Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Dragon Ball Z: Season 6 Blu-ray Movie Review

An outstanding steelbook edition with 4:3 (full frame) presentations that retain the original aspect ratio.

An adrenaline rush of epic proportions, Dragon Ball Z remains one of the greatest hits in the history of animation (anime or otherwise). Packed to the brim with exciting adventure, Dragon Ball Z adapts the beloved manga from original creator Akira Toriyama. The journey is outstanding every step of the way. An essential classic that remains important to this day. Don't miss it.

Season 6 of Dragon Ball Z includes episodes 166-194 and contains the complete Cell Games saga. The set focuses on a massive tournament of fighters that will test them and their abilities to the fullest. As Cell has now achieved his “Perfect Cell” status, things heat up in the arena – and behind the scenes. One of the most entertaining sagas in the entire Dragon Ball Z saga. The 30^th Anniversary Edition presents the series in the original aspect ratio of 4:3 full frame. The set comes packaged in a stunning collectible steelbook. Fans will be thrilled with this must-own release.

If there is one area where Dragon Ball Z excelled above all other anime series, it is without-a-doubt the masterful action sequences. The fight scenes are exceptional and deliver in spades. There is a sense of energy throughout the series that is outstanding to behold. As a fan of action anime, Dragon Ball Z is still the high-water benchmark against all other anime series. Nothing else even comes close.

Dragon Ball Z is a must-see classic.

The series features stunning animation as well. The production aesthetics are uniformly great and manage to imbue the anime with a style that is highly distinctive and undeniably great. As a fan who admires cell-based animation that is drawn by hand, Dragon Ball Z still reigns supreme. Most modern productions simply can't muster up the energy or creativity to compare to the style of animation which was used during the golden age of hand drawn anime. The animators crafted a true masterpiece. Breathtaking.

The score is another compelling element that adds to the excitement of the production. Series composer Shunsuke Kikuchi (Dragon Ball ) delivers the goods and elevates the action sequences time and time again. There is something so impeccable about the musical compositions and the brilliance which is delivered by Kikuchi. The score is as epic in scope as a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster (and that stands out as something truly remarkable).

Featuring screenwriting by Takao Koyama (Dr. Slump) and direction by Daisuke Nishio (Dragon Ball), Dragon Ball Z is an anime series so brilliant in its execution and technique that to never experience the series would be a massive loss for any anime fan: genre enthusiasts should consider it to be one of the most entertaining thrill-rides the genre has ever seen. Accept no substitutes: Dragon Ball Z is magic.

Dragon Ball Z: Season 6 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation Entertainment, Dragon Ball Z: Season 6 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. After a string of sub-par Blu-ray releases (including the disastrous season sets with cropped 1.78:1 widescreen presentations), the new masters included in these sets are a nice upgrade. The presentations on the 30^th anniversary editions are as the animators and filmmakers intended and that is something that can make all the difference.

Color reproduction is significantly better on the new 30^th anniversary presentations as well. The old season set releases had ridiculously boosted colors that looked artificial and hugely overblown – as though someone had the settings on their television set to torch mode. The results were sickening. Funimation has thankfully returned to the well to do the series justice for its 30^th anniversary. The presentation finally has good color reproduction for the high-definition masters of Dragon Ball Z.

If there is anything to nitpick, it is the fact that Funimation decided to apply some DNR (digital noise reduction) to the image. The application of DNR is never something that I favor and it is always best avoided. However, the use of DNR on animation never seems to bother me as much as it does with live-action material. Though I would have preferred for the image to be left alone, the DNR isn't so horrible as to avoid an otherwise fantastic set.

Dragon Ball Z: Season 6 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a variety of lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (with the original Japanese music), English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with the U.S. broadcast score), and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The audio quality is generally impressive. The English dub impresses and the vocals are crisp and clear throughout the presentation. The music also sounds fantastic and helps to bring viewers closer to the story. The English dub was produced later than the Japanese language track, and therefore has a more pleasing sound-stage and overall fidelity. Either of these options will please fans, though – it's wonderful to have the original Japanese audio included as well.

Dragon Ball Z: Season 6 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Season 6 30^th Anniversary edition comes packaged in a stunning collectible steelbook which has a memorable image of Goku in his Super Saiyan form. The art work is perfect for the release and makes a huge impression. The orange background color is perfectly complimentary and makes the set seem even more badass in hand. The print quality is uniformly great: showcasing the art in all of its glory. Featuring a semi-holographic style, the steelbook may remind fans of a cool collectible trading-card. Fantastic! A must-own.

Disc 3:

Textless Opening Song (HD, 1:51)

Textless Closing Song (HD, 1:43)

Disc 4:

Inside Dragon Ball Z: Interview with Eric Vale (HD, 19:14)

Inside Dragon Ball Z: Interview with Cynthia Cranz (HD, 18:12)

Dragon Ball Z Trivia (HD, 11:05)

Dragon Ball Z: Season 6 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Another must-own release of Dragon Ball Z. The sixth season is another jam-packed release that is full to the brim with adventure. The series is once again available in the original 4:3 full-frame aspect ratio. It's a joy to know that future generations of fans can now see the series in high- definition without the unnecessary cropping present on previous editions. Long-time fans will be enormously pleased too. The release even comes with a cool collectible steelbook. Highly recommended.