2019 marks the landmark 30th anniversary of “Dragon Ball Z,” which Toei plans to celebrate via a host of major events, licensing deals, promotions, product launches and activations fit for a property of this magnitude.
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Though Bandai Namco Entertainment is not prepared to officially announce future releases in partnership with Toei, according to Hartness, there could be more video games on the horizon in celebration of “Dragon Ball Z’s” 30th anniversary. And the storied partnership is showing no signs of slowing down in 2019 and beyond. “We plan to continue creating games that our mutual fans crave,” says Hartness. “I can’t mention details at this point, but please stay tuned for future announcements.”
Bioworld
In celebration of “Dragon Ball Z’s” 30th anniversary, Bioworld will create capsule collections throughout 2019 that will feature design direction that honors the history of the franchise. And Bioworld plans to work hand-in-hand with Toei to keep the momentum going throughout the year. “Bioworld is honored to be working on the ‘Dragon Ball Z’ franchise,” says Taylor. “We are proud to assist Toei in growing the brand to the next level.”
Fathom Events
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Toei and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘Dragon Ball Z’ this year,” says Deulley. “There are lots of discussions happening at the moment, so fans should stay tuned to Fathom Events and Toei’s websites and social channels throughout the year.”
Funimation
“The January theatrical opening of Dragon Ball Super: Broly is the jumping-off point for our yearlong ‘Dragon Ball Z’ 30th anniversary campaign,” says Fukunaga. “‘Dragon Ball Z’ has made a visible and lasting mark on North American pop culture. We will be celebrating the history of ‘Dragon Ball Z’ throughout this year while also exploring its impact in a variety of areas such as gaming, sports and music. There will, of course, also be unique product offerings for both fans and collectors alike. Stay tuned!”
Adult Swim
Between March and April, Turner’s Adult Swim and Toei will help celebrate the “Dragon Ball Z” anniversary via an announcement and a promotional giveaway for fans.
30th anniversary collectible Home Video Release
“In February, along with Funimation, we’re going to have a 30th anniversary collectible home video release announcement,” says Yamatoya.
DragonBall Symphonic Adventure in USA and Canada
“This summer, we will partner with Overlook to host a ‘Dragon Ball Z’ symphony concert in the U.S. and Canada. The audience can listen to the symphony while clips from the show play, allowing fans to see the story on-screen with live music.”
DragonBall at San Diego Comic-Con
In July, Toei and Bandai plan to bring “Dragon Ball” back to Comic-Con in a big way following the success of its appearance last year, which included the “Dragon Ball” takeover of the convention’s adjacent Marriott hotel. “This was the first time there was such a big push for anime at San Diego Comic-Con,” says Yamatoya. “At first, we were very skeptical about how people were going to respond because we felt it is a Hollywood-focused kind of event. But San Diego Comic-Con told us they wanted us back. We thought anime was too niche to do so well, but we are planning on a bigger presence.”
DragonBall at Anime Expo, Crunchy Roll Expo and New York Comic Con
Toei will also bring the “Dragon Ball” franchise to Anime Expo, Crunchy Roll Expo and New York Comic Con this year.
DragonBall at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
And in November, Toei will once again participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as it did last year with its massive Goku balloon. This year, Toei Animation will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of its “One Piece” series and the 20th anniversary of its “Digimon” series, which launched in 1999. As the year continues to roll out, many more licensed deals surrounding “Dragon Ball Z’s” milestone 30th anniversary will be announced.
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