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

[eledoremassis02]

Eh, I think until we see it with a different DVD we won't agree on this one. In general anyplace on that cap where I see something on the BD side, I see an equivalent issue on the DVD side, suggesting it's because of issues on the film.

Fair enough ^^ Sadly I don't have the Dragon Box for these episodes.

Thanks for the heads up Landcross

Overall, I think there are decent enough to get as a way to watch it if you dont have the Dragon Box or want the U.S score dub. I may get these for when I'm overseas since blurays are more sturdy than DVD and I dont want to jeopardize my Dragon Boxes

[kidglov3s]

More:

[BluezaBladeNZ]

I assume it's because of the quality of the DVD is someone could post a Dragon Box equivalent that would help a lot more.

Here's the R2 Dragon Box version:

[eledoremassis02]

Here's the R2 Dragon Box version:

Thank you! Looks black but it could be my eyes and it being (4:30am lol). I forgot how awesome the Dragon box looks!

[MarcFBR]

Done very quickly since it's late. If anyone wants to redo it, feel free.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

Huh. How come the Japanese DBoxes look different (and better) then FUNImation's release? Did they do some additional FUNImation tinkering? And was it necessary to add the English Dub? Don't think anyone who bought them listens to it and vice versa.

[BluezaBladeNZ]

I think it's because the masters FUNimation had for episodes 73-80 were 16mm like the rest so the quality was degraded, while Toei had the original 35mm source for those episodes.

[Metalwario64]

I think it's because the masters FUNimation had for episodes 73-80 were 16mm like the rest so the quality was degraded, while Toei had the original 35mm source for those episodes.

If you're responding to Baggie_Saiyan, then I believe they meant the Japanese Dragon Boxes compared to the North American release of the Dragon Boxes, which were a bit softer (until set 6).

[Enigmo]

Try and work with the masters FUNimation were given and tell me you could do any better.

What? Is that you suggesting the masters were not good enough for FUNimation to do better with? Well, how would you know? Have you exactly seen the masters? Or are you basing it off of stuff FUNimation have said? FUNimation haven't ever done a great remaster, with anything. Look at Cowboy Bebop and Berserk remasters done in Japan, they look like real remasters, without having to have grain all over them. But of course, I have no idea whether they were printed on 16mm film or 35mm film. But there's also Kai. Kai has a much better remastering process than the Level Sets. The blurriness has nothing to do with the remastering - it was a post-production thing. Kai just has a much more remastered-in-HD look, when sharpened, than the level sets do.

And to someone who asked, my source for the ssj3 goku pic was DBNL's encodes of Dragon Box

[dbboxkaifan]

This isn't a SD DVD quality where the grain is hidden.

Since when is the grain hidden on DVDs? I've been watching Dragon Ball: Collection Part One (Saga sets) and the video is very grainy (I don't have any DNR filters activated), the GT Singles (Dragon Box GT Compressed) was also grainy and so was the US Dragonbox Z Collection but of course going by screenshot comparisons don't really do it much justice. It has to be seen in-motion.

Plus, that sounds like something Steve Franco would say "in standard def the grain was kind of smudged over because you didn't really see the grain".

[Kojiro Sasaki]

What? Is that you suggesting the masters were not good enough for FUNimation to do better with? Well, how would you know? Have you exactly seen the masters? Or are you basing it off of stuff FUNimation have said? FUNimation haven't ever done a great remaster, with anything.

1. FUNimation has second generation film prints with dupe grain.
2. FUNimation did what was needed to make money. Why they should spend time and money on doing better job? This release sells like crazy.

Look at Cowboy Bebop and Berserk remasters done in Japan, they look like real remasters, without having to have grain all over them. But of course, I have no idea whether they were printed on 16mm film or 35mm film.

Do not compare totally different shows, produced using totally different techniques, shot on totally different film and released in totally different times.

