Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part One

I was so excited when this re-formatting of Dragon Ball Z was announced. I have been watching Dragon Ball Z since it was first aired on Toonami and purchased the VHS episodes when they were released (yes, VHS since it was before DVD took over). Unfortunately the only VHS copies available were the English dubbed (no format switching with VHS). I never quite put in the effort to collect all of the episodes on DVD (though I have most from the BUU and Cell Games saga). But this is all just background for my next point: I am a Dragon Ball Z nut. I'm talking action figures, card game, all that. Though my friends and I used to joke around about the reused animation frames and filler content.I hated the Dragon Box and the remastered edition that chopped a large portion of the screen off in order to make it 'widescreen'. It was a step in the right direction though. Finally when Dragon Ball Z Kai was released I found the ultimate Dragon Ball Z edition. This is the truest version to the manga. This is what Akira Toriyama's vision was like in the manga. I admit that there was a lot cut out, and that this edition cannot substitute the sheer weight of the 290+ episode series in its entirety, but suffice to say, this edition keeps the meat and sheds unnecessary weight.Another big plus is the cleaning up of the animation (without re-animating anything). This mainly meant the studio took out some of the fuzz and static that was from inexpensive animation (not due to the artists' true efforts). Toriyama's hand drawn art is still classic, though the layering and color has been tweaked. The Japanese soundtrack is great (as always), but the English dubbing is massively improved. The voice actors were all pretty green when they originally dubbed DBZ, now they are more experienced and have a better grasp on their roles. Though I prefer Japanese original voice acting in nearly every series, there is something nostalgic about the English dubbing, since that was how I originally viewed the episodes.Overall, 290+ episodes is a lot of commitment so I am glad to see this 99 episode compact version (who is really going to miss the Garlic Jr. saga huh?). Bravo!(Update: I thought Funimation had announced 99 episodes... but they are televising episode #66 and we haven't seen Cell yet... so I think maybe the 99 episodes run through the cell games not through the Buu saga - either that or there will be quite a bit more than 99 episodes in the end).Figured it out. 98 episodes running through the end of the Cell Games saga. They took out several filler episodes (such as Gohan making a robot friend... etc...) so they trimmed about 50 episodes from the 150 or so that ran through the Cell games saga. No news yet if they are going to run through the Buu saga, but they really can't trim too much from that saga... The Dragon Boxes would suffice for the Buu saga I think. Though they are not released yet in entirety.Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Box FiveDragon Ball Z: Dragon Box Six

I have to say there are so many misconceptions with this series that it's not even funny. Let's just go over a few of them, shall we?1: This is a rip-off because there will be over 270 episodes!-Wrong. This series is MUCH SHORTER. By Episode 13, Goku is already fighting Vegeta, as opposed to being in the 30's by then. In fact, there's probably only going to be up to 150 episodes at the MOST according to Toei Animation themselves.2: This isn't a new series, so no one will want it.-Also wrong. While it's not a new series, the logic behind a re-release is to introduce a new generation of youth to the series and create a new generation of fans. Plus it's also going to be airing on television again soon, though again it will be severely edited.3: The artwork is cheap!-While it's hardly groundbreaking, the artwork is NOT cheap. It's simply a touch-up of the existing film, and anything that couldn't be saved or deteriorated too much had to be redrawn. They did that as little as possible to maintain the classic look and style that Toriyama-sensei gave to his world.4: The acting is horrible and so is the script!-The thing is, this was Funimation's first big anime. Most of the voice actors had not only no experience, but were STAFF working at the studio. They had to pick up the slack after a contract dispute with the previous cast went awry, and despite this, they still managed to make it a classic.However, even if one plays the games, you can notice these actors have improved greatly over time. And this is a complete and utter redub. So they're bringing all their added talent and experience into this with a much better script. I myself have heard some of the new dubbing, and you can actually FEEL the emotions in the characters' voices.And finally...5: Cutting out the filler removes what let you get to know the characters better!-Actually, the thing is... the way the characters are presented in the filler (With exception perhaps to the Garlic Jr Saga) are often times not the way they really are at all. for example, filler made Roshi into an even greater pervert than he was, made Krillin into a mere comic relief character half the time (which he's not), made Gohan seem to be much more into fighting than he actually was, etc. What gives you the character development and background is the series DRAGON BALL, which is what comes before DBZ in the first place.Now as for what this is... this was the original DBZ story as it was written by the author. This is the characters being treated with respect and not bashed because they look funny, this is the villains being darker, this is the story with more flow... It's quite literally the manga (comic) in anime (animated) form. It's got a great new dub, new script, even in the Japanese version, and an HD touch-up on the animation. Now we seem to think HD has to fit a certain eye-popping criteria, but that's not always the case. What it means is that it's crystal clear and smooth, no visible defects, not as much grainy effect.If you're new to the series, I suggest you watch. If you're not new to the series, you'll love it anyways. (But parents be warned, DBZ uncut is NOT the same as what you'll see on TV. More violent, for sure)But it's well worth a purchase. :)

