Individual Disc Releases
“The Saga of Goku” is the first season of the original Dragon Ball TV series for the North American market. The episodes currently released on those particular discs (episodes 001-013) are the first season as-is from their original syndication run on American television in 1995. This means they are edited, English-dubbed only (with the Ocean Studios cast, as opposed to FUNimation’s cast), and were distributed by KidMark prior to their acquisition by Lionsgate. For more information on the KidMark/FUNimation licensing fiasco, please refer to the “Newbie Guide“.
FUNimation had re-dubbed this season with their own in-house actors (which have also done the rest of the series; this re-dubbed first season was primarily produced for airing on Cartoon Network). While FUNimation had expressed their intent to release “all” of the series uncut on a home format that also includes the Japanese version, the above-noted contractual obligations and prior negotiations forbid them from releasing these home-format versions for a number of years. Their own dubbed versions of the episodes, however, have aired via non-physical-format means such as “on-demand” with major cable networks.
These first thirteen episodes have been released on DVD with both the uncut re-dub and the original Japanese language track in the same style as the rest of the TV series, but only in Australia. Madman, an Australian distributor that works closely with American anime companies, released “The Saga of Goku” in the PAL, Region 4 format. The very fact that FUNimation allowed the distribution of this material clearly implied their eagerness to release it to their American audience once the sub-license had expired or was otherwise contractually-worked-around.
FUNimation’s original releases of the original Dragon Ball TV series contain varying numbers of episodes, and typically do not move to a dual-layer format unless the situation absolutely warrants it. High amounts of compression are visible, and are a result of crunching a massive amount of video and audio onto the discs. The series was also released out of order, with the King Piccolo Saga and Piccolo Jr. Saga coming out, for example, much earlier than the middle of the series.
Several years after their release, FUNimation allowed the series to go out-of-print. Certain volumes of the series (namely the Tournament Saga) reached around $100 on second-hand retail sites.
All of FUNimation’s original releases (volumes two onwards) contain the first animation for the opening theme, and the second animation for the ending theme (despite the changes to it that occur over the course of the series). The reason for these non-changes is that FUNimation had not been given the original TV masters from each episode to work with (which is also the case with the previews; no sound was given to them to go along with the video for next-episode previews). Eyecatches were updated to the second animation where appropriate, however.
VM-7484D
TV Series Volume #1 – “The Saga of Goku” (Version 1, North America)
- 24 October 2000
- Released
- English Dubbed Only
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Edited
- Format
These episodes have been renamed and edited from the original episodes for which they are based; corresponding to Japanese episodes 001-013. This box set also contains an edited version of Dragon Ball movie 1.
Disc 1
001
Secret of the Dragon Ball
003
The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi
005
Yamcha the Desert Bandit
006
Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls
007
The Ox-King On Fire Mountain
Disc 2
009
Boss Rabbit’s Magic Touch
010
The Dragon Balls Are Stolen
011
The Penalty is Pinball
012
A Wish to the Eternal Dragon
M01
Curse of the Blood Rubies
MMA880
TV Series Volume #1 – “The Saga of Goku” (Version 2, Australia)
- 10 March 2004
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Edited
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 001-013. This box set also contains an edited version of Dragon Ball movie 1.
Disc 1
001
Secret of the Dragon Ball
003
The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi
005
Yamcha the Desert Bandit
006
Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls
007
The Ox-King On Fire Mountain
Disc 2
009
Boss Rabbit’s Magic Touch
010
The Dragon Balls Are Stolen
011
The Penalty is Pinball
012
A Wish to the Eternal Dragon
M01
Curse of the Blood Rubies
TV Series Volume #2 – “Tournament Saga”
- 28 January 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 014-028.
Disc 1
018
The Turtle Hermit Way
019
The Tournament Begins
Disc 2
022
Quarterfinals Continue
024
Krillin’s Frantic Attack
027
Number One Under the Moon
TV Series Volume #3 – “Red Ribbon Army Saga”
- 25 February 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 029-045.
Disc 1
030
Pilaf and the Mysterious Force
032
The Flying Fortress – Vanished!
033
The Legend of a Dragon
Disc 2
037
Ninja Murasaki is Coming!
039
Mysterious Android No. 8
041
The Fall of Muscle Tower
042
The Secret of Dr. Flappe
TV Series Volume #4 – “General Blue Saga”
- 23 September 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 046-057.
Disc 1
Disc 2
054
Escape from Pirate Cave
TV Series Volume #5 – “Commander Red Saga”
- 11 November 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 058-067.
Disc 1
059
The Notorious Mercenary
Disc 2
064
The Last of Mercenary Tao
065
Confront the Red Ribbon Army
067
The End of Commander Red
TV Series Volume #6 – “Fortuneteller Baba Saga”
- 09 March 2004
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 068-083.
Disc 1
069
Who is Fortuneteller Baba?
070
We are the Five Warriors
074
The Mysterious Fifth Man
Disc 2
076
True Colors of the Masked Man
078
The Eternal Dragon Rises
081
Goku Goes to Demon Land
082
The Rampage of Inoshikacho
083
Which Way to Papaya Island?
TV Series Volume #7 – “Tien Shinhan Saga”
- 28 September 2004
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 084-101.
Disc 1
086
Then There Were Eight
091
Counting Controversy!
Disc 2
093
Tien Shinhan vs. Jackie Chun
097
Final Match: Goku vs. Tien
TV Series Volume #8.1 – “King Piccolo Saga: Part One”
- 18 March 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 102-111.
Disc 1
Disc 2
109
Goku vs. King Piccolo
TV Series Volume #8.2 – “King Piccolo Saga: Part Two”
- 03 June 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 112-122.
Disc 1
Disc 2
TV Series Volume #9.1 – “Piccolo Jr. Saga: Part One”
- 15 July 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 123-137.
Disc 1
124
Temple Above the Clouds
125
Earth’s Guardian Emerges
126
Eternal Dragon Resurrected
127
Quicker Than Lightning
Disc 2
131
Walking Their Own Ways
136
Tien Shinhan vs. Mercenary Tao
TV Series Volume #9.1 – “Piccolo Jr. Saga: Part Two”
- 19 August 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 138-153.
Disc 1
141
The Four Faces of Tien
143
Battle for the Future
Disc 2
152
Mystery of the Dark World
153
The End, The Beginning
Remastered Season Box Sets
While news slowly leaked online for weeks leading up to its official announcement, FUNimation formally announced on 4 July 2009 during their panel at Anime Expo in California that the original Dragon Ball TV series was receiving a new “remastered” release, which would finally include the first 13 episodes of the series released on a physical, home-video format in North America, uncut and dual-language for the first time ever. Like the Dragon Ball GT sets (and unlike the Dragon Ball Z sets), the series would be released in its original/correct 4:3 aspect ratio. These sets began their release in September 2009, with no word on exactly how many sets will be released (assumed to be five based on the episode count per set), how long it will take to release the series in this new format (assumed to be completed in 2010 based on the current release schedule), or if the recent “Dragon Box” release for the Dragon Ball Z TV series will have any impact on whether or not the original TV series gets a “Dragon Box” set.
Dragon Ball – Season One
- 15 September 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 001-031. The box set contains a booklet featuring hero and enemy profiles, as well as brief episode summaries. This is the first North American release to feature the first thirteen episodes uncut with a Japanese language track.
Disc 1
001
Secret of the Dragon Ball
003
The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi
005
Yamcha the Desert Bandit
006
Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls
007
The Ox-King On Fire Mountain
Disc 2
009
Boss Rabbit’s Magic Touch
010
The Dragon Balls Are Stolen
011
The Penalty is Pinball
012
A Wish to the Eternal Dragon
Disc 3
018
The Turtle Hermit Way
019
The Tournament Begins
Disc 4
022
Quarterfinals Continue
024
Krillin’s Frantic Attack
027
Number One Under the Moon
Disc 5
030
Pilaf and the Mysterious Force
Dragon Ball – Season Two
- 10 November 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 032-061. The box set contains a booklet featuring hero and enemy profiles, as well as brief episode summaries.
Disc 1
032
The Flying Fortress – Vanished!
033
The Legend of a Dragon
037
Ninja Murasaki is Coming!
Disc 2
039
Mysterious Android No. 8
041
The Fall of Muscle Tower
042
The Secret of Dr. Flappe
Disc 3
Disc 4
054
Escape from Pirate Cave
Disc 5
059
The Notorious Mercenary
Dragon Ball – Season Three
- 02 February 2010
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 062-092. The box set contains a booklet featuring hero and enemy profiles, as well as brief episode summaries.
Disc 1
064
The Last of Mercenary Tao
065
Confront the Red Ribbon Army
067
The End of Commander Red
Disc 2
069
Who is Fortuneteller Baba?
070
We are the Five Warriors
074
The Mysterious Fifth Man
Disc 3
076
True Colors of the Masked Man
078
The Eternal Dragon Rises
081
Goku Goes to Demon Land
082
The Rampage of Inoshikacho
Disc 4
083
Which Way to Papaya Island?
086
Then There Were Eight
Disc 5
091
Counting Controversy!
Dragon Ball – Season Four
- 04 May 2010
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 093-122. The box set contains a booklet featuring hero and enemy profiles, as well as brief episode summaries.
Disc 1
093
Tien Shinhan vs. Jackie Chun
097
Final Match: Goku vs. Tien
Disc 2
Disc 3
109
Goku vs. King Piccolo
Disc 4
Disc 5
Dragon Ball – Season Five
- 27 July 2010
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
These episodes are uncut and synchronized with the original episodes for which they are based, but have been renamed; corresponding to Japanese episodes 123-153. The box set contains a booklet featuring hero and enemy profiles, as well as brief episode summaries.
Disc 1
124
Temple Above the Clouds
125
Earth’s Guardian Emerges
126
Eternal Dragon Resurrected
127
Quicker Than Lightning
Disc 2
131
Walking Their Own Ways
136
Tien Shinhan vs. Mercenary Tao
Disc 3
141
The Four Faces of Tien
143
Battle for the Future
Disc 4
Disc 5
152
Mystery of the Dark World
153
The End, The Beginning
