Customer Reviews

Dragon Ball Z: Season Two (Namek and Captain Ginyu Sagas)

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Quick Facts: I'm 27, been a fan of Dragon Ball Z since 1999, and a fan of anime since 1992. I'm very picky about uncut anime, and I always prefer the original aspect ratio. I dislike English dubs as most any anime fan does. This is my first review of a DVD.

Video: FUNimations claims this is a widescreen transfer from the original video. Dragonball Z fans are screaming the original video was cropped to make it widescreen. I've spent the last 2 days with WinDVD and Photoshop to confirm or disprove this. Anyone who does image editing knows that cropping a 4:3 image to 16:9 can be really dramatic. After watching 67 episodes of this new release from FUNimation, I wasn't completely convinced about the transfer being cropped from it's original 4:3 aspect ratio. Dragonball Z fans are correct to say the widescreen transfer is cropped, but they also would need to admit to that the 4:3 broadcast we fans know and love was also cropped! The widescreen transfer has extended video on the left and right that was cropped for the original 4:3 TV broadcast some 18 years ago. A time when 4:3 televisions were standard. In recent times, 16:9 televisions have taken over, and we're much more widescreen oriented. The original animation aspect ration I got when I was done sizing and layering the images over each other from the 4:3 and 16:9 gave me a 16:11 aspect ratio. This my Dragon Ball Z fans... Seems to be the ORIGINAL size. 16:11 though won't look all that great on any TV set. Also makes sense though since animators make the original larger so when transferring the animation to video, there's room to play with so you don't have random spots missing on the sides, top and bottom. So if you have to ask yourself if this is a legitmate 16:9 transfer or some 4:3 cropped (cut/edited) video, the real answer is... It's a legimate 16:9 transfer. Both the 4:3 and the 16:9 are cropped from the original... In the end, it depends on personal preference.

The video was supposedly cleaned up, and the colors remastered. Personally, For the most part, I see an increased brightness on the video, which actually does look better. They did clean up the video and removed grain and video noise. All in all, the remastered picture looks better compared to the original DVDs that FUNimation released.

Audio: I can't say much about the sound quality since I'm using my computer for the time being. Just moved, and have yet to hook up my home theater again. FUNimation is releasing this with 3 settings. The original Japanese language and music. Nothing seems to have changed between the original DVDs and this release. For those who watch DBZ subbed only, I see no change at all. The second option is the English dub with the Japanese music. This is actually quite interesting, and I give credit for this addition! In this rare instance, I have always like the dubs for Dragon Ball Z, so having the option to watch it with the original music is great. If that isn't enough though, this new way to watch the series is in Dolby Digital 5.1. Then there's the third option which is the English dub with the US music done by Bruce Faulconer in stereo. I guess doing this in 5.1 would have taken too much time.

The dub was also redone for whatever reason. After comparing the original DVDs vs the new ones, the older ones sometimes seem a bit more consistent with what was originally being said. One quick example would be this...

Japanese Audio: Vegeta "I suppose"
Original English Dub: Vegeta "I guess so"
New English Dub: Vegeta "Shut up!"

Why FUNimation went out of the way to do a whole new dub, I have no idea... This seems to be wasteful of production time, or maybe they can't use the original dub anymore. Why FUNimation does anything at times is beyond my understanding. They have time to redub the series, but they can't make the English dub with the US music in 5.1...


The menus on these discs are light years ahead of the original DVDs FUNimation released, with much more chapter points, and the MARATHON option which allows you to watch all the episodes on a disc straight through without the opening/closing between the episodes. More like watching a movie than episode after episode, having to skip after each one.

The packaging of the discs in the case is rather nice. Seems upon collection the series, you can line them up for a large "DRAGONBALL Z" title! Each season comes with a small booklet with character information, episode information, etc.


Also want to note that according to FUNimation, this video was remastered on HD 1080/24p. This doesn't mean the discs are HD and can optimize the new HDMI 1.3, but it does show that 1080/24p mastering is being done, and we're probably not far off from seeing this much more commonly done and seeing HDDVDs with actual 1080/24p video as TVs are now coming out with HDMI 1.3.

I hope this information helps people looking to possibly buy this series or in the case I'm in, buy it again for the remastered video and widescreen version. Also much more compact compared to dozens of standard DVD cases!

Giving this 4 stars. Why not 5? Because there is still room for improvement. The new dub doesn't always seem to fit, and in comparison to the actual translation of what was being said, it's like comparing black and white. FUNimation was always lousy about the dub translation, and there's little excuse for rebubbing the series and making it just as poor as the first time around. Making the English Dub with Japanese music 5.1, but the US music in 2.0 is another point away from me. While this doesn't change anything for me, if they had the time to redub and upscale to 5.1 for the Japanese music, it seems to me they should have taken the time to upscale the US music track too. Lazy? Additionally, they should have some slight explanation of the widescreen transfer included. The extras on the discs are meaningless.

For the price these new box sets go for... It's an unbeatable deal for the series and Dragon Ball Z fans.

Dragon Ball Z is the one greatest anime series ever created. With its action-packed universe and compelling storylines, Akira Toriyama's magnum opus has never failed to please. This is the second season set FUNimation has released of the series.

This set picks up where the last one left off. Many warriors died in the battle against the Saiyan elites, Nappa and Vegeta. Bulma, Krillin, and Gohan set out on a quest to the planet Namek, where the Dragon Balls were created - so that they can collect them and wish their friends back to life. Following some unexpected detours, they eventually reach the planet, but get an unwanted surprise - Vegeta is there as well, seeking the balls! And that's not even the worst of it. Frieza, the galactic tyrant who destroyed the Saiyan homeworld, and employed that species of warriors, including the Saiyan prince himself, has come to the world, seeking to take the balls by any means necessary, for his own selfish desires. Gohan and Krillin face many deadly foes serving Frieza on this new world, as Goku rushes to meet them (he was hospitalized and unable to leave with them initially.)

The DVD set is divided amongst six discs, and contains the Namek and Ginyu Sagas. The picture has been subjected to digital noise reduction, and the set includes a booklet of character profiles and episode listings.

Obviously, if you're new to the Dragon Ball franchise, you'll want to start with the Season One box set, but if you're already a fan, you'll enjoy these episodes. The set starts weak with the filler Invisible Spaceship and Raiti/Zacro episodes, but once our heroes hit Namek, the action gets going and rarely lets up (aside from two filler stinkers that focus on Bulma.) Many new characters are introduced here, the fight scenes are great, and perhaps most importantly, Vegeta begins a very long transformation towards becoming a good guy. As a whole, though, this set is great.

One of my personal favorite features of the set is the Marathon feature. FUNimation includes a feature in these sets that allows you to view all of the episodes on each disc from start to end with no interruptions from intros/outros/recaps/etc. This is an extremely handy feature I wish more TV shows on DVD had.

Like earlier Dragon Ball Z season sets, the picture has been cropped at the top and bottom (this was done due to excessive grain and damage to the original source), and it has been subjected to the digital noise reduction process. Obviously a lot of fans, myself included, were disappointed to see the picture get cropped. While the digital noise reduction doesn't do as thorough a job cleaning up the image as you'd hope, it IS the best these episodes have ever looked. In other words, it's a "give and take" scenario. You lose some of the picture you could see on earlier full-frame DVDs (and there ARE a few gaping moments that will really make you question FUNimation's decision), but on the good side, you gain some picture on the sides, and the image quality is superior to all earlier DVD releases.

Sound quality is similar to the earlier sets. English audio quality is fantastic, but the dub is still translated poorly and the voice cast is hit and miss. On the other hand, the Japanese audio quality is poor, showing its age, but it does feature a well-translated subtitle track from Steven J. Simmons that lets you experience the series as originally intended. Is Dragon Ball Z EVER going to get its Japanese audio remastered?

Additionally, like the earlier sets, you have the option of watching the English voice cast played against the original Japanese audio.

Disappointingly, the next episode previews aren't included. But they weren't in any earlier season set, so it's no big surprise.

No special features are included here unless you count the trailers and the same textless opening/closing sequence all other sets like this have had. On the good side, the set does include a booklet similar to the earlier sets, with character profiles and an episode guide, making it handy to go right where you need to go on the DVDs.

It's another good set. If you're a fan of the series and don't already have these episodes, you can get them all here for one low price. Cropping issues aside, this is a great set, and a good value, especially compared to the older DVD releases.

Highly recommended to any fan of Dragon Ball Z.

I am so glad to have this box set. It's uncensored(Nameks getting their necks snapped and a member of the Ginyu Force's head is sliced off,lots of blood). The original Japanese opening and ending themes are in too. The themes take getting used to if you've watch the American themes for a long time. I'm really happy that Funimation released this season.

Yeah, the film is cropped--the point that matters is that I don't care. If you do care, then don't buy it. On the case, it says the video is cropped. As far as I'm concerned, I like having a clean, new looking set of episodes. I understand that it is hard to retransfer all the eps into DVD and touch up the problems caused by the old, soft, and dirty film used in producing this show. To me it is alright to not have a little bit of Goku's torso in the shot. The story is what I'm watching for. I hope the people that are whining so much don't cause Funimation to cancel this series of boxsets like they did the last one.

recieved item quickly through mail came in perfect quality will do bussiness with amazon again

this is a awesome season of Dragon Ball Z . the only thing is its cheaper at walmart. but not all walmarts carry it

I purchased the DVD boxsets for the Dragonball Z series... seasons 1 through 7, and plan on buying the rest once they are released. These are excellent DVDs. The ability to run the episodes back to back as a 'marathon' series that cuts out the intro vids / credits between each episode is a great way to enjoy this series.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of this great anime series.

The Dragonball Z series is excellent but this season was just a filler with character introduction and lead up to the Super Sayian transformation.

I watched all six discs over the weekend it was great. Digitaly remastered looks fantastic. Can't wait for the next saga to come out digitally remastered. Cheers Guys!

For many, such as myself, Dragon Ball Z is many people's first introduction to the world of anime. Granted there is better anime out there from story to character to animation but there's a kind of accessibility that exists with this show that makes it ideal, unlike let's say Neon Genesis Evangelion which can give your brain a workout regardless of how many times you've seen it. Taking place directly after season 1 (the Vegeta saga), the Namek saga is spotty in parts but it's still fun nonetheless.

The season starts off mainly following 3 storylines: overexerted from the fight with Vegeta, Goku struggles to get back to full health just in case Vegeta comes back. Goku's son Gohan, and his friends Bulma and Krillin are on their way to planet Namek to gather the 7 titular balls to wish back their friends that were killed off by Vegeta and his former sidekick, Nappa. Meanwhile, Vegeta is travelling through space and is on the path to recovery when he receives news that an incredibly powerful warrior named Frieza is on his way to Namek to get the Dragon balls for himself. The 3 storylines will end up intersecting, just as a mysterious elite force arrives on the planet, that of the Ginyu Force.

It was my cousin who got me into this show halfway through the Vegeta saga and I was quite hooked ever since. And like nostalgic things, regardless of the time gaps, things just stay with you. This on the other hand is the show but it feels different and it's down to the voices. Given a new dub, the show's dub is serviceable but I miss the old voices. One minor character in the beginning of the season says the words "I see only one, where's Nappa?" in the original as a very lizard-like rasp, now he just sounds like a regular guy. And Vegeta with season 2 being arguably my favorite voice and almost being the epitome of an arrogant tone, now sounds way too gruff, as if he's a 3-pack a day smoker. We get the Japanese dub but it's in awful Mono whereas the English gets a 2 channel and a 5.1. Ugh.

As for the season itself, it's kind of all over the place. It's probably got the most laborious set of opening episodes I've sat through with Gohan's team landing on a Namekian planet, or is it? Once they arrive on the planet, things really kick into gear as the group as to fight or outrun several of Frieza's warriors and Vegeta even gets in on the action. And the Ginyu force as always been one of those groups that are so powerful yet such oddballs. It's one of those kind of seasons where individual episodes probably aren't the strongest yet taken as a whole it at least gives a solid enjoyment.

While I am partial to the original English dub, this is serviceable and good for DBZ fans.