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

[Tanooki Kuribo]

You guys can sit here and complain all you want but FUNi does what they want, you can either take it or leave it. The end.

This should be scrolled across the cover of each set along with "now with 20% less picture!".

[Daimo-Rukiri]

I don't like the missing 20% either, if cropping is done after I wouldn't mind these (with the brightness/contrast turned down..) as a 4x3 release later on. Or unless Toei decides to remaster Z in it's entirety.

I should get mine Tuesday, I'm ripping and making my own custom blu's and try to color match as close as possible to the level sets. Wonder how many layers of level and curve changes will have to be done to get it right?

[qjz123]

Bluray.com just posted their review of this release http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dragonbal ... 77/#Review

The reviewer pretty much confirms that the remastering for this release wasn't an automated process by saying

There's no doubt that this has been cleaned, for the image is spotless.

He went on to say that since the grain has been removed the presentation has virtually no connection to its film source elements and thus he can't in good conscience give it more than 3 stars.

[Metalwario64]

Bluray.com just posted their review of this release http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dragonbal ... 77/#Review

though there are some obvious anomalies like missing tops of heads on characters at times

Yep, sounds center cropped to me.

Here's the 4-panel shot too:

Ugh, center cropped.

Exact sane framing as the orange brick...

To defend that, someone crop it properly. I dare you. I'll spit in your face if it comes below the amount shown that's important. That being said, was Krillin's knee really that important?

Uh... selectively reframe each image in the shot? I mean, they're already tampering with the aspect ratio and grain, and they already superimpose their title cards and credits. Not to mention all of the rotoscoping done for the Double Feature and GT endings. It's not like this would be any worse.

Something like this (but with more footage on the sides):

[Ringworm128]

Wait are those actual OB shots? Well AT LEAST the new season sets aren't that blurred.

[qjz123]

though there are some obvious anomalies like missing tops of heads on characters at times

Yep, sounds center cropped to me.

Before he said that he said

As far as these things go, this reframing has been handled relatively well

They're not center cropped obviously there's going to be times such as the 4 panel shot where there is nothing you can do even kai center cropped that scene.

[Kendamu]

They probably left most of the framing alone and concentrated on specific horrible shots in need of a major fix.

Also, Amazon has Season 2 of this up for pre-order for $40. I kinda chuckled at the thought of them possibly getting away with that price after the first one was only like $20 to $25.

[sumpter360]

They probably left most of the framing alone and concentrated on specific horrible shots in need of a major fix.

Also, Amazon has Season 2 of this up for pre-order for $40. I kinda chuckled at the thought of them possibly getting away with that price after the first one was only like $20 to $25.

If you're looking to pre-order, RightStuf has Season 2 for only $29.99 right now. Not to mention, it'll likely ship at least a week before the street date

http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827 ... 0560/4/0/0

[Metalwario64]

though there are some obvious anomalies like missing tops of heads on characters at times

Yep, sounds center cropped to me.

Before he said that he said

As far as these things go, this reframing has been handled relatively well

They're not center cropped obviously there's going to be times such as the 4 panel shot where there is nothing you can do even kai center cropped that scene.

The lack of mentioning the Orange Bricks as a precedent for cropping Z and making it seem like this was the first time it happened makes me think the reviewer was a tad ignorant on the subject. I don't think he went and compared each shot to the Dragon Boxes, so the review isn't a good indicator as to whether it's been selectively framed or not.

Every shot I've seen outside of the intro has been center framed. Even the intro doesn't seem to have had much care into the framing, as the final shot was framed at the very top of the frame, making it look awkward still.

[samuraix123]

Even though I've posted on this several times and I don't have the money for it anyways, I did a search again and still find it odd that Walmart still isn't carrying this release. What gives? They've pretty much carried all the Dragonball stuff including the Dragon-Boxes and the new up coming full colored manga.

[TheOverlyMadHatter]

Well, my honest guess is that they half-assed the whole "pan and scan" aspect of this release and selectively cropped only portions of the footage that painfully gave away that the real deal was in 4:3, leaving the majority of the series center cropped.

[qjz123]

The bluray.com reviewer said something interesting, he said that this remastered version of Dbz could be licensable to various broadcast outlets. Similar to how Toonami recently aired the hd restored version of Akira. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpJvCbXH6Hw It seems like a good way to get Dbz back on tv. I'm sure Dbz would get more views than their re airing of the original naruto series.

[KingofWisdom]

Well, the Toonami people don't seem to be very interested in reairing DBZ. They've made comments about wanting to move forward and that they don't want to become a nostalgia block. Honestly, Z has aired more than enough and Toonami is quickly becoming the "air already popular anime" block anyway, so I'd rather see something never-before-aired in that slot.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

Good Review.
Also, just because the reviewer didn't compare it to the bricks or the 'holy' Dragon Boxes doesn't make them ignorant.

[Rukura]

Well, my honest guess is that they half-assed the whole "pan and scan" aspect of this release and selectively cropped only portions of the footage that painfully gave away that the real deal was in 4:3, leaving the majority of the series center cropped.

I was actually surprised to see people making note of the "pan and scan" mention in their announcement and holding out "hope" for it, after them saying they would do the same "pan and scan" in the Orange Bricks.
Did anyone seriously not see this coming?

[JEFFMAN219]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PkLAAliCoQ

Check this review out guys.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PkLAAliCoQ

Check this review out guys.

Sounds Promising!
Can't wait to get my copy!

[superrayman3]

They've made comments about wanting to move forward and that they don't want to become a nostalgia block.

I'm finding those comments hard to take seriously at this point because if they're wanting to move forward so bad, then why did they bring Naruto and Samurai Jack back to the block? (Samurai Jack was a part of the block in 2002 and returned to Toonami towards the very end of the block in 2008) I believe DBZ will become a part of the lineup when the time is right.

[samuraix123]

I've been thinking a-lot lately..I know I might be lying to myself a little too. I'm thinking that after I buy this release from Funimation(All the new Blu-ray sets) That I may call it quits on buying Z. Dammit...Okay maybe after the Boo saga of Kai too BUT! I'm just getting tired of buying Z. I want the movies Re-re- mastered like the Level Sets. As bad as I hate GT, I would love to see it come out in the Dragonbox quality. same thing for the original Dragonball. and Dragon-box the movies. I wanna see new shit man! I want the Jump Special and Episode of Bardock and the remake of Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans in one big ass awesome box set! Just something else besides Z! I know I say this now and like 2 or 3 years Funimation will be like ''Remember those level sets? well they're baaaaaaack'' Ugh..

[dbboxkaifan]

The lack of mentioning the Orange Bricks as a precedent for cropping Z and making it seem like this was the first time it happened makes me think the reviewer was a tad ignorant on the subject.

He clearly was aware of it before owning this but probably decided not to and yet you go your way out to insult him just due to the dude not comparing it to the OBs. You guys are very disrespectful to say the least.