world" can not works on a destructive pattern but for someone, venality is not serious...
I will not dwell on it but I venture to state some platitudes. But obviously there is no problem with that! Money buys everything. The wealth of one is the poverty of others, it is a cynical race, always with the same winners, always with the same losers. A man who respects himself and who has an ounce of intelligence does not let himself stripped and gouged. Even if consumerism raged for lack of repressive measures, the consumer has the duty not to resign, not to submit to the harm of injustice, abuse of a merchant. Deception and exploitation are "ideas" that are problematic. Only fools and ignorant may think otherwise. Now what I would suggest you is to show your hostility and say that Funimation is not the custodian of this Art. You can have the usufruct of a property but not the right to destroy or alter the substance of both material and immaterial. It would be advisable to contact Funimation about it and at the same time or perhaps start a petition on change.org. There are many ways to be heard a minimum. This is the duty of a true fan.
I read your comments for nearly a year but I have never post a reply because of a lack of constructive action. Rumors are sometimes interesting and sometimes true, but a more serious and profound "journalistic" work with employees of Funimation or Toei can bring a wealth of information and tools to inform tens and perhaps hundreds of thousands of Dragon ball fans all over the world which I am.
Do you like the aspect ratio imposed by Funimation?
Do you like the color representation used by the Orange Brick season sets?
Do you like to buy an unfinished set as the Blu-ray Levels?
Do you like lose your money?
The majority will obviously be negative. Maybe some "comic" will pretend to like.
I'd like to end with this: If you have something to say, say it.
Harassment by emails are effective. Imagine 500 emails a day from disgruntled fanboys with multiple addresses every day. Be assured that Funi will listen to you. I know it works. I already try for something else and it is unstoppable. If you are interested, please let me know I'm going to open a blog for this purpose. It is hard work but if you want an unified community who serve the interests of the best anime in the world, we can do it!
Sorry for my english. Mais je parle très bien français. Vive Dragon ball !

[MarcFBR]

I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. Expecting an entertainment company to put out a quality release is not being a spoiled brat. It's being a discerning consumer. FUNimation are not our parents. They're not giving us Dragon Ball as a gift. We are PAYING them for it. A previous competent release or a dozen competent releases do not negate a future bad decision. And if they release an incompetent product, they deserve negative feedback for that, and they deserve to not have us buy it. Hell, that's our job in this relationship. It's the only way they'll learn not to do stupid things. It blows my mind that so many people see FUNimation as this wonderful benefactor. As others have said, they're doing this for the money. That's the nature of this relationship. They are the producer. We are the consumer. To see it any other way takes away any power we're supposed to have.

Your point is 100% valid, except you've left out one detail- This goes both ways. They gave us the release we in theory 'wanted' at a fair price with the Level sets. They were not bought at levels that made it viable in their opinion to continue.

So we are no longer their focus for the Blu-rays. If we buy them, it's a nice bonus, but we are no longer the primary targeted audience.

It's like the adult collectors audience for say, Power Rangers or Digimon. They enjoy selling more, but outside of rare odd off products, that's not who they are aiming at.

The audience is now the mass market that bought (and continues to buy) gobs and gobs of the orange bricks.

Harassment by emails are effective. Imagine 500 emails a day from disgruntled fanboys with multiple addresses every day. Be assured that Funi will listen to you. I know it works. I already try for something else and it is unstoppable. If you are interested, please let me know I'm going to open a blog for this purpose. It is hard work but if you want an unified community who serve the interests of the best anime in the world, we can do it!
Sorry for my english. Mais je parle très bien français. Vive Dragon ball !

If those same fans bought the Level sets these wouldn't exist. And Dragon Ball doesn't have enough hardcore fans for 500 emails 'a day' for a period of time to be viable, unless it's the same people over and over again, which is worthless (and it'd be worthless anyways, as those fans didn't buy the 'fan release' when Funimation tried to do it.)

[jjgp1112]

The general fan who walks into walmart and sees Dbz on the shelf is gonna say "Oh look I remember this wow 39 episodes for $20 and I can get it on blu ray for only $5 more". Where as with the Level sets 17 episodes for $30 not gonna happen.

Well, there's only one thing I can say to this and that is "you get what you pay for." It's a shame people have such an entitlement complex that they expect companies to practically just give away their product, the cost of producing said product be damned.