But there's also Kai. Kai has a much better remastering process than the Level Sets. The blurriness has nothing to do with the remastering - it was a post-production thing. Kai just has a much more remastered-in-HD look, when sharpened, than the level sets do.

Explain your definition of the word "remaster". Provide some evidences that blurring was post production process. If something is blurry, it does not need HD treatment, because the only purpose of "higher pixel density" is to show small details. These details are naturally creating sharpness.

I'm not interested in any kind of "remastering". I'm interested in "restoration". Scraping out all the detail to add it artificially goes completely against that. You seem to be interested in "the look" and you have your own definition of this word. I believe that the majority of people who like the Level sets are interested in "trying to be as true and honest and do a proper reproduction of this film".

[samuraix123]

Try and work with the masters FUNimation were given and tell me you could do any better.

What? Is that you suggesting the masters were not good enough for FUNimation to do better with? Well, how would you know? Have you exactly seen the masters? Or are you basing it off of stuff FUNimation have said? FUNimation haven't ever done a great remaster, with anything. Look at Cowboy Bebop and Berserk remasters done in Japan, they look like real remasters, without having to have grain all over them. But of course, I have no idea whether they were printed on 16mm film or 35mm film. But there's also Kai. Kai has a much better remastering process than the Level Sets. The blurriness has nothing to do with the remastering - it was a post-production thing. Kai just has a much more remastered-in-HD look, when sharpened, than the level sets do.

And to someone who asked, my source for the ssj3 goku pic was DBNL's encodes of Dragon Box

I disagree with you about Funimation never releasing any great remastered products. In my opinion the level sets were a fantastic release! I hate seeing everyone praise kai.(Even though I like it) there's lots of times and I mean LOTS! of times where Kai looks like it was made in Microsoft paint. I would much rather see grain than something like this.

I'm not sure what the top part is I was just looking around.

Like I said, I like Kai as well but I also know the problems of it's release. those are just very small examples I'm sure if I started really going through it I could a fill a page or two up but that would be pointless. I just hate seeing Funimation getting bashed over and over again. some people make me so mad(Not you) by blaming them I wished they would have never started releasing Anime and people could just do without. I really do sometimes. Now had Funimation released this new Blu-ray release without asking what people wanted in a poll, I would have been just as aggravated but they asked and idiotic fans answered. Besides they have released for us fantastic releases such as the Dragon-boxes(which we'll probably get more some day) the level sets, they've released all the movies for us, They even re-released the ocean dub for fans who may have not gotten it back in the day.

[qjz123]

I added more screenshots http://minus.com/mxa8y5G4dA4hk .

[samuraix123]

I added more screenshots http://minus.com/mxa8y5G4dA4hk .

Wow thanks so much for shots buddy. I can't wait for mine to get in.(Even though I'm not watching them until I get done with the original series) Out of curiosity, How do you take screen shots of Blu-rays? Have you got a Blu-ray player in your computer or something?

[qjz123]

I added more screenshots http://minus.com/mxa8y5G4dA4hk .

Wow thanks so much for shots buddy. I can't wait for mine to get in.(Even though I'm not watching them until I get done with the original series) Out of curiosity, How do you take screen shots of Blu-rays? Have you got a Blu-ray player in your computer or something?

I backup the blu rays onto my computer. I take the screenshots with vlc.

[dbboxkaifan]

I'm not sure what the top part is I was just looking around.

You mean the clock? That's usually on anime series that broadcast in Japan, sometimes fansubs blur that out to make it less distracting.

Have you got a Blu-ray player in your computer

BDB and BDR for PC have now decreased their price as the years passed by but it still requires to have a mid-range PC suitable for it and BD50s are still pricey. I'm satisfied just to watch BDs on my PS3 as I don't intend on backing BDs for any reason (would have to consider getting another 1TB HDD if so).

[samuraix123]

I'm not sure what the top part is I was just looking around.

You mean the clock? That's usually on anime series that broadcast in Japan, sometimes fansubs blur that out to make it less distracting.

