Dragon Ball Z – Season 5 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)
September 28, 2008 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“The battle against Cell box set is now available in retail but in a surprising change from previous box sets, Funimation puts only three episodes on disc 4-6 instead of the typical 6-7 episodes. A sign for things to come? Still a great deal for its price but I hope this is not a sign for future releases to come.”
DVD INFORMATION:
DVD TITLE: DRAGON BALL Z (SEASON 5)
DURATION: 615 minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
COMPANY: Funimation
Released on May 27, 2008
The Z-Fighters gather their forces in an effort to combat the Android menace that has been set loose upon the planet. But they are about to discover that the Androids are the least of their worries. An even greater threat has risen from the shadows: Dr. Gero’s most lethal creation Cell!Born from the genetic material of the greatest warriors ever to walk the Earth Cell is Dr. Gero’s ultimate weapon a perfect fighting machine capable of duplicating all of the Z-Fighters’ most powerful attacks. Now after years of waiting Cell has begun to unleash his terrifying powers wiping out entire cities as he gathers the energy he needs to fulfill his creator’s grand design.Time is short! The Z-Fighters must find a way to stop this monstrous foe before he completes his quest to absorb the other Androids and achieves his invincible Perfect Form!Contains the complete Imperfect and Perfect Cell Sagas (26 episodes).
One of my favorite episodes in the “DRAGON BALL Z” anime series was the Cell saga. The toughest enemy that the team has fought yet and the series focuses on everyone trying to prevent Cell from absorbing the androids while the Saiyan’s Goku and son Gohan and Vegita and his son Trunks (future) train to get stronger, so they can prepare to fight Cell.
With each DVD season box set release of “DRAGON BALL Z”, as a hardcore fan of the series, it’s just incredible to get over 30 episodes for almost the same price or less than most American television box sets.
Season 5 surprisingly in duration wise, shorter than the previous volumes. Where each DVD had around 5 or more episodes, on disc 4-6, there are only three episodes on each disc.
I was surprised and I have to admit that I would be upset if Funimation did this from here on in but I understand that it’s business and with everyone buying these box sets because it’s awesome price for a large number of episodes, you can’t beat it. But I’m just hoping that this is not a permanent decision.
VIDEO:
The video looks great on DVD and for those of us who have multi-generation fansubs or fading VHS tapes, just having these episodes on DVD and everything looking great. I know some people have a problem with the show receiving some cropping but for me it’s quite miniscule.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Special features include trailers and open and ending themes. If there was one thing lacking, it’s the fact that there are really nothing in terms of special features.
Season 5 ends with a cliffhanger to the upcoming Cell games chapter and at the time of writing this review, Season 6 is now available in retail.
There is a lot of action in this series and no filler episodes. It’s straight mayhem as Cell continues to absorb people and the heroes can do nothing but just hope they can hang on for a day or more while the Saiyans complete their training and hope to defeat Cell.
The Cell series was quite popular back then when I was watching the series in straight Japanese and the whole android storyline was just exciting to watch (especially the special episode in Future Trunks world which pits him and an older Gohan against the evil androids).
Speaking of the special, the special is not included and I assume that they will hopefully release it with the movie collection re-release. But for those who have never seen it and don’t intend to buy it, there is an episode that shows footage from that special.
Overall, Season 5 is a very good box set. I was put off by the sudden drop of episodes when you reach disc 4 and noticed every disc thereafter only has three episodes. Again, I hope this is not where the future of the box sets are going. But with season 6 now available, I guess I’ll find out.
Nevertheless, you still get over 20 episodes but after being spoiled with 30 or more episodes per box set, it just sucks to get this drop. But I understand it’s a business decision that probably will work since people are hooked on this DVD box set for its sheer amount of episodes and great price.
All in all, another cool box set release from Funimation, just a bit sour about the drop in episodes though.
+ Characters you care about and a good balance with action!
+ Pretty awesome battles!
+ One of the best English dubbed anime series, if not the best out there!
- Lags on special features.
- Funimation cut the episode count down on disc 4 through 6 to only 3 episodes.
