FUNimation's Dragon Boxes have indeed been discontinued

[Ringworm128]

The Blu Ray's (if they weren't axed) really should be the de-facto release for DBZ. They have the 3 audio options of the season sets and good video quality so it pleases almost all sides of the fanbase. And if they contained more episodes they would probably take up the sales of the casual market if they stopped making the OB's (same could be said about the DBOX's).

[LiamKav]

Although I do agree that re-releases rarely sell except to hardcore fans, there is a difference when you regard the Orange bricks vs the Dragon Boxes. Putting them side by side, one is clearly a "premium" product. Nicer case, included book, and so on. That gives them a different market. With the blu-ray Level sets, you have a product that is competing with the Orange Bricks more directly, which is possible why they didn't sell.

(There's also the chance that hard core DragonBall fans are aware that the blu-rays are based off of FUNI's masters, and so have decided to wait for the inevitable HD release from TOEI which they hope will then get picked up by FUNimation down the road.)

[Dr. Machismo]

I agree with you in the sense that release after release after release is something I find in bad taste, especially when the one that ended up being the "de facto" release was complete garbage, while the one that was actually of good quality was like a candle in the wind. And that's where I can no longer agree. No, it's not good that the DBoxes are getting harder and harder to find. If there was only one release on DVD for this series, this should have been it. As things stand, it would have been a perfect apology for releasing the orange bricks on the unsuspecting masses. Sometimes re-releases are needed, and this is certainly a case. So I'm just confused as to why you would be glad that the quality releases are dying, and that garbage is winning out.

Sure, they may have had flaws, and FUNimation tried to fix them by releasing the "Level" sets. But, like VegettoEX said, those weren't selling that well. Since those weren't selling and the Dragon Boxes were limited edition and only appealed to hardcore fans (which I doubt increased sales all that much), the only sets we need right now are the orange bricks, since they were the best selling ones.

And I'm saying that those are the only ones we need right now. We could get a better set in a few more years.

[Gaffer Tape]

No, I argue the Dragon Boxes are the only sets we need right now. They shouldn't have been limited edition. Or they shouldn't have if the only alternative were the orange bricks. We don't need the orange bricks. We never needed the orange bricks. They shouldn't have been created in the first place. But since they are, we need something better. Many people have argued that the DBoxes should be re-released as barebones slimpacks. And I agree with that. Because it's really only the packaging and books that make them a "hardcore fangasm" release at all. The actual content on the discs is actually pretty basic. It's just actually done well and is complete. That's all that's needed. The Blu-rays (ignoring how far they got) were better quality but not quite as complete in video content, so it's a tradeoff. But there has been a complete, quality DVD release and the potential for a near-equivalent quality Blu-ray release. The orange bricks are the best-selling because they were the first complete run of the series in an easy to own format. You could substitute that out with any comparable release, and it wouldn't have made any difference. Might have sold better since people like me wouldn't have avoided them like the plague. Its sales doesn't change the fact that its quality was abysmal. That held true in 2007 and is even truer now. So, no, the orange bricks are not the only thing we need right now. They're the only thing we DON'T need right now. Or ever.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

The only thing we would need is a Blu-Ray release of the all the DB/Z/GT Episodes, Movies & Specials with the correct colors, clear sound, synchronized sound, and full image. But until then, the DBoxes are the perfect releases.

[Dr. Machismo]

No, I argue the Dragon Boxes are the only sets we need right now. They shouldn't have been limited edition. Or they shouldn't have if the only alternative were the orange bricks. We don't need the orange bricks. We never needed the orange bricks. They shouldn't have been created in the first place. But since they are, we need something better. Many people have argued that the DBoxes should be re-released as barebones slimpacks. And I agree with that. Because it's really only the packaging and books that make them a "hardcore fangasm" release at all. The actual content on the discs is actually pretty basic. It's just actually done well and is complete. That's all that's needed. The Blu-rays (ignoring how far they got) were better quality but not quite as complete in video content, so it's a tradeoff. But there has been a complete, quality DVD release and the potential for a near-equivalent quality Blu-ray release. The orange bricks are the best-selling because they were the first complete run of the series in an easy to own format. You could substitute that out with any comparable release, and it wouldn't have made any difference. Might have sold better since people like me wouldn't have avoided them like the plague. Its sales doesn't change the fact that its quality was abysmal. That held true in 2007 and is even truer now. So, no, the orange bricks are not the only thing we need right now. They're the only thing we DON'T need right now. Or ever.

OK, I understand you hate the orange bricks, but if most consumers are choosing to buy them instead of the Dragon Boxes, what do you expect FUNimation to do? And casual buyers strongly outnumber us hardcore fans, so I doubt most people have a problem with the quality. We can complain all we want, but FUNimation is still making money. And FUNimation probably understood the problems with the orange bricks, which is probably part of why they brought out the Dragon Boxes and "Level" sets but not that many people were buying those.

I know many people hate the orange bricks, but if that was most of what people were buying even when alternatives were given, they're what FUNimation should stick with for now.

[Gaffer Tape]

Again, only because it was the first, and it was the cheapest. If they had done a quality product from the get go, even the level of the single disc releases that came before it, then there wouldn't be a problem. But the orange bricks are broken, and yet, five years later, they're still the only way you can easily find the series on DVD. That is a problem. Yes, they're making the most money, but FUNimation stacked the deck in their favor, whether intentional or not. But you weren't saying it's logical that they're the only release. You said it was good that it was the only release. That there were too many, and that the orange bricks are the ones that SHOULD be the only release.

