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[Anth0ny]

Man the first thing anime creators need to learn is that there doesn't need to be somebody freakin singing something stupid over every dramatic moment.

Also every theme does not have to be a j-pop song.

Out of all of Dragon Ball, arguably the greatest anime of all time, I believe there were only three vocal insert songs used throughout both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z.

Mesaze Tenkaichi- Used early in Dragon Ball when Goku and Kuririn are kicking various ass.
Mind Power Ki- Used when Trunks flashes back to his fucked up future.
Unmei no Hi- Used when Gohan transforms into SSJ2.

(There are probably 2 or 3 more in Dragon Ball, I haven't watched it all in Japanese)

That's about 3 times in over 400 episodes. Think about that. Insert songs are not overused. If anything, they're severly underused. If there were vocal insert songs used for every dramatic scene in Dragon Ball, we'd probably be counting over nine tho--

yeah.

I completely agree with every theme being J-pop, however. Back in the day, we got awesome shit like YOU WA SHOCK!, Head Cha La, and We Are! Now, all we get is crappy J-pop. Even One Piece has been affected... I hate the new OPs =/

 

[Blader]

Proof that the Funi dub BGM > Japanese BGM

The greatest scene in DBZ, hands down, is when Gohan kills Cell.

Look at how fucking epic that scene is in the Funimation dub:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ2LGOzLQFU

And how lame it is in the Japanese version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0L0T5kfo3U

Come on guys, it's no contest.

I completely agree with every theme being J-pop, however. Back in the day, we got awesome shit like YOU WA SHOCK!, Head Cha La, and We Are! Now, all we get is crappy J-pop. Even One Piece has been affected... I hate the new OPs =/

I don't think it's all bad. I love Daybreak's Bell from Gundam 00, for example.

 

[Blader]

edit - dp

 

[Anth0ny]

I don't think it's all bad. I love Daybreak's Bell from Gundam 00, for example.

Yeah, I love all the Code Geass opening songs. But I just feel that J-pop really doesn't fit with Shonen anime, especially something like One Piece. I was jizzing myself when I heard Dragon Soul (and not some crappy J-pop) as the Kai opening song :lol

 

[Calcaneus]

My take on the BGM argument is that neither are anything I would want to listen to on my own (except for some of the Japanese vocal songs), but at least the Japanese BGM knew when to shut up. You won't notice it at first, but a lot of episodes of the dub would have music going on non stop. Once someone points it out to you, you can't stop noticing it.

 

[Anth0ny]

So, I have the Dragon Box.

As I tore open the mail packaging and held it in my hands for the first time, I got goosebumps and literally started shaking. I then began to laugh uncontrollably. I don't think it hit me until that very moment that I'd finally be watching the Dragon Box after so many years of waiting.

It's beautiful. The photos don't do it justice. When it's in your hands it's at least 10 times more amazing.

Just wow.

 

[Tathanen]

You are a goddamned lunatic.

Just sayin.

 

[Anth0ny]

You are a goddamned lunatic.

Just sayin.

 

[Magypsy23]

Second half of ep 34 (around the point where Ginyū asks Jeace what his power level is) is so insanely sharp I almost screamed in delight. Ep 35 looks pretty sharp too. The redrawn parts look disgusting as usual though.

 

[BlackGoku03]

I said wow at the music at the end of ep 37...

 

[kuYuri]

I said wow at the music at the end of ep 37...

Yeah, that shit was epic. :lol

 

[Legend]

the music before the ending was awesome . The next ep. looks epic
I'm liking the show so far.
Also, anyone is annoyed by the noise the characters make every once in while?
the " a-h-h-h-h-k--k-k-k-k-ah-h-h-h-.....etc" So dam annoying D:

 

[Anth0ny]

The only song more appropriate for that final scene:

FREEZA FREEZA FREEZA FREEEEEZAAAAA

 

[LogicStep]

Second half of ep 34 (around the point where Ginyū asks Jeace what his power level is) is so insanely sharp I almost screamed in delight. Ep 35 looks pretty sharp too. The redrawn parts look disgusting as usual though.

The fuck? Are you serious? The redrawn parts look fucking fantastic, way better than that old animation.

 

[dark_chris]

the music before the ending was awesome . The next ep. looks epic
I'm liking the show so far.
Also, anyone is annoyed by the noise the characters make every once in while?
the " a-h-h-h-h-k--k-k-k-k-ah-h-h-h-.....etc" So dam annoying D:

Same with the noise they make.
My g/f and I have been watching DBZ together all 9 seasons. We can't stand the noise they make and the cheesy BGM. We preferred Bruce's music. Sounds more epic and keeps your attention more.

