Manga UK picks up Dragon Ball

[Super Sayian Prime]

The DVD publisher Manga Entertainment that already released the Dragon Ball Z series in the UK acquired the DVD rights for Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT series.

The 64 episodes of Dragon Ball GT will first be released in two boxes: the first one on 20th January and the second one on 17th March.

The Dragon Ball boxes are planned to be released in summer 2014.

http://www.toei-animation.com/en/node/1350

Via WTK on Twitter

[NessMudkip]

I knew it was gonna happen. I'm still conflicted. Buying these for me would basically mean I've abandoned all hope of the FUNi DB Dragon Boxes happening. Hm. I'll have to think hard about this.

[dbboxkaifan]

So the blue bricks are being released here well that's kinda expected already.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

Gotta be honest here; I'm a little surprised, actually.

It makes total sense, don't get me wrong, but I thought their releases were based off the Madman sets- and Madman never did the 'Blue Bricks'...I wonder how Manga UK'll go about doing them. Might just pick them up, actually.

[Rukura]

That's great. Looking forward to these, more so than the GT sets despite neither being Dragon Boxes. And also not having next episode previews. And being kinda blurred. But it's at least a halfway decent option to own those series.

By the way, does anyone have the Manga UK GT set that came out? Wanna see if it's still progressive and has the altered logo in the opening video stream. And weigh my options.

[superrayman3]

By the way, does anyone have the Manga UK GT set that came out? Wanna see if it's still progressive and has the altered logo in the opening video stream. And weigh my options.

I don't think anyone has the Manga UK GT sets since they're not supposed to be released until next month.

[90sDBZ]

Great! It's always good to see original DB getting attention. Although I already imported these I might consider getting them again just so I can own them in Region 2. It would be really nice if they included all of the original openings and ending credits too.

[NessMudkip]

Can someone tell me what the quality of the Madman release is like? The thing that puts me off about the blue bricks is that slight zooming-in, so if the Madman release doesn't have that, and these bricks somehow use the Madman masters then maybe I'll pick them up.

[Rukura]

By the way, does anyone have the Manga UK GT set that came out? Wanna see if it's still progressive and has the altered logo in the opening video stream. And weigh my options.

I don't think anyone has the Manga UK GT sets since they're not supposed to be released until next month.

Wops, my bad I kept thinking it was due for December 20th instead of January Thanks for the heads-up

[Fizzer]

I already have the Blue Bricks but I feel like I have to show my support for DB in the UK, as I doubt it's going to be that popular here.

[90sDBZ]

I already have the Blue Bricks but I feel like I have to show my support for DB in the UK, as I doubt it's going to be that popular here.

Same here. I already feel guilty enough for not supporting Z.

[dbboxkaifan]

The problem with Manga UK is that their prices are higher than the original R1 version so even though I wouldn't support them, seeing their price makes it even less appealing than it already is.

I did purchase Manga UK anime but it wasn't directly from them, either new (Death Note with the booklet) or used (Soul Eater) from the Amazon marketplace.

[Weejus]

The problem with Manga UK is that their prices are higher than the original R1 version so even though I wouldn't support them, seeing their price makes it even less appealing than it already is.

I did purchase Manga UK anime but it wasn't directly from them, either new (Death Note with the booklet) or used (Soul Eater) from the Amazon marketplace.

Well most of the UK Orange Bricks are nowhere near their RRP now (Amazon has 1-7 for £15 each, 8 and 9 for £20 each) and I imagine the GT bricks will receive the same reductions a few months after its release.

[dbboxkaifan]

True but in terms of popularity, that is, people in real life aren't even aware DBZ is available on DVD in UK so that proves how well Manga has advertised it.

[Blade]

Great news!

Funimation's Dragonball dub is probably their best work pre-Kai, and I'm a little surprised that Manga UK deemed it worthy of licensing given that the UK's only prior exposure to Dragonball was the Blue Water Dub, that Toonami never really put its full weight of support behind.

[90sDBZ]

True but in terms of popularity, that is, people in real life aren't even aware DBZ is available on DVD in UK so that proves how well Manga has advertised it.

Your assumption isn't exactly proof. If people weren't aware of it then it wouldn't be consistently topping the anime charts.

Great news!

Funimation's Dragonball dub is probably their best work pre-Kai, and I'm a little surprised that Manga UK deemed it worthy of licensing given that the UK's only prior exposure to Dragonball was the Blue Water Dub, that Toonami never really put its full weight of support behind.

It's true that Toonami UK never gave DB much of a fair chance. If I remember right they only had 3 runs of the series. Possibly less for the later episodes. I remember being really shocked when it got cancelled. When GT was taken off I wasn't too surprised but when they took off DB is when I felt like it was the beginning of the end for Toonami UK. I even remember them randomly starting to air the RRA saga for the first time on a saturday morning with no promos being shown until the following monday.

[dbboxkaifan]

Well, I haven't seen it at HMV's in Oxford Street/Selfridges nor did they knew about it until I asked.

It doesn't matter if it's on the top of the charts if in real life it's not well known, tbh, I'm thankful they don't because the Orange Bricks deserve one thing: Die.

[Weejus]

It could be more popular if the retailers that had them advertised it better. My local HMV (Northumberland Street) has the Orange Bricks, but they have them in a cramped corner at the back of the first floor facing away from where everyone can see them unless you look hard enough. Took me almost 15 minutes to find them. That's a shame considering Manga UK tries really hard on their end and the likes of HMV spit in their faces.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

Not sure if it's Manga or what but everywhere I do see the orange bricks (not online) they're incredibly over-priced. Which I think turns a butt load of people off.

[90sDBZ]

Well, I haven't seen it at HMV's in Oxford Street/Selfridges nor did they knew about it until I asked.

It doesn't matter if it's on the top of the charts if in real life it's not well known, tbh, I'm thankful they don't because the Orange Bricks deserve one thing: Die.

Just because you happen to have not seen them in a couple of stores it doesn't mean that's the case in the rest of the country. I happen to have seen them at 3 different HMVs several times. And recently they've not been at such a bad price. Just last week I saw every season in HMV except for 4 and 5 all lined up in a neat row in clear visibility in the anime section. All the Seasons prior to 7 were at £20 each. Just a few months back I saw Season 2 away from the anime section standing out in clear visibility in the New Releases section. And there was only 1 copy left which showed that the others had sold very soon after release.

And the last time I checked the official sales figures were based on "Real life" sales. If they hadn't done well then we wouldn't be getting GT and DB. And your attitude of wanting the bricks to fail really isn't going to do anyone any good. You might not enjoy them but there are many who do and whether you want to admit it or not they have been very successful. Not to mention we've been waiting over a decade just to get a home release. Wishing for it to fail after we finally get it really is dismissive of all the UK fans.