Dragon Ball Z: Season Seven (Great Saiyaman & World Tournament Sagas)

Like stated before, this season is essential to find out how season six and eight link. why they had to make a whole season instead of just a couple episodes is beyond me, but anyway. Also, I would imagine they put one character on each box cover and it was Piccolo's turn. I would prefer to just rent this set, its entertaining but not anything i will watch again.

I have to admit that I'm a bit biased towards the "Dragon Ball Z" anime series. I loved the series when it was first release in Japan and still passionate about it today.

The fact that FUNimation Entertainment releases these season box sets with plenty of episodes (25 in this box set) for under $30 is just awesome! Could you imagine that just several years ago, the series was released with only a few episodes per disc (and there are literally a few hundred episodes of DBZ) and were sold for under $20 at one time. So, the fact that you can watch all these episodes with digitally remastered video and revised audio is just great!

As for this box set, personally I enjoyed the Great Saiyaman arc. We watched little Gohan grow up and now he is a teenager and although he doesn't know it yet, he has met someone he cares about and willing to help her no matter what. The chemistry between Gohan and Bedil is just awesome and episodes just focusing on these two were just great.

Also, episodes featuring Goten and Trunks and seeing these two go against each other in the Junior Division of the World Tournament was fun to watch.

And of course, to see how everyone has changed. Especially Krillin who is now married to Android 18 and both have a daughter. Heck, Krillin now has hair!

But once you get to the third arc, you know that we are now heading towards the explosive final "Dragon Ball Z" villain arc of the coming of Majin Buu and with that being said, similar to the fifth season box set, season seven may leave people feeling cheated because there are only 25 episodes instead of the 30+ episodes.

In fact, discs 4-6 only contain three episodes each. Disappointing but at the same time, I understand why FUNimation had to do it, and that is to make sure that a TV season focuses on certain arcs. This season box set focuses on the Great Saiyaman but also the Underworld Martial Arts Tournament and the World Martial Arts Tournament.

It's easy to get spoiled since the first few seasons and even the last season, fans have been treated with more than 30 episodes. But still, considering how much these episodes were sold at one point and the fact is, you still get 25 episodes at under $30, that's still a great deal.

Also, if you are buying Season 7 of the the series, more than likely you have committed yourself in buying every season of "Dragon Ball Z".

All in all, another fun and enjoyable season of "Dragon Ball Z". Check it out!

This isn't supposed to be released until next week as of my writing this but i stumbled across a copy that must have shipped early and made it to the shelves at my local walmart earlier tonight. I was one of the guys who grew into their adolescence watching this show and it filled the void that pokemon left when it became considered to juvenile after sixth grade.

This season contains the following 25 episodes:

180 Warriors of the Dead- Goku meets Grand Kai and runs into Cell & Frieza Again
181 Tournament Begins- Goku enters another world tournament
182 Water Fight- Other World Tournament plays out, quarter finals
183 Final Round- Other world tournament heats up, final round begins
184 Goku vs. Pikkon- Other world tournament ends, will Goku or Pikkon win
185 Gohan Goes to High School- 7 years after cell, Teen Gohan goes to high school
186 I Am Saiyaman- Gohan becomes a super hero
187 Gohan's First Date- Gohan is blackmailed into a date
188 Rescue Videl- Gohan must...rescue videl
189 Blackmail- Gohan is blackmailed into world tournament by Videl
190 I'll Fight Too!- Other Z fighters want in on world tournament
191 The Newest Super Saiyan- Trunks and Goten have secrets, Videl meets Chi-Chi
192 Take Flight, Videl- Gohan teaches Videl and Goten to fly
193 Gather for the Tournament- Everyone meets at the tournament, some old friends finally reunite
194 Camera Shy- Everyone is at tournament, prelims begin
195 The World Tournament- The world tournament junior division begins
196 Trunks .vs. Goten- World tournament juniors continue
197 Best of the Boys- Who will win Goten or Trunks?
198 Big Trouble, Little Trunks- Trunks fights Mr. Satan/Hercule, Goku is confronted by mystery men
199 Who Will Fight Who?- The important fighting order is decided, and manipulated
200 Forfeit of Piccolo- Everyone is stunned when Piccolo forfeits, what could be his reason?
201 A Dark and Secret Power- Videl fights a man stronger than expected
202 Videl is Crushed- Her opponent prolongs the match totorture Videl
203 Identities Revealed- Gohan takes the ring but blows his disguise
204 Energy Drain- Two mystery men have a surprise for Gohan which will lead us towards the Babadi, Majin Buu saga.

These episodes are mostly considered filler that lead into the final major villain of Dragon Ball Z and all the Majin Buu saga's. I however enjoy seeing Gohan just be Gohan for a bit before getting back into the action and the first few episodes are Goku entering a tournament in the after life which are at the least entertaining if not a repeat of what we've already seen. I remember liking how they take Videl's character from someone i didn't like at all and made her likeable as episodes went on with the interaction between she and Gohan, it reminds me of Dragon Ball's earlier episodes and Chi-Chi being reintroduced towards the end.

I personally enjoy these episodes but by far my favorite season will always be the cell games saga, maybe because of the time of my life they aired (i was the same age Gohan is at) or the subject's they covered and area's they ventured, they will always be my favorite and the sixth season set was the best out of all of them as far as the episodes go. it may be that after that season I began feeling too old for DBZ but I liked where that saga left off on a high point and in a good place.

However, I find the whole series enjoyable and these episodes are no different, actually I'm finding myself enjoying them now almost more than when they originally aired because the aniticipation that used to stay with me during episodes to see where they were going and when and what the next battle would be is gone now and i can actually pay attention to the slower parts focusing on other areas besides the fighting.

The box and set itself is the same as always with the booklet and obviously the controversial cropped image. The cropping doesn't bother me much and never has and after buying all the sets so far in I don't see a reason to buy them again without the cropping because for me it won't make that big a difference. I hope for some of you that it does matter that someday they release these in original format but they are more than good enough for me. Some shots you notice the cropping but admtittedly it does make others more cinematic or enhanced.

I always appreciate the preview of the next saga's on the last disc and hopefully the next season will come out as quickly as this one did so we can finish up this series and I can relive all my childhood memories before I get too old.

I don't care if they put Krillin, Master Roshi or Bulma in the cover. As long as I complete the DBZ saga, I'm good.

I think pikkon should be on the cover cuz he rocks. great saiyaman could also be on the cover too cuz he is hilarious. anyway this should be a good dvd to buy. love to watch it in Japanese.