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Anime fans weren’t quite sure what to expect in 2013 when "Battle of Gods" was released in theaters, becoming the first new piece of "Dragon Ball" animation in 16 years. After such a long hiatus, would it be any good? And would this perhaps be the very last creative gasp from series creator Akira Toriyama?
The respective answers, yes and no, came quickly. "Battle of Gods" was a fan-pleasing hit, and a follow-up came in the form of the recently released "Resurrection F.”
So after two movies in two years, is Toriyama ready for a break? Nope, he’s ready for more, but this time not in theaters, as "Dragon Ball" is returning to TV this summer with a brand-new anime series.
While the manga remained "Dragon Ball" for all 11 years it was in serialization, its anime adaptation have gone by a number of names. Starting off as