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“Battle of Gods” Preview Screening + Movie Marathons
Published by 11 March 2013, 2:46 PM EDT3 Comments

On Wednesday, 20 March 2013 (a holiday — the first day of spring), Toho Cinemas outlet Odaiba Cinema Mediage in Tokyo will be hosting a special preview screening of the upcoming film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods followed by a marathon of six older Dragon Ball films via 35mm prints. The additional films include:

  • DBZ Movie 1: Return My Gohan!! (1989)
  • DBZ Movie 4: Super Saiyan Son Goku (1991)
  • DBZ Movie 5: The Incredible Strongest vs Strongest (1991)
  • DBZ Movie 12: The Rebirth of Fusion!! Goku and Vegeta (1995)
  • DBZ Movie 13: Dragon Fist Explosion!! If Goku Won’t Do it, Who Will? (1995)
  • DB 10th Anniversary Movie: The Path to Ultimate Strength (1996)

The event will start at noon, and will cost ¥3200 per person (pre-release tickets and discounts not eligibile). “Pre-reserve” tickets will be available at Ticket Pia starting 12 March 2013 at 11:00 a.m., and regular tickets from them starting Thursday. They will be available at the ticket counter in the theater itself starting on the 18th (Sunday).

Additionally, Umeda Burg 7 in Osaka and T-Joy Hakata in Fukuoka will be holding a special commemorative screening of two older Dragon Ball films each, again in 35mm prints. Both will be on Wednesday, 20 March 2013, opening at 9:00 a.m. and starting the screening at 9:20 a.m.

The movies being shown in Osaka will be:

The movies being shown in Fukuoka will be:

Tickets at both locations will be a mere ¥500 and will be available at ticket counters starting the 16th (this Saturday), through the KINEZO service online starting on the 18th (this coming Monday) at midnight, and at KINEZO ticket machines in theaters starting on the same day from the venue’s opening.

News
Voice Actors Chieko Honda & Gorō Naya Pass Away
Published by 11 March 2013, 12:58 PM EDT5 Comments

It saddens us to report the deaths of two talented voice actors who once lent their voices to the Dragon Ball franchise and contributed greatly to overall anime fandom. Aoni Production announced last month that voice actress Chieko Honda had passed away at the age of 49 on 18 February 2013. She had been undergoing treatment for multiple forms of cancer at a local hospital, but they proved ineffective in stopping the spread of the aggressive cancers. Most anime fans will remember her roles as “Tellu” in Sailor Moon S and “Elpeo Ple” in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, but she did appear once in Dragon Ball Episode 4 as the young unnamed daughter being sought after by Oolong.

Theatre Echo announced in a press release earlier today announced that veteran voice actor Gorō Naya passed away around 3:00am on 05 March 2013 at his home in Chiba City due to chronic respiratory failure. He was 83 years old. Naya debuted as a voice actor in the 1950s and is associated with numerous classic anime franchises, such as Space Battleship Yamato, Casshan, Lupin III, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. He was also the main voice actor for some great Hollywood actors in their film’s Japanese dubs, including Charlton Heston, John Wayne, and Clark Gable. Naya’s sole performance in Dragon Ball came as the henchmen “Vongo”, under the gluttonous King Gurumes, in the franchise’s first theatrical film.

Thanks to forum members songohan619 and coola for bringing these to our attention.

News
17 Dragon Ball Movies Streaming in Support of “Battle of Gods”
Published by 11 March 2013, 8:38 AM EDTComment

In support of the upcoming film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (which debuts in Japanese theaters 30 March 2013), a number of websites will stream the first 17 Dragon Ball animated features starting this Friday, 15 March 2013.

The films include the three Dragon Ball movies (1986-1988), the thirteen Dragon Ball Z movies (1989-1995), and the 10th anniversary movie (1996).

niconico_streaming

Websites that will stream or otherwise offer the films include Google Play, Apple’s iTunes Store, Sony’s PlayStation Network, Bandai Channel, niconico, and more. Prices and availability time frames will differ between providers, though niconico will have a variety of free viewing events.

Content
Second “Please Tell Us, Akira Toriyama-sensei!!” Q&A
Published by 11 March 2013, 8:13 AM EDTComment

Last week’s issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump in Japan kicked-off a brand new series of Q&As — “Super Long Interview!! Please Tell Us, Akira Toriyama-sensei!!” — with the original Dragon Ball author himself.

While last week’s question was about the plot for the upcoming film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, this week’s question is about the design for one of the movie’s new characters: “Birusu”, God of Destruction.

toriyama_qa_2b

What is the secret of the design for Birusu, God of Destruction?
Because there are so many gods in my work… (laughs), I figured, ‘something humanoid might be difficult, now,’ so I thought I’d make him a cat. Thinking, ‘Speaking of feline gods…’ I went with an Egypt-esque costume. It gives off a bit of an ominous air, as well, so I’m really pleased with it!

