An unforeseen sickness led to an impromptu, completely different episode this week… but that never means we are short on material to cover! Much like our news update from last week, this podcast episode we cover the raw facts of what appears to be the imminent end of Dragon Ball Kai before dipping into a couple quick reviews. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0250! VegettoEX and Meri briefly cover the raw facts surrounding the upcoming end of “DragonBall Kai” before digging into some quick reviews. Bakuman gets a DBZ cover song, the “Legend of Saiyan” figures pick up right where “Freeza’s Force” left off, and “Ultimate Butoden” is the best DBZ video game you’re not playing. To celebrate 250 podcast episodes, we are also giving away a copy of the fourth daizenshuu!

REFERENCED SITES:

• “DragonBall Kai OST IV” (New Listing) @ CDJapan
• Bakuman “Limited Edition” Releases @ CDJapan
• “Freeza’s Force” Review @ Daizenshuu EX
• “Legend of Saiyan” Figures @ Play-Asia
• “Ultimate Butoden” (JP DS) @ CDJapan
• “Ultimate Butoden” (JP DS) @ Play-Asia
• Daizenshuu 4 Contest @ Daizenshuu EX

Sure, KaiserNeko from TeamFourStar stops by to be a pretty face and help get the show going, but the real meat this week is an in-depth crash course in Journey to the West, the Chinese story which served as the initial inspiration for Dragon Ball:

First up, our buddy Herms details the influences in the earliest parts of the DragonBall story, then turns to the very end of the first TV series with the character of Annin. The Taoist philosopher named Lao Tzu makes a disguise appearance, and contraptions meant to seal away the Handsome Monkey King are put to use.

I then bring you all the way back to Episode 79 of the first TV series with two characters named “Ginkaku” (Silver Horn) and “Kinkaku” (Golden Horn), themselves and their magical gourd a direct reference to and re-telling of a story from Journey to the West:

Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe. We also have the inspiration for the podcast episode detailed on our forum. I have no doubt that many of you will want to run out and purchase a translation of the original story after listening!

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0249! VegettoEX and KaiserNeko cover the mostly non-news and March’s releases. Herms joins to give an in-depth crash course in “Journey to the West”, the Chinese story which served as the initial inspiration for “DragonBall”. Two stories from the first TV series directly reference characters and items from its inspiration, and in ways you may never have known!

REFERENCED SITES:

• “Journey to the West” Vol. 1 (Yu) @ Amazon
• “Journey to the West” Vol. 2 (Yu) @ Amazon
• “Journey to the West” Vol. 3 (Yu) @ Amazon
• “Journey to the West” Vol. 4 (Yu) @ Amazon
• “Monkey / Journey to the West” (Waley) @ Amazon
• “Monkey / Journey to the West” (Kherdian) @ Amazon
• “DragonBall Kai” DVD Vol. 24 @ CDJapan
• “DragonBall Kai” DVD Vol. 24 @ Amazon Japan
• “DBZ Kai” Part 4 DVD Set (FUNimation) @ Amazon
• “DBZ Kai” Part 4 Blu-ray Set (FUNimation) @ Amazon
• Kanzenban Volume 12 (French) @ Amazon France
• “DragonBall: Raging Blast 2” OST @ CDJapan
• “DragonBall Kai OST IV” (New Listing) @ CDJapan

Beyond catching up on two weeks worth of news, we have a bunch of short segments for all you podcast listeners this time around. Our buddy and forum moderator Kaboom jumped on to talk a little bit about a little project some folks have been contributing to: splicing together a more complete view of the Saiyan history, in particular with the Bardock TV special. I also finally got in my copy of Dragon Ball Kai: Ultimate Butōden, so some initial thoughts on the game help flesh out the show (spoilers: it is pretty good). All your regular releases and e-mails round things out this time around. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0248! VegettoEX and Julian cover all the latest news, from crazy release schedules to new prices to online streaming and beyond. Kaboom stops by to talk about an on-going fan project to beef up the Bardock TV special, and we give a short first-look at “Ultimate Butoden” for the Japanese Nintendo DS. Releases, e-mails, and a look back at Internet past rounds out the episode.

