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

[Gaffer Tape]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I just watched my last Dragon Box review from over two years ago, which also briefly covered the Levels (right before their cancellation was announced), and my comments about how FUNimation seemed to have moved past their stupid decisions from the orange brick days depressed the hell out of me.

[Codarik]

Also, for those of you who have gotten the "season two" set, what did that "Justin Cook Shares His Headshot Collection" thing end up being?

Years ago when they first started dubbing the show Justin went around and had each VO sign a headshot picture of themselves. Pretty much Justin shows them all while he does commentary about them. It has a few funny moments.

[RocktheDragon]

My own take on the matter is that it's better to support Funimation by buying up this release and that would take care of their need for a "mainstream" BD release of the series. I know it isn't a given but I sincerely feel that if a mainstream release does well Funimation is more likely to gift us with a 4:3 release afterward. I know there are a few individual's on this forum that agree with that sentiment but I can also understand why some people view that approach as a bit asinine (to say the least ).

Yeah, not gonna lie. Very little pushes my buttons more than being told I should pay for crap in order to get something I actually want to spend money on. That's not to say you are pushing my buttons. Just that sentiment is. Nuh-uh. FUNimation has to earn my money. That's their job.

(Also, something is not a gift if I have to pay for it. If they actually WERE gifting us a good release for buying their shitty Blu-Rays, that would be a different matter altogether.)

Well for the price I don't agree that this is a poor release. The Japanese audio has never sounded better as it does here (besides the Level Sets but those are incomplete) and the English audio sounds absolutely amazing. The aspect ratio, removal of grain, and "tilt-and-scan" approach of this release are certainly nuisances and hamper the integrity of the picture but it doesn't make it an unwatchable experience, at least in my eyes. For the price you're getting a decent, albeit flawed product that wears it shortcomings on its sleeves. I don't mind supporting such a release on top of my stance that such support will gain us a true 4:3 BD release in the future.

And who is telling you to buy it? It's an opinion held by very few people (including myself) and that opinion isn't making you do anything. It doesn't effect your own opinion or will to buy the product. It doesn't say anything about your own personal decision to not buy the product and really shouldn't.

[MagicBox]

Thanks, Codarik! That sounds like a fun extra. Not really DBZ focused, but I am glad FUNi's using these sets as a good chance to give us some retrospection. Does he even talk about actors who have since been dropped, like Stephanie Nadolny and Tiffany Vollmer?

Hummer tour? Hmm...I could be wrong, but I want to say that'd be something to do with the Score card game. I think back when that was going or getting started, they had a DBZ hummer that they took around to promote the game, and at least once they also brought along Schemmel, Sabat, and Strait (and maybe others).

Ooooh, I think you might be right. Now that you mention it, I remember that hummer from back when I used to visit the DBZ card game website almost daily. That'll be a neat lil' bit of nostalgia.

... I sure hope these bonus features get ported to future (4:3) releases. Of course we'd finally get American extras for Dragon Ball on a release nobody wants.

Oh jeez, I just hopped back to the first page on this thread and saw just how wrong I was.

September of '13... such simpler times...

[Codarik]

Does he even talk about actors who have since been dropped, like Stephanie Nadolny and Tiffany Vollmer?

Unfortunately he doesn't, while those two do have a headshot, he doesn't get into detail about them being replaced in Kai. It's pretty much straight forward, he says their name, list off the characters they voiced, and tells the meaning behind each comment the VO left on their pic.

[MagicBox]

Gotcha. Yeah, I certainly didn't expect him to be talking about their replacement or anything. I'm just glad that they're shown and mentioned.

[Gaffer Tape]

And who is telling you to buy it? It's an opinion held by very few people (including myself) and that opinion isn't making you do anything. It doesn't effect your own opinion or will to buy the product. It doesn't say anything about your own personal decision to not buy the product and really shouldn't.

I never said you were telling me to buy it or that it would or should affect my opinion. I'm not at all sure where you're even getting that impression. I just agree with the opinion of Kararot88: vote with your wallet. If you think this is a product worthy of your money, then that's just fine, and all I can do is disagree with you on the point that it's a product worth buying. I think it's an insulting piece of garbage that deserves to be set on fire, but that's just my opinion. I only take issue with the notion that we should support this despite the fact that it's garbage in order to be blessed with the opportunity to buy something else. I find that both misguided and damaging. As I said, I believe in voting with one's wallet. As consumers, that's where our power lies. If we let ourselves fall victim to this ridiculous notion that we should buy flawed products in order to buy better products, then we give up any power we have. And FUNimation laughs all the way to the bank. What incentive do they have to do it right if people buy up their table scraps regardless?

If you want to buy this product, buy it because you think it's a worthwhile use of your money compared to the product you're receiving. Don't buy it as an offering to FUNimation's alter in hopes they'll "gift" you another product to buy later down the road.

[eledoremassis02]

Here is the season two menu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1_Bz2679yw

and a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmkfGoyN_Q

[qjz123]

Here is the season two menu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1_Bz2679yw

and a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmkfGoyN_Q

It actually doesn't look that bright at least in comparison to the season 2 trailer Funimation posted a while ago.

[MagicBox]

At least the menus aren't doing that deceptive 4:3-to-16:9 conversion thing like season one's did.

I'm glad FUNi isn't dragging these out. "Season Four" comes out in May. Hopefully we'll be able to put these behind us by year's end.

[bkev]

...well, that's strange. I wasn't impressed by season one, but this looks far better to me. If the whole of the season looks like this I'd definitely call it watchable -- and a steal for the price.

[sumpter360]

and a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmkfGoyN_Q

Aside from most Namek scenery shots looking too bright / washed out, that makes me really excited to get my copy in.

I ordered via RightStuf, and though I was charged two days ago, my order still just says processing. For those who have already received it, did you all order from Amazon, or some of you from RightStuf?

[Ajay]

Here is the season two menu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1_Bz2679yw

and a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmkfGoyN_Q

Ah, the lovely cloud wobble is still present. The wobble sets continue!

Also, wow, I've not heard Jheese's English voice in a long time. Just horrible.

[qjz123]

It seems like they've at least turned down the artificial sharpening http://i5.minus.com/iE2kaOmLRutsV.png .

[JEFFMAN219]

Hey guys how are you liking the season 2 blu rays?

[theoriginalbilis]

Here is the season two menu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1_Bz2679yw

and a video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmkfGoyN_Q

Wow, that clip of Goku vs. Ginyu is so scrubbed clean of grain and detail that it actually looks close to the retraced scenes for Dragon Ball Kai.

That said, the colors actually look pretty nice in my opinion.

[eledoremassis02]

Here a shot (Season set *from you tube* and Dragon Box and season DVD).

[qjz123]

Hey guys how are you liking the season 2 blu rays?

I'll be able to judge it better once I receive my copy since I'll be able to check out more footage. From what I've seen so far the colors in this scene look decent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmkfGoyN_Q . The colors in this scene however look atrocious it's overly bright similar to the final few episodes of the season 1 blu rays http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2LAugI6HCM .

[bkev]

Never trust the orange brick rips on youtube, they've often had additional processing done to them. At least, I hope that's the case with that shot -- good God.

I wonder why that scene is so yellow on the blu-ray... I suppose it's better than how blown-out the above shot looks, but I still find it strange.

[qjz123]

Wow, that clip of Goku vs. Ginyu is so scrubbed clean of grain and detail that it actually looks close to the retraced scenes for Dragon Ball Kai.

That said, the colors actually look pretty nice in my opinion.

That's the impression I got as well this reminded me of the traced scenes from Kai http://i6.minus.com/iWhmpjqVvLsfc.png .