900 Minutes of Uncut Action, DBZ Season 1 Arrives

[Anonymous Friend]

I'd hardly say Victator is rewarding FUNi simply by buying the release. He's fully aware of the negative aspects and advertising lies on FUNi's part and he still wants to get it. Why? Because it's the best financial choice to get this much of DBZ legit. In other words, he's buying it out of love and desire for the series, not to soothe FUNi's ego. In the end, some of us just want the series in a consistent, affordable, fully translated, complete form. That's what these season sets are offering. And no, I'm not praising FUNi for these releases, just making a point that the cropping and exaggerated remastering isn't gonna stop as many of us from getting this series that we love and adore.

Understandable, but you see, if everyone thinks like that, where is FUNi going to get the kick-in-the-ass needed for them to change their ways from?

I love the series too, and want nothing more than a complete, consistent way to own it all. But the fact is: with this set, we're all getting fucked, and I refuse to accept what they've put out until they get it right (even if all they do is bring back the 4:3). If people continue to buy it, it will give FUNi the misconception that they can keep doing this shit for the rest of the series, and if that happens, every R1 fan will remain fucked.

I mean, you know there's something wrong when animeondvd.com will refuse to even REVIEW the thing...

And where else are we gonna get DBZ from? I mean legally and beside Toei. Face it, we're at the mercy of FUNi and their knuckleheads. They know that somewhere out there is someone who wants to own Dragonball, and that they're gonna have to get it from them. We're just gonna have to deal with it. It may not be the perfect product that we want and know that can be produced, but it's what we have. Hate it or love it. I personally love, if only for the fact that I can watch Vegeta beat the crap out of Goku, Krillin, Gohan and Yarjirobe any time I want.

[Victator Supreme]

I'd hardly say Victator is rewarding FUNi simply by buying the release. He's fully aware of the negative aspects and advertising lies on FUNi's part and he still wants to get it. Why? Because it's the best financial choice to get this much of DBZ legit. In other words, he's buying it out of love and desire for the series, not to soothe FUNi's ego. In the end, some of us just want the series in a consistent, affordable, fully translated, complete form. That's what these season sets are offering. And no, I'm not praising FUNi for these releases, just making a point that the cropping and exaggerated remastering isn't gonna stop as many of us from getting this series that we love and adore.

Understandable, but you see, if everyone thinks like that, where is FUNi going to get the kick-in-the-ass needed for them to change their ways from?

I love the series too, and want nothing more than a complete, consistent way to own it all. But the fact is: with this set, we're all getting fucked, and I refuse to accept what they've put out until they get it right (even if all they do is bring back the 4:3). If people continue to buy it, it will give FUNi the misconception that they can keep doing this shit for the rest of the series, and if that happens, every R1 fan will remain fucked.

I mean, you know there's something wrong when animeondvd.com will refuse to even REVIEW the thing...

I fail to see an affordable alternative, aside from outright downloading it.

Which I refuse to do with DBZ. Even then where will I find the dub with the original soundtrack? Thats something I have wanted for years. If these sets were fifty dollars, I wouldn't buy it. But for thirty bucks, I can't pass it up.

I can only hope they get their act together on future sets.

[desirecampbell]

I fail to see an affordable alternative, aside from outright downloading it.
Which I refuse to do with DBZ. Even then where will I find the dub with the original soundtrack?

I've seen torrents for the first four episodes already. If you want 'em, you can find 'em.

I bought the set for the subs. Honestly, Funi could've replace everyone's head with carrots for all I care - Daimao's scripts for 30 bucks is a good deal to me.

[ETC123]

Sorry, starting late on all of this, and I think this is the best place to start-

Well, obviously Toei wouldn't sell them the original of original film prints that they keep in storage (which was used for the Dragonboxes).

There's no proof one way or another that Toei wouldn't sell them the footage. As a segue though, this is not an excuse for what they've done and continue to do. Toei are assholes, that's for sure, but the simple fact is we don't know what they do and don't allow (Logically speaking, they allowed dic and ADV to use remastered Saint Seiya (though ADV screwed that up too).

I again understand the feeling. I praised the set myself, but thats because to my eyes anyway it looked a LOT cleaner and vibrant then I've ever seen DBZ (I dont own dragonbox anything nor eve
r will fpr the fact again I'm not buying anything raw Japanese)

Here is the thing though- you know it's a pile of shit, so why bother praising it if you've technically never seen 'anything better'? you've seen screencaps? you've seen proof, and all of that good stuff, so why praise it?

Hopfully they get their shit together.

They won't now, and your attitude is EXACTLY why they won't. It's bad enough uninformed masses are consuming this set en masse, it just sinks knives even deeper when the people who might actually give a shit simply bend over for "Cheap DBZ".

I'd hardly say Victator is rewarding FUNi simply by buying the release. He's fully aware of the negative aspects and advertising lies on FUNi's part and he still wants to get it.

In FUNimations eyes, however, he will not only be rewarding them, but actually encouraging them to continue doing it.

Why? Because it's the best financial choice to get this much of DBZ legit. In other words, he's buying it out of love and desire for the series, not to soothe FUNi's ego.

No, he is not buying it out of love or desire, he's buying it because he's cheap. You said in one bit it was the best financial desicion, and then you said it's for love. If you'll allow me to make a grossly inadequate comparison, would you buy the woman you love a cubic zirconia (SP?) over a diamond? Because that's the exact same thing you're doing here (apart from comparing DBZ to marriage which in itself is creepy and I need to be shot tbh).

In the end, some of us just want the series in a consistent, affordable, fully translated, complete form. That's what these season sets are offering. And no, I'm not praising FUNi for these releases, just making a point that the cropping and exaggerated remastering isn't gonna stop as many of us from getting this series that we love and adore.

Therefore shitting on the rest of us who actually want a quality release.

If you truely loved something, if you actually respected it's integrity and desired it in it's entirety, why would you settle for a cheap, nasty 'imitation' (not to say the content of the story is an imitation, but nearly everything this set is advertised as is a lie and deceit).

the video quality has never looked better on R1 DVD in my view

This does not make the video quality good nor acceptable.

I fully agree. It looks a million and one times better than the other DVD's in my eyes. I remember how badly the dam thing was flooded with grain. People used to think I got ripped off because DVD's are supposed to be "crystal clear." I like their colors as well. But like I said before, some scenes are just too white. They needa turn the contrast down....

The quality of DVDs being 'crystal clear' was hype and marketting bought about when DVD was trying to overtake VHS and become a dominant standard. DBZ is a show from the 80's, dude, EXPECT GRAIN. Completely eliminating it is a hard thing to do when done properly, but this is not the way to go about it. Grain vs. the actual details of the show is not how it should be done, not by any respectable standard.

I don't care how grainy the footage is really - it's from 1989. In fact, I think this season set proves that remastering could be disastrous if it isn't handled right.

Couldn't agree more. Don't go and turn on this with the cheap, weak reasoning of "But it is cheap, and it does have the blahblahblah" that so many other people are using.

From what I heard about the UUE sets, at least they offered the series in three different vocal tracks in a good, solid format.

No, it offered three tracks in highly overpriced 3 episode discs which only would have covered 67 or so episodes. But they couldn't even bother keeping up with it.

And where else are we gonna get DBZ from? I mean legally and beside Toei.

There's an R3 release, which is pointless if you don't understand chinese or need subtitles (which can be obtained). There's the Spanish release, which while oversaturated, is nowhere near as bad as FUNimations. There may be a Korean or Mexican version coming out. There's always actually having integrity and maybe, you know, not buying it because it's a complete farce of a release that treats DBZ as if it were still trying to be relevant to nine year olds?

Face it, we're at the mercy of FUNi and their knuckleheads.

No, we are not. You simply chose to be. Once you free yourself of the idea that you MUST own it for as CHEAP AS POSSIBLE, you'll find it much easier to accept.

They know that somewhere out there is someone who wants to own Dragonball, and that they're gonna have to get it from them. We're just gonna have to deal with it. It may not be the perfect product that we want and know that can be produced, but it's what we have. Hate it or love it. I personally love, if only for the fact that I can watch Vegeta beat the crap out of Goku, Krillin, Gohan and Yarjirobe any time I want.

The reasons you love this release are nothing that is exclusive to it, therefore a poor reason for supporting it. Yes, people are going to want DBZ, but as I said, regardless of the ammount of ignorant (some because they don't read forums, which is fair enough) buyers, the real damage here is that the fan community has become so weak minded, so beaten over this issue, they're simply going to lie down and take it.

