Highlights
- Dragon Ball Z fans can enjoy high-quality Dragon Box remasters via a Crunchyroll subscription.
- The Dragon Box sets offer the best picture quality, but are now out of print and expensive.
- Watching Dragon Ball Z with Japanese audio and English subtitles on Crunchyroll is the more affordable option.
As a long-time Dragon Ball Z fan and collector, I can’t help but feel nostalgic about the various ways I have experienced this iconic anime series throughout the years. I remember watching the edited versions on Cartoon Network as a kid, feeling both thrilled and frustrated by the missing scenes and altered dialogue. Later, as I grew older and became more serious about my fandom, I sought out the uncut versions and was blown away by the restored footage and original Japanese music in Funimation’s DVD releases.
by subscribing to Crunchyroll!
What is Dragon Ball Z?
Without further ado, let me tell you about Dragon Ball Z, a renowned Japanese anime series created by Toei Animation. A continuation of the original Dragon Ball series, this show is the brainchild of the late Akira Toriyama and his manga creations. First broadcast in Japan from April 1989 to January 1996, it gained massive popularity both domestically and internationally, particularly in America where it aired on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block.
In simple terms, “Dragon Ball” is an ongoing animation where Goku and his friends protect Earth from diverse threats such as alien invaders, tyrants, robots, and almost indestructible beings. Known for its epic battles, memorable characters, and power transformation concept, the show has left a deep cultural imprint and enjoys global adoration. It brought forth several movies, video games, and a subsequent series named “Dragon Ball Super”.
The History of Dragon Ball Z on Home Media
The history of Dragon Ball Z on home media in America is quite extensive and there is not enough time to get into everything today. For context though, early Dragon Ball Z episodes were dubbed by Funimation and released by Pioneer Entertainment starting in 1996. These early releases included edited versions for television, which were made available on VHS. In the early 2000s, Funimation began releasing uncut versions of Dragon Ball Z on VHS and DVD. These were more faithful to the original Japanese versions, including restored footage and original Japanese music. Most of these releases were of a controversial nature one way or another. However, there was one release that stood out above the rest.
What Are the Dragon Box Sets?
In 2009, Funimation unveiled the Dragon Box collections, superior remasters derived from the Japanese Dragon Box editions. Adored for their exceptional video and audio performance, these sets came loaded with additional content. Notable Dragon Ball fan platforms like Tony StrongStyle and Kanzenshuu extolled their virtues, while Anime News Network hailed them as among the top two outstanding home media releases of the show (the other contender met an unfortunate demise, a topic for a future article). With elegant cardboard packaging, informative books on characters and episodes, and the finest visual quality Dragon Ball has ever offered (even surpassing recent American BluRay versions), it’s widely accepted that the Dragon Box sets represent the ideal way to experience the series.
Their Availability Today
I was disappointed when I learned that many Dragon Ball Z fans, including myself, couldn’t afford to purchase the Dragon Box sets. These collectible items were not intended for mass production due to their limited edition status. To make matters worse, the high price tag made them less popular among consumers in the first place. Most opted for the cheaper “Orange Brick Sets,” which allowed fans to watch the series but came with significant image cropping and noise reduction that degraded the visual quality of the show.
A Crunchyroll Subscription Saves the Day
Crunchyroll stands out as the leading subscription platform for anime enthusiasts with “Dragon Ball” being one of its top-tier shows. The popularity of “Dragon Ball” is not unexpected in the anime community. What might be less known to fans of “Dragon Ball Z” is that they can access the Dragon Box remasters on Crunchyroll, albeit through a workaround. Unfortunately, this method does not apply if you prefer watching the series in English. In such a case, you will have to settle for the earlier video transfers of questionable quality that were featured in DVD releases.
If you prefer the Japanese version of “Dragon Ball Z,” you’re in for a treat! By selecting the Japanese audio with English subtitles, you’ll gain access to the restored Dragon Box transfers of the series. For a small monthly fee, you can enjoy top-notch quality “Dragon Ball Z” episodes at a fraction of the cost compared to purchasing the pricey and out-of-print Dragon Box sets. Keep in mind that this option doesn’t include any physical packaging or ownership, but it’s an excellent alternative for watching the series with optimal visual quality without having to spend thousands of dollars.
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2024-07-20 21:33