New Dragon Ball Kai Brings Remastered 'Director's Cut' of DBZ

Since Dragon Ball Z first became popular in the US around the late '90s, the series has been constantly teased for its numerous fights, drawn-out battle scenes, and endless filler episodes that did very little to contribute to the story. Toei Animation is changing all of this with an original cut edition called Dragon Ball Kai that more closely follows Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's original manga story. Due to both the DBZ manga and anime being serialized simultaneously in monthly versus weekly installments, the anime added additional story arcs and stretched out battles to follow the same schedule. Dragon Ball Kai will instead more closely follow the manga and feature a more succinct story pace.

Dragon Ball Kai will also feature a new HD remasterng from the original film source as well as renewed soundtracks, sound effects, and new dialogue recorded by the majority of the original Japanese voice actors. While FUNimation released a remastered version of DBZ on DVD, this will be the most definitive version of the series yet. There was a lot of filler that really bogged the series down, so this new edition should please plenty.

Both critics and fans alike should find a lot to like in DBK when it starts airing in Japan starting April 5. No word yet about US licensing for DVD distribution or TV airings.


Source: Anime News Network

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First Early "Review" of Live Action Dragonball Movie

The release of Dragonball is still about five months away, but the hype and criticism continues to mount. After the promotional trailer was leaked, it was received with mixed reviews. The highly touted special effects have yet to be added to the trailer or movie, but it looks like they are already scheduling for additional filming. They have been scouting for males between the ages of 20-70 and fluent in Nepalese or Tibetan. The official trailer has been delayed to December 12th, 2008, possibly to coincide with The Day The Earth Stood Still. The movie is still slated to hit Japan on March 13, 2009 with a North American release soon to follow on April 10. The above footage shows a short teaser clip from a Japanese TV program called NHK, briefly displaying the dragonball and Goku's gi.

Ain't It Cool News reader Don reports having supposedly viewed an early release of the movie before special effects and score. His writing style and lack of sources doesn't lend him much credibility, but they are interesting looks into what the movie could turn out. You can click the link for the full story, but here are some interesting tidbits. Just as a warning, there is a bit of cursing present.

Action - I wasn't expecting the action scenes to be as awesome as they were. Simply put the best thing about this movie. The last action scene of Goku vs. Picollo are simply amazing and when picollo takes out his huge fucking ass sword with weird rectangle shape tablet attached it at the tip of sword and slamming it on goku was fucking awesome. Lot of blowing shit up, super cool flying scenes, awesome ki blasts. This fight scene was around 13-15 minutes long. There are other small action scenes that are fun and entertaining with slo mo but nowhere as good as the picollo vs. goku scene.

Justin Chatwin as Goku. This guy surprised me a lot. I really didn't like him when they casted him as goku but he did a damn good job in the acting department and he nailed the KAMEHAMEHA line.

Story - Dragonball fans will be dissapointed with some of the changes they have made with stories and characters etc. Krillin isn't in the movie, Tien isn't in the movie too. High school setting for the first 22-23 minutes was so not needed but ah well typical hollywood garbage of adding bullshit like that.

Chow Yun Fat as Master Roshi - I was dissapointed with this. I wanted the fucking perverted roshi who fucking grabs breasts and asses like in the anime but alas all of that is fucking gone. Also he acted like Mr. Kesuke Miyagi. You know what I mean. The lines he spoke were fine but I felt he was uncomfortable in the movie. Very dissapointed.

Full Review...

It's hard to discern if this review is authentic or not, as many of these points could be easily made up. It sounds like they're trying to keep the spirit of Dragonball while modernizing the story and keeping it relevant to Hollywood standards. A big focus seems to be on the action, so hopefully it will maintain that high energy while still feeling like a DB fight. Some of the things he points out sounds a bit superficial, but he does seem to be a Dragonball fan.

Overall, it's still too early to tell how the movie will turn out. It hasn't exactly been receiving positive press, but maybe this review is an indication that it won't be a complete disaster. The reception the film receives both Japan and North America should be very interesting to see.

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Early Live Action Dragonball Teaser Trailer Leaked

Before viewing the above leaked trailer, let me preface it with a few comments. This leaked trailer was created strictly for a brand licensing expo and potential Licensing & Merchandising partners, so it mostly just introduces the look, style, characters, and other elements of the movie way before special effects and CGI have been integrated. Things like music clearances and talent approvals have not been pursued yet, and you can immediately tell this leaked trailer was made for general, informative purposes. The official trailer will feature more action, energy, and visual effects that many have expected to help portray the feel of the Dragonball series. With that said, some of my previous comments about the movie seem to hold some weight while they take things in an interesting direction.

Goku is played by Justin Chatwin, mostly known for his role as Robbie in War of the Worlds.