Toriyama had expanded upon this answer back in his Chōzenshū 1 Q&A session (“We Asked Akira Toriyama! 2013“), explaining how Birusu is modeled after the 14-year-old Cornish Rex that he currently owns.

We will continue to archive each of Toriyama’s answers on a new page of our “Translations” section with each release.

News
“Battle of Gods” Run Time Confirmation + New Screens
Published by 08 March 2013, 6:07 AM EST5 Comments

By way of a clothing store collaboration campaign with preview screenings, we already knew that the total run time for the upcoming film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods would likely be in the 85-minute range.

Cinema Today has updated their listing for the movie with the same 85-minute run time. Additionally, Eiren (the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan) have updated their own listing with an EIRIN code of 119385 and a rating of “G”.

Finally, Akiba-Souken has updated with a slew of new screen shots from the movie (some of which we have seen in the two trailers, but there are also a couple new ones):

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods officially hits Japanese theaters 30 March 2013 with the aforementioned “Tenka’ichi Preview” screening of the film taking place 16 March 2013.

News
“Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission” (3DS) First-Week Sales
Published by 06 March 2013, 9:42 AM EST8 Comments

Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission for the Nintendo 3DS — a portable version of the two-year-old, still-going-strong, card-based arcade game — launched in Japan this past week on 28 February 2013. Media Create released sales figures for the week of 25 February 2013 to 03 March 2013, and the numbers do not lie: it sold… pretty well! The game moved 88,386 copies its first week, securing a spot as the fourth-best selling game in that period.

dbheroes_3ds_cover

The most-recent console game for the franchise, Ultimate Blast (released internationally as Ultimate Tenkaichi), moved 44,593 copies on the PlayStation 3 its first week back in December 2011. The most-recent portable game for the franchise, Dragon Ball Kai: Ultimate Butōden for the Nintendo DS (which never received an international release), moved 31,108 copies its first week back in February 2011.

The last portable game to hit this level was the first Dragon Ball DS (released internationally as Dragon Ball Origins) back in 2008 with 72,330 copies its first week.

Content
“Saikyō Kids Z Interview!!!” Added to “Translations”
Published by 06 March 2013, 9:20 AM ESTComment

In addition to housing a special “SD” version of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods by Naho Ooishi, the April 2013 issue of Saikyō Jump contains a short interview with two Japanese children and the expected trio of voice actresses: Masako Nozawa, Shoko Nakagawa, and Kaori Matsumoto.

saikyou_jump_2013_04-large

The interview — conducted by two children with lots of bold colors — is much shorter than the “ZZZ (Triple-Z) Talk” interview from the latest issue of V-Jump, but touches upon some of the same points, such as Nozawa flipping back and forth between characters, Nakagawa’s excitement, and Matsumoto’s drive.

Our translation of the interview has been added to the “Translations” section here at Kanzenshuu.

The April 2013 issue of Saikyō Jump is available for purchase online from sites such as CDJapan and Amazon Japan.

News
Third Phase of KFC “Smile Set” Dragon Ball Items Announced
Published by 06 March 2013, 12:31 AM EST2 Comments

KFC has been massively promoting the new film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, with toys, posters, bottles, you name it. The kid’s-meal (“Smile Set”) toys in particular have gone through two iterations already. But now, the third phase of items has been announced. Starting on 28 March 2013, the “I’m Excited! New School Term Support Goods” will be released to KFC locations across Japan. If you order a “Smile Set”, you will have your choice of one of the following items, designed with the new school year (which begins in April) in mind:

  • “Changing Clear File” whose background color changes from green to blue when paper is placed inside
  • “Kamehameha LED Light Keychain”
  • “Kamehameha highlighters” (two different colors)
  • “Shenlong Mini Ring Notebook”

Each “Smile Set”, which comes with either one piece of standard Fried Chicken, or one piece of Colonel’s Crispy Chicken and a biscuit, along with a small French Fries, is available for 500 yen.

Additionally, seven Colonel Sanders statues that adorn the front of KFC restaurants throughout Japan — Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Naha — had been dressed in Goku’s clothes and holding one of the seven Dragon Balls since the middle of last month, but recently, those Dragon Balls went missing. They then turned up in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo for a special Dragon Ball Z movie tie-in event, for one day only, on 03 March 2013 from 10 am to 5 pm, as described via the official KFC Japan Twitter account:

ただいまKFC池袋サンシャイン通り店にて、ドラゴンボールZ映画公開イベント開催中！全国に散っていた7つのドラゴンボールが集結！対象商品を購入し、ドラゴンボールグッズをゲットしよう☆★

Right now at the KFC Ikebukuro Sunshine Street location, we are holding a Dragon Ball Z movie opening event! The seven Dragon Balls, which were scattered across the country, have been gathered together! Buy an applicable menu item, and get Dragon Ball memorabilia☆★

Thanks to DragonBoxZTheMovies for the tip on both of these!

