![Dragon Ball - The Saga of Goku - Boxed Set [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DAMYXPF3L._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg)
This DVD set includes the original 1995 Ocean Group Funimation English dub for the first arc of Dragonball, and a "pilot" movie "Curse of the Blood Rubies". Everything is on two DVD's with their own individual cases in a cardboard box set cover sleeve. Volume 1 has episodes 1-7, while Volume 2 contains episodes 8-13 and the movie. (NOTE -- I say Ocean Group though they aren't listed specifically as a company in the credits, the recording studio is listed as Dick & Roger's Sound Studio... but you'll find all the classic Ocean Group VA's listed all the same).
If you're a fan of Funimation's more recent work with the series, are looking for more recent releases of Dragonball, or happen to be a purist wanting something very close to the original Japanese version without censorship, then this isn't what you're looking for at all (this set doesn't even have the original Japanese language tracks on it).
If, however, you're a fan of the original dub of Dragonball back in the early days of Cartoon Network's Toonami (or earlier, if you remember that far back), or if you have a soft spot for the Ocean Group's voice work, or if you can overlook obvious censoring to make it more family-friendly, then this is definitely for you!
Personally, I love it so much for the nostalgia factor alone. The voices are the ones I remember and love from growing up years ago (Saffron Henderson as Goku, Maggie Blue O'Hara as Bulma, Ted Cole as Yamcha, and others like Ian Corlett from Canada's Ocean Studios). The voices are all so appropriately expressive, happy and comical to hear, and though the dialogue sometimes strays from the original it boosts the overall enjoyability with clever, colorful lines, funny puns and good acting. The music is completely redone as well, reimagining the mood of the series in a more campy, comforting, punchy, innocent, arcadian and adventurous way.
At times there IS glaring censorship, however, like crudely edited-in covering of frontal nudity, or the complete writing out of lewd content. For example, instead of asking to see Bulma's panties Master Roshi instead asks for a date with one of her older lady friends. It isn't an absolute gamechanger as far as comprehension is concerned, but it can understandably be rather irksome to fans of Akira Toriyama's notorious potty humor. You can definitely tell in this version they were trying to make it more kid-friendly for an international audience that didn't share the more liberal attitudes of 1980's Japanese television.
That said, this is pretty different from many of the other versions of Dragonball you'll find, in good and bad ways. I appreciate the original Japanese version and Funimation's recent work as much as anyone, but to me there's something kinda magical about the way Ocean captured a modern, international and innocent spirit in the work. If you want the "definitive" version of Dragonball you should fish around for something better, but if you're interested in a sentimental curiosity from Dragonball's early English dubbing days then I highly recommend this for the nostalgic and the curious alike! :D
Other notes:
*** DVD features - Pretty slim, folks. They have a quiz game, you can switch subtitle settings (English on/off for the episodes, or English/Spanish for the movie), and they have some trailers for old 3D films (Voltron and Sinbad). Menu is straightforward.
*** Sound quality - Dolby Stereo. English Voice Actor's are great (Ocean Group). Music in the series is totally redone from the original Japanese. There are (sadly) no Japanese language tracks. Censoring and script changes to make it more family friendly. The opening song is corny and campy.
*** Visual quality - Good, can be grainy at times (it is 80's animation). I like to think it gives it more character. This isn't a remastered crispy crystal clear HD version, though.
Hope this is helpful!
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