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

[Gyt Kaliba]

But that's not EVEN likely half the market base, those who voted are just the market base that voted I am sure there is a silent majority who would be appaled.

That's just it though, if they're the 'silent' majority, that means they didn't vote on it, which means they kinda forfeit most of their right to complain about it. Again, this is only if the votes really did say that a majority preferred widescreen, a fact we might not ever know for sure.

But eh, as I've said before, it's not really a big deal for me as it is. I already own the old Orange Bricks, and they'll just have to do until I can actually afford the Dragon Boxes, just as they had to do the same back when the Boxes were actually coming out. I have no need for DB on Bluray anyway.

[eledoremassis02]

samuraix, you're greatly overestimating the degree to which the casual fan cares about cropping...which is to say, they don't. They just want 16x9 to fill up the widescreen TV's. The season sets consistently sell like hotcakes. If the cropping was such a huge dealbreaker to the general audience, this wouldn't be the case at all.

Like Tanooki said, they created a monster and have to feed it. Most people here have Dragon Boxes already anyway, so I fail to see how this will really affect them in the grand scheme of things.

I understand that the season sets still sell great. I just don't understand how even a casual would like something like this

People hate those black bars...I dont get it..people do not understand ratios...

Also, go on amazon and look at the level set reveiws...there was a lot of "4:3 is not HD" comments

[Ajay]

Most people here have Dragon Boxes already anyway, so I fail to see how this will really affect them in the grand scheme of things.

Because of a few things really.

Firstly, it's 2013, I don't want to stuck with standard definition forever. I'd love to experience the show in HD with a solid transfer. I like grain, I like the clarity of the line art and the details it produces.

Secondly, it's on principal really, Funimation should not be tampering with aspect ratios on Blu-Ray releases. BDs were always touted as the 'true way to experience your favourite movies and TV shows' because they were presented in their original aspect ratios with everything as close to their initial formats as possible.

[eledoremassis02]

Warner Bos. Has even cropped their older cartoons.....


But they were smart and offered this (and this is dvd)


I really hope FUNimation is doing the same and someone only got 1/2 the information.

[Metalwario64]

LOL, I love how completely false and misleading that "comparison" is. They make you think it's not cropped at all.

[Undercooked Sausage]

But that's not EVEN likely half the market base, those who voted are just the market base that voted I am sure there is a silent majority who would be appaled.

That's just it though, if they're the 'silent' majority, that means they didn't vote on it, which means they kinda forfeit most of their right to complain about it.

I disagree with this so strongly. This isn't just an issue of releasing a commercial product for sales, this is a slap in the face of the integrity of the actual work. The Dragonball anime is not just a piece of merchandise to a lot of the people on this forum, it is a legit artistic piece, and just because people thought they wanted a 16x9 release doesn't mean it should have ever been the decision they made. This reminds me of when Turner started colorizing older films in the 1980s.

"They arrest people who spray subway cars, they lock up people who attack paintings and sculptures in museums, and adding color to black and white films, even if its only to the tape shown on TV or shown in stores, is vandalism nonetheless."
- Gene Siskel

An extreme view, maybe, but I don't think a incorrectly framed Dragonball should exist in any format and is disprespectful to the creators and disrespectful to the art of film.

[Gyt Kaliba]

We'd just have to agree to disagree I guess, cuz to me, at the point you're treating any mistreatment of any entertainment product - especially one like DBZ which has multiple releases that you can choose from - being the same as someone's car being vandalized, you're taking the show just a little too seriously in some ways. Again, just my opinion - and this is coming from a guy who believes he has DBZ to thank for where he is in life, for the fact that he ever met his girlfriend and half of his friends, and for making him who he is today.

[MarcFBR]

I disagree with this so strongly. This isn't just an issue of releasing a commercial product for sales, this is a slap in the face of the integrity of the actual work. The Dragonball anime is not just a piece of merchandise to a lot of the people on this forum, it is a legit artistic piece

Funny thing about that... artistic pieces only get treated with the respect they deserve if they do the numbers necessary.

The Level sets were treated like 'art' and people didn't touch it.

Stop treating it as art, and treat it as pop, and people will grab it. They won't stop.

That's what's happened.

Frankly, it reminds me of the old SNL story... maybe I should track the paragraph down and post it. Might provide some perspective.

[ABED]

Stop treating it as art, and treat it as pop, and people will grab it.

This implies true art can't be commercial. There are many reasons why the level sets weren't successful.

[MarcFBR]

Stop treating it as art, and treat it as pop, and people will grab it.

This implies true art can't be commercial. There are many reasons why the level sets weren't successful.

Close, but not what I was saying. I was talking about DBZ specifically.

The Level sets were treated as 'art.' Proper, higher cost, remastering job. Which equaled a higher price for the sets. Which clearly didn't do well enough.

