What should I buy?

Casey · Post by **Casey** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 2:45 pm

Hello everyone, I'm looking to buy the complete series of DBZ but I'm really unsure on what the right version for me is. I noticed there's a lot of debate about which version is the best and I'm still unsure which one is right for me. Most people are saying the Dragon Box sets are the ones to get due to them being the original version which I have a lot of respect for, but I'm looking for the DBZ I watched as a kid with the bruce faulconer music etc. I'm not 100% sure but I think these are the Orange Brick sets?

I'd really appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction, thanks!

JEFFMAN219 · Post by **JEFFMAN219** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 2:51 pm

Casey wrote:Hello everyone, I'm looking to buy the complete series of DBZ but I'm really unsure on what the right version for me is. I noticed there's a lot of debate about which version is the best and I'm still unsure which one is right for me. Most people are saying the Dragon Box sets are the ones to get due to them being the original version which I have a lot of respect for, but I'm looking for the DBZ I watched as a kid with the bruce faulconer music etc. I'm not 100% sure but I think these are the Orange Brick sets?

I'd really appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction, thanks!

Buy the new blu ray sets that are coming out they have the old dub with bruce faulconer music. Or if you don't like fillers then buy DBZ Kai on blu ray it has a new and better dub but it does not have bruce faulconer music in it.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 2:52 pm

Do you care about picture quality? If so, there is basically no in-print edition you can purchase. Everything that's out there right now has deficiencies ranging from "tolerable" to "bat-shit-crazy". The orange brick DVDs have colors and smoothing blown out of whack for most of their run in addition to being cropped to widescreen. The new Blu-ray "season" sets still have the cropping and while the "remastering" seems to be more careful than the bricks, it has its own issues.

You want to watch FUNimation's English dub with its North American television replacement music? Everything that's on the market right now will take care of you. They all have the original Japanese language track, FUNimation's English dub with the original Japanese score, and FUNimation's English dub with the replacement music. It's important to note that FUNimation went back and re-dubbed "seasons" one and two after they finished their run through the Buu arc and Faulconer Productions was not re-hired to score those episodes. Therefore, Faulconer Productions music does not come into play until roughly episode 68 of DBZ.

We have a very detailed "Home Video Guide" that can answer pretty much any question you have, as well.

(Insert here: We'd love for you to watch the series in its original Japanese! Join us!)

samuraix123 · Post by **samuraix123** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 3:55 pm

If you're a fan of the English version then please do not buy the orange bricks and ruin your experience! There is times with that release where lines of animation actually get deleted and it will stay with you through each release. as VegettoEX pointed out that if you go with the new season set Blu-rays they are also cropped but so far no lines of animation is getting deleted. and if you want to go with awesome quality with English Dub and don't care about the US broadcast score then the Dragon-boxes are for you my friend but! they are quite expensive now.

Fizzer · Post by **Fizzer** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 4:22 pm

If you want the English dub with Faulconer, go for the new blu-rays. Yeah, they're about as far from untouched as you can get, picture-wise, but they're certainly a higher-quality release than the bricks. The first 68 episodes have been redubbed and are different to what you saw on TV, with new music. For those episodes as you remember them I'd suggest the Rock The Dragon box set.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 4:30 pm

Fizzer wrote:If you want the English dub with Faulconer, go for the new blu-rays. Yeah, they're about as far from untouched as you can get, picture-wise, but they're certainly a higher-quality release than the bricks. The first 68 episodes have been redubbed and are different to what you saw on TV, with new music. For those episodes as you remember them I'd suggest the Rock The Dragon box set.

The "Ultimate Uncut Edition" did indeed air on Cartoon Network (in-house FUNimation cast with Johnson score).

Fizzer · Post by **Fizzer** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 4:33 pm

VegettoEX wrote: The "Ultimate Uncut Edition" did indeed air on Cartoon Network (in-house FUNimation cast with Johnson score).

Oh, I thought it was DVD-only. My bad.

dbboxkaifan · Post by **dbboxkaifan** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 4:42 pm

Well, if you're okay with a mix-up and some free stuff try this:

Saiyan arc all in 1080p and 4x3 AR - Xbox (free for a limited time and it's DRM but if you're in US/CA they're perfectly watchable without any additions)
Freeza arc - DBZ Season 2 on Blu-ray
Artificial Humans arc - DBZ DVD Singles
Cell arc - DBZ DVD Singles
Majin Boo arc - DBZ DVD Singles

Or try to purchase the US Dragon Box Z boxes if you find them at cheap prices.

Edit: No NEPs for non-Dragon Box Z releases, so keep it in mind.

Casey · Post by **Casey** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:53 pm

It's probably worth mentioning I live in the UK, I'm not sure if the blu rays are out here. I don't really care that much for picture quality. The clear quality in the blu rays doesn't really give it that nostalgic feel anyway but like I said it's not something that bothers me.

samuraix123 · Post by **samuraix123** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 6:01 pm

But finding out which side of the fence you're on will help determine which product is best suited for you. I fall into all the categories

I like Funimation's Ocean Dub, And their original dub and their Kai dub, and the Japanese haha

But if you like Funimation's dub with the US broadcast score then definitely pick up the blu-rays that's being released. You don't want to go near those orange bricks unless it's an absolute have too case.

