The Curse of Blood Rubies in Dragonball Dragonball, a popular anime and manga series, introduces its audience to a fascinating world filled with extraordinary adventures, powerful warriors, and mythical artifacts. Amongst these artifacts, one of the most intriguing is the Blood Rubies. These legendary gemstones possess immense power but carry a malevolent curse that haunts those who seek to possess them. Throughout the series, the Blood Rubies serve as a central plot point, captivating both the characters and the audience. Legends tell of their creation, originating from an evil wizard named Lucifer, who subjugated innocent people and used their energy to forge these powerful stones. As a result, his malice became infused within the gems, creating the curse that continues to impact those who encounter them.
As a result, his malice became infused within the gems, creating the curse that continues to impact those who encounter them. The curse of the Blood Rubies manifests in various ways, affecting both the physical and emotional well-being of those who are unfortunate enough to come into contact with them. **The curse drains the life force of individuals, causing exhaustion, weakness, and even death**.
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Before making their way into the “Z”-portion of the series, FUNimation tried things out with the first Dragon Ball TV series back in 1995. As a part of this endeavor, the very first movie for the franchise was also dubbed and released as “Curse of the Blood Rubies“. Much like their dub of the first thirteen TV episodes, it featured moderate censoring and a complete musical score replacement. Similar to their later “Z” distribution agreement with Pioneer, the home release for these episodes and movie were handled by Kidmark, who eventually (through a series of endless mergers and acquisitions) became absorbed into Lionsgate Entertainment. The details of this sub-license were never publicly disclosed, even long after the Pioneer sub-license expired and reverted to FUNimation. At one point we attempted to check in with Lionsgate as to what any future plans may be for the early part of the series and its first movie, but were quickly shooed away with a note that the relevant information was not for public consumption.
For years upon years, fans resigned themselves to the “fact” that the first thirteen episodes and first movie would probably never be released uncut and bilingual in North America due to this licensing fiasco. In 2001, FUNimation revisited the first TV series and began dubbing it for home distribution and television airing on Cartoon Network. Despite the first thirteen episodes receiving a completely new dub (and presumably with an uncut master back in the studio) which indeed aired on television, the home release continued onward, first on VHS and later on DVD, starting only with episode 14, where it had “left off” so many years earlier.
Off in its own little silo, Australia also received this continued home release of the first TV series from FUNimation, though distributed locally by Madman Entertainment. With the Lionsgate sub-license seemingly only affecting North America, Australia actually received a volume that American fans would have to wait on: a re-done “Saga of Goku” that not only included uncut and bilingual versions of the first thirteen episodes, but also the first movie! Sadly, the movie was the same dub-only and edited version with the original voice cast from so many years prior, indicating that a new, uncut dub of the movie had not yet been produced by FUNimation.
Leading up to July 2009, news tidbits and art began to leak online suggesting that FUNimation would be revisiting the first TV series for another home release, this time in a “remastered” format. Shocking everyone was the reveal that, yes, FUNimation had regained the rights to the first thirteen episodes, and they would be included uncut and bilingual on the first of the “blue brick” sets later that year.
The TV series continued its release in five sets at a steady pace over the next year, but FUNimation had yet to confirm any details about the first movie, which would have been included in the license return. In April 2010, the magazine Otaku USA published a pre-release review of the movie, which would apparently be receiving a re-release that July according to new RightStuf catalog listings. At the time, all indications pointed to a disc with the original, edited dub as well as an uncut version in its original Japanese. The following month, a trailer for the movie appeared on a new Amazon listing page that promised a “Coming Soon” release date. Nowhere in the trailer were any words such as “uncut” or “unedited” or even “Japanese” used (the trailer even used scenes from the TV episodes, which is one way the prior edited version changed elements of the movie), so it continued to be confoundingly-vague. To make matters worse, online listings began changing the release date to December later that year, which FUNimation soon confirmed to us was the new and accurate date for the release.
It took until November to get solid information about the release: it would be uncut, remastered, bilingual, and would receive a new dub with recast roles. By that point, the movie was only about a month off from release!
We reviewed the movie based on its Japanese Dragon Box release back on Episode #0112 of our podcast, but a three-year gap since then gave us an excuse to revisit the movie based on its celebratory and proper North American release so many years after its original debut.
This effect is particularly potent for those who possess a pure heart, as the curse preys on their innate goodness. Furthermore, the curse can manipulate the thoughts and emotions of individuals, driving them towards darkness and cruelty, causing them to lose their moral compass. In the Dragonball series, the protagonists face numerous challenges in their quest to protect the world from evil forces. The curse of the Blood Rubies presents an additional obstacle for them to overcome. **Their courage, determination, and unity become essential in resisting the curse's allure**. It highlights the moral struggle faced by individuals when tempted by power, illustrating the importance of staying true to oneself and not succumbing to temptation. Moreover, the Blood Rubies also provide an opportunity for character development and exploration. The curse, with its influence on the characters' thoughts and actions, creates internal conflicts that reveal their strengths and weaknesses. **The characters must confront their inner demons, overcome their doubts, and find the strength to resist the curse's temptations**. This aspect adds depth to the narrative, allowing for themes of self-discovery, redemption, and the power of friendship to emerge. In conclusion, the Curse of Blood Rubies in Dragonball is a captivating element of the series, enveloping the characters and the audience in a web of darkness and temptation. **This curse, with its draining effects on life force and manipulation of emotions, poses a significant challenge for the protagonists**. Their journey to overcome the curse not only showcases their physical prowess but also explores themes of inner strength, resilience, and the constant struggle between good and evil. As the Dragonball series progresses, it leaves a lasting impression on viewers, reminding them of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of staying true to oneself..
Reviews for "Understanding the Allure and Danger of Blood Rubies in Dragonball"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch "The Curse of Blood Rubies in Dragonball", but I was extremely disappointed. The story was confusing and didn't make much sense. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with any of them. The animation was also not up to par, often looking rushed and inconsistent. Overall, I found it hard to enjoy this movie and would not recommend it to other Dragonball fans.
2. Mike - 1 star - As a long-time Dragonball fan, I was extremely let down by "The Curse of Blood Rubies in Dragonball". The plot was weak and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The action sequences lacked the excitement and energy that I've come to expect from Dragonball. The animation quality was also subpar, with noticeable errors and sloppy artwork. I was hoping for an engaging and thrilling movie, but unfortunately, this film fell short in every aspect.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "The Curse of Blood Rubies in Dragonball" to be a disappointing addition to the Dragonball franchise. The storyline felt disjointed and rushed, jumping from one event to another without much explanation. The voice acting was also lackluster, with the characters sounding monotone and uninteresting. Moreover, the animation quality was subpar, often looking cheap and outdated. Overall, this movie failed to capture the essence and appeal of Dragonball, leaving me underwhelmed and dissatisfied.
4. Jason - 2 stars - "The Curse of Blood Rubies in Dragonball" didn't live up to my expectations at all. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, making it difficult for me to maintain my interest throughout the film. The voice acting was mediocre, with little emotional depth in the performances. Additionally, the animation quality was inconsistent, with some scenes looking polished while others appeared rushed and poorly executed. Overall, this movie felt like a missed opportunity to deliver an engaging and memorable Dragonball experience.