 

[Takao]

I'm not really partial to any of the scores of the various dubs of Z (incredibly partial towards the Japanese score of GT though). Probably helped that I'm from Canada, and we jumped around from the Levi score to Faulcolner to recycled Megaman, and Monster Rancher music (a new track thrown in every now and then too!). The problem I have with Season 3+ FUNi dub music, as well as the original Japanese score is that both seem incredibly dated, which is understandable. The FUNi redub music was mostly forgetable, and I haven't watched the Levi or Post Season 3 Ocean dub in a long, long time.

As for Kai's music, it sounds like video game music, quite understandable when you realize who it's from.

 

[Magypsy23]

The fuck? Are you serious? The redrawn parts look fucking fantastic, way better than that old animation.

The redrawn animation is horribly done, I've known kids who would have done a better job. The disparity in quality is staggering.

Fuck Toei and their incessant corner-cutting.

 

[zhenming]

the series is moving along nicely.


and you must be blind if you think the redrawn parts are good. :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[Anth0ny]

Yeah, Piccolo in this newest episode looked fucking horrible. Why re-animate it when you're going to make it look worse than the nearly 20-year old available footage? :lol

 

[BlackGoku03]

Anybody still keeping up?

The transitions from the recolored scenes to the original are still jarring but not as bad as before. Still, the best thing about this is the pacing. The Genki Dama will be dropping next week.

 

[Mikey Jr.]

Anybody still keeping up?

The transitions from the recolored scenes to the original are still jarring but not as bad as before. Still, the best thing about this is the pacing. The Genki Dama will be dropping next week.

Yep, I am. Dropping next week, but more importantly, Goku going SSJ.

And yeah, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better paced. Holy shit.

Cant wait for the Cell saga (my favourite one)

I wonder if they'll keep the thing where Freeza destroys the planet and he says it'll explode in 5 minutes. Then 5 hours later, it still hasn't exploded.

 

[BlackGoku03]

I hope not. That will be interesting to see how they pace that out. The original series dedicated way too many episodes to that.

 

[Anth0ny]

The "5 minutes" line will probably be dropped completely.

 

[Suairyu]

Wow, the Dragon Boxes look good. I'd definitely import the American Dragon box release of the original Dragonball series, if they get around to it. I was never that huge a fan of Dragonball Z (or rather, I think if it had ended with Frieza and Goku being Super Saiyan and dying nobly or something it would have been a really nice coda to the original Dragonball series, but then it just spiralled further and further out of control).

Quick check of Amazon.com reveals the prices aren't outrageous either. Hurry up and get to Dragonball already, Funi!

 

[zhenming]

way better paced and way better seeing stupid ass picolo getting his ass kicked in 1 ep compared to 10:lol :lol :lol

 

[Relix]

Goku going SSJ still has to be one of the most epic things in any anime. Really fucking great. I felt such a nostalgia rush when I saw the episode... I remembered when i was a kid watching the fight on Cartoon Network and he going SSJ... I started cheering like an idiot haha.

 

[Mikey Jr.]

Goku going SSJ still has to be one of the most epic things in any anime. Really fucking great. I felt such a nostalgia rush when I saw the episode... I remembered when i was a kid watching the fight on Cartoon Network and he going SSJ... I started cheering like an idiot haha.

English version was better. I usually say the original Japanese version is best, but in this instance, English version was superior. Goku "yelling" at Gohan was absurd. They drew Goku yelling but the VO was him just talking normally. But didn't really like the music. They didn't really express the rage in the situation.

Seeing it HD was fuck awesome though.

 

[Nazgul_Hunter]

So Dragonball Kai is officially announced for Nicktoons this May. They changed the title to Dragonball Z Kai.

Top-Ranked Nickelodeon Announces its 2010-11 Season Programming Slate at Annual Upfront Presentation

Dragon Ball Z Kai, premiering on Nicktoons in May 2010, follows the last descendants of an evil race of warriors, known as the Saiyans, on their collision course with Earth. Goku--the strongest fighter on the planet--is all that stands between humanity and extinction and must face the villainous Saiyan warlord. Dragon Ball Z Kai is developed by Funimation Entertainment.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Wow. How much more censored can it possibly get, I wonder?

Also: I wonder what happened with Cartoon Network? Has it really gotten that bad for them? :lol :lol

 

[Anth0ny]

Wow, Dragon Ball is back to cable television. That's pretty big news.

The question is, will they further censor Kai? I really hope not, it's already pretty bad :lol

Also, will it air 4:3? That would be pretty cool.

 

[Lebron]

Also: I wonder what happened with Cartoon Network? Has it really gotten that bad for them? :lol :lol

They don't air anime anymore due to low ratings, well outside of like Pokemon.


Anyway, waiting on Freeza Saga to end before I jump in and start watching Kai.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

They don't air anime anymore due to low ratings, well outside of like Pokemon.


Anyway, waiting on Freeza Saga to end before I jump in and start watching Kai.

I know, but I find it hilarious that they are just that out of touch at this point.


