Amazon has also put up the cover art for the mysterious listings for both DBZ Movie 1 and DBZ Movie 2 with the same release date of 10 November 2009 that was reported a couple days ago. They in fact will be individual disc releases from the “remastered” steel book double feature (as opposed to Dragon Box versions) and will run you a measly $9.98. From a cost per movie standpoint, it is actually costing you more than if you bought it in the double feature pack.
Rumblings can be heard ’round the internet that FUNimation’s upcoming first “Dragon Box” set for the Dragon Ball Z TV series has been delayed from November to December of this year. Despite the Amazon listing still noting a release date of 10 November 2009, several of our forum members have received e-mails from Amazon telling them that the item in question has been delayed to 15 December 2009:
We’re writing about the order you placed on (month) (date) 2009. Unfortunately, the release date for the item(s) listed below has changed, and we need to provide you with a new delivery estimate based on the new release date:
Artist Not Provided “Dragon Ball Z Season 1: Dbox”
Estimated arrival date: November 19 2009 – December 15 2009If you still want us to ship the delayed items when they do become available (though they may arrive later than expected) please visit this address to approve the delay.
Episode #0186 of the podcast is available for download! Getting it done just in time to say it went up today…! This week, Meri and I (finally) took at look at DragonBall Evolution for the PSP. You may be surprised to hear my final thoughts on the game. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.
SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0186! VegettoEX and Meri finally get around to reviewing “DragonBall Evolution” for the PSP. Is this game truly as horrific as you have been led to believe, or are there possibly some redeemding qualities? Home release news from around the world, more “Kai” voice replacements, August’s tons of releases, and your great e-mails round out the episode!
REFERENCED SITES:
The official website for Dragon Ball Kai has noted that there will be even more new voices for the “refreshed” version of the TV series currently airing in Japan. In its original airing, both (the younger version of) Dende and Cargo (all… what?… one of his lines…?) were played by Tomiko Suzuki, who unfortunately passed away back in 2003.
Taking over the role for Dende will be the currently-somewhat-prolific Aya Hirano, most recently associated with the Dragon Ball franchise as the voice of Bulma in the Japanese dub of Dragon Ball Evolution, and belting out “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” karaoke-style in the ending of episode five of Lucky Star.
Taking over the role of Cargo will be Satomi Satō, a relative newcomer perhaps best known for her role in K-ON!.
Amazon Japan has posted the cover art for the first volume of both the upcoming Blu-ray and DVD releases of Dragon Ball Kai. Both volumes will contain the first three episodes and are set to be released 18 September 2009. Both volumes will also come with a special Data Carddass “Dragon Battlers” card and the Blu-ray volume will come in a slip cover. The high definition Blu-ray release and the standard definition DVD release are retailing for ¥3,045 (~$32) and ¥1,995 (~$20), respectively.
CDJapan has updated with the cover art for POWER OF DREAMER, the opening theme song CD single for the new Wii game Tenka’ichi Dai-Bōken performed by Hiroki Takahashi:
It is mostly a cropped version of the actual game’s cover art. The CD single is due out 26 August 2009 for ¥1200 in Japan. Unfortunately, we still do not have a track listing for the CD yet…
Amazon also has a new listing for the first Dragon Ball Z movie, “Dead Zone”. Based on the release date of this new listing, which is the same as the first FUNimation Dragon Box, could this contain the Dragon Box footage rather than the normal footage FUNimation has been using since 1997? If you remember, FUNimation announced in their official Dragon Box press release that they had “the entire 291 episode television series and all 13 of its movies.” It is set be released along with the Dragon Box 10 November 2009 for $9.98.
Amazon now has a listing for the first domestic “Dragon Box” set coming from FUNimation. The pre-order price (for now) is a solid $55.99. Not too shabby.
Long-time friend of the site Rachel pointed out to us that Mitsuaki Madono, who replaced Hirotaka Suzuoki as Tenshinhan in Burst Limit (PS3 & Xbox 360 fighting game last year), is reprising that role in the new Wii game Tenka’ichi Dai-Bōken… despite Hikaru Midorikawa sealing it up for Dragon Ball Kai.
Very strange situation with Madono here, and certainly not our first choice of a replacement voice.
Namco-Bandai has posted a ¥2.8 billion loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.
In terms of Dragon Ball overall, the franchise dropped in net sales from ¥4.3 billion in Q1 2009 to ¥2.3 billion this quarter, though the company is forecasting a full year net sales figure of ¥17 billion, up from ¥15.8 last fiscal year.
Additionally, Dragon Ball Kai: Saiya-jin Raishū for the Nintendo DS (listed in the document under its international name, Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans) was the company’s third-best selling game of the quarter, despite only being released in Japan for the time being, with 190,000 copies sold.
It is possible that with the international release of the DS game, as well as the domestic and international releases of new Wii, PS3, and 360 games, this will give the DB franchise the push that the company seems to expect it will have.