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 6:04 pm

Good picture? Dragon Boxes! (OUT OF PRINT)
Faulconer score? Orange brick Season DVD Sets (POOR VIDEO, CROPPING), Level Blu-Ray Sets (INCOMPLETE), or Season Blu-Ray Sets! (POOR VIDEO, CROPPING)
Accurate, well acted English version? Kai! (TRACED OVER, LOSES MATERIAL, VA CHANGES THAT MIGHT BOTHER FANS OF OLDER DUB)
Ocean VAs? Rock the Dragon set! (AHAHAHAHAHAHA)

dbboxkaifan · Post by **dbboxkaifan** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 6:13 pm

It's inaccurate to claim the Level Blu-rays had the Faulconer score because they were cancelled before it reached episode 60-ish.

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 6:20 pm

dbboxkaifan wrote:It's inaccurate to claim the Level Blu-rays had the Faulconer score because they were cancelled before it reached episode 60-ish.

Ah, yes, my mistake.

Nobody's looking for the Johnson score.

Kakarot88 · Post by **Kakarot88** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 6:24 pm

Here's my advice for 4:3, both dubs and good colors for a majority of the episodes:
(1) Buy the Blu Ray level sets for the early episodes

(4:3, grain reduction, and touch ups, both dubs and all music, but no Ocean group)

(2) then, bc everything else is stupid expensive, get replacement disc 6 from Season 1 and all of season 2 in either Blu-ray or orange brick form

(cropped, terrible colors, but unless you have a better idea the only other option are the eidted english only singles or the $200 dragon box)

(3) Buy the Singles of Dragon Ball Z from "Ginyu; Assault" onward.

4:3, some grain but I like it cuz it gives it a real old film feel best buy IMO, especially because the colors look way better IMO than the Dragon Boxes, and you also get both dubs with the score they aired with, at a reasonable price)

theoriginalbilis · Post by **theoriginalbilis** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:33 pm

I'd say as long as you don't pick up the Orange Bricks, you're good. Those were the worst product, video-wise, to be released on DVD, other than the edited-English dub only DVDs, I suppose.

The Dragon Boxes are the best overall product, but don't contain the Faulconer score. The Levels were the next best choice, but got canceled super early... The old DVD singles are actually a pretty good choice, but you can only get them "uncut" from episode 68+. The Blu-Rays Seasons aren't bad, but they're still coming out/not completed, and the video "remastering" and cropping is extremely divisive among fans.

I'd say if you want the best English dub of DBZ, go for Dragon Ball Z Kai. It's a different presentation from both the old dub and the original Japanese version of DBZ, but it's still a quality product, especially if you want a "manga-faithful" cut of DBZ with no filler.

RocktheDragon · Post by **RocktheDragon** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:05 pm

I really think the new Blu-ray release of DBZ is the one you want. Even though you said you don't care for the slight improvement in the image with BD's you should take into consideration that at the moment most seasons are actually cheaper than the DVD release. If you can get your hands on a dedicated Blu-ray player then I say go for those and if you can't, get the orange bricks.

I hope you enjoy the series though regardless, and like Mike said above, give the Japanese original a chance sometime! If only to get a feel for how different it is than the English with the Faulconer score.

TheKingOfKamehamehas · Post by **TheKingOfKamehamehas** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 1:53 am

1. New Blu Ray Season Sets
2. Dragon Boxes, yes I know its rare...
3. Kai, you may like Howard Shore and it is UNCUT
4. Singles, better than the orange bricks
5. I can't say this one

thaman91 · Post by **thaman91** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 2:20 am

VegettoEX wrote:The "Ultimate Uncut Edition" did indeed air on Cartoon Network (in-house FUNimation cast with Johnson score).

How far did the televised version of the Ultimate Uncut Edition go? Did it get to episode 68? If so, maybe it's possible that somebody out there recorded it and is actually in possession of the entire Funimation dub with the Faulconer/Johnson score in 4x3!

eledoremassis02 · Post by **eledoremassis02** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 2:23 am

If I remember, they did finish it and there are a few people who recorded every episode on VHS

TheGreatness25 · Post by **TheGreatness25** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:56 am

Honestly, if you're looking to experience Dragon Ball Z the exact same way you did on your TV, the best bet are the really old original singles that were released. They look and sound just like the version that was on TV. You can try hunting them down on Ebay. The picture is in 4:3 (full screen), the quality is like that of the TV version, and the audio has not been "remastered" or re-recorded in any way. Next up on the list are the Season Sets and Season Blu-ray releases. If you want the American dub with Faulconer music, these sets have them. The picture quality is much different and these are cropped to fit a 16:9 TV (widescreen). The negative to the Season Sets is that the restoration process took away some details. Sometimes black lines turn white and everything looks kind of washed out. From my experience so far, though, the Blu-rays look great. Assessing what you're interested in, the Dragon Boxes may not be for you and consider yourself lucky, those things are really expensive now. Also, Kai is probably not for you judging by what you've said in yor opening post.

The ideal release for you is the old FUNimation singles. However they are missing some episodes, mainly the Ultimate Uncut stuff. It goes up to the beginning of Goku vs Vegeta before it was canceled to usher in the Season Sets. If you can't get a hold of these singles (let's face it, these things came out 10 years ago), I'd go with the Blu-ray over the Season Sets. Plus they're coming out as we speak so you don't have to worry about availability.

Hope this helped!

Kanzenshuu

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