I think the argument of the price of the Level sets vs. the Season sets is BS, considering the same model was used for the Kai releases before they bundled them into seasons of their own. They must have sold well as 2-disc sets, otherwise they wouldn't have completed them. With the Level sets, the market was already oversaturated with different versions of the same material, whether it was the orange sets, the just completed Dragon Boxes or the Kai releases, there was Dragon Ball out the ass. I bet things would have been different had they not jumped immediately into another release as soon as the Dragon Boxes finished.

The Kai releases, technically speaking, are "new." New voice acting, new theme songs, "new" episodes, and all of that jazz. The DBZ level sets are the same old DBZ episodes that have been released before (and with the same tagline, no less) but in a more expensive package. Nobody's "entitled" just because they chose not to buy something at a price they deemed unreasonable for what they were getting.

[Martinrock]

If those same fans bought the Level sets these wouldn't exist. And Dragon Ball doesn't have enough hardcore fans for 500 emails 'a day' for a period of time to be viable, unless it's the same people over and over again, which is worthless (and it'd be worthless anyways, as those fans didn't buy the 'fan release' when Funimation tried to do it.)

First, the number of loyal fans of Dragon Ball is considerable. In France alone, there is a very high degree of commonality to the point that Dragon ball z is broadcast on public channels ! It has a large audiance even to this day.

Second, stop thinking "person" rather think SMTP and Spam. This requires experienced and committed people. I know what I'm talking about and I know how it can irritate the guys who treat emails untill the point where they inform the manager. Communication is crucial and the only faith and perseverance makes effective.

And finally, It is not a question of a boycott but a means to make himself heard when necessary. A means of expression.

[qjz123]

If those same fans bought the Level sets these wouldn't exist. And Dragon Ball doesn't have enough hardcore fans for 500 emails 'a day' for a period of time to be viable, unless it's the same people over and over again, which is worthless (and it'd be worthless anyways, as those fans didn't buy the 'fan release' when Funimation tried to do it.)

First, the number of loyal fans of Dragon Ball is considerable. In France alone, there is a very high degree of commonality to the point that Dragon ball z is broadcast on public channels ! It has a large audiance even to this day.

Second, stop thinking "person" rather think SMTP and Spam. This requires experienced and committed people. I know what I'm talking about and I know how it can irritate the guys who treat emails untill the point where they inform the manager. Communication is crucial and the only faith and perseverance makes effective.

And finally, It is not a question of a boycott but a means to make himself heard when necessary. A means of expression.

The amount of fans required to bombard Funimation with emails to get them to cancel this blu ray release and bring back the level sets would have to be enormous. If such a large fan base existed who wanted the level sets they wouldn't have been canceled in the first place.

[MarcFBR]

The amount of fans required to bombard Funimation with emails to get them to cancel this blu ray release and bring back the level sets would have to be enormous. If such a large fan base existed who wanted the level sets then they wouldn't have been canceled in the first place.

Excellent point QJ. Mind if I make a slightly better one?

First, the number of loyal fans of Dragon Ball is considerable. In France alone, there is a very high degree of commonality to the point that Dragon ball z is broadcast on public channels ! It has a large audiance even to this day.

Second, stop thinking "person" rather think SMTP and Spam. This requires experienced and committed people. I know what I'm talking about and I know how it can irritate the guys who treat emails untill the point where they inform the manager. Communication is crucial and the only faith and perseverance makes effective.

1- If you are spamming them then it literally does not matter. What speaks to a business is the potential for loss, and the potential for gain. Spamming them accomplishes neither (And frankly, has a decent chance of getting legitimate complaint mail tossed out with it that gets caught in the spam wave.)

2- You are in France. As far as Funimation is concerned you (and the French DBZ audience) do not exist. You are not part of their market.

[Martinrock]

The amount of fans required to bombard Funimation with emails to get them to cancel this blu ray release and bring back the level sets would have to be enormous. If such a large fan base existed who wanted the level sets they wouldn't have been canceled in the first place.

Enormous is not a problem. As I said, only faith and perseverance are required. On the level sets, you are aware that the disc doesn't bears the Region free code and above does not have French subtitles. In France, it is "AB Video" which owns the rights. http://www.declic-collection.fr/dc/Drag ... 0-416.html Only the resourceful, those with a blu-ray player multiregion and especially those who speak English (who is not always the case in France) can buy it. I did not know Kenzenshuu and seriously this is not a very universal name.