Have you got a Blu-ray player in your computer

BDB and BDR for PC have now decreased their price as the years passed by but it still requires to have a mid-range PC suitable for it and BD50s are still pricey. I'm satisfied just to watch BDs on my PS3 as I don't intend on backing BDs for any reason (would have to consider getting another 1TB HDD if so).

No no no I was meaning the quality haha I guess I should have said that sorry about that bud. lol Yeah I love my PS3 as well

[TheGreatness25]

I'd rather compare the new Blu-ray to the Level sets and the Season Set DVDs since it's basically the same thing but on DVD.

[Cold Skin]

I hate seeing everyone praise kai.(Even though I like it) there's lots of times and I mean LOTS! of times where Kai looks like it was made in Microsoft paint. I would much rather see grain than something like this.

You're talking only about redrawn scenes, which are just a few select shots in a whole episode (and some of them - especially when including special effects like blasts and explosions - look more amazing than the original shots).
For the rest, having started to rewatch Kai in HD, it looks both grainless and nicely colored and sharp enough to be watchable... which was the objective, to make it more watchable to modern audiences.

I was stunned again by how great it looks, it's not the sharpest master, but it does erase that pesky grain and doesn't seem like a big, miscolored blur either. It does just what's needed and that's all we ask for.
Toei did a much better job with cheap Kai than Funimation did with its orange bricks or recent Blu-ray release.
To me, it's also better than the grainy 4:3 level sets (AND before you jump at me for saying that, read the following paragraphs where I explain why I feel that way and why the level sets are perfect despite my personal preferences), since I personally dislike both grain and 4:3 (and less-than-vibrant colors), and it doesn't suit well with me because when I look at it: it looks old. When I look at Kai: it looks fresh (hence the name Kai for refresh).

Having watched a few episodes from both the level sets and new Blu-ray release, one is not enough for my personal preferences in the department of grain filter and vivid colors, while the other is way too much in the department of grain filter and vivid colors (the picture and colors somehow look distorted and "wrong", as if a kid grabbed my remote and played around with the settings pushing this and that to the max).

BUT before you jump at me because I say the level sets don't look great to me, let me clarify that it's a good thing, cause the thing is that Z is Z: it is old and is not supposed to look fresh. Therefore, I would say the way to go with it is with the level sets, it is the perfect solution! When people watch Z, it is because they accept the oldness of it and want to see it as aged as it is! They want to keep everything that was part of the Z experience back then: all details including the "old times" grain, the old score, the crazy fillers, the slightly washed out colors... They want to see it as "a product of its time" as Mike said... if I remember well, at least.

This is why I don't think the level sets look great SUBJECTIVELY: there are those who want to have the best experience while still remaining faithful to the oldness of the show and the things that go with that factor, and those who can't easily stand those old factors nowadays and need to get rid off them to still enjoy the product. I'm on the second team, so of course I subjectively think the level sets don't look great. But objectively, I think this is exactly what Z should look like at its best, and how Funimation should have done it if they could have afforded to keep going with the level sets! That goes with the concept.

Making it look refreshed should be reserved for the version that's actually meant for it (and therefore the version I'm interested in since I'm in the "make it look decent by nowadays standards" team): Dragon Ball Kai aka Dragon Ball Refreshed, with its grainless quality and vivid colors, awesome pace that was re-thought now that it's not necessary anymore to buy some time, new modern score by new composers (new for this anime at least), new presentation...

So ultimately, I'm very happy with Kai and don't think we need anything more when it comes to "making it look modern and akin to modern technology", and so I feel disappointed that they didn't go on with the level sets, as it would have brought a final, perfect release for those wanting "good old Z" as best as it could be while still retaining everything it was. It would have brought a nice, definitive and worthy end to the exploitation of the original Z series for all those who wanted it as-is but in the best quality.

[ABED]

What do you have against 4:3?