FUNimation DBZ TV Blu-ray Official On-Going Thread

[DanielGClapp]

By bad, do you mean grainy? Because uh...it's supposed to look like that.

I know it's supposed to look grainy, but those particular screen shots look particularly grainy. Nothing like what it looks like on my t.v.

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

Should we start nickname it? How about Zenaki Box? Or Super DBOX?

Unfortunately, even if this new remaster had the opportunity to look as good as something such as Avatar on Blu-ray, it could never be called "Super DBOX", because it will most likely be missing everything that makes the DBOX so great -- Japanese title cards, recaps, next episode previews, extras, etc. No matter what future releases see he light of day, I doubt anything would replace the Dragon Boxes on my shelf without everything intact. As the notice on the back of the boxes says, "Truly the essential edition for Dragon Ball Z purists, this set isn't an addition to your archive - it is your archive. Your wish is finally granted."

With that said, I must admit that my interest in these Blu-ray sets is definitely growing. I'm very happy that FUNimation is taking their time on this release. Overall, they have come a long way as a company. I guess you could say that my faith in them isn't completely non-existent.

I said "Super DBOX" because the images, which was done with proper restoration and some grain in it, looked almost like Dragon Box, with the film masters transferring to Blu-Ray HD that was a big step from regualr DVD. The 16mm film is good for standard 480x 600ish (correct me if I'm wrong), but for them to upgrade DBZ TV to Blu-ray high definition, and the images looks that great, it makes sense to call it "Super DBOX". It will contain recaps as with previous releases, and probably Japanese title cards because they have enough space to do it. It's also possible that they will add the next episode previews using Dragon Box masters.

Going by your logic, the domestic release that was Dragon Box wasn't called DBOX because it has no extras. But we still call it Dragon Box because that what it is. I wouldn't expect Funimation to include extras in Blu-ray, except that they probably will show how the remastering process was done.

Anyway, if anyone here doesn't like the idea of calling the Blu-ray "Super DBOX", then how about Zenkai Box? I think it's a great nickname because it powered DBZ TV to next level, from DVD to Blu-Ray.

[Puto]

I will note that FUNimation has always had video masters for the next episode previews -- the only thing they didn't have was Japanese audio for them. If they're allowed to use the JP audio from the Dragon Boxes...

And I don't get why people seem to think recaps won't be included. The only Dragon Ball DVD release to ever not include recaps was Pioneer's release of the Saban dub. And that wasn't even authored by FUNimation. Recaps have always been included in every uncut release, ever, because unlike the next episode previews (which play after the ending, and as such are more of an 'extra thing'), the recaps are part of the episodes. Hell, the dub music even segues from the recap BGM to the title card BGM -- it'd sound horrible if the recaps were cut.

And as for eyecatches, they've also included those ever since mid-way through the single releases -- the orange, green and blue bricks all had them, so I don't see them not including them now, either. The only things the Dragon Box could possibly have that this release could not would be the Japanese title cards, the next episode previews, and the Japanese credits. I'd say we're unlikely to get the latter at the very least, since I don't think FUNimation even *got* film masters for every individual episode ending.

[Pokewhiz7]

It will most likely contain recaps and Japanese title cards because they have enough space to do it.

Yu Yu Hakusho on Blu-Ray didn't, so I doubt it.

The only Dragon Ball DVD release to ever not include recaps was Pioneer's release of the Saban dub. And that wasn't even authored by FUNimation.

They did have the recap of the last episode on the previous disc, at least. It's weird considering they even included a dub next episode preview on the seasons 1 and 2 discs.

[bkev]

Wait, the YYH blus didn't have episode recaps? Really?

Anyway, I guess we need to make it known that Japanese title cards available with DBZ is essential. I know it's a shot in the dark, but I don't see why they wouldn't be open to the possibility if enough people say they want it - especially considering this is the most work they've put into a show yet so far.

[Pokewhiz7]

Wait, the YYH blus didn't have episode recaps? Really?

No, they did. I was talking about them not having Japanese title cards.

[b_boult]

I think the shot of Nappa looks anything but horrendous; DVNR would completely ruin it. I can't understand how one person's opinion could possibly speak for the masses, but it's quite apparent that some people don't happen to read outside of the so-called "forum bubble". It's a widespread fact in the digital video reviewing community that grain is the image, and not simply "something laying over the image". There have been an abundance of mass-marketed DVDs and Blu-rays, alike, that have kept the grain intact and -- get this --- sold extremely well.

If one prefers a digitally-enhanced image (and by this, I mean noise reduction, faux sharpness, edge enhancement, etc.) then by all means... knock yourself out, but to wish for the purest picture possible isn't exclusive to these forums; that would be absurd on so many levels.

DragonBall was shot on film and is a product of the 80s, and to think otherwise would be very stubborn.

The "digital video reviewing community" hardly represents the "Average Joe" though. Seriously, his primary concern will be "does the image look nice and shiny"? FUNimation's Blu-Ray release, based purely on those images released so far, does not fit this criteria. Now obviously, I have not carried out market research into this area, nor will I ever, so everything I have said here is pure conjecture. However, I am sure if you approached anyone who was unfamiliar with digital video remastering and asked them whether they preferred DVNR or grain, without of course explaining the relative merits/demerits of either in advance, I am sure they'd choose DVNR. Feel free to prove me wrong!

[dragondyle]

What is up with FUNimation always, ALWAYS hiking up the blues?!

[Metalwario64]

What is up with FUNimation always, ALWAYS hiking up the blues?!

It's probably just their masters, considering how outside of the orange bricks the colors have stayed basically the same, though according to Kei's VHS rips, the skies are supposed to be blue instead of teal anyways.

[dragondyle]

It's just so jarring to look at. I mean Bulma's hair is totally blue as opposed to turquoise (although, it's purple in the manga). I guess I'm just too big of a Dragon Box fan.

[TonyTheTiger]

From the looks of it, this is probably the best FUNi's in-house masters are ever going to look unless 16mm film retains enough detail for a transfer significantly higher than 1080p. Can't blame them for it not being Dragon Box footage. That's likely not available for full, long term use.

Either way, I think we're moving into the area of diminishing returns unless Toei goes back to the cels for another upgrade.

[ect5150]

Either way, I think we're moving into the area of diminishing returns unless Toei goes back to the cels for another upgrade.

I thought they sold those off. Or are the ones you can buy online replicas?

But I agree 100% about the diminishing returns issue.

[Ashura]

You really can't 'go back to the cels' because they're either sold off, lost, trashed, or stolen, and even if they had them all, there's no way Toei would bother rescanning each and every single frame for 500 episodes. The best they have are their film masters that they used to produce the original Dragon Boxes.

[Daimo-Rukiri]

What is up with FUNimation always, ALWAYS hiking up the blues?!

It's probably just their masters, considering how outside of the orange bricks the colors have stayed basically the same, though according to Kei's VHS rips, the skies are supposed to be blue instead of teal anyways.

Also didn't the dragonbox's have 'red' issues? Who's to say bulma didn't have blue hair? But I don't have anything from the Saiya-jin-Namek arcs from the original recordings well except for when Namek get's blown up but that's where my recordings begin.
I'll have to get my VHS and beta tapes out to see if her color was that sort of blue, I'm sure it is.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

From the looks of it, this is probably the best FUNi's in-house masters are ever going to look unless 16mm film retains enough detail for a transfer significantly higher than 1080p. Can't blame them for it not being Dragon Box footage. That's likely not available for full, long term use.

Either way, I think we're moving into the area of diminishing returns unless Toei goes back to the cels for another upgrade.

Would going back to the cels really do anything worthwhile, after what we've seen with the DBoxes and these Blu-rays? It's not so much diminishing returns as the video brick wall of "Old n' Cheap 89-95 show is Old n' Cheap". Funi seems to be giving a ridiculous amount of love to these blus (It's why they can only do the 17-ep packs, it takes that long to do what they're doing).

[TonyTheTiger]

You really can't 'go back to the cels' because they're either sold off, lost, trashed, or stolen, and even if they had them all, there's no way Toei would bother rescanning each and every single frame for 500 episodes. The best they have are their film masters that they used to produce the original Dragon Boxes.

That's what I figured. I guess that means a 1080p transfer of the film Pony Canyon used is pretty much all that's left for anybody to hope for. Regardless of whether or not the Dragon Box masters look as they should, it ain't getting any better than that.

From the looks of it, this is probably the best FUNi's in-house masters are ever going to look unless 16mm film retains enough detail for a transfer significantly higher than 1080p. Can't blame them for it not being Dragon Box footage. That's likely not available for full, long term use.

Either way, I think we're moving into the area of diminishing returns unless Toei goes back to the cels for another upgrade.

Would going back to the cels really do anything worthwhile, after what we've seen with the DBoxes and these Blu-rays? It's not so much diminishing returns as the video brick wall of "Old n' Cheap 89-95 show is Old n' Cheap". Funi seems to be giving a ridiculous amount of love to these blus (It's why they can only do the 17-ep packs, it takes that long to do what they're doing).

You could probably get a lot out of the original cels were they available. Yeah, even there they'd have diminishing returns but it'd be better than 16mm film. But that's moot anyway since the max potential of 16mm is what we're stuck at.

Maybe it's for the best. At super high resolutions you'll start seeing the texture of the paint itself which is likely not how the show is "supposed to look." Sometimes what we don't see is just as important as what we do.

[MarcFBR]

People seem to forget the 'names' we call the sets by generally weren't random chosen (minus one of them.) And even that one wasn't just plucked out of thin air.

We call the singles the singles because that's what they were, we call the Pioneer disks the Pioneer disks because they were from Pioneer, we call the UUE that because that's the name of them.

Orange brick/box was sort of arbitrary, but less so when you realize DBZ already had box sets. We call them the orange bricks because they came in orange brick style packaging that was unfamiliar to DBZ fans.

We only call the Dboxes the Dboxes because that is what they ARE.

These are the Blu-rays. We will call them the Blu-rays. Because that is what they are. They don't need random names or a nickname because there aren't other versions in this case. If you need something shorter they're the BDs.

[The Time Traveller]

Wait, the YYH blus didn't have episode recaps? Really?

Anyway, I guess we need to make it known that Japanese title cards available with DBZ is essential. I know it's a shot in the dark, but I don't see why they wouldn't be open to the possibility if enough people say they want it - especially considering this is the most work they've put into a show yet so far.

Japanese credits and titles should be the standard for all anime, it makes no sense to replace them with English credits, I want the whole thing uncut, that includes the credits and titles, I don't want a Japanese show with English credits for some reason. Leave English titles and credits for TV.

[jjgp1112]

FUNimation doesn't give a crap about the Japanese fans when doing a release like this. They're making it for a wider audience, so of course they're going to make sure stuff like the title and credits are in English. The Japanese version in general is basically an extra, in the same way the English dub is on the DBox. OF COURSE they're going to push their version over the JPN.

[Daimo-Rukiri]

FUNimation doesn't give a crap about the Japanese fans when doing a release like this. They're making it for a wider audience, so of course they're going to make sure stuff like the title and credits are in English. The Japanese version in general is basically an extra, in the same way the English dub is on the DBox. OF COURSE they're going to push their version over the JPN.

Personally I'm "fine" with that for a home release, the remastering looks pretty good. Now if they remastered GT and DB like this that'd make this release so much better.