I want to put something that could have a real impact on the decisions of Funimation or rather a consideration. Even the whole community of Star Wars could not prevent some of the worst choices made by George Lucas. It is just a matter to be heard.

[CODii]

Funimation is a huge corporation and as such their only real concern is their bottom line. They didn't crop the Blu-Rays to be mean. They did it because they decided that presenting the series in this way would maximize their potential for profit. MarcFBR is right. The people on this forum are no longer their target demographic. They made an attempt at releasing the series in 4x3 on Blu-Ray with the Level sets and clearly that release wasn't profitable or they would have kept it going. I'm sorry for everyone that was counting on the promise of this release, but such is business. No amount of spamming is going to get them to change their mind at this point.

[Martinrock]

1- If you are spamming them then it literally does not matter. What speaks to a business is the potential for loss, and the potential for gain. Spamming them accomplishes neither (And frankly, has a decent chance of getting legitimate complaint mail tossed out with it that gets caught in the spam wave.)

2- You are in France. As far as Funimation is concerned you (and the French DBZ audience) do not exist. You are not part of their market.

This is not spamming but queries, to manifest his presence to attract attention. Is that you can understand?
And how it changes the fact that get to do something. I read your comment and I often see this kind of hostile nonsense. It is clear that you have not done much here..
Argues with a better dialectic than "You are in France" ... I stated this to show the considerable community that exists around the world. There are just to look to Japan to see.

[qjz123]

I stated this to show the considerable community that exists around the world. There are just to look to Japan to see.

Funimation could care less about how big the Dbz fan base is around the world their main focus is the U.S. market.

[MarcFBR]

Funimation could care less about how big the Dbz fan base is around the world their main focus is the U.S. market.

Glad someone got my point.

It's very nice that DBZ has a large worldwide fanbase. But a fanbase it can't legally sell to is none of Funimation's concern.

[Martinrock]

Funimation is a huge corporation and as such their only real concern is their bottom line. They didn't crop the Blu-Rays to be mean. They did it because they decided that presenting the series in this way would maximize their potential for profit. MarcFBR is right. The people on this forum are no longer their target demographic. They made an attempt at releasing the series in 4x3 on Blu-Ray with the Level sets and clearly that release wasn't profitable or they would have kept it going. I'm sorry for everyone that was counting on the promise of this release, but such is business. No amount of spamming is going to get them to change their mind at this point.

Can you contact Funimation and ask them to confirm your assertions? Because this is just a gratuitous assumption. You know the operating results of the company? The profits from the sale of DBZ products? No, then you can speculate and make you a reason but it is vain. Sorry, I don't want to be rude but I want to be constructive.

All the fans I've met (and there are many) only see the 4/3 ratio. For example, in France, "AB video" has released a dozen versions since 1988 but never in 16/9. DBZ is the anime that they reported the highest profits I can say for sure source.

qjz123 wrote:Funimation could care less about how big the Dbz fan base is around the world their main focus is the U.S. market.


Glad someone got my point.

It's very nice that DBZ has a large worldwide fanbase. But a fanbase it can't legally sell to is none of Funimation's concern.

Who cares that Funimation focus is the U.S. market? I really tried to explain but I'll stop there. I will try to explain more clearly for those who did not understand ...
Dragon Ball has had a huge impact around the world in equal proportions or almost. So into the U.S., there is a wide enough fan base to let him give rein to his desires. Ie: speak! Not to control the company! Just to be heard! And I speak for myself who purchased the DBZ Funimation, not French fanbase obviously

[MarcFBR]

Who cares that Funimation focus is the U.S. market? I really tried to explain but I'll stop there. I will try to explain more clearly for those who did not understand ...
Dragon Ball has had a huge impact around the world in equal proportions or almost. So into the U.S., there is a wide enough fan base to let him give rein to his desires. Ie: speak! Not to control the company! Just to be heard! And I speak for myself who purchased the DBZ Funimation, not French fanbase obviously

Because that is the way business works.

You aren't part of their market. There just being a 'fanbase' doesn't mean anything. What means something to their products is who may or may not buy it.

Their sales market is North America (more specifically the USA in general when it comes to DBZ.) The popularity of the show, and any fanbase that exists because of it, does not matter to them, outside of potentially being able to go 'look how popular it is' in marketing materials.

It's nice that you've imported their release, but you aren't part of their market, and very few people do that (and you live in a market they legally aren't allowed to deal with) so it doesn't really mean anything.