Though, "anime" may get bad ratings(and mostly for good reason), Dragon Ball is a completely different bag altogether. Cartoon Network could not possibly be foolish enough to think that Kai would not be a ratings success. But then again, these are the same tools that thought it was a good idea to designate an entire block to live action programming.

I think Nick just outbid them, pure and simple. Nick has been trying really hard to get more original programming for their sister Nicktoons Network(like the acclaimed 'Wolverine and the X-Men'). They probably saw the potential in the Dragon Ball name and pounced on it.

Good on Nick. They've become a much improved network over the past couple of years.

 

[Lebron]

Cartoon Network could not possibly be foolish enough to think that Kai would not be a ratings success.

Yeah, their whole lineup outside of Clone Wars is pretty shitty. Still, I don't know, they brought back Dragonball Z a few years back and put it in their prime time slot and the ratings were still poor(if I recall). I just don't think it would have been that big of a success for them, so I doubt they really cared. I'm sure they tried, but it probably wasn't a priority.

Oh well, I have Nicktoons too, so no matter

 

[Trojita]

I recently watched the Blu-ray copies and they still seem censored. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[cuevas. PhD.]

How many times are they going to re-release dbz? I thought the dragon box was supposed to be the definitive dbz set.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

I recently watched the Blu-ray copies and they still seem censored. Can anyone confirm this?

I don't think they ever confirmed that the BR releases were going to be uncensored like the Dragon Box, did they?

 

[Anth0ny]

How many times are they going to re-release dbz? I thought the dragon box was supposed to be the definitive dbz set.

It is.

Kai is a whole different beast.

And yes, Kai Blu Rays are still censored =(

 

[ArjanN]

It is.

Kai is a whole different beast.

And yes, Kai Blu Rays are still censored =(

Kai is definately going to be definitive Dragonball Z version IMO. Far, far superior pacing.

 

[Anth0ny]

Kai is definately going to be definitive Dragonball Z version IMO. Far, far superior pacing.

But far worse music. And the most inconsistent animation I've ever seen in a cartoon.

 

[Blader]

But far worse music. And the most inconsistent animation I've ever seen in a cartoon.

Even worse than the original DBZ? :lol

 

[Anth0ny]

Even worse than the original DBZ? :lol

Quite a feat, I know :lol

At least with the original, you knew triangle man was in charge, and the entire episode was going to look like shit.

With, Kai you've got good animation, good animation, and then BAM:

 

[Relix]

Yeah I swear they have interns drawing new scenes... though some of them have been looking good lately.

 

[zhenming]

the interns suck.

 

[Lkr]

why the hell are they airing this on Nicktoons TV and not Nickelodeon? I thought a big part of Kai was that it was in HD. It should be on Nickelodeon to be seen in HD

 

[totowhoa]

Finally watched through Kai and can't wait to own it, honestly. But why are they are re-animating some things? The pic above looks like ass. I've not noticed it much since I've never watched DBZ for its artistic merit, but at times it's pretty glaring.. I was really hoping for a good, definitive US release with no fuck ups or major censoring on DVD... Will probably collect the entirety of this version. Almost got the last one, put it off, then Kai was announced.

 

[Anth0ny]

Finally watched through Kai and can't wait to own it, honestly. But why are they are re-animating some things? The pic above looks like ass. I've not noticed it much since I've never watched DBZ for its artistic merit, but at times it's pretty glaring..

Advertising purposes, mostly.

"FRESH, NEW ANIMATION!"

Of course, you'd expect:

But all we get is half-assed reanimated scenes that look completely out of place most of the time.

I was really hoping for a good, definitive US release with no fuck ups or major censoring on DVD...

*COUGH*

 

[shwimpy]

Since there's only going to be 100 episodes, I'm guessing the Cell saga is next and they're going to skip everything else?

 

[Mikey Jr.]

Frieza saga just ended today.

Kai episode count up to now= 54
Original episode count = 107

They cut out 53 episodes worth of crappy content. At roughly 20 minutes an episode, they cut out 1060 minutes or close to 18 hours.

18 HOURS! Where the fuck did the original airing pack that shit? Seriously. Not only that, they are cutting out the ENTIRE Garlic Jr. Saga! Thats ANOTHER 10 episodes.

They are cutting it close but I can potentially see Cell and Buu saga fitting into another 50 episodes.

 

[Diablos54]

Not only that, they are cutting out the ENTIRE Garlic Jr. Saga! Thats ANOTHER 10 episodes.

They're cutting the whole Garlic Jr. Saga? I know it wasn't that great, but I did Garlic's return, and the focus of Gohan instead of bringing dead Goku back.

 

[Mikey Jr.]

They're cutting the whole Garlic Jr. Saga? I know it wasn't that great, but I did Garlic's return, and the focus of Gohan instead of bringing dead Goku back.

If its not in the manga, then I think their cutting it.

Although to be honest, I'm not familiar with the manga at all.