The past two issues of Weekly Shōnen Jump in Japan have featured a brand new series of Q&As — “Super Long Interview!! Please Tell Us, Akira Toriyama-sensei!!” — with the original Dragon Ball author himself. The first two questions posed to Toriyama covered the plot for the upcoming film and his design for “Birusu”, and this week’s question is about Toriyama’s placement of the film within the original manga storyline.
この時代を選んだ理由は!?
「マンガ最終話では、結構みんな歳を取った状態に描いてしまったなあ」と思ったのです。ベジータにヒゲ生やしちゃったし（笑）。そこで、みんながMAXまで強くなってるこの時代を選びました。「魔人ブウ編」の数年後で、パン誕生以前ですね。
Why did you choose this period?
The fact is, I thought, “Man, I really made everyone old in the last chapter of the manga”. I even gave Vegeta a mustache (laughs). So, I chose this period because everyone had got to maximum strength. A few years after the “Majin Buu arc”, and before Pan’s birth.
It is unclear if Toriyama is confusing his actual character designs in the last chapter of the manga with his designs for Dragon Ball GT or moving on to a separate thought with the mustache mention; in both cases, updated/older character designs were created.
We will continue to archive each of Toriyama’s answers on a new page of our “Translations” section with each release.
Announced within the pages of the upcoming May 2013 issue of V-Jump (hitting Japanese shelves 21 March 2013) is Dragon Ball Tap Battle for the Android and iOS mobile platforms.
Direct control by touching the screen!! This is Touch Battle!!
You can easily enjoy Dragon Ball’s genuine fighting action on your smartphone!! By tapping the screen with your fingers, you can cause an intense battle to unfold!!
Utilizing the smartphone’s sense of control to its greatest extent, super-high-speed fights are possible!! Naturally, you can play with a friend, too!!
Dragon Ball Tap Battle hits Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and higher next week on 25 March 2013, and iOS at a later date; it will cost ¥350.
Birusu, God of Destruction (from this month’s new film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods), was announced last month as a special addition for the multiplayer, online, Japanese-only arcade fighting game, Zenkai Battle Royale. For now, Birusu will only be available to players by participating in the “Competition for Dragon Balls” promotion and fulfilling the requirements to unlock him, which all kicks off with the movie’s release 30 March 2013.
The official website for the game has now been updated with a full character profile page for Birusu, and the upcoming May 2013 issue of V-Jump (releasing 21 March 2013) provides a few additional tidbits about how to combat against the God’s overwhelming strength.
While Birusu’s speed is great, it is possible to fight back by getting him into a certain area that slows his movements, allowing the player to catch up with him for a set amount of time. In addition, while his special attack covers a wide swath of territory that makes it nigh-impossible to dodge, through “additional input” (we assume this means extra button-presses), the player can cause the energy ball to explode in midair, before it hits.
Additionally, it appears “Super Saiyan God” will also be making an appearance in the game:
In order to win against Birusu, one more “God” enters the Zenkai fray!! All details will be revealed in the super-large June issue of V-Jump!!
This is—— the ‘God’ of the Saiya!!
As we have come to expect from this game, the updates are fast, furious, and not slowing down even this long after its original release.
We have seen an onslaught of new and revitalized Dragon Ball merchandise coming out recently thanks to Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, the franchise’s first theatrical film in 17 years. With a few new listings popping up in the past few days, it is safe to say that the film’s merchandising push is not done quite yet.
EIWA Publishing has released a new “mook” (short for “magazine book”), entitled “Dragon Ball: The Strongest Inquiry”, which details every battle from the Dragon Ball Z TV series. The “mook” hit Japanese store shelves yesterday (15 March 2103), and can also be grabbed online from Amazon Japan for ¥840. It should be noted that this “mook” does not appear to be associated with Shueisha, and therefore is not considered an “official” guide for the series.
Later next week Shueisha will be releasing what Amazon Japan is listing as a new “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods magazine”. However, according to the calendar on Shuiesha’s official website, this special edition magazine from Shōnen Jump is actually the film’s “Official Movie Guide”. This will most likely be similar to the previous special magazines released for the 12th and 13th Dragon Ball Z movies, which featured plot details, background information, character profiles, and original concept drawings and designs. It is set to be released 21 March 2013 with a price point of ¥580.
