Kanzenshuu

Toei Animation US Posts Japanese “Dragon Ball Super” Promo Video

Published by VegettoEX14 May 2016, 8:33 AM EDTCommentDragon Ball Super

The official ToeiAnimationUS YouTube channel posted the Dragon Ball Super TV series’ original 15-second promotional video yesterday evening. The video is not subtitled and is only available in its original Japanese language track.

Toonami Asia is set to debut their own English dub of Dragon Ball Super this year, with an expected launch date sometime this summer. FUNimation is not involved with Toonami Asia’s production, and has as-of-yet not announced their own license of the series for North America.

Thanks to WTK for the heads-up.

News

Bandai Namco Holdings Fiscal 2016 Figures

Published by VegettoEX11 May 2016, 10:56 AM EDTCommentFinancial

Namco-Bandai has posted a ¥34.583 billion (approximately $318 million) profit for the full fiscal 2016 year, compared to a ¥37.588 billion profit last year.

namco_bandai_logo_resaved

Dragon Ball came in as the company’s second-best-performing franchise for the year, pulling in ¥34.9 billion, a significant jump over last year’s ¥19.4 billion. The company is projecting the same ¥34.9 billion for fiscal year 2017 (with a stronger second half of the year). Outdone only by Gundam this year, the Dragon Ball franchise managed to eclipse One Piece for the first time since fiscal year 2010.

In terms of general toys and hobby merchandise (non-video games), the franchise also jumped from ¥5.8 billion last fiscal year to ¥11.6 billion this year (with the first half of the year alone hitting ¥5.6 billion). The company is forecasting a slight drop to ¥11.0 billion for next year.

News

Finalized Cover Art Unveiled For Upcoming Dragon Ball “Digest Edition” Manga

Published by Hujio11 May 2016, 9:37 AM EDT1 CommentSoshuhen

The official Dragon Ball 30th anniversary website has posted the finalized cover art for the upcoming “Digest Edition” (Sōshūhen) re-release of the Dragon Ball manga. These editions are touted as allowing the reader to “enjoy Dragon Ball the same way as when it was serialized in Jump“, as they will be the same size as the original Weekly Shōnen Jump serialization (JIS B5; 18.2 × 25.7 cm), and feature an exclusive large foldout poster, the original color pages and titles, promotional slogans, text, and logos, and next issue previews at the end of each chapter.

The first two volumes will hit Japanese shelves 13 May 2016. “Legend 1” will span 398-pages, cover the “Search for the Dragon Ball” story arc, and retail for ¥500 + tax, while “Legend 2” will span 512-pages, cover the “21st Tenka’ichi Budōkai” story arc, and retail for ¥600 + tax. Both volumes are currently available for pre-order on Amazon Japan. “Legend 1” will also include an exclusive “Son Goku” Dragon Ball Heroes card, while “Legend 2” will have a “Vegeta” card. “Legend 3” will follow shortly thereafter on 27 May 2016, with the second and fourth Friday of each subsequent month seeing one new volume apiece.

Podcast

Podcast Episode #0403

Published by VegettoEX10 May 2016, 11:11 AM EDTComment

This week’s episode brings us a split topic: in addition to a fantastic interview with Jason Thompson (former editor at Viz) conducted last weekend at Anime Fan Fest, yesterday’s major Dragon Ball Super story arc news gave us a great excuse to dive into the news a little bit and speculate on what the future holds.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0403! Mike and Meri discuss the impending return of Future Trunks in the “Dragon Ball Super” TV series next month. Is bringing back an older character the right direction for the franchise? Jason Thompson joins us from Anime Fan Fest 2016 to discuss the editorial days at Viz, the ups-and-downs of censorship in the “Dragon Ball” manga’s English translation, and much more.

REFERENCED SITES:

NEWS: “Future Trunks Arc” Announced For “Dragon Ball Super”

Enjoy! Discuss this episode on the Kanzenshuu forum, and be sure to connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, and Tumblr.

Our podcast feed is available via iTunes and/or Google Play Music. You can also listen to this episode by directly downloading the MP3, or you can listen on YouTube and/or SoundCloud.

News

Universal Studios Japan Announces “Dragon Ball Z: The Real 4-D” CG Attraction

Published by Hujio09 May 2016, 11:01 PM EDTComment

As part of their upcoming “Universal Jump Summer” 2016 line-up, with the tagline “The Legends, Grow Restive”, Universal Studios Japan has announced the inclusion of a new CG animated Dragon Ball attraction: “Dragon Ball Z: The Real 4-D”.

超(スーパー)サイヤ人・孫悟空 VS 宇宙の帝王・フリーザの大激闘が再び！
ドラゴンボール史で語り継がれる伝説の超人2大パワーの大激突が大迫力の４-Ｄアトラクションとなって登場。

Re-experience the fierce showdown between Super Saiyan Son Goku and space emperor Freeza!
This legendary clash of mighty super-humans passed down throughout Dragon Ball history makes its debut as a thrilling 4-D attraction.

This first-ever 4-D Dragon Ball attraction is advertised to feature completely original full CG animation of the epic battle between Super Saiyan Son Goku and Freeza. It is also promoted to provide fans with an “unprecedented experience of realistic quality” and will feature “non-stop attacks”, including hand-to-hand combat, delivering a “succession of excitement to the very end!”

The Dragon Ball attraction will premiere on 01 July 2016 and run until 04 September 2016 (which is subject to change), joining other established attractions from the popular Jump series One Piece and Death Note.

The One Piece attraction, entitled “One Piece: Premier Summer”, includes an updated “Premier Show 2016” live stage show centered around Luffy and Shanks, “Sanji’s Pirate Restaurant” with a French-inspired menu, and the “One Piece Water Battle” where spectators can participate in a real water battle between the Donquixote Pirates and the Marines. “Death Note: The Escape”, the 2016 Death Note attraction, features a “realistic escape game” designed by SCRAP where participants in teams of four must solve the interactive mystery laid out inside a four-storey tall replica of the “Sakura TV” building within the allotted time limit.

Express passes to these attractions are scheduled to go on sale 20 May 2016.

News

Toei Animation Launches 60th Anniversary YouTube Channel With “Dragon Ball” Content

Published by Hujio09 May 2016, 5:09 PM EDT1 Comment

In commemoration of its 60th anniversary this year, Toei Animation has launched an official “60th Anniversary YouTube Channel” which will feature free episodes and movies of the company’s most popular animated series created over the last 60 years.

The channel’s launch was officially announced on the official Dragon Ball Super website and via a press release published on Toei’s corporate website. In honor of “Goku Day” (May 9th) and the announcement of the “Future Trunks Arc” in Dragon Ball Super, the 60th anniversary channel has posted the Dragon Ball 10th anniversary movie (“The Path to Ultimate Strength”) and the second Dragon Ball Z TV special, which will be available for free for a limited time. Note that all videos posted on the channel are region locked and available for streaming only in Japan.

Also available on the channel are the first episodes of the Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Kai TV series. The channel is scheduled to remain open until July 2017, and will continue to highlight other series until then, including Dr. Slump — Arale-chan, Fist of the North Star, Slam Dunk, Digimon Adventure, Kinnikuman, Saint Seiya, and many more. Additional movies are scheduled to be made available this summer.

News

“Future Trunks Arc” Announced For “Dragon Ball Super”

Published by VegettoEX09 May 2016, 6:49 AM EDT1 CommentDragon Ball Super

Following hints from original author Akira Toriyama in recent interviews with Dragon Ball Super manga adaptation artist Toyotarō, Toei has officially announced a “Future Trunks Arc” coming to the Dragon Ball Super TV series:

The “Future” Trunks Arc Starts!

On June 12, 2016, Dragon Ball Super shows a new storyline… With Goku and the gang having finished the tournament against Universe 6, Trunks returns from the future and appears before them.

It’s the start of the “‘Future’ Trunks Arc”, a new plot line with story and characters based an original draft by Akira Toriyama.

After he defeated Cell, Trunks’ future was supposed to be at peace, so why has he re-appeared in the present…?

What is this new enemy in the future…?

The hotly anticipated new chapter starts June 12.

