We have known that the game is due out 19 March 2009 over in Japan (not to mention the general Asian version of the game, as well), but now we have confirmation of an American release date. Amazon is listing a $39.99 price point for an 07 April 2009 release date — just in time for the movie, itself. You can hear a first-hand account of the game from our buddy Bryce over on the most recent podcast episode from his play-through up at New York Comic-Con.

Oricon has posted a trailer for the movie with a preface from our main-man Toriyama:

Here is what he had to say (as translated by Anime New Network):

As the original creator, I had a feeling of “Huh?” upon seeing the screenplay and the character designs, but the director, all the actors, the staff, and the rest are nothing but “ultra” high-caliber people. Maybe the right way for me and all the fans to appreciate it is as a New Dragonball of a different dimension. Perhaps, this might become a great masterpiece of power! Hey, I look forward to it!!

I guess we will find out exactly how high-caliber these “people” really are on April 8th, when the movie drops into a theater near you (in the United States)… though, I am sure we will get a pretty good idea on March 13th when the movie premieres in Japan.

Our good ol’ buddy Greg just took a quick capture for us from television over in Japan showcasing Shenlong in the upcoming live action movie, Dragon Ball Evolution:

Anime News Network (by way of Sankei News) reports that Akira Toriyama himself sketched Ayumi Hamasaki as “Goku” for her CD single release of “Rule” (the international theme song for Dragon Ball Evolution):

This is the first time that Toriyama is responsible for this type of music-related release. The first pressing of the release will have these sketches, though there is no confirmation on whether or not it will resurface down the line for additional pressings of the CD.

We have the CD+DVD combo on pre-order, and will be reviewing the entire package once it comes in. It all drops 25 February 2009 in Japan.

Our forum member kei17 dug into the Newtype website’s news section to grab a list of the Japanese voice actors & actresses playing the roles in the Japanese dub of the upcoming American-made live action movie, Dragon Ball Evolution:

• Son Goku: Kappei Yamaguchi
• Piccolo-Daimaō: Hōchū Ōtsuka
• Kame-Sen’nin: Tsutomu Isobe
• Bulma: Aya Hirano
• Chi-Chi: Ami Koshimizu
• Mai: Yuko Kaida
• Son Gohan: Hiroya Ishimaru
• Yamcha: Hisao Egawa
• Narrator: Mami Koyama

Of the group, only Hisao Egawa and Mami Koyama have actually played any characters in the Dragon Ball anime, and even then only as some of the more “minor” characters. While it is true that Masako Nozawa probably would not match up that well with Justin Chatwin, it is a shame that the actual characters’ voices for the last two decades could not slide in. Maybe it was an “all or nothing” situation…? The talent management firm(s)…? It is a shame, really! They are all well-established and talented people, but I do not think anyone will deny that it would have been pretty cool to have the actual cast of the show doing the voices in the movie…