Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Dragon Ball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie Review

Another first-rate box-set of Dragon Ball Z in deluxe steelbook packaging.

Adapted from the fan-favorite manga series created by Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball Z remains one of the most essential action-adventure anime series in the history of the medium. The series is a blast of adrenaline and still holds a place in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere. The series is filled to the brim with exciting action. Dragon Ball Z is a can't-miss anime classic.

Season 3 of Dragon Ball Z includes episodes 75-107 and focuses on the second half of the Frieza saga – bringing the action- packed storyline to an out-of-this-world conclusion. The 30^th Anniversary Edition presents in the series (at last!) in the original aspect ratio of 4:3 full-frame on Blu-ray. Packaged with a stunning steelbook, the set is a must-own for Dragon Ball Z die-hards.

The series stands as one of the most impressive achievements in anime history. A huge part of the remarkable success is in the exemplary animation quality. The first-rate team of animators were essential to bringing the vision for the series to life. The saga is visually engaging and intense. Animated fight sequences are extremely fluid and dynamic. The scope is cinematic and far beyond average television. Few anime series feature such breathtaking animation.

The action is only beginning.

Another compelling element of the production can be found in the original music score composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi (Dragon Ball) . The score manages to interweave dramatic moments and action sequences with expert fluidity. The score crescendos when necessary to accentuate the action and increase excitement. The music flows like water and brings a sense of majestic grace to the entire production. Outstanding.

As head story writer, Takao Koyama (Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump) manages to convey the greatness inherent in the original manga series from creator Akira Toriyama. The storytelling brings the characters, worlds, and themes to life in remarkable ways. The series balances the heart, humor, and action. The team of talented screenwriters deliver a fantastic series that is a pure adrenaline rush from beginning to end.

At the forefront of the production, Dragon Ball Z is masterfully directed by Daisuke Nishio (Dragon Ball). Dragon Ball Z is full of non-stop, heart-pounding, and exhilarating action. As a die-hard fan, Dragon Ball Z always amazes me with its perfect sense of craftsmanship. So much of this is due to Nishio's talent behind-the-scenes. As a youth, I would run home from school and watch every single episode via Cartoon Network's action-anime block, Toonami . The series was appointment television and the anime remains an all-time favorite. Dragon Ball Z is one of the greatest anime series of all time.

Dragon Ball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation Entertainment, Dragon Ball Z: Season 3 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. Celebrating the 30^th anniversary of Dragon Ball Z, the series looks and sounds better than ever before on Blu-ray disc.

Fans have long had to put up with a myriad of inferior releases with a number of massive drawbacks – most notably the orange brick DVD collections and the original run season sets released on the Blu-ray format (which were presented in a cropped and heavily altered 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio – leaving many shots horrendous with faces badly chopped and background art work incomplete). These earlier home media releases were downright embarrassing and a travesty for any fan looking to watch the series in the original aspect ratio – only the Dragon Box yellow-brick sets contained a proper OAR presentation (but these sets have been long out-of-print and could fetch thousands on the aftermarket).

The 30^th anniversary edition has some small drawbacks but these elements pale in comparison to the mishaps that came before. There is some DNR applied to the image but it doesn't detract too much from an otherwise impressive scan. The best news about the release is the original aspect ratio finally being preserved on Blu-ray. After being unavailable on the market for many years, fans of Dragon Ball Z can finally watch and enjoy the series as it was intended to be seen by the animators.

The release also benefits from an improved color reproduction: the art work looks remarkable and the release might mark the best color- reproduction seen on home media to date. While some might prefer the laid-back color on the level sets (which were canceled and left incomplete), the color on the new 30^th anniversary discs is a bit more robust and satisfying. The previous season set collections looked significantly worse as far as color accuracy was concerned (with boosted colors that looked awful by any measure). Fans will be pleased with the upgraded image on the 30^th anniversary sets.

Dragon Ball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes three lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound (with the original Japanese language score), English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with the U.S. Broadcast music score), and the original Japanese language presentation in Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The presentation is impressive: dialogue is clear and easy to understand while the music sounds nice too. The English dub was produced later than the original Japanese language version and sounds a little more crisp in comparison. The Japanese language version does show some age but is still quite acceptable given the age of the production.

Dragon Ball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The set comes with deluxe steelbook packaging. The set features art work showcasing Frieza and the design is downright fantastic to behold. The release has a nice purple background finish to it and the release looks entirely premium. The design is partially shimmery and it gives the steelbook a look resembling a holographic trading-card. The style is stunning and makes this steelbook a must-own for Dragon Ball Z enthusiasts.

Inside Dragon Ball Z: Interview with Gen Fukunaga (HD, 20:05)

Inside Dragon Ball Z: Interview with John Burgmeier (HD, 18:55)

Look Back at the Hummer Tour: With Sonny Strait (HD, 11:10)

Textless Opening Song (HD, 1:51)

Textless Closing Song (HD, 1:43)

Dragon Ball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The third season of Dragon Ball Z is one of the most action-paced sets in the series franchise. The steelbook 30^th anniversary edition features a new restoration of the series in 4:3 full-frame. The presentation is significantly better than previous releases on the Blu- ray format. The steelbook astonishes with great art work and a high print quality. Highly recommended.