Movies / Animé and Toons

Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Box 4

By Chris Zimmerman
September 24, 2010 - 09:25

Funimation’s consistent money cow gets yet another release courtesy this time from Japan in the form of the highly anticipated dragon box. Touted as the definitive version of the legendary martial arts epic by manga super scribe Akira Toriyama, the dragon box presents Dragon Ball Z in all its uncensored, digitally restored glory. Yes, this is the third release in as many years to claim to have gone back and cleaned up the series via digital restoration and in truth, while it doesn’t look nearly as good as the glossy Kai, the dragon box stands head and shoulders above the first season sets.

At this point, continuing to recap the history and popularity of Dragon Ball Z is redundant. Suffice it to say, the series is a classic and stands as one of the most beloved shows to ever grace Japanese television. Considering it was among the front runners of the 90’s anime boom here in the states, the series has been remembered fondly over the years.

Moving on to this set, the dragon box is actually a reproduction of a release under the same name a couple years back aimed at hardcore collectors. Funimation decided to port it over along with all the bells and whistles originally attached, making it one of the finest treatments given to an anime in recent memory. As previously stated, the dragon box boasts a crystal clear picture, returning the series to its original aspect ratio. Disregarding Kai, this is the best the original series has ever looked. The audio quality remains consistent with past releases, sporting 5.1 surround mix. None of the voices have been altered for this release which can be a plus or a minus depending on your preference. One tiny quibble stems from the fact that this release does not include the American music track which some have come to regard as being equal to that of the original Japanese track.

As with previous dragon boxes, the set includes a nice hardcover book detailing various tidbits about the series such as episode guides, character biographies, and original artwork. There is a wealth of information to be had from these books but if one has seen the series, the books are non-essential.

The episodes covered in this set are mainly comprised of what is commonly referred to as the android saga. Goku and company face off against an old nemesis who unleashes killer androids on the earth. Further compounding matters is the fact that Goku is slowly dying from a heart disease, leaving the rest of the warriors helpless in the face of the android’s murderous assault. Later on, the stakes rise when another android arrives, this time from the future, possessing powers remarkably similar to all our heroes.

This set of episodes is especially strong considering they come from perhaps the best saga in the series run. There is an air of unpredictability that lingers throughout the set. From Goku getting sidelined well before the major showdown to the arrival of more super saiyans, every episode explores the creative genius Akira Toriyama poured into what he had meant to be the final arc of the series.

While it’s easy to recommend this release, the decision to purchase it boils down to personal preference. Currently there are three releases of Dragon Ball on the racks, with each one claiming something different. The dragon box is a set for purists, containing the original Japanese music along with every episode that has ever aired. Every release has its share of positives as well as its draw backs so it’s difficult to claim one is superior over another. That said, considering the number of choices consumers have, there really is no reason not to add Dragon Ball Z to your collection.   

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Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12