[Pana440]

Hi all, I wanted to start watching Dragon Ball (the original where it all began as a kid - not Z, GT etc) but I am a bit confused on where to start with it all! I want to watch it in order so if there is a list out there of which sets I have to buy first it would be very handy! I understand that they are the saga series but there is a problem with dubbing/cuts so I don't want to pick up the wrong one

Thanks!

[PoochJD]

Hi Pana,

In total, there are 153 episodes (approx 25 minutes each), plus 4 mini-movies (between 40-60 minutes each) and 2 Special "Safety" episodes - for Japanese kids (Fire safety and traffic safety respectively).

Other than in Japan, there is no Official release of the original Akira Toriyama "DragonBall" anime TV series, in chronological order. A Japanese DVD set was released, but it was in (obviously) Japanese audio only, with no English subtitles. SO, for non-Japanophiles, it was redundant. Not to mention a very pricey set - about £200 approx!

There are several online sites, including e-Bay, from which you can buy the Complete DragonBall TV Series on DVD, but all are Chinese pirated sets! Yes, they have English subtitles on them, but they are not genuine releases, and there's no guarantee of how good the audio/visual quality will be. (In some instances, they may simply be recordings taken off of Japanese or Chinese national TV). Either way, avoid them!

The only legitimate English versions, are selected "Sagas", which have been released on Region 1 DVD, but they are expensive, and incomplete. I can't find the specifics, at this time, but about 1/7th of all episodes are available, uncut and uncensored, in Japanese with English subtitles, but that's your lot. Some earlier episodes were released by Funimation in the US, but these were cut and censored kiddy versions, and had pretty poor picture quality too.

Sorry to be the bearer of such bad news! I'd love to get DragonBall too, but I think it's going to be a long time before either of us see a legitimate release.


Pooch

[Pana440]

The news I wasn't hoping to get! Thanks for the reply though, I don't think I will bother with the sagas then seeing as many are missing, just wouldn't be the same! I don't buy DVD's on eBay for the reason you state. Just didn't realise there weren't many other releases except in Japanese only. Was searching for ages thinking surely you must be able to purchase them, at least my search skills aren't too weak!

Do you think we will actually get a release with English subtitles? Is it to do with rights that we can't get the complete series at the moment? Touch wood we do as from what I have seen, I enjoyed the hell out of it! Always the way isn't it, maybe we should teach each other Japanese

[PoochJD]

Hi Pana,

Originally Posted by Pana440

The news I wasn't hoping to get! Thanks for the reply though. Do you think we will actually get a release with English subtitles? Is it to do with rights that we can't get the complete series at the moment.

Glad to be of help, to a fellow anime fan. And nice to see you supporting the industry, by not purchasing pirated material too!

Will there ever be an English-friendly release? Who knows! It's a series that I think deserves to be given a release, but the facts are that anime is very expensive to subtitle for English-language audiences, as is dubbing shows/films into English. On top of this, anime simply doesn't make much money! The average anime DVD nowadays in the UK, sells less than 5000 copies! Nope, that's not an error - less than five thousand copies actually get bought!

As such, any company wanting to release anime, has to be highly selective about what they are going to release, simply based on pure economics: what's going to actually sell, and what won't.

In all honesty, because "Dragon Ball" is still a fairly niche series in the West, compared to "Dragonball Z" (which was picked-up for English-dubbing/subtitling in the USA for US network TV), the chance of seeing the prequel series, with Son Goku as a child, is highly unlikely! Not only because of its sheer length (153 episodes, and 4 mini-movies),but also the actual costs involved in translating it for English Subtitles, or dubbing it into English with a suitable English vocal cast!

There aren't any licencing issues that I know of. It's simply the physical task involved in purchasing the rights to the entire series, then converting it into an English-friendly form.