Finally, when it was first revealed that the new Chōzenshū line of guidebooks would be a condensed “revival” of the legendary Daizenshuu guides from the mid-1990s, and when the four Chōzenshū titles were later officially announced by Shueisha, many fans pointed out that one of the more popular Daizenshuu was missing from the collection: the “Complete Illustrations” (which, incidentally, actually received an English release in North America from Viz back in 2008).
A listing has since popped up on Shueisha’s official listing site for a “Dragon Ball: Chōgashū” (“Super Illustration Collection”). Although the book is not listed as part of the Chōzenshū collection, the timing and “missing” Chōzenshū content leads us to assume they are related. Presumably this collection will feature Akira Toriyama’s original artwork, including additional post-serialization illustrations. The collection is listed as being a B5 size book, the same size as the Daizenshuu and Chōzenshū, with a release date of 09 May 2013 and a price point of ¥3,800. You can currently pre-order a copy at Amazon Japan.
In addition to the previously-announced Ryūsei Nakao (Tambourine, Freeza, Coola), the convention Animazement announced today the attendance of two more veteran voice actors from the Dragon Ball world: Masako Nozawa (Son Goku, et al.) and Toshio Furukawa (Piccolo).
Animazement will take place 24 May 2013 to 26 May 2013 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
It perhaps goes without saying, but this confirms a trip to North Carolina by Kanzenshuu.
The official website for the upcoming film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods has announced midnight showings on the night of 29–30 March 2013 in both Osaka and Fukuoka. Additionally, each location will show another five Dragon Ball Z movies from the past (using their original 35 mm film prints), though each location will have a different line-up.
Umeda Burg 7 in Osaka will open its doors at 11:30 p.m. on the 29th and start the new movie at midnight. The following older movies will screen afterward:
- DBZ Movie 1 – “Dragon Ball Z” (1989)
- DBZ Movie 2 – “The World’s Strongest Guy” (1990)
- DBZ Movie 4 – “Super Saiyan Son Goku” (1991)
- DBZ Movie 11 – “Super-Warrior Defeat!! I’m the One Who’ll Win” (1994)
- DBZ Movie 13 – “Dragon Fist Explosion!! If Goku Doesn’t Do It, Who Will?” (1995)
T-Joy Hakata in Fukuoka will open at 11:00 p.m. and will start Battle of Gods at 11:30 p.m. The following older movies will then be shown:
- DBZ Movie 3 – “A Super Decisive Battle for Earth” (1990)
- DBZ Movie 5 – “The Incredible Strongest vs Strongest” (1991)
- DBZ Movie 6 – “Clash!! 10,000,000,000 Powerful Warriors” (1992)
- DBZ Movie 9 – “The Galaxy at the Brink!! The Super Incredible Guy” (1993)
- DBZ Movie 12 – “The Rebirth of Fusion!! Goku and Vegeta” (1995)
Due to youth ordinances in both cities, ticket holders must be 18 years of age or older. The price at both venues will be ¥2,800, and no discounts will be accepted. However, holders of pre-release tickets will be able to use them for an extra ¥1,000 (for a total of ¥2,300, or ¥500 off the regular price for the event). Tickets have been available since this past Tuesday (the 12th) online via KINEZO Express or at the theater ticket counter, and will go on sale via KINEZO NOW starting on Wednesday, 27 March. Using the KINEZO service, credit is the only form of payment that may be used prior to two days before the event, but cash will also be accepted from that point onward.
Both Osaka and Fukuoka will also be receiving double-features of two earlier Dragon Ball films each on 20 March 2013, while that same day Tokyo will get a special preview screening of Battle of Gods along with five extra films afterward.
Thanks to DragonBoxZTheMovies for the tip.
The recently-released April 2013 issue of Seiyū Animedia in Japan includes a new interview with voice actress Masako Nozawa about her involvement with and feelings about the upcoming film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.
We have added an English translation of this interview to our “Translations” section.
The April 2013 issue of Seiyū Animedia is available for purchase from CDJapan and Amazon Japan.
Japanese convenience stores Lawson and Mini Stop have added — in addition to previous offerings, such as the awesome “Dragon Bowl” – an assortment of food products in support of the upcoming fim Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.
