Ultimate Boxset

[marcusclamp]

does anybody have any idea if there is a boxset comin out containing all of the episodes for dbz,i am a huge fan of the tv episodes and movies but it is so hard to track down all of the sagas and to make sure that you dont miss any episodes

[lav2k4]

Sheesh this question is asked so many times I can't keep track.

There will not be a boxset that contains the whole series that is known as DBZ. You either buy the singles (which aren't even completed.. THX FUNI). Or you are forced to buy the awful widescreen (aka cropped LOL) boxsets that are now being released which imo you shouldn't support that garbage. I recommend you download the series. Why buy something that you will never get to finish? Or even better, Why buy something that is cropped and not in the original aspect?

and since you double posted(I just noticed), don't forget to read the response from a DB fan known as J Dude.

Funimation is currently releasing boxsets of the entire DBZ TV series. They are cropped into widescreen however and by cropped, the top and bottom of the footage is cut off, so you'll be missing out on footage if you're watching them from those DVDs. There is a complete boxset of the entire DBZ TV series, which would be the R2 Dragonbox set. However they will only play on a DVD player than can play R2 DVDs and if you're a fan of the dub, they only contain the original Japanese language version and no subtitles once so ever. Most Japanese R2 DVDs don't have English subtitles. Your best bet is to go download all of DBZ in my opinion if you want to watch it in it's uncropped 4:3 aspect ratio.

[Solid_Snake]

Originally Posted by lav2k4

Funimation is currently releasing boxsets of the entire DBZ TV series. They are cropped into widescreen however and by cropped, the top and bottom of the footage is cut off, so you'll be missing out on footage if you're watching them from those DVDs. There is a complete boxset of the entire DBZ TV series, which would be the R2 Dragonbox set. However they will only play on a DVD player than can play R2 DVDs and if you're a fan of the dub, they only contain the original Japanese language version and no subtitles once so ever. Most Japanese R2 DVDs don't have English subtitles. Your best bet is to go download all of DBZ in my opinion if you want to watch it in it's uncropped 4:3 aspect ratio.

So that is saying we should be illigal? What a smart option.

[Soluzar]

Originally Posted by Solid-Snake

So that is saying we should be illigal? What a smart option.

That is the only option if you want to watch Dragon Ball Z in the original aspect ratio, complete and uncut with English subtitles. It's not what I'd call a good option, or a legal option, but it's the only way. Just because you don't care about the aspect ratio, that does not mean that nobody does.

Of course a far better option from a legal standpoint would be to buy the Dragon Box, from Japan, but that does not come with English subs. There is no good option for watching all of DBZ in the original aspect ratio.

The best possible legal compromise would be to find the saga sets for everything after Captain Ginyu, the Ultimate Uncut Edition singles for most of the early series, and then... watch the new boxed set for the missing episodes.

That's still not a perfect option though. Which is why some fans are downloading episodes. I suppose maybe if you buy everything else, and just download the few episodes that can't be obtained in the original aspect ratio, that's an option most people's conscience could live with.

[vecha]

either get the 276 episodes from funi.

buy a bootleg(if you find the right set...they may be better then funi's release)

Download the entire series(most time consuming)

[Solid_Snake]

Originally Posted by Soluzar

That is the only option if you want to watch Dragon Ball Z in the original aspect ratio, complete and uncut with English subtitles. It's not what I'd call a good option, or a legal option, but it's the only way. Just because you don't care about the aspect ratio, that does not mean that nobody does.

Of course a far better option from a legal standpoint would be to buy the Dragon Box, from Japan, but that does not come with English subs. There is no good option for watching all of DBZ in the original aspect ratio.

The best possible legal compromise would be to find the saga sets for everything after Captain Ginyu, the Ultimate Uncut Edition singles for most of the early series, and then... watch the new boxed set for the missing episodes.

That's still not a perfect option though. Which is why some fans are downloading episodes. I suppose maybe if you buy everything else, and just download the few episodes that can't be obtained in the original aspect ratio, that's an option most people's conscience could live with.

I agree with all of that. But, heck. I bought the second Funi cropped box set today.

I'll take what I can get.

[Nigokio]

If there was an ultimate boxset, it would have the Mexican-Spanish dub, the original Japanese, and the watered-down English dub as language tracks, with DBox footage, Funimation's subtitles, 4:3, uncropped, no zooming, and no weird colors over 4 box sets. I'd gladly pay $100-$299 per box for that. Other than $30.00 for crap that people eat up like free candy.

Hear this Funimation, "I would rather pay $100-$299 per box set for something that has better quality than the current "season" box sets you have now for $30 because they suck and they are a mockery, plain and simple.

[Moab]

The sets are a "mockery" just because of some slight widescreen cropping? I remember back years ago when DBZ first started airing on American television, the big thing among "purists" were overpriced bootleg VHS copies with piss-poor A/V quality and shoddy fansubs that were often inaccurate translations of the original dialogue. If you could get your hands on those, you were all set. Now we have relatively inexpensive DVD box sets with the original language track and (mostly) accurate subtitles, completely uncut, with extras, and people are complaining and calling it a "mockery" of the series because the very tips of the top and bottom of each frame are cropped to preserve the overall quality of the image.

This new generation of anime fans is so spoiled.

[lav2k4]

It is a Mockery. The overall release is piss poor. You lose 20% of the Original footage. Not to mention the Re Mastering Funi did is ****ing terrible. The overall brightness makes the picture looked bleached, there's many traces of artifacts, and many other video flaws. Dragon Ball Z wasn't meant to be seen in WS, the fact that Funimation blatantly lied to fans of the series saying "The way it's meant to be seen" is nothing but pure ignorance and disrespect to it's consumers. Why couldn't they just buy the Dragon Box Masters and release it right in the first place.

Fans who are upset about this have every right to. The year is 2007 and Funimation still can't ****ing release Dragon Ball Z right, it's ridiculous. You don't understand how people like Hisoka, SonRyu, and many others feel after they heard they weren't going to be able to complete their Dragon Ball Z collection after the cancellation of the singles. They have been collecting Dragon Ball Z on singles for over 6 years. It's just retarded. Also this "new generation of anime fans" ******** your talking about is irrelevant.

[J Dude]

Originally Posted by Moab

completely uncut

If it weren't cropped, then you might be able to say it's completely unedited, but cropping the footage is editing it and there you have it. What are you talking about perserving the overall quality of the image? I was just fine watching it in 4:3 before on the old DBZ DVDs. I could careless if they did this because they said the tops and bottoms of the cels were damaged on some scenes and they wanted to try and hide the glue on some of them. It's nothing more than a load of crap that Funimation is trying to feed to you and everyone else. Take a look at the screencap comparisons in this post and then lets see you tell us that guys like Hisoka and I don't have anything worth complaining about.

[Nigokio]

Originally Posted by Moab

The sets are a "mockery" just because of some slight widescreen cropping? I remember back years ago when DBZ first started airing on American television, the big thing among "purists" were overpriced bootleg VHS copies with piss-poor A/V quality and shoddy fansubs that were often inaccurate translations of the original dialogue. If you could get your hands on those, you were all set. Now we have relatively inexpensive DVD box sets with the original language track and (mostly) accurate subtitles, completely uncut, with extras, and people are complaining and calling it a "mockery" of the series because the very tips of the top and bottom of each frame are cropped to preserve the overall quality of the image.

This new generation of anime fans is so spoiled.

It's not just the cropping people are upset about either, it's the way that the advertising schemes, (like, "they have japanese masters" and "film damage") and the remastering have gone. The "re"-mastering is so piss-poor it's been called "de"-mastering and it has actually done more harm than good, it's downright terrible. They also cut the top and the bottom because they felt like it not for any other reason that they have said. And it's not the very tips that get cut off either, 20% of the top and bottom picture that you need to see gets cut so we can see 5% of the left and right that has things you don't need to see like sides of mountains and books instead of people's faces and bodies.

I've used the new sets, I saw a few episodes, didn't like it because of the reasons stated above. All I have to say is I'd rather pay $2000 minus import fees, for the subtitle-less, Region 2 DVD, Dragon Boxes, than $200 for all of these new releases.

[Hisoka]

Originally Posted by J Dude

they said the tops and bottoms of the cels were damaged on some scenes and they wanted to try and hide the glue on some of them. It's nothing more than a load of crap that Funimation is trying to feed to you and everyone else.

Holy crap, they actually said that? That's the worst excuse I've heard so far and can't believe they tried to fool people with that. For me it's not even so much about this release turning out like crap. It's how they lied, lied and lied some more. First they said they weren't stopping the release of the singles and then canceled them without warning. Everyone was in the dark wondering if the next volume was just delayed or what not. So then they put out this new set, lie through their teeth, and show examples that don't look as bad as they truly are. Some people might not care and see this as an easy inexpensive way to collect Dragonball, but I've been a fan for 15 years, been collecting the DVDs since day one and at least deserve the SAME quality I was getting all along. If the singles weren't canceled we wouldn't even be having this discussion right now. Plain and simple, FUNi doesn't give a crap about their fans and have been *******s all along. They should do the right thing and finish what they started. Why the hell can't they release Dragonball properly? It's so damn easy. You just do the same damn thing as every other series! You'd think DB was from outer space with the way it's handles. Messing up Dragonball once since it's your first project? A bit understandable, they bit off more then they could chew. A second time? Unacceptable

[Nigokio]

Originally Posted by Hisoka

Holy crap, they actually said that?

Yes Funi said that. They don't know anything about Animation. They don't respect their DB fans. This is why people buy R2 releases, download, or bootleg Dragon Ball which are better than these because people are tired of having to deal with incompetence of companies who like to toy with they're customers. Funimation has lost a lot of sales from former customers. Anything I do to watch a competent DBZ release from here on out, Funimation, you've brought it upon yourself.

[Moab]

Originally Posted by J Dude

What are you talking about perserving the overall quality of the image? I was just fine watching it in 4:3 before on the old DBZ DVDs. I could careless if they did this because they said the tops and bottoms of the cels were damaged on some scenes and they wanted to try and hide the glue on some of them. It's nothing more than a load of crap that Funimation is trying to feed to you and everyone else.

Ah, I see, so the only reason FUNimation cropped the footage was because of some kind of conspiracy? You might have to explain that one to me... I thought their only goal was to make money, and I don't see how they could better achieve that by purposely screwing over their customers.

Sorry, but I own the sets, and I've seen them (on a big-screen TV no less) and I just don't see all these problems with the transfers that you guys are talking about. I'm not saying you have to like how FUNimation handled the sets or that you're wrong for disliking the way they were handled, it just seems kind of silly to get so distressed about such minor imperfections.

[Helms]

I don't really mind the WS cropping too much, even though I don't own a WS TV which is basically essential for watching it. I certainly don't prefer it and consider the PR used to support it (In the way it was originally intended!!) laughable. I can definitely see why the WS cropping caused so much backlash, especially considering that media being available in its OAR is pretty much the norm these days

The "remastering", though, is fairly poor (except in the opening, which looks excellent). It seems like a few scenes are overly blurry for some reason, and some minor cel lines were inadvertantly erased or blurred over. It just doesn't quite look as professional as it should. Though, for 30+ episodes being sold for around $30 it isn't so surprising.

So this set seems more for casual fans, or those with more flexible standards in quality, at least to me.

Also, I'm curious it there are other foreign, non-Japanese, DBZ DVDs that have released the entire series uncut? Just curious