AnimEigo - a US company - took a big chance a few years back, and released all of the "Urusei Yatsura: That Obnoxious Alien" TV series. This was originally released in about 5 boxed sets, each of 10 discs, as again - like "Dragonball" - the show ran forever - some 195 episodes and 5 mini-movies. Each boxed set was only available to pre-order by US fans, and went for about £60 per set. Then, AnimEigo eventually released the series on regular DVD, with 4 or 5 episodes per disc, running to 49 individual DVD's! All episodes were subtitled into English, but their commitment was very time-consuming and very expensive. Thankfully, it paid off, only because they made the boxed sets Limited Editions, and were very collectable! The sets and discs were released over a couple of years, but the physical work took about 5 years in total, to get the show ready for English audiences!

Alas, there aren't many other companies that would be willing to commit to that amount of work. And, hence, many decent anime TV shows will simply never be released outside of Japan, unless someone is willing to put in lots of work and money, for little return!

I'd love to own "Dragonball", "Urusei Yatsura" and the original "Fist Of The North Star" TV series from the early-1980's, but unless you can speak fluent Japanese, or are willing to import pirated versions, it's simply out of the question.


Pooch

[Pana440]

Thank you for the very informative post, a lot of things I didn't know, especially only selling on average 5000 copies

I guess I will just have to keep my eyes peeled and all of my fingers and toes crossed for an English-friendly release!

If you could, would you mind naming a few English-friendly Anime DVD's I could check out as I am very interested in watching more!

[PoochJD]

Hi Pana,

No problems!

Some of the best anime you can get in the UK, include the following (obviously, it will depend upon your age, and tastes, as to which you like):

In no specific order of preference:

- Anything by Studio Ghibli (e.g. My Neighbour Totoro, Pom Poko, My Neighbours The Yamadas, Porco Rosso, Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind, Spirited Away and/or Princess Mononoke)

- Perfect Blue (18)
Superb thriller, very confusing, and very bloody at times.)

- Dominion Tank Police: Acts 1 & 2 / Acts 3 & 4 / Acts 5-12 (15)
Three different DVD's, but all about a young lady who is enrolled into the all-men's Tank Police force, with hilarious consequences. Very funny, sometimes a little crude with the toilet humour, but a brilliantly charming series. Acts 1-4 are roughly 35m each, whilst 5-12 are about 25m each. The first 4 can be watched as one movie, or you can watch 1-2 and 3-4 as mini-movies. Based on the Masamune Shirow manga.)

- Ghost In The Shell (15)
The original 1995 cyberpunk sci-fi drama. Complex, but very impressive, both on a technical stand point, and in terms of the plot.

- Innocence: Ghost In The Shell 2 (15)
Even more confusing sequel to the original movie.

- Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex (15)
26-part TV series continuing the whole G.I.T.S. saga.

- Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex - 2nd Gig (15)
Second set of 26 episodes, continuing the G.I.T.S. series.

- Ghost In The Shell: Man Machine Complex (12)
Third movie, but this one was made for Japanese TV.

There are many other titles I could recommend, but that little lot should keep you going for the time being. Also, I tend to import a lot of stuff from the USA, simply because that's where the really good stuff can be legitimately bought from, e.g. Urusei Yatsura, Riding Bean, etc, etc. If you want to ask me about anything else, either specific titles, subjects or you simply have a general query about anime, then feel free to send me a Private Message via the AV Forums.


Pooch

[Pana440]

Wow, thanks! That lot should keep me busy! I had a feeling importing would be a better/only option which I have no problems doing anyway

I will give you a PM if I have any questions mate

Thanks again!

[NewMan]

Don't forget Appleseed and Appleseed: Ex Machina! (Though I'm not sure it qualifies as Anime, as such)

Visually stunning, and great storylines (if you like cyborg-type combat machines, exo-suits and giant guns! ).

[ayim]

Huh? Funimation dubbed the hole dragonball series uncut didn't they?

Here's the link to the two boxsets..

Dragon Ball Complete Collection Part 1 (Sagas 1-6) (Fatpack)

Dragon Ball Complete Collection Part 2 (Sagas 7-11) (Fatpack)

that's all 153 eppisodes... I don't understand what you guys are talking about o.O lol

[PoochJD]

Hi Ayim,

It seems you are correct on this one, and that these two releases of the entire show have bypassed my usually good anime-antennae!

Thanks for the two links.


Pooch