This trailer doesn't answer many of the questions people have, but it is one of the first solid looks at the treatment and style outside of leaked set pictures. The questionable changes remain intact, like Goku's (Justin Chatwin) ethnicity, him starting out in high school, and the more serious atmosphere. One of the first things I gained from the trailer was the tone and attitude director James Wong was trying to achieve. While the original Dragonball series was lighthearted and had a distinct Asian style, the movie goes in the opposite direction. The trailer comes off as serious and very Americanized. I was hoping for something along the lines of producer Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle instead of a modern day version of the Jackie Chan/Jet Li team-up flick, Forbidden Kingdom. The setting doesn't sit well with me, especially with scenes that show a little too much of its modern day trappings. Perhaps the CGI effects can help with blending the ancient and futuristic environments, but the atmosphere doesn't feel quite right. Since Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat) received a large spotlight, that helped show the changes made to the character. While his perverted nature may not sit well with families, he appears far too serious and a little too young for the role. The look of Lord Piccolo is an interesting take, but I will reserve judgment until there is a full image of him.

Lord Piccolo is played by James Marsters, who appeared as the evil Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

It is evident which audience they are trying to appeal to with this movie. Many DB fans will watch it regardless of its quality, but it will be a harder sell to non-fans. The Dragonball series has gained a somewhat poor reputation in the US for its drawn out storylines, long fight scenes, and at times, lack of substance. Many had generalized anime as being just like Dragonball Z. Although DB is more of a comedy/adventure and much different than its successor, it was probably wise for them to take a mainstream standpoint with the movie. The music score has been a controversial subject with DBZ's localization, but the film score is looking positive. Composer Brian Tyler (Rambo, Eagle Eye) is apparently a big fan of the series and looks to capture the sweeping, epic, fantasy feel of the original anime and of Wong's adaptation. The official teaser trailer was supposed to premiere alongside Max Payne on October 17th, but has since been pushed back to later this year to allow for more editing and special effects.

There are still a lot of unknown details, but dbthemovie.com is a great source for cast and crew information, news, and an informative FAQ. With the movie releasing in North America on April 10, 2009, there is still over six months to finalize and polish. The internet community has been very vocal in its opinion of the Dragonball movie, but perhaps they can pull out a few surprises in this first iteration of their planned trilogy.

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World Destruction Adds Story With A Twist

It is sometimes hard to find a series that feels unique. Many anime shows follow a certain archetype or formula, depending on animation, characters, or other aspects to stand out in the crowd. World Destruction: Sekai Bokumetsu no Rokunin (The Six People That Will Destroy the World) presents a somewhat typical fantasy setting with an atypical cast of main characters. Morte, Kylie, and Toppi are apart of the protagonistic "World Destruction Committee" as they journey to find the activation key to the Destruct Code before the antagonistic "World Salvation Committee" can stop them. This role reversal creates a fun and unique dynamic that adds a lot of fun, adventure, and comedy.

The Destruct Code, usually a dull, black color, has a mysterious reaction to Kylie.


World Destruction is based upon the Nintendo DS RPG of the same name. The world is ruled by the beastmen and humans serve as slaves and inferior beings. The mysterious Morte, wielding a large blade and an orb called the Destruct Code, solely makes up the World Destruction Committee as Kylie and Toppi get caught up in her affairs and reluctantly joins the journey to find a way to activate the Destruct Code. The strong characters and the adversarial relationship between most humans and beastmen is immediately evident. Morte has a troubled past, which shows in her somber demeanor and direct attitude. Kylie, initially shown disguising himself as a beastman, is more care-free and his clueless behavior is what makes him likable and often the crutch of the comedy. But perhaps one of the most fun characters seen thus far is Toppi. A wise, bear-like beastman that includes the word "kuma" (bear) after every sentence, he adamantly denies being a bear and takes things very seriously. Lia and Naja are two part-beastmen that make up the World Salvation Committee. Although the group sounds very upstanding, their portrayal looks more villainous compared to the WDC. The setting is pure fantasy, and it works. Small villages, large, bustling cities, and ships both large and small are just a few places that make up the journey. The main plot follows Morte's past, the nature and story behind the orb-like Destruct Code, and the true intentions of the World Destruction Committee, but there are still plenty of side-plots that show the adventurous atmosphere and fantasy trappings that make the show fun.

The team of Kylie and Toppi create many of the fun moments in World Destruction.

The story is very light and comedic given the darker implications of its title. The WDC usually gets caught up in the affairs of others while the combination of Kylie's lighthearted nature and Toppi's serious manner create many funny moments. Kylie's cluelessness often creates problems for the WDC while Toppi's wise sayings and pride in his race leads to a little teasing. The world feels alive and its RPG roots is noticeable. The run-and-chase method between the WDC and WSC is slightly reminiscent of Lupin III. The aggressive Lia and cool-headed Naja of the WSC act as a nice foil to the WDC. The mystery of the Destruct Code is like a dangling carrot while they get ever closer to the answer throughout the series. Many video game to anime adaptations can be hit or miss, but World Destruction stands on its own very well.

The story and fantasy setting may sound a little cliche, but the strong characters and unique role reversal make World Destruction fun. It feels like an RPG while maintaining its own identity. There is plenty of adventure and comedy to be found while the bigger story slowly unravels. It may not quite compare to predecessors such as the classic Slayers, but World Destruction has its own charm that makes it worth watching.