[samuraix123]

Again, only because it was the first, and it was the cheapest. If they had done a quality product from the get go, even the level of the single disc releases that came before it, then there wouldn't be a problem. But the orange bricks are broken, and yet, five years later, they're still the only way you can easily find the series on DVD. That is a problem. Yes, they're making the most money, but FUNimation stacked the deck in their favor, whether intentional or not. But you weren't saying it's logical that they're the only release. You said it was good that it was the only release. That there were too many, and that the orange bricks are the ones that SHOULD be the only release.

I agree with this ^ Also if you think about it there really isn't a-lot of releases
Dragon-boxes - which are out of print or going out of print now
The Orange Bricks
Kai - which only goes to the cell saga and the filler is cut out
The Level Sets - which are canceled now
The Ultimate Uncut edition - canceled

I won't add the movies

So if someone want's to own the entire Z series they're either stuck with buying the orange bricks which are cropped 16x9, oversaturation of colors with lines of animation getting deleted every once and a while or trying to buy the Dragon-boxes. which doesn't include the American music but that's no big deal at-least for me. That's why I hoping for those level sets. That way we could have owned the entire Z series in a awesome collection with no problems.

[Dr. Machismo]

Again, only because it was the first, and it was the cheapest. If they had done a quality product from the get go, even the level of the single disc releases that came before it, then there wouldn't be a problem.

Yeah, but they didn't. Bottom line is, they're the best selling ones, so FUNimation should stick with them at least for a few more years.

But the orange bricks are broken, and yet, five years later, they're still the only way you can easily find the series on DVD. That is a problem. Yes, they're making the most money, but FUNimation stacked the deck in their favor, whether intentional or not. But you weren't saying it's logical that they're the only release. You said it was good that it was the only release. That there were too many, and that the orange bricks are the ones that SHOULD be the only release.

I meant good as in logical. The orange bricks are the ones that should be the only release for now because they're the best selling. FUNimation tried to fix things with the "Level" sets, but failed.

And having 3 sets of a series like Dragonball Z is too much.

[Krycek7o2]

Also if you think about it there really isn't a-lot of releases
Dragon-boxes - which are out of print or going out of print now
The Orange Bricks
Kai - which only goes to the cell saga and the filler is cut out
The Level Sets - which are canceled now
The Ultimate Uncut edition - canceled

You've forgotten the 80 plus single DVDs FUNi originally released.
They were expensive and very badly encoded in some cases.

Very few shows have been re-released these many times.

[Pokewhiz7]

Do we even really consider Kai to be a rerelease? I'd consider it to be a different show.

[Krycek7o2]

Do we even really consider Kai to be a rerelease? I'd consider it to be a different show.

It's technically a "different" show. For now, we've had:

The Original Singles (87 volumes, I believe)
The Ultimate Uncut (Cancelled)
The Orange Bricks
The Dragon Boxes

These are just DVD. I consider the Blu-ray counterparts very differently on the case of them being on a different format.

[johnboy1]

Do we even really consider Kai to be a rerelease? I'd consider it to be a different show.

I consider it a new "edition" of the show. You know how some films get director's cuts or extended editions? Yeah, that's how I see Kai. It's not a separate show, but it's more than just another rerelease.

[samuraix123]

Also if you think about it there really isn't a-lot of releases
Dragon-boxes - which are out of print or going out of print now
The Orange Bricks
Kai - which only goes to the cell saga and the filler is cut out
The Level Sets - which are canceled now
The Ultimate Uncut edition - canceled

You've forgotten the 80 plus single DVDs FUNi originally released.
They were expensive and very badly encoded in some cases.

Very few shows have been re-released these many times.

Haha no I didn't forget about them. I just chose to talk about the newer releases because they are more relevant. I mean we don't hardly read about people trying to buy all of the original bilingual DVD's/VHS But I agree 100% I've never seen a show like Dragonball Z that's had this many sets. Unless it's maybe star wars or something like that.

[LiamKav]

And I'm saying that those are the only ones we need right now. We could get a better set in a few more years.

They aren't the set we need, but they are the one we deserve. Our Orange Knight.

(Or the other way around, maybe.)

[johnboy1]

They aren't the set we need, but they are the one we deserve. Our Orange Knight.

Whatever you do, don't start reading the comic this is from. You might die of hunger before you can drag yourself away.

[Gonstead]

Gimmie a link.

[johnboy1]

Gimmie a link.

NooooooHere you go. Unfortunately, it has a tendency to get political every now and then.

[Dr. Machismo]

Do we even really consider Kai to be a rerelease? I'd consider it to be a different show.

But most consumers wouldn't choose to buy it along with whatever sets of Dragonball Z they already had.

[LiamKav]

Gimmie a link.

NooooooHere you go. Unfortunately, it has a tendency to get political every now and then.

Well, I guess that depends on how you feel about political comics. Certainly it straddles the catagories of toy jokes, soap opera, feminism, fan entitlement, and Jesus. Plus surely someone can do a "I'm Freeza, and I can breath in space" meme?