REFERENCED SITES:

• “DragonBall Kai” Japanese Re-Run Lising @ Fuji TV
• Podravka “Vegeta” Spices @ Croatian Times
• Bardock Special Fan-Edit @ Daizenshuu EX
• “Ultimate Butoden” (JP DS) @ CDJapan
• “Ultimate Butoden” (JP DS) @ Play-Asia
• “Kai Complete Song Collection” @ CDJapan
• German DBZ DVD Box 8 (R2 PAL) @ Amazon Germany
• “DragonBall Kai” DVD Vol. 24 @ CDJapan
• “DragonBall Kai” DVD Vol. 24 @ Amazon Japan
• “DBZ Kai” Part 4 DVD Set (FUNimation) @ Amazon
• “DBZ Kai” Part 4 Blu-ray Set (FUNimation) @ Amazon
• Kanzenban Volume 12 (French) @ Amazon France
• “DragonBall: Raging Blast 2” OST @ CDJapan
• “DragonBall Kai OST IV” (New Listing) @ CDJapan

When you hear the phrase “TV Special” it is likely that you think of either Bardock or Trunks from the alternate future timeline (or perhaps even Goku Jr.). What about white tuxedos, though?

You may not know it, but DBZ Movie 7 had its own TV special in 1992 that recapped all of the movies up to that point. In addition to all of the news and other regular content with Julian this week, our buddy Hujio joined us to talk about (the confusingly-named) Dragon Ball Z: The Three Great Super Saiyans – Special. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0247! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian recap all the big financial news and other shenanigans, as well as answer an e-mail about which in-universe story lines we would like to see expanded with future reference guides. Hujio later joins us to talk about and review the oft-forgotten TV special for DBZ Movie 7, occasionally referred to as the “movie overview special”.

REFERENCED SITES:

• Bakuman “Limited Edition” Releases @ CDJapan
• “Animentine – Bossa du Anime” @ CDJapan
• FUNimation DB Season 1 Price Drop @ RightStuf
• DragonBall Season One DVD Set @ Amazon
• Navarre Q3 Fiscal 2011 Report
• Namco-Bandai Q3 Fiscal 2011 Report (PDF)
• “My Dragon Box Isn’t Perfect?!” @ Kanzentai
• DragonBall Movie Four-Pack @ Amazon
• “DBZ Kai” Part 3 DVD Set (Australia) @ Madman
• “DBZ Kai” Part 3 Blu-ray Set (Australia) @ Madman
• German DBZ DVD Box 8 (R2 PAL) @ Amazon Germany

We are back after missing a week with a quick catch-up episode. The last two weeks worth of news all gets covered this episode, as well as some of the more recent written content here on the site — FUNimation’s re-release of the first Dragon Ball movie (reviewed last week), and our complete review of the Kokoro no Hane CD single. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0245! VegettoEX and Meri talk a little bit about FUNimation’s re-release of DB Movie 1, the “Kokoro no Hane” CD single, and more. Two weeks worth of news, February’s jam-packed releases, and your e-mails round out the episode.

REFERENCED SITES:

• “Curse of the Blood Rubies” Review @ Daizenshuu EX
• “Kokoro no Hane” Review @ Daizenshuu EX
• Nintendo 3DS Release Schedule @ nintendo.co.jp
• “Raging Blast 2” OST @ CDJapan
• “Ultimate Butoden” (JP DS) @ CDJapan
• “Ultimate Butoden” (JP DS) @ Play-Asia
• “DragonBall Kai” Blu-ray Box 6 @ CDJapan
• “DragonBall Kai” Blu-ray Box 6 @ Amazon Japan
• “DragonBall Kai” DVD Vol. 23 @ CDJapan
• “DragonBall Kai” DVD Vol. 23 @ Amazon Japan
• DragonBall Movie Four-Pack @ Amazon
• Herms’ Name Pun Round Up @ Daizenshuu EX Forum

We are kicking off 2011 with a pretty laid-back episode that has possibly too much laughing for our own good. Amongst the shenanigans you will also find a good deal of in-depth discussion regarding the recent announcement from Toei and FUNimation that the Dragon Ball franchise will soon be streaming online, and we review (in audio form, this time!) the recent Battle of Omega CD single from Hironobu Kageyama, the title track of which was used as the opening theme in Raging Blast 2. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0244! VegettoEX, Meri, and Hujio discuss the recent announcement from Toei and FUNimation that the DragonBall franchise will soon be streamed online. What is the significance of this agreement, and what can and should fans expect to see make its way online? We also review Hironobu Kageyama’s “Battle of Omega” CD single (the opening theme to “Raging Blast 2”). Laid-back shenanigans, January’s releases, and your e-mails round out the episode!