News
“Dream 9 Super Collaboration Special” Plot Synopsis
Published by 05 March 2013, 11:30 PM EST3 Comments

Last week the official Japanese Shōnen Jump website revealed the plot for the upcoming, two-part “Dream 9 Super Collaboration Special” set to air 07 April 2013 from 9:00 to 10:00 am on Fuji TV in Japan featuring Toriko, One Piece, and Dragon Ball Z.

(前編)
IGOが主催するレース、『天下一食おう会』。とある島で開かれた、この大会の優勝賞品は「カラットジューウシ」と呼ばれる稀少な高級食材。優勝を目指して、トリコと仲間たち、そして麦わらの一味が大会に参加する。そして、なんと、孫悟空ら、ドラゴンボールのメンバーも大会に参加していた。誰が一番強いか！？　このコラボスペシャルでしか観ることのできなない『トリコＶＳルフィＶＳ悟空』！最強決定戦の火蓋が切って落とされる！！

(後編)
IGOが主催するレース、『天下一食おう会』。大会で優勝したミスターサタン※1が、優勝賞品のカラットジューウシをルフィやトリコ、悟空らにふるまっていると、マンサム※2から衝撃の事実が明かされる。大会は生物の力を吸うという、深海の大食漢・アカミィをおびき寄せるために開かれたというのだ。そして、ルフィらの力を察知して、深海からアカミィが現れるが……このコラボSPでしか観られない、『トリコ＋ルフィ＋悟空』の超コラボ必殺技が炸裂！
※1「ミスターサタン」…『ドラゴンボールＺ』に出てくる架空の人物
※2「マンサム」…『トリコ』IGOが運営する「グルメ研究所」の所長

(First Part)
The IGO (International Gourmet Organization) is hosting the “World’s Best Eating Tournament” race. Held on a certain island, the tournament’s championship prize is the luxuriously rare “Carat Sizzled Cattle”. Toriko and his friends are aiming for the championship, and the Straw Hat Crew is set to participate in the event as well. And what’s this, it’s Son Goku and co. — the members of Dragon Ball are also competing in the event. Who will be the strongest?! “Toriko vs Luffy vs Goku” can only be seen in this collaboration special! The mightiest decisive showdown is kicking off!!

(Second Part)
The IGO (International Gourmet Organization) is hosting the “World’s Best Eating Tournament” race. When tournament champion Mister Satan1 serves up the championship prize, Carat Sizzled Cattle, to Luffy, Toriko, Goku, and co., Mansam2 reveals the shocking truth. According to him, the tournament has been held in order to lure out the Deep Sea Glutton, Akami, said to suck out the energy of living things. And then, sensing Luffy and co.’s power, Akami appears from out of the depths of the sea, but… the super killer technique of “Toriko+Luffy+Goku” (which can only be seen in this collaboration special) explodes!

1 “Mister Satan” — A fictional character from “Dragon Ball Z”
2 “Mansam” — The director of the IGO “Gourmet Research Institute” in “Toriko”

The TV special — a follow-up to two prior Toriko and One Piece crossovers from the last two years — airs one week after the debut of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods in Japanese theaters.

The three franchises will also be joining forces at some point this year for a PlayStation 3 and Vita team battle crossover game called Project Versus J, which itself has not had any recent developments or updates in quite some time.

News
“Dragon Ball Project” Website Unveils Chōzenshū Covers
Published by 05 March 2013, 11:41 AM ESTComment

Following the release of “Chōzenshū 2: Animation Guide Part 1” in Japan today (05 March 2013), Shueisha has unveiled the two remaining Chōzenshū covers on their “Dragon Ball Project” website. As we anticipated, the third Chōzenshū volume will feature the original cover illustration from Daizenshuu 6 and the fourth Chōzenshū volume will take the cover from Daizenshuu 7. These final two Chōzenshū volumes will presumably cover the information presented in those respective Daizenshuu volumes as well.

“Chōzenshū 3: Animation Guide Part 2” is due out 04 April 2013 for ¥2,300, and is available from both CDJapan and Amazon Japan. It appears to be no coincidence that this volume, which will undoubtedly cover the various theatrical films, will hit book shelves a few days after Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is released in Japanese movie theaters on 30 March 2013. So far there is no officially announced price point or online listing for “Chōzenshū 4: Dragon Ball Super Encyclopedia”, which is due out 09 May 2013.