Accompanying the news and his character designs, Akira Toriyama also provided a new comment on the upcoming story arc:

Next up in Dragon Ball Super, adult Trunks will be putting in his first appearance in a long time! I put together this story based on a suggestion from the editorial office. Like last time, I write an outline of the entire plot, then the script writers break it up into episodes, expanding on things, changing things around, or adding in new bits as need be.

Despite being so strong, Trunks barely escapes from the future with his life.

The future was supposed to be at peace, so what in the world could have happened!?

And what about this foe too strong even for Trunks to handle, Goku Black!? (Well, you can probably imagine what he’s like just based off the name)

It’s the start of a battle that surpasses time and space, and drags in the God of Destruction, Kaiōshin, even the Omni-King! Many mysteries will be revealed!

There’s some confusing bits with time changing here and there, but just bear with me. It should definitely turn out to be a fun story!

Even I haven’t checked the final script yet.

Let’s enjoy this together (laughs)!!

The 42nd episode of the Dragon Ball Super TV series (“A Tumultuous Victory Celebration! Facing Off At Last: Monaka vs Son Goku?!”) aired this weekend. The TV series airs Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. on Fuji TV in Japan.

News

“Dragon Ball Super” Voice Actor Update: Satomi Kōrogi Debuts at “Zen’ō”

Published by VegettoEX03 May 2016, 9:10 AM EDTCommentDragon Ball Super

This past weekend’s forty-first episode of the Dragon Ball Super TV series in Japan saw the debut of “Zen’ō” (literally the “king/lord of everything”; the so-called “Omni-King”) — first seen at the end of the fortieth episode — with a speaking role as voiced by Satomi Kōrogi.

A newcomer to the Dragon Ball franchise, Kōrogi may perhaps be best known these days as Togepi in the Pokémon franchise, though her resume of other anime, gaming, and live-action dubbing roles beyond Pokémon is quite extensive.

Other voice debuts in the episode include Masaya Takatsuka and Yūsei Oda as the two attendants, with franchise stalwart Ryūzaburō Ōtomo taking the role of “Super Shenlong”.

News

“Dragon Ball Fusions” (3DS) Official Website Adds Character Bios

Published by VegettoEX03 May 2016, 6:24 AM EDTCommentProject Fusion

The official website for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS video game, Dragon Ball Fusions, has added biographies for the player’s main character and your in-game friend Pinich:

Hero / Player’s Avatar:
A youth whose goal is to become the world’s greatest martial artist. He and Pinich are both friends and rivals. In the mysterious world of ‘Time and Space Valley’, he continues to train while making many friends and allies.

Pinich:
A young Saiyan whose goal is to become the world’s greatest martial artist. He and the protagonist are friends and rivals. In the mysterious world of ‘Time and Space Valley’, he continues to train under his master, Vegeta.

As the player can choose between five races for their avatar, the hero is not specifically listed as being a Saiyan. As noted in the June 2016 issue of V-Jump, Pinich is also listed on the website as being voiced by Naomi Shindō. An introduction to the characters was outlined in last month’s May 2016 issue of Saikyō Jump and its debut chapter of Dragon Ball Fusions the Manga!!

Dragon Ball Fusions (originally revealed as “Project Fusion”) is currently under development by Ganbarion for a nebulous 2016 release by Bandai Namco on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. No international localization has been announced as-of-yet.

News

New “Tamashii Buddies” Figures Announced for September 2016: Beerus and SSGSS Son Goku

Published by VegettoEX28 April 2016, 9:37 AM EDTComment

The Tamashii Buddies line will receive two new friends later this year: God of Destruction Beerus and Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (SSGSS) Son Goku.

Pre-orders open today (28 April 2016) with an expected ship date in September this year. The 90mm PVC figures retail for ¥1,620 and ship with background slips as well as stands that can be stacked on top of each other. Pre-orders are currently available at CDJapan.

Bandai’s “Tamashii Buddies” line began back in late-2014 with the specific goal of expanding into the worldwide market. The figures have received somewhat widespread distribution in North America through retailers such as Barnes & Noble.

Relevant to our latest podcast release (Episode #0402): for the time being, it appears that merchandise will still use the “Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan” branding, as opposed to a complete shift over to “Super Saiyan Blue”…!