First of all I have to say, that I am a big Dragonball Fan. I read the Maga, watched the whole series from Dragonball to Dragonball Z to Dragonball GT. So I know, what Dragonball Z Kai is trying to do. And they doing it so good.The pace of the series is the right one, no fillers, just the action. Just like in the Manga. Because of the fact, that I know how the Original Series goes, I sometimes get the feeling that it is too fast, but it's not. Now I can watcht the series without getting tired of the fillers or someone powering up for like half an episode.The Backgroundmusic is so nice, it gives Dragonball Z a new atmosphere and I like it. I mean I still love the Faulconer Score, but this score is also nice. Different but nice.The voice dubbing is just cool, the characters seem to sound much more serious, and much more grown-up.So if you are a fan of the Dragoball franchise, you need to have this set. I live in germany and I must say funimation is doing a great job especially Chris Sabat, the way he dubbs Piccolo in DBZ Kai ist just great.There is just one thing that bothers me a little and that is the redrawn scence because you recognize those scence right away, but I can live with that.So all I can say is..just buy the set and have fun with it.

I love the colors and everything but the fact that they removed the fillers and 1/4 of the images makes it less better then the new Funimation's blurays.

Dragon Ball Z is one of the greatest and most well known anime's of all time and has been loved by many. To celebrate Dragon Ball Z's 20th anniversary, Toei Animation have brung back the iconic anime, and have remastered it to make it the best it's ever been.The story of the original DBZ still remains the same, but is now much better paced with the filler all removed and those long powering up scenes have been trimmed down to make the fights much more faster paced, which is a much needed improvement.The animation still is the same from the original DBZ but has much more brighter colours, improved for HD and some fixed scenes of animation which you will notice a lot. There is a new opening and ending which both have completly new animation and new songs to go with them. Both are great.The soundtrack is all completly new with some really great pieces of music which fit the scenes perfectly to capture what is going on. The original voice actors from the Funimation english dub return with a few voice recasts for Gohan, Bluma, Olong, Puar, Chaotzu and Mr. Popo. The recasts all sound great and the other well known voice actors are on top form for Dragon Ball Z Kai, as they preform the characters the best they have ever done. For the Uncut version, the original untranslated names for the attacks is kept in for the english dub to keep the experience as closer to the original Japanese version as ever. A lot of care was put into the english dub. The Japanese audio is also optional for those who prefer the Japanese version.As for extras, there arn't many. Textless opening and closing and some Funimation trailers. Thats it. Not much else to say on that.If your a fan of Dragon Ball Z, or if you have never experienced it before, this is the best way to watch it. With the first 13 episodes across 2 discs, this provides a great start into the series. It now follows the original manga much more closer and provides the best experience to watch one of the greatest anime's of all time. Your in for some great anime action.

Not as advertised, item was repackaged.