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Macross Frontier Brings Classic Feel, New Attitude

The story and universe of Macross is most likely better known as the Americanized title, Robotech. Piecing together three separate series together into one, it took certain liberties to make everything fit together. The first season, The Macross Saga is one of the most popular and more accurately represents the original Japanese version, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross. While there have been various side stories, sequels, and continuations of both versions, Macross Frontier has been gaining a lot of hype and interest since it made its Japanese television debut earlier this year. The new series follows the same time line as the original Macross and commemorates its 25th anniversary with a twenty-five episode long season scheduled to wrap up at the end of this month. Frontier shares many of the same themes and elements as the first series while maintaining its own identity and providing strong points of its own.




Super Dimensional Fortress Macross follows the battle between humans and a race of giant war faring alien creatures called the Zentradi. As one of their spacecrafts crashes on Earth, the humans adapt the advanced technology for their own uses in preparation for a pending invasion. Creating advanced fighter jets that can transform into a Battloid robot mode and a fighter/robot hybrid called gerwalk, the new space force and the surrounding city soon get caught in a huge space war. The love triangle between fighter pilot Hikaru Ichijyo/Rick Hunter, idol singer Lynn Minmay, and military lieutenant Misa Hayase/Lisa Hayes becomes one of the central storylines as the war intensifies and the two separate cultures try to put their differences aside. Macross Frontier takes place after this series and its sequel, Macross 7. Much like the comparisons between the original Mobile Suit Gundam series and the recent production, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, they both share many of the same themes, plot elements, archetypes, and other appropriate nods. Frontier also shares elements from the OVA sequel, Macross Plus as well as music by famed anime composer Yoko Kanno. The story follows the 25th colonial fleet, called the Macross Frontier. Many colonies and fleets explore the vastness of space as a new bio-mechanical alien race called the Vajra start making attacks. Like the original Macross, Frontier is a space opera featuring a complicated love triangle between characters inspired by Hikaru/Rick and Minmay.

The new alien Vajra attacking a Valkyrie variable fighter in gerwalk mode.

Alto Saotome is a high school student enrolled in the Mihoshi Academy pilot training course. Yearning to fly in real skies, he has a troubled past after leaving the famed family business of Kabuki theatre. His feminine features get him teased with the nickname 'princess', but acts normally with a slightly aloof attitude. He meets Ranka Lee, a young girl working at a Chinese restaurant that loves to sing and idolizes popular singer, Sheryl Nome. Sheryl is known across the galaxy and is finishing up her tour at Macross Frontier. The character dynamic between the three is immediately felt, with each seeming like an exaggerated version of their original Macross counterparts. While Alto is somewhat different from Hikaru/Rick, they both share some personality traits. Rather than rehashing the old love triangle, they instead separated the much-criticized Lynn Minmay into two separate characters. Ranka Lee captures the naive, innocent young girl that strived to find love and become a singer. Sheryl Nome exhibits that superstar status and fame while showing confidence and a little bit of arrogance. The character designs feel a little weak, especially in the three main characters. However, they soon evolve beyond their stereotypical trappings and show how much they have to offer. This new dynamic feels fresh and very distinct, not only showing their relationship with Alto but also their growing careers.

The animation itself looks very clean. The 2D animation/CGI hybrid can be seen here, taking a page from Macross Plus when it comes to overall aesthetics. Everything looks very fluid, from the cityscapes to the epic battles. You can see the futuristic influence present in military tools as well as everyday life. Story and individual plot elements share some similarities to the original Macross, but they feel new and are more like homage than copycatting. In true space opera fashion, there is plenty of political intrigue, amazing battles, strong characters, and mysteries abound. With the humans and Zentradi mostly living together in peace, this new alien Vajra race as well as the secret SMS independent military team add to most of the battles as reasoning and motivations are deciphered. Skull fighter team leader Ozma Lee shares many similarities to Macross's Roy Fokker, taking on that big brother role both in battle and civilian form. Even if you're not familiar with the Macross universe, Frontier stands well on its own and has a lot to like.

Michael Brun (left) and Klan Klan are both apart of the SMS military division.

The music was composed by Yoko Kanno, who is well known for working on Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain, Ghost in the Shell, and Macross Plus. She definitely sets a tone no matter what the scene, each fitting well together. Her ability to make each score sound unique and different is amazing. But perhaps the most intriguing part is the the presence of two singers in the series. Sheryl Nome provides the strong, energetic songs with a concert-like feel. Ranka Lee takes things in the other direction, switching between fun, catchy, or more somber. Both singers are more or less friends than rivals, with Ranka and Sheryl even singing a duet version of "What 'bout my star?". While some scores can sort of fade into the background, Yoko Kanno's music is at the forefront.

With only a handful of episodes left to go, Macross Frontier is definitely proving its worth. It truly feels like a revitalization of the series, capturing the essence of the original Macross. The show stands well on its own, capable of being enjoyed without extensive knowledge of backstories or histories. With so much packed in so far, there's just about something for everyone to like.

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