The 'pop' job remastering is going to be lower in cost for them, and lower in cost for the sets (by roughly 50%.) They'll be eaten up by the mass market.

Art can EASILY be commercial. But it has to sell at the levels needed to be profitable.

A personal favorite of mine. The Stargate shows.

SG-1 and Atlantis were fantastic works. They were very much 'pop'. Action, comedy, and often rose above to be a bit deeper.
Universe went beyond to be FAR deeper, and arguments about quality aside, this more dramatic 'arty' take on what Stargate could be didn't get the ratings, so off it went.


Personally I like to be able to point out when both the art and the pop works, but DBZ is a case where the art attempt failed. And I'm guessing the pop attempt will do well enough.

[Kakarot88]

uuuugh treated season level sets as art?

I think they were just released to close to the orange bricks and many, like myself, when I first bought the bricks were unaware of the cropping until it was too late and then were like oh well.

I did not realise the level sets were 4:3 till they were cancelled.

Funimation hides the ball and gets the money for doing it.

[kei17]

Though I'm strongly against any kind of cropping, I'm becoming unenthusiastic about bashing it this time. Sure, it's bad, but the majority of American consumers actually chose cropped widescreen, and with it and reduced prices I'm certain this'll sell far better than the Level sets. It will bring more DB fans and extend the lifespan of the franchise, which are great.

I'm not supporting this release, but won't bash it. I can be such cool maybe bacause I don't need any English dubs or subs to enjoy the show and am just fine with waiting for Toei's future releases in Japan.

[eledoremassis02]

Though I'm strongly against any kind of cropping, I'm becoming unenthusiastic about bashing it this time. Sure, it's bad, but the majority of American consumers actually chose cropped widescreen, and with it I'm certain this'll sell far better than the Level sets. It will bring more DB fans and extend the lifespan of the franchise, which are great.

I'm not supporting this release, but won't bash it. I can be such cool maybe bacause I don't need any English dubs or subs to enjoy the show and am just fine with waiting for Toei's future releases in Japan.

Do you own the level sets?

[ABED]

The Level sets were treated as 'art.' Proper, higher cost, remastering job. Which equaled a higher price for the sets. Which clearly didn't do well enough.

I just think they overestimated the demand.

Universe went beyond to be FAR deeper, and arguments about quality aside, this more dramatic 'arty' take on what Stargate could be didn't get the ratings, so off it went

Arts fartsy doesn't make it more artistic.

[MarcFBR]

Though I'm strongly against any kind of cropping, I'm becoming unenthusiastic about bashing it this time. Sure, it's bad, but the majority of American consumers actually chose cropped widescreen, and with it I'm certain this'll sell far better than the Level sets. It will bring more DB fans and extend the lifespan of the franchise, which are great.

This is roughly what I said earlier. Absolutely true at every level though. And hard to argue with especially when you look at how it's popularity in America helped pull it back up in Japan, leading to stuff like the new movie.

I just think they overestimated the demand.

The demand for DBZ done properly at a fair price, they quite likely overestimated that one. DBZ at a low price, that'll fly off shelves. It's not like there are a ton of new DBZ fans who weren't around when the Level sets came out.

Arts fartsy doesn't make it more artistic.

I felt they largely hit their target. The fact people didn't want that from Stargate is a different thing.

[Undercooked Sausage]

I felt they largely hit their target. The fact people didn't want that from Stargate is a different thing.

That's the difference between a more "mature" kind of storytelling on an all-new program vs. preserving the integrity of a show you're releasing on home media(what we are discussing).

[kei17]

Do you own the level sets?

No. I was planning to buy them after they finish releasing the all volumes.

[ABED]

The demand for DBZ done properly at a fair price, they quite likely overestimated that one. DBZ at a low price, that'll fly off shelves. It's not like there are a ton of new DBZ fans who weren't around when the Level sets came out.

What do you think demand is?

[MarcFBR]

That's the difference between a more "mature" kind of storytelling on an all-new program vs. preserving the integrity of a show you're releasing on home media(what we are discussing).

Integrity only holds up if sales do. Sales didn't. So they figured out a way to do it cheaper and pass along the savings.

What do you think demand is?

At roughly the same price with double the episodes? That's moved to a potential mass market. As an example- We don't keep getting new Robotech releases selling it to the fan market. It's because if you stick Robotech on shelves at Wal-mart at a good price, it sells. It's why they dubbed Love Live Alive. Wal-Mart was actively ASKING for more Robotech on shelves.

We've seen repackaging of the orange bricks exclusive to Wal-Mart. That means they actively wanted more DBZ on their shelves at a good price. I don't have access to any of Funimation's research, etc, but I wouldn't be shocked to find out their estimates for this release are much higher than the Level sets.

[sangofe]

fine with waiting for Toei's future releases in Japan.

How can you be sure Toei will release dbz in HD, though?