The soundtrack to the first two “Budokai” (as we know them) games has officially been released in Japan today under the full title “Dragon Ball Z & Z2 Original Soundtrack”. The disc is packed with a bonus DVD that has some great extra stuff on it.
If you are interested in ordering (and have not already), it will run you about $30 before shipping. Here are some links to the CD/DVD-combo on our favorite sites:
GameSpot has a new batch of in-game screen shots and even movie files from Atari’s upcoming “Dragon Ball Z: Sagas” for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox.
FUNimation, the current North American rights-holder for the Dragon Ball franchise, will be acquired later this year by distribution and publishing corporation Navarre.
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR) a leading publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia software products, announced that it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the general and limited partnership interests in FUNimation Productions, Ltd. and The FUNimation Store, Ltd. Navarre anticipates that this transaction will close before May 15, 2005.
FUNimation, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leading home video distributor and licensor of Japanese animation and children’s entertainment in the United States providing titles that include Dragonball Z, Dragonball GT, Yu Yu Hakusho, Case Closed and Fullmetal Alchemist. In addition to the home video distribution of its proprietary content, FUNimation engages in third- party marketing, sales and distribution agreements with content providers, including 4Kids Entertainment Inc., Nelvana, Alliance Atlantis and WGBH. FUNimation also acquires master licenses to properties through long-term arrangements and leverages this proprietary content into various revenue streams including television broadcast, VHS and DVD home videos, toys, video games, and trading cards. For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, FUNimation had net sales of $49.8 million, $63.7 million and $81.6 million, respectively, and pre-tax net income of $20.0 million, $24.9 million and $30.5 million, respectively.
Navarre is acquiring the FUNimation partnership interests for a payment at closing by Navarre of approximately $100,500,000 in cash, plus its issuance of between 1,495,216 and 1,827,486 shares of Navarre common stock. These shares of Navarre common stock will be unregistered, but they will be subject to certain registration rights. Additionally, the sellers could receive up to $17,000,000 in cash to be paid over five years if FUNimation achieves certain agreed-upon financial targets during that time period. The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions including a requirement that Navarre shall have obtained financing sufficient to enable Navarre to consummate the transaction.
Eric Paulson, Chairman and CEO of Navarre stated, “The completion of the FUNimation acquisition will be a continuation of the transformation of our company as it reflects the ongoing execution of our strategy to utilize the strong underlying asset of our distribution business to support and assist in the growth of our higher margin publishing business.” Paulson continued, “FUNimation will bring new business skills of international licensing and brand development. With the signing of this agreement, we look forward to welcoming FUNimation to the portfolio of companies in our Publishing segment.”
“We are extremely excited to join the Navarre family of companies,” said Gen Fukunaga, president of FUNimation Productions, Ltd. “Utilizing Navarre’s capital structure and distribution efficiencies will aid FUNimation in its ongoing business.”
Cary Deacon, Navarre’s Chief Operating Officer of Publishing and Licensing commented, “The FUNimation acquisition is consistent with our overall business strategy and will significantly increase our publishing offerings, establishes long-term relationships with new vendors and customers, and solidify our position as a premier provider of published and licensed home entertainment products. We believe in FUNimation’s business model and its brand management success in anime and children’s entertainment, licensing, and home video industries. As well, FUNimation brings a strong management team that will bolster our overall group.”
Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. acted as financial advisor to Navarre Corporation in connection with the transaction, and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. acted as financial advisor to FUNimation.
