Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Dragon Ball Super – Part 9 (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray Disc Review) (2017)

If you are a fan of “Dragon Ball”, a fan that love the characters and the action-driven storyline, you’re going to enjoy this action-packed volume 9 of “Dragon Ball Super”. And also get ready for the first battle between Goku vs. Jiren. Recommended!

TITLE: Dragon Ball Super – Part 9

DURATION: (Episodes 105-117) 325 Minutes

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16×9), English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Funimation

RATED: TV PG

Release Date: October 8, 2019

Originally created by Akira Toriyama

Directed by Kimitoshi Chioka

Script by Atsuhiro Tomioka

Produced by Kazuya Watanabe, Kohei Obara, Kyotaro Kimura, Makoto Seino

Character Design by Tadayoshi Yamamuro

Music by Norihito Sumitomo

Art Design by Shinzo Yuki

Anime Production: Toei Animation

Featuring the following voice talent:

Masako Nozawa/Colleen Clinkenbeard as Son Gohan

Masako Nozawa/Sean Schemmel as Son Goku

Hikaru Midorikawa/John Burgmeier as Tenshinhan (Tien)

Hiromi Tsuru/Monica Rial as Bulma

Masaharu Satou/Mike McFarland as Kame-sennin

Mayumi Tanaka/Sonny Strait as Krillin (Kuririn)

Naoki Tatsuta/Brad Jackson as Oolong

Naoko Watanabe/Cynthia Cranz as Chi-Chi

Ryo Horikawa/Christopher R. Sabat as Vegeta

Brina Palencia as Chiaotzu/Puar

Tohru Furuya/Christopher R. Sabat as Yamcha

Toshio Furukawa/Christopher R. Sabat as Piccolo

Ayano Hirano/Justin Cook as Dende

Eiji Hanawa as Jiren

Eiko Yamada/Carmen Smith as Mai

Kouichi Yamadera/Jason Douglas as Beerus

Kozo Shioya as Majin Buu

Masakazu Morita/Ian Sinclair as Whis

Miki Itou as Cyborg #18

Mitsuo Iwata as Champa

Takeshi Kusao/Alexis Tipton as Trunks

The Tournament of Power rages on. The 2nd Universe’s warriors of love are out for blood, Frieza makes his move, and Goku’s attention turns to Jiren. But when Goku’s stamina starts to dwindle, can Instinct save him?

With the ninth volume of “Dragon Ball Super”, the Tournament of Power continues as Master Roshi (Kami-sama) must take on Fourth Universe fighter Caway and her teammate Dercori. While Tien takes on Harmira.

What happens when Frieza ends up teamiung up with Frost to take on Gohan?

And Son Goku takes on the powerful Jiren!

What is “Dragon Ball Super” about?

With the completion of the hugely popular anime series “Dragon Ball Z”, while a new story was created titled “Dragon Ball GT” (1996-1997) and not based on Toriyama Akira’s previous work, Toriyama would return to create an overall plot outline for a new series titled “Dragon Ball Super” produced by Toei Animation.

The series is considered as the true sequel to “Dragon Ball Z” and would take place four years after the DBZ storyline.

The series began airing in Japan on July 2015 and concluded on March 2018 with a total of 131 episodes having aired. Funimation has released part 9 which consists of episodes 105-117 which continues the Tournament of Power storyline

Present and Future Grand Zeno decide to do a major tournament but this time involving all Universes! And whoever loses, will have their world destroyed.

In this latest tournament, while there are one-on-one battles, it’s pretty much a team battle. So, anything can happen.

Master Roshi (Kami-sama) must take on Fourth Universe fighter Caway and her teammate Dercori. While Tien takes on Harmira.

What happens when Frieza ends up teamiung up with Frost to take on Gohan?

And Son Goku takes on the powerful Jiren but what will happen to Goku during their first battle with each other?

Meanwhile, Caulifla demands Goku to fighter her and teach her on how to unlock Super Saiyan 3. But when Goku urges her and Kale to team up and fight him, both have a secret waiting for Goku.

VIDEO:

“Dragon Ball Super” is created in 1080p High Definition (16×9 HD Native). The episodes are colorful and absolutely vibrant. Great detail with character designs and wonderful animation for fight scenes. I saw no major softness, banding issues or artifacts during my viewing of the series.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Dragon Ball Super” features a wonderful soundtrack on Blu-ray. The series is presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English) and Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (Japanese). Featuring the return of the original Dragon Ball Japanese and also English voice dub talent, the quality of the series voice acting continues with this series.

Because the English is mixed and utilizes more channels, there is a dramatic difference in sound, although for those with a modern receiver and have a solid 5.1 or 7.2 setup, can easily switch their receiver to stereo on all channels for the Japanese soundtrack for a more immersive soundscape.

There are online stores showing that the Japanese is Dolby Digital 2.0 but this is incorrect, it is indeed a lossless Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 soundtrack. And both soundtracks sound great!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Dragon Ball Super – Part 9” comes with the following special features:

Dragon Ball Super: Q&A with Sarah Wiedenheft and Dawn Bennett – (9:36) The voice actresses of Zeno and Kale.
Textless Opening Songs
Textless Closing Songs

I grew up watching “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball Z” (as well as “Dragon Ball GT”) and at the time, I was a college student watching these episodes in straight Japanese until over a decade later, they were released on DVD and eventually on Blu-ray courtesy of Funimation.

I played the Japanese video games and always purchased the Japanese animation magazines every month back when Tower Records existed in the US.

So growing up with the anime series and now as an adult with a teenage child who watches “Dragon Ball”, it’s a bit of a surreal feeling that the storyline of Goku and friends are continuing for a new generation of anime fans but also entertaining both young and old.

Part 9 continues the “Tournament of Power” arc and there are so many battles as we get to see Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Tien and even Master Roshi (Kamisama) and also we can see Android 17 and 18 and even Frieza battle as well with the other fighters from rival universes.

If anything, the episodes are non-stop action as they are focused on the tournament. And the battle between Goku vs. Jiren (Part 1) and Goku vs. Caulifla and Kale. Heck, and one thing that I didn’t expect to see in numerous battles is Master Roshi.

But there are a lot of surprises in this arc, from what happens to Goku during his battle with Jiren, Frieza twists that no one expects to happen, and for me, it’s always great to see Android 17 and 18 in a major battle.

Needless to say, with the Tournament of Power and many universes fighting to keep their planet alive, everyone fights in this awesome, action-packed volume and the arc is absolutely awesome!

Overall, another wonderful “Dragon Ball Super” Blu-ray + DVD release! Because it’s tournament time again, it’s a familiar feeling which fans of the original “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball Z” will be familiar with. A lot of action is featured in this latest volume and the team battles are fantastic to watch, especially for those who have wanted to see the Z Warriors fighting in the “Tournament of Power” and also seeing a former enemy of Goku, being brought back to fight for Universe 7!

For the most part, if you are a fan of “Dragon Ball”, a fan that love the characters and the action-driven storyline, you’re going to enjoy this action-packed volume 9 of “Dragon Ball Super”. And also get ready for the first battle between Goku vs. Jiren.

Recommended!

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