I fail to see an affordable alternative, aside from outright downloading it.

I'm going to go down an unpopular and undesireable path and say this outright- might as well download it.

I have put money in FUNimations pocket for years, and followed their lies to a decent degree. I've bought the old, crap DVDs with the understanding that I'm helping the market grow, I bought the UUEs because I honestly though "this is it! Gonna own it!'. I did it under a misguided sense of loyalty and dedication, I wanted to help. What I got in return is nothing but an insult to my intelligence. So I might as well download it, because they've already gotten my money.

Which I refuse to do with DBZ. Even then where will I find the dub with the original soundtrack? Thats something I have wanted for years. If these sets were fifty dollars, I wouldn't buy it. But for thirty bucks, I can't pass it up.

Nice to see you can be bought for twenty bucks.

I can only hope they get their act together on future sets.

Why would they, when all it takes is twenty bucks? What if they cut the Japanese track out? OP and ED? Hey, if they discount it by another $10 I'm in! /sarcasm



Look, to finish it up, I know I sound like a dick, but sometimes people need to be direct. FUNi doesn't care, fans aren't doing jack shit about it, and people are buying it en masse. for a 4:3 release, we aren't at FUNimations mercy, if we chose not to be. Since they treat us with absolutely no respect (Japanese music doesn't automatically make the dub any better, infact it just makes it more painfully irritating because they didn't even bother to fix it up), I don't feel as if I should treat them with any.

[Anonymous Friend]

Which I refuse to do with DBZ. Even then where will I find the dub with the original soundtrack? Thats something I have wanted for years. If these sets were fifty dollars, I wouldn't buy it. But for thirty bucks, I can't pass it up.

Nice to see you can be bought for twenty bucks.

You can lump me in there too.

Everyone dumps on the release has good reason to do so. And everyone who went out and bought it has a good reason to do so. I myself, just want to be able to watch the show. I want to watch it whenever I want to. I want to be able to watch it on my TV. All the extra talk about the quality of the images and the widescreen are totally lost on me. I just want to be able to watch one of my favorite shows.

It's a shame that it's not up to par to want the harder-core fans were expecting.

[Victator Supreme]

No, he is not buying it out of love or desire, he's buying it because he's cheap.

Perhaps you do not understand this, but I have actual responcibilities to my family. I don't have mommy and daddy to support me. So I can't afford to throw hundreds of dollars away on dvds that are in a language I can't speak. But tell you what, pay my rent this month and I'll look into it.

[ETC123]

Perhaps you do not understand this, but I have actual responcibilities to my family. I don't have mommy and daddy to support me. So I can't afford to throw hundreds of dollars away on dvds that are in a language I can't speak. But tell you what, pay my rent this month and I'll look into it.

Hey, i've got a better idea- why don't you develop some standards in regards to this issue and maybe not impulse buy the first piece of shit with more than 3 episodes a disc and I'll reevaluate my position?

Don't assume because I don't want to stand by while FUNimation gets away with stupid releases at a gross profit because people are too impatience or lax in their standards to wait that I'm some sort of rich kid living off of my Mom's teet. I get paid an average salary, I have two kids, so don't assume I don't have my own fair share of responsibilities.

It's a shame that it's not up to par to want the harder-core fans were expecting.

No, the harder-core fans expect things that may or may not be possible (5.1 Japanese, Dragonbox and next ep previews, etc). What I'm expecting is an absolute industry standard (Original Intended Aspect Ratio). It's not like the movies or other things where the issue is debateable due to multiple aspects, because DBZTV was only ever meant to be one aspect in this form, and at the moment it is not in that form, therefore incorrect.

[MajinVejitaXV]

What I'm expecting is an absolute industry standard (Original Intended Aspect Ratio).

Thank you. Someone gets it and I'm infinitely grateful for that.

-Corey

[ETC123]

MajinVejitaXV: no problem. I mean, there is still the issue of filters, DVNR, saturation and all kinds of awful crap which won't go away, aswell as FUNimation's insistance on doing in-house authoring (which looks terrible) and not utilising their space, but I mean c'mon, the aspect ratio is a no-brainer.

[Conan the SSJ]

Look, to finish it up, I know I sound like a dick,

I fully agree with ya' here. Seriously, take it easy, you're purposely trying to put those of us down whom are buying this to enjoy the series, why? We all would prefer an unaltered 4:3 format, but considering what these sets are offering -- the full DBZ series released in a consistent, fully translated, and affordable legit form. Well, some of us are gonna take this deal rather you like it or not. We're all well aware of the cropping and exaggerated remastering, but this is still the DragonBall Z series we love and respect enough that we're gonna spend our hard-earned money for legit releases rather than worthless bootlegs or downloads. Really dude, stop criticizing and judging those of us who're getting these and take a breather. Maybe you're a very smart person in the long run, but that doesn't give you the right to be a know-all asshole to good people in the process.

[ETC123]

Seriously, take it easy

Dudeface, if I weren't taking it easy, why would I post?

you're purposely trying to put those of us down whom are buying this to enjoy the series, why?

To make you feel bad about yourselves. You're not doing anything noble nor paticularly noteworthy and yet you're making a big deal about how much you don't care. What do you expect? A pat on the back? A big image macro saying "GOOD JOB, Z WARRIOR"?

We all would prefer an unaltered 4:3 format, but considering what these sets are offering -- the full DBZ series released in a consistent, fully translated, and affordable legit form.

We would prefer it, except that some don't because they're buying in to this propaganda (I'm not bright, to any great extent, and atleast I can see though it now, as do you, and yet you remain purposefully ignorant

Well, some of us are gonna take this deal rather you like it or not. We're all well aware of the cropping and exaggerated remastering, but this is still the DragonBall Z series we love and respect enough that we're gonna spend our hard-earned money for legit releases rather than worthless bootlegs or downloads. Really dude, stop criticizing and judging those of us who're getting these and take a breather. Maybe you're a very smart person in the long run, but that doesn't give you the right to be a know-all asshole to good people in the process.

You're not a good person, as far as this issue goes. You're one of the problems, infact, you're even more of a problem because you are supporting backwards practices. Like you said, you might (and probably are) a good and smart person, but I can't abide by your desicion and I will call you out on it because honestly, not only is it a desicion of poor taste but it's a desicion that activley ruins my enjoyment of the series by perpetuating the idea that this treatment can go unpunished and unchallenged. I've seen the letter campaign, and it's getting nowhere fast. I've seen the lack of actual replies apart from propaganda and "too bad" from FUNimation. What else to do now? Take it to another core of the issues- those who sit by and do nothing.

[Victator Supreme]

Hey, i've got a better idea- why don't you develop some standards in regards to this issue and maybe not impulse buy the first piece of shit with more than 3 episodes a disc and I'll reevaluate my position?

Impulse buying would be grabbing something at random. This is a thought out decision. Where you wreigh out the pros and cons. To me the added audio options and cheaper price make up for the cropping.

[ETC123]

Impulse buying would be grabbing something at random. This is a thought out decision. Where you wreigh out the pros and cons. To me the added audio options and cheaper price make up for the cropping.

Once again, poor reasoning, and I'm not budging on this because as this forum is purported, this is the DBZ forum on the internet, this is where the sane and rational lies apart from the frothing and prepubescant.

Audio options are and always were possible on other discs, nor does this have anything that is paticularly new (yes, there is some re-recorded dialouge, but the dub is still an inaccurate, badly written schlockfest), so it was always possible before. This cropping, on the other hand, is entirely unjustifiable from anyone who works in video production. Whoever signed off on this does not deserve to be employed.

Basically, if this forum does actually respect the integrity of DBZ, as purported by saying that it's the last (if not only) mature DBZ forum, you won't go and buy a release that is, for all intents and purposes, aimed at Joe Bestbuy and Nine year old children. You're doing yourselves a disservice.

[MajinVejitaXV]

While ETC123 is taking an unpopular route by being so direct, I do have to agree 100%. I've always maintained that FUNimation, or any company for that matter, is the party who is "at the mercy" of fans/consumers. Despite this, I've watched people fold and take whatever is given to them believing that if they don't a.)it won't matter because others will anyway or b.)the entire thing will up and disappear and no further effort will be invested.

I love DragonBall, and I love the fan community here, but I am disappointed in the fan response to this. The overwhelming consensus seems to be, "Well, I hate what they did/how they're treating us, but it's cheap so nevermind." I see people string excuses together for FUNimation's conduct on this project and I shake my head. When did consumers have to stoop to serving companies? While nothing is perfect, it seems in this case people feel the need to justify their purchase almost as if they know they deserve better.

It's a shit set. It's been explained why and no one should be praising the hack-job FUNimation did. Especially when you factor the continually insulting marketing that has gone into this project (overscan, fabricated footage and now the "a 9 year old is born every day" remark).

I'm not going to tell people what to like or not like, but I do think anyone who can say anything good about this set with a straight face needs to take a step back and seriously think about it. Everything about this set screams the word "insult" to me. The fact that FUNimation is making an attempt (and succeeding, apparently) at forcing their hacked version onto fans serves only to amplify that sentiment. People who have purchased this series for 6 years now are left holding collections that were almost 90% completed. Isn't that wrong, no matter what the new sets have in terms of a pricetag?

Look, price is always a consideration, but when does quality eventually become a concern? We're got missing animation courtesy of a horrible pair of automated DVNR processes and a 15% net loss of picture here people. After over a decade of being mistreated, where is the line drawn?

-Corey

[FDLink]

Finally, someone who doesn't just lie back and take it. I was beginning to think we were a dying breed.

But seriously, if you really do want to see FUNi get it's fucking act together--buying this set is not the way to do it. Not only should you not buy it, you have to personally let them know about your refusal; via the letter campaign, petition, or the Anime on DVDthread which is monitored by one of FUNi's reps. The more FUNi detects rampant negativity towards this thing, the greater our chances become.

[ETC123]

A few things I'd like to add-

1. Just because Toei supposedly (this is not trying to cast them in a good light, please remember this) didn't sell them Dragonbox sets or allow for them to even use the Raws, is not an acceptable excuse for removing 15% of the screen and destroying detail carelessly.

2. The dub has Japanese music and SFX now. As I've read before, this is not a paticularly dub-oriented forum, so I can feel safe in saying this- who gives a shit what the dub does or doesn't have.

I realised that DBZ, as a dub, came a long way in the many years it took for them to redo the Saiyan+ sagas, but it is still badly and incorrectly written, takes idiotic positions on characters and overall is an injustice outside of children's audiences. Adding Japanese music does not make it any better, because it is not a dub made for the Japanese music, it's made for badly composed techno-rock. Even though some things are being done to fix it, not enough is, and once we get past Ginyu we're going to be, for the most part, exposed to the same eye-rolling performances we had before (moreso).

However this option does not justify widescreen.

3. Realise that FUNimation has been borderline abusive in regards to their advertising and propaganda. Be aware they've basically lied out of their ass. If you honestly have any self respect in regards to this issue (if you 'love' and 'respect' DBZ), heed my words and STOP BUYING SETS. Don't even sell them on, simply put them to the side. and ignore them.

4. The packaging is unimaginative and badly designed but we know this already.

I just feel like there is more that can be said which is constructive but I'd have to go back and re-think it. I can say this though, added to everything else, that I am more or less boycotting every single FUNimation product until this issue comes to a resolve. People need to also do this and develop some patience. FUNimation have 4:3 masters still around, they can still make sets, even if it's every disc in one box for a price with no features.

[nathantheguitarist]

Damn these posts are good... why don't FUNi reps monitor this forum.

[Duo]

Hm...

I ask everyone who is "offended" by ETC123's points (and others who backed him) to step back, take a deep breath, re-read everything, and really think about it.

Because...he's right.

[ETC123]

Damn these posts are good... why don't FUNi reps monitor this forum.

Because they may have to read something that isn't a tounge in their asses and OH BOY THEY CANT EVER DO THAT. No sir, they're king of the Anime hill now, why would they bother with such insolence?

Bah.

[Bardock the Mexican]

Because they may have to read something that isn't a tounge in their asses and OH BOY THEY CANT EVER DO THAT. No sir, they're king of the Anime hill now, why would they bother with such insolence?
Bah.

That's not cool dude. Even Funimation doesn't deserve to get that from you. I'm sure that if they wanted to they would come here. You arn't doing much to demonstrate what this site is about with that post. Posting "OMG t3h Funimation suxx0rz and stuff LOL" shit doesn't help make us look like intellegent fans. We don't do Funimation bashing because we can overlook it and talk about DBZ without mentioning Funi. Just a friendly bit of advice.