DBZ his a very popular anime, but you already know that. From VHS to DVDs and remastered DVD box sets, the series has seen multiple releases. The Funimation Remastered Box Setsshould have been the last of the DVDs that a DBZ fan would have to buy. Each box set contains over 30 episodes, is remastered and in 16:9. (you'd be surprised how many people bemoaned the cropping among other things), the option for English or Japanese voices, the option to watch in either language and mix up the American and Japanese soundtracks in your viewing, and only run you $34.99. Not a bad deal. All nine seasons are DBZ are available in this format. So that should be all the DBZ you need, right? You should be done buying DBZ DVDs, right?
And shortly after season nine dropped Funimation announces plans to release the Dragon Boxes. What are the Dragon Boxes? These were originally released by Toei in Japan of 2003 and where Japanese viewers chance to finally own the series on DVD, thought it was limited through preoders. Also, the viewing frames are in 4:3, the original viewing format, and the remastering is even higher than that of Funimation's Remastered Box Sets.
You may be askin
g "Why didn't Funimation just release this to begin with?!" Well, they had to go through Toei to do that and they just wouldn't have it at first, but that's now a thing of the past. The Funimation Dragon Boxes will be released in 7 volumes. Now here's the real kicker. While Funi's Remastered Box Sets only ran you $34.99 with over 30 episodes each, the Dragon Boxes will go for $79.99 ($55.99 in some places) with roughly 40 episodes per volume. Let me say that again in case you missed it. The Dragon Boxes are going to cost even more than the Funi Remastered Boxes. That's basically even more money for one season. Oh, but you get better remastered quality and full screen. Call me crazy, but I think that's a ripoff.The messed up thing is, some fans are so hardcore and just have to have their stuff in perfect quality that they will shell out the cash for this without thinking twice about it. I mean, if you've got a disposable income, than that's great, but even if I still did have that kinda money, that's some bait I don't think I'd bite.
"But it's the definitive DBZ experience!" Yeah, sure it is, until Dragon Ball Kai gets a DVD release. What's Dragon Ball Kai? It's DBZ with much clear, smoother animation and coloring. Oh and much of the filler is removed. On episode 29, Vegeta has already teamed up with Krillin and Gohan to oppose the Ginyu Force. Where as DBZ was originally 291 episodes, DB Kai is looking to be around 100 episodes or so. So after you buy the Dragon Boxes and Kai shows up on DVD, how screwed over are you going to feel?
Hey, I love DBZ as much as the next guy, but there comes a time when a guy has gotta send a message to the money grubbers in charge and let them know they can't keep milking things like a cow. Poor Betsy is screaming for mercy.
Comments
Betsy hasn't cried in years: Betsy's been milked to death. The only reason she still lives is that she is hooked up to the DBZ Money machine; The only mercy the old girl needs is a mercy killing...or a cool remake that brings back the OG Dragonball goodness before it became "The Saiyan Show"