BUY THIS DVD
DRAGON BALL Z – Season 4 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)
September 22, 2008 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“The fact that Funimation continues to sell these anime box sets for a low price is just amazing and this latest box set focusing on the battle against the Androids and the introduction of the future Trunks is just another awesome chapter in the popular anime series”
DVD INFORMATION:
DVD TITLE: DRAGON BALL Z (SEASON 4)
DURATION: 735 minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
COMPANY: Funimation
Released on Feb. 19, 2008
Having returned victorious from their battle with Frieza the Z-fighters can at last breathe a collective sigh of relief… But they won’t have long to rest. A new host of villains has appeared ready to wreak havoc on the Earth – and Goku the Z-Fighters’ greatest hero is still missing!In the face of these new dangers a mysterious youth with Super Saiyan powers has come bearing a bleak prediction for the future: in just three years’ time an evil greater than any the Z-Fighters have ever faced will emerge to cast a shadow of destruction and despair over the Earth. If the young Saiyan’s prediction is correct the Z-Fighters will have to train like they have never trained before in order to have any hope against these seemingly unstoppable foes: the Androids!
With each DVD season box set release of “DRAGON BALL Z”, as a hardcore fan of the series, it’s just incredible to get over 30 episodes for almost the same price or less than most American television box sets.
Season 4 is definitely going to excite some fans as one of the more popular characters, Future Trunks is featured on the box cover.
The season starts off with the Garlic Jr. arc that I wasn’t too caring for, while the fate of Goku is still unknown after the battle with Frieza, everyone else gets accustomed to their own lives as Gohan is stuck at home studying for school exams and his mother Chi Chi is very striict with him. Piccolo continues to train and Krillyn dates a beautiful, busty woman named Maron.
But eventually everyone reunites to take on the latest threat to their world when Garlic Jr. unleashes the black water mist upon the world and everyone turns evil with the exception of Piccolo, Krillyn, Gohan, Maron and Master Roshi. With the help of Kame and Mr. Popo, the group take on Garlic Jr. and must save the world from the black water myst.
The next chapter features the return of Frieza and his father Cooler. After Goku’s battle with Frieza, it is learned that Frieza’s father saved his son and made him even more powerful by taking his body parts and creating a cyborg. Of course, Frieza now back, wants revenge on Goku and friends.
As everyone prepares to battle against Frieza and Cooler, a mysterious guy from the future makes an appearance.
The unknown warrior defeats Frieza and Cooler with ease and everyone realizes that he is a Saiyajin. But the warrior tells everyone that Goku should be arriving that day and everyone is shocked to find out that Goku will be coming back.
Upon Goku’s return, the future warrior reveals to Goku that he is Trunks, the son of Vegita and Bulma and warns him of upcoming danger as his world has been destroyed by the Androids. He comes to the past to warn Goku to get him and his friends prepared for their battle because he can defeat the androids but he must take medication to help eliminate a virus that he is going to have soon. According to Trunks, everyone except Gohan is killed but Goku dies due to a virus. But by giving him an antidote, Goku can survive the virus once he gets sick.
So, for the next few years, Goku, Picollo and everyone must train for this major threat from dr. Jiro and the androids.
AUDIO:
This is where I’m so happy with these Funimation releases. The fact that you can watch the series in both Japanese or English dubs but can listen to the English dub with the new digital music or the original Japanese music.
Having watched the series in its original Japanese language when it was first released, this time around, I have been watching the series in dub format and its one of the best English voice acting as Goku, Picollo, Gohan, Krillyn, every character…the voice acting is just well done. There is not one character where I felt the voice acting was off or didn’t fit. Voice acting is well done!
VIDEO:
The video looks great on DVD and for those of us who have multi-generation fansubs or fading VHS tapes, just having these episodes on DVD and everything looking great. I know some people have a problem with the show receiving some cropping but for me it’s quite miniscule.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Special features include trailers and open and ending themes. If there was one thing lacking, it’s the fact that there are really nothing in terms of special features.
As of this review, the latest Season 6 was released and I have started on season 5. But I was quite pleased with Season 4, the whole android saga was great to watch when it first came out and to see future Trunks, Super Saiyan Vegita and everyone all together, fighting together once again. It’s just an all out great, mega-brawl and it’s one of the reasons why “Dragon Ball Z” has become my favorite action anime series of all time.
I do have to say that the android saga leaves off with a cliff-hanger and continues in Season 5. So, you’re definitely going to want to pick up Season 5 as it leads into another major threat that relates to the android-saga.
Again, for the price of over 30 episodes for $30 is a great deal! I just hope that Funimation sets the trend of other companies considering their anime DVD releases via box set for a similar price. But nevertheless, if you are a “Dragon Ball Z” fan, you can’t go wrong with this series. Cool characters that you care about, storylines that capture your attention and a series that is just action-packed.
Another season of “Dragon Ball Z” worth owning!
+ Characters you care about and a good balance with action!
+ Pretty awesome battles!
+ One of the best English dubbed anime series, if not the best out there!
- Lags on special features.
BUY THIS DVD