REFERENCED SITES:

• Bakuman Vol. 1 LE DVD @ CDJapan
• Bakuman Vol. 1 LE Blu-ray @ CDJapan
• Bakuman Vol. 2 LE DVD @ CDJapan
• Bakuman Vol. 2 LE Blu-ray @ CDJapan
• “Zoukei Tenkaichi Budokai” @ Kanzentai
• “DragonBall no Shinkaron” @ Amazon Japan
• “Kai Soundtrack IV” @ Amazon Japan
• “Kai Complete Song Collection” @ Amazon Japan
• DragonBall Streaming Announcement @ FUNimation
• “Battle of Omega” CD Single Review @ Daizenshuu EX
• “Battle of Omega” CD Single @ CDJapan
• “Battle of Omega” CD Single Contest @ Daizenshuu EX

It has certainly been a crazy year, this here 2010. The prior year may have given us DragonBall Kai, but this year was no slouch in the crazy announcement department. We had our fair share of sad moments over the course of 2010, as well, unfortunately. Tune in for a full recap of all the year’s biggest stories, a check-in on our predictions from last year, and a look at what we think 2011 has in store for us. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0243! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian recap the crazy year that was 2010. All sorts of surprises on both sides of the ocean, a plethora of releases, far too many sad moments, and a few head-scratchers made up the last year. How did we fare in our predictions from a year ago, and what do we see on the horizon for 2011? We already know about some video games and home releases, but will there be any true surprises in the next year?

REFERENCED SITES:

• Meri’s Kuririn Christmas Cookie @ Daizenshuu EX
• Daizenshuu EX @ Facebook
• Daizenshuu EX @ Twitter

We thought we would be taking it easy this week on the show due to sickness all around and lack of any significant news, but that all got tossed out the window when the Toriko announcement (see below) came into play. Hujio and I broke everything down in a logical fashion, with the knowledge that more information is probably heading our way very soon. What is on the horizon for DragonBall Kai…? Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0242! VegettoEX and Hujio discuss the future of “DragonBall Kai” based on the recent news of “Toriko” taking its time slot on Fuji TV in April 2011. Is the show going to continue in any way, or is the refresh coming to a close? Lots of talk about DBZ Movie 1, some website projects in the works, and so much more rounds out the episode!

REFERENCED SITES:

• “Bonus Round” Podcast @ Anime3000
• Rachel’s “DragonBall Kai” Blog Post @ magikarp46.com
• Daizenshuu 7 Special Attack Dictionary @ Kanzentai
• Takeshi Watabe’s Passing @ Anime News Network
• “Battle of Omega” CD Single @ CDJapan
• DB Movie 1 Re-release DVD @ Amazon

On 03 December 2010, Shueisha released a new magazine called Saikyô Jump. Included in it was the debut of a new spin-off called DragonBall SD, which we have been tracking for a few weeks, now. The one-shot from Naho Ooishi reintroduces the audience to little Son Goku and follows him over the span of a single chapter interacting with his new master (Kame-Sen’nin) and new best friend (Kuririn). We discussed DragonBall SD on this week’s podcast episode, so tune in to find out if it is truly a fresh take on the franchise, or just another example of “been there, done that”. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.

SHOW DESCRIPTION:
Episode #0241! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian check out “DragonBall SD”, a new spin-off manga by Naho Ooishi. Is this “Saikyo Jump” inclusion worth the paper it is printed on, or is it just another case of “been there, done that”…? December’s releases, your e-mails, and much more round out the episode!

REFERENCED SITES:

• “Raging Blast 2” Review @ Daizenshuu EX
• “Kintoki” Bonus Podcast @ vegettoex.com
• “Ultimate Butoden” (JP DS) @ Amazon Japan
• “ZENKAI Battle Royale” Official Website
• “ZENKAI Battle Royale” News @ IGN
• GGPO Netcode Official Website
• “Saikyo Jump” Issue 1 @ Amazon Japan
• “Battle of Omega” CD Single @ CDJapan
• DB Movie 1 Re-release DVD @ Amazon
• “Evolution” DVD+BD Budget Re-Release @ CDJapan