Dragon Ball Z-Bardock: The Father of Goku (2000)

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General		Extras
Category	Anime	Main Menu Audio & Animation Biographies-Character-3 Featurette-DBZ Web Promo (00:14) Trailer-History of Trunks (1:07) Trailer-Cell Saga (00:50) DVD Credits
Rating
Year Of Production	2000
Running Time	48:14
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Daisuke Nishio
Studio Distributor	Toei Animation Madman Entertainment	Starring	Christopher Sabat Sean Schemmel Brian Thomas
Case	DV-4
RPI	$24.95	Music	Shinsuke Kikuchi

    Bardock - The Father of Goku is quite a useful piece of information in the DBZ universe. Although this sub-plot has been partially played out via flashbacks in the actual series already, the feature on this disc expands on the sub-plot and actually gives the corresponding saga some new meaning to the more mature DBZ viewer.

    This extended episode centres on Bardock, Goku's father, and his quest against Frieza. While conquering a planet for Frieza, Bardock and his team of Saiya-jins are ambushed by the last surviving inhabitant of the planet. This creature strikes Bardock with an attack that gives him the unwanted ability to see into the future. Enraged by the fact that he has a vision of Frieza destroying planet Vegeta (Bardock's and all Saiya-jin's home) Bardock goes after Frieza with a vengeance.

    I personally didn't find this feature to be as interesting as the last I reviewed (History Of Trunks). In fact, I fell asleep a couple of times whilst watching it. This was mainly because I already knew what was going to happen during the climax of the episode and because it is not as action-packed as others I have viewed. Still, it works best as an educational tool for newer DBZ viewers.

    For the second time, the original Japanese language track has been included. I commend Madman for doing this, as now I don't have to bother with the English track for the most part. Unfortunately, the normal DBZ discs have yet to feature the alternate language track. Although not as good as the first extended-episode style feature, Bardok-The Father Of Goku is yet another example of good anime highlighted by the original voice acting.

Video

    A consistent transfer is present on this disc in comparison to the other discs in the series, though there is a slight stumble.

    Bardok-The Father Of Goku is presented at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 and is not anamorphically enhanced.

    As mentioned above, consistency is a key word when describing the transfers that this series has been granted thus far. Sharpness is only limited by the source materials, which in this case aren't as good as the last disc I reviewed. Lines are still sharp, especially in the fight close-ups. Shadow detail is as it was meant to be.

    Colour wasn't as varied as that of previous discs but it was just as vibrant. Whilst using my pause and examine technique, the pseudo cels showed excessive colour bleed from the colour red, especially at times like 14:05 in the upper left corner.

    Grain was again the main contributor to the problem list, being most apparent at 10:26. The problem has become slightly worse when compared to the last reviewed disc, though this can be attributed to the actual anime being older than that previously reviewed.

    Two sets of subtitles are provided. The English subtitles match the Japanese audio track and the English For The Hearing Impaired subtitles match up with the English audio track.

Audio

    Plus: A Japanese audio track is provided. Minus: The English audio track sounds better.

    There are two audio tracks on this DVD; English and Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mixes. I listened to the Japanese track completely and also sampled a large percentage of the English track. It was a pain to listen to the English track as it is so inaccurate, especially with the Japanese language track's English subtitles activated.

    Although I cannot speak Japanese, the Japanese track was definitely mastered at a lower audio level than the English dub. Therefore, some of the words were hard to make out at times, especially the few that I was sure of. The English track was infinitely clearer and I had no problem discerning all portions of it.

    In regards to the music, there is no comparison. The music provided in the Japanese audio track is perfectly suited to the show. Have a listen for a few minutes before you switch over to English and you will be shocked at the disrespect Funimation has given the original composers. Timing, composition and silence all made the Japanese audio track's music great. Unfortunately, the English track features none of the qualities.

    There is no surround nor .1 channel use by these stereo soundtracks.

Main Menu Audio & Animation

Biographies - Character Profiles (3)

Featurette-DBZ Web Promo (00:14)

Trailer-History of Trunks (1:07)

Trailer-Cell Saga (00:50)

DVD Credits

    The R1 disc features the "The World Of Dragonball Z" featurette, which is present on our DBZ 3.3, therefore we are actually slightly ahead in the extras department.

    Bardock - The Father of Goku is a slightly repetitive feature on a decent DVD. The video exhibits a mildly annoying colour problem and the audio is lacking in quality somewhat while listening to the Japanese track. The extras are low in quantity and slightly low in quality.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall