Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Box One

Considering this is only the first box, this collector’s series has clearly been chosen to convey the ultimate and final expression of the Dragon Ball saga. Although I’m not a fan, this ain’t too shabby.

2009 TV Series (episodes 1-42). 1050 minutes, DVD, bilingual, $79.98. Distributor: FUNimation.

Five years have past since Piccolo’s defeat at the Tenkaichi Budoukai tournament. Peace reigns. Even Son Goku has nestled into a quiet life with his new son Gohan. But for these fighters, peace can only last for so long! An alien race, the Saiyans, soon arrive. Worse still, the Saiyan Raditz claims to be Goku’s elder brother. A fist-wielding chain reaction is set off, and Goku and Piccolo must team up to face this alien threat. What’s more, two other powerful Saiyans are coming. Let the Dragon Ball training begin!

Dragon Ball Box

Alright, I completely expose myself – in a non-dirty way – to the world. I’m not a Dragon Ball fan. For as long as I have been around anime, this series, which is at least twenty years old, just never did it for me. Yes, I recognize the tournament style action. But, much like the girl you’re supposed to consider hot, ehhh?? 

Be that as it may, I need to give a nod to the Dragon Box. Once a limited production available only in Japan, it’s now within reach of our large gaijin hands. Containing the first 42 episodes, it’s fully remastered, frame-by-frame, in its original 4:3 ratio. So, there’s still some grain, but the overall presentation is amazing.

For Dragon Ball enthusiasts, and there are tons, this is clearly a must have. And though I’ll refrain from actually commenting, since my lack of zeal would be moot in the face of fans, I do recognize the collectability of this box set. Remastering set aside, the sturdy yellow box contains a gorgeous set of metallic purple DVD boxes, which respectively hold three overlapping disks. And, to top it off, between these boxes rests a collectable Dragon Book. Like a good piece of manga, it reads right to left and contains an episode guide, character profiles, the story timeline, and even character art.

Considering this is only the first box, this collector’s series has clearly been chosen to convey the ultimate and final expression of the Dragon Ball saga. Although I’m not a fan, this ain’t too shabby.