Company to use new re-master process, will release Season Sets with more episodes/set

North American anime licensor Funimation announced on Thursday that it will again release the Dragon Ball Z television anime series on Blu-ray Disc.

Funimation had attempted to release the series on Blu-ray Disc in 2011, but the company suspended publication of those discs in January 2012 due to the technical challenges involved with the frame-by-frame restoration of the original film.

Funimation said it has already started the restoration process for the new sets. Funimation is using a different restoration and re-mastering process, and noted that it is using a "a bolder, more vibrant color palette ... to produce a picture current, and future, televisions can take advantage of." The new sets will be in widescreen format. Funimation added that it has used "precise shot-by-shot reframing of each scene ... to ensure the optimal picture when converting from its native, full screen format."

Funimation is currently streaming a trailer for the first set.

The new sets will include more episodes per volume than the "Level Sets" Funimation released before. Funimation will be releasing the Blu-ray Discs in Season Sets with identical episode counts to the DVD Season Sets. The new sets will also include three re-mastered audio tracks.

The Season Sets will include a nine-part extra features special, and each of the sets will include new cast interviews, retrospectives, and fan submissions. The first Season Set will ship on December 31 for US$44.98, and will include episodes 1-39. Funimation is currently hosting a pre-order sale for the set from now until November 11.