Lawson has available, starting yesterday:
- Karaage-kun fried chicken, shrimp-chilli flavor (¥210)
- Fried curry bun with gooey soft-boiled egg inside (¥155)
- Fluffy Kinto’un Bread (¥130; milk & whip)
- Makankōsappō Snack, wasabi flavor (¥148)
- Babystar Ramen-Maru, chicken flavor with spicy garlic flavor bits
- Pafu-Pafu Marshmallows, strawberry flavor
- Kinto’un Cotton Candy, lemon flavor
- Dragon Ball Mug & Jelly (¥398)
- Super God Water (¥110; a vitamin C lemonade-esque drink)
- Dragon Ball Z boxed tissues (¥198)
There are also other, non-food items that are not listed on the website, such small toy-type things and cases to put things in as well. Next week Lawson will also have a Yakiniku Fusion Bento (beef & pork).
Mini Stop has available, starting yesterday:
- “Dragon Balls” (¥250; pizza bites)
- Super Saiyan x French Fries (¥198)
- Piccolo Daimaō‘s Matcha Double Chou (¥150)
- “Dragon Balls you eat with a spoon” (¥180)
Starting today, Mini Stop also has available:
- Majin Buu’s Milk Pudding (¥240)
On the 25th, Mini Stop will start selling:
- “Goku’s Nyoibō Stick Bread” (¥125; this is already available at Lawson, and does not appear to be an exclusive)
- “Kuririn’s Whip & Chestnut Cream Bread” (¥125)
Finally, on the 26th, they will start selling:
- One-Star Ball Tenshinhan (¥590; this obviously being the food, and not the character!)
- Genki-Dama Onigiri (¥250; a seaweed-wrapped rice ball with “spicy curry” flavored rice and a soft-boiled egg in the center)
- “Kamehameha Rice” (¥398)
- Seven-Ingredient Yakisoba (¥420 yen)
- Kamesen-Style Roll (¥198; not available in all areas)
- Vegeta’s Vegetable Salad (¥398)
Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission for the Nintendo 3DS — a portable version of the two-year-old, still-going-strong, card-based arcade game — had a solid first week, pushing 88,386 copies and far outpacing both its most recent console and handheld predecessors.
It remains somewhat strong for a second week, pushing another 21,915 copies in Japan and coming in as the #11 game for the week.
Dragon Ball Kai: Ultimate Butōden for the Nintendo DS dropped from 31,108 copies its first week to 10,341 its second week back in 2011.
The first preview screening for the new film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, took place at Shinjuku Wald 9 earlier today in Japan. Voice actress Masako Nozawa and others were on hand to introduce the film. Nozawa was asked what she would wish for if she could have one wish come true, answering, “As long as the Earth exists, I want to keep doing Dragon Ball with Goku.” Otaku icon Shōko Nakagawa — who plays the “Oracle Fish” in the film — replies, “The words you just spoke will go down in history.” The introduction concludes with the entire audience performing a Kamehameha with Nozawa!
While Kanzenshuu staff were unable to secure tickets for either this screening or one of the screenings simulcast to locations across Japan (the movie drops nationwide in Japan 30 March 2013 and we will have our own first-hand accounts that same day), friend-of-the-site kei17 luckily made his way in! Until the 30th, for those of you absolutely dying for any more hints about the story, here you go! Be warned, as should likely go without saying at this point, that we are in full-on “spoiler” territory here.
- The new “Super Saiyan God” form is a legendary form among the Saiyans that needs the power of six pure-hearted Saiyans. “Super Saiyan God” had appeared on Planet Vegeta once before to stop evil Saiyans, but he failed due to the form’s time limit.
- Goku reaches this “Super Saiyan God” form — looking similar to the image seen on a Toei Animation office poster — surrounded by a red aura. Goku returns to his regular Super Saiyan form, but has now felt the form’s godlike power and is able to tap into it.
- While there are only five Saiyans seen in the movie (Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Trunks, Goten), there is actually a sixth: the one currently growing inside Videl (Pan)! Dende is the one to notice the pregnancy as he heals Videl from inadvertently being shot by Mai, all thanks to a drunken Gohan.
- Pilaf and his gang make a wish to Shenlong to restore their youth, but are then made too young.
- “Uisu” does not fight at all, but “Birusu” reveals that Uisu is his martial arts master and is even stronger than he is.
- Birusu reveals that there are actually “12 universes”, and what we see in the Dragon World is but one of them — this ties in with the seemingly-out-of-the-blue notation in Chōzenshū 1: Story & World Guide that states Planet Earth, where Goku & co. live, is Planet 4032-877, and is part of the “Seventh Universe”.
Check back soon for a longer summary of the film!
