Anywho, how I'd like to raise my kids on the anime (note: I do not yet have kids, though I'd definitely like one or two sometime down the road). I'd be pretty spoiler-ish myself when showing them, not really telling them the plot, but the way I'd start showing them the series. I'd like to start when they're close to under 10 years old, I figure that's as good a place as any. The language I'd begin showing them would be the dub, considering at that age, I doubt the Japanese version would interest them much.
I would begin at literally the beginning of the story, while it may be very spoiler-ish, I'd start them off with the Bardock special, telling them it's basically a short movie setup of the series. Then I'd start to get them into the original DB anime, starting from the very first episode. What I'd do here is use the edit-dub taping I have from Cartoon Network for the Pilaf saga, then get them into it Uncut with the Tournament saga. I'd want to restrict them to the edit version of the Red Ribbon Army arc though, as there are understandable reasons. Then I'd get them back into it Uncut starting with the Fortune Teller Baba episodes, and all the way through the rest of the series.
Now to after the original series. I'd like to start them off with Dead Zone before the initial Raditz episodes, that way they'd be familiar with Garlic Jr. later on following the Freeza saga. I think I'd rather go with the Ocean dub with Dead Zone, as it retains the original BGM familiarity from the DB series. While they'd likely be confused by the different voices, I'd pretty much just shrug that off. For the Saiyan and Namek arcs, I'm pretty torn on rather to show them the Ocean version (as it gets through those episodes at a quicker and non filler-ish pace) or the redub episodes. Still not sure what to decide for that, though I may end up opting for the Ocean version.
I'd definitely like to give them full Uncut exposure starting with the Ginyu/Freeza saga, as the violence in this arc isn't any more eye cringing than what you'd find in a PG rated Disney movie. Going on through that saga, I'd be fair to them and give them full Garlic Jr. saga exposure, I figure since they haven't read the manga, they wouldn't think too badly of it. Right after that episode where Kuririn proposes to Marron, I'll say what the heck and give them a viewing of the Trunks special. If I need any explanation to give them before that special, I'll just be like "Well, Goku returned, now he's sick". >_>;;
Following that, I'd obviously be ready to show them the early Trunks episodes. Now here's where it'd probably be a little tricky. During the Driving School episode, right at the part where Chichi passes out due to Goku's failing, I'd stop there without continuing the rest of the episode; showing them the first Cooler movie. Basically, I'm one that considers this movie part of the anime continuity (please, no timeline debating); plus I think it'll help give a more believable sense that 3 years is going by.
For the Android arc, I'd begin them right where I left off in the series; the last minute-or-so of the Driving School episode where the 3 years have now gone by. They would get to see it with no edits or such, right to the end of the Cell Games saga. Just another treat, after the episode where Trunks defeats the Androids and Cell in his timeline, I figure this'll be as good a point as any to give them the Bojack feature for viewing. It gives one more final incident with preteen Gohan and Future trunks (not to mention bald Kuririn XD). Next would be the Other World Tournament episodes, a great filler arc that sets up a certain green man Kid Buu does battle with sometime later on Grand Kai's planet.
Then for the start of the Buu arc, beginning right from the high-school episodes with Saiyaman (I can't wait to watch these episodes with my kids) all the way to the episode where Kid Buu is gone and Goku is celebrating with his family and friends in West City. After that episode, I'll definitely have plans for the Hildegarn feature, as I very much believe that deserves a place in the anime continuity, as well as their watching. Following that, the last 3 episodes of the Z series, and I even plan to show them the Goku Jr. special following that. Regarding GT, while I am one that believes it takes place in anime continuity, I just do not want to subject my children to that dub, it makes the Freeza saga look good.
Perhaps when they're 12 or 13, I'd like my dear soul mate and I to begin getting them into the Japanese version, starting back from the Bardock special. I'd like to show them original DB as the original Japanese VAs recorded, in full Uncut form. Then at last: DBZ, Japanese version all out, still in the order from which I'd show the dub. After the last 3 episodes, I'd like to get them into GT in Japanese version, probably re-showing the Goku Jr. special right before the final 8 minutes of episode 64.
That's about all there is to that. As I'm an anime purist when it comes to DB, I don't have full intentions on exposing them to the manga, maybe I'll buy them the first couple DB volumes when they're old enough. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Anyway, now it's your guys' turn. No need to make your post as long as mine, but feel free.