About Navarre
Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR) provides distribution and related services to leading developers and retailers of home entertainment content. The company operates under two business divisions; Distribution Services which includes PC software, video games, CD audio and DVD video; Publishing which includes Encore. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Encore is a majority-owned subsidiary of Navarre and a leading interactive publisher in the PC CD-ROM market. As a result of strategic relationships, the company publishes PC titles or compilations in major software categories from productivity to education. BCI Eclipse, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, provides niche DVD video and audio products. Navarre’s client-specific delivery systems allow its product lines to be seamlessly distributed to over
18,000 retail locations throughout North America. The Company provides such value-added services as inventory management, Web-based ordering, fulfillment and marketing and EDI customer and vendor interface. Since its founding in 1983, Navarre has built a base of distribution partnerships with a broad base of leading retailers across the mass merchant, music, computer and office specialty, wholesale club and military PX channels, as well as software content developers from all categories of the industry and independent record labels encompassing all musical genres. For more information, please visit the Company’s Web sites at http://www.navarre.com .About FUNimation
FUNimation is a leading independent licensee, licensor and home video/DVD distributor and brand manager of Japanese animation and children’s entertainment in the United States. FUNimation acquires animated properties from Japanese rights holders and translates and adapts the content into television programming and home video/DVD, primarily targeting persons between the ages of 6 and 17.Additionally, FUNimation has collaborative business partnerships with independent entertainment companies such as 4Kids Entertainment, Nelvana, Alliance Atlantis, WGBH and Moonscoop which involve some or all aspects of home video distribution, sales, marketing and merchandise licensing. FUNimation leverages its content portfolio into revenue streams including television broadcast, DVD and VHS home videos, video games, toys, trading and collectible cards and apparel.
FUNimation’s brands include Dragon Ball Z, Fullmetal Alchemist, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Code Lyoko, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Arthur, Case Closed, Yu Yu Hakusho, Beyblade and Cabbage Patch Kids.
It is now January, and so February’s “Monthly Shōnen Jump” has been released to stores across Japan (and hopefully a few local Japanese bookstores, as well…). As we were told, we are on the receiving end of a two-month “Neko Majin Z” run, with chapter five coming out this month!
Below is the overall magazine’s cover along with the chapter’s cover. What special guest appearance do we have in store for us this time around…?!
The cover art for “Dragon Ball Z 3” (the Japanese release of what we received as “Budokai 3” on the PlayStation 2) has trickled online thanks to retailers such as Play-Asia and Amazon Japan:
FUNimation finally spills some beans regarding the releases of Dragon Ball Z movie 10 and the first volume of the “seasons one and two” redubs. Look for movie 10 (now re-titled to “Broly: Second Coming”) on 05 April 2005 and the first volume of the so-called “Ultimate Uncut Edition” (the first uncut redubbed / subtitled episodes of DBZ) the following week, 12 April 2005.
Remember the soundtrack for “Budokai” 1 and 2 that was supposed to be coming out forever ago in Japan? Remember how it kept getting pushed back repeatedly at CDJapan, to the point where some of us were beginning to suspect they were just making it up? Ever wonder what happened? Well, wonder no more… the “Dragon Ball Z & Z2” is back, and is it ever.
Forum-goer SS Kakarot discovered that the soundtrack has been relisted by Japanese vendors, now indicating a 19 January 2005 release date. There is cover art and a track listing this time, making it pretty well set in stone. But that is not all…
According to the poster advertising the soundtrack’s release, we are in for an extra treat: the month after the “Z & Z2” soundtrack comes out, we will get a CD-single of the openings of the second and third games, and the month after that, we’ll have the “Dragon Ball Z 3” soundtrack! The single of “Ore wa Tokoton Tomaranai” (the “Budokai 3” theme, now with name-y goodness) and “Kusuburu heart ni Hi o Tsukero” (the “Budokai 2” theme) is out on 23 February 2005, while the DBZ 3 soundtrack will be hitting Japanese store shelves exactly one week later, on 02 March.
The first “Great Saiyaman” DVD (which actually begins with the Ano-Yo-Ichi Budōkai) — volume 57 in FUNimation’s line of single-disc releases for the Dragon Ball Z TV series — is due out 15 March 2005, and will be available with an optional box for “Series 11” (the Great Saiyaman arc, of which there are five total volumes).
This goes hand-in-hand with yesterday’s update — following up on the news of “Neko Majin Z 4” in the January issue of Monthly Jump, those who have gotten it (it went on sale this past Monday) are reporting that “Neko Majin Z 5” will be in the February issue. Two new Toriyama works in a row?! It is almost like the good ol’ days. Who or what could possibly appear in NMZ5…? I guess we will have to wait and see!
It is true — “Neko Majin Z 4” (the fourth chapter in a spin-off/parody of the Dragon Ball series with magical cats by original author Akira Toriyama himself) will appear in this January’s “Monthly Shōnen Jump” (the Japanese release, of course). We hear a certain Mr. Boo makes an appearance…! We are definitely going to try and get our hands on it as soon as possible. Until then, here is the magazine’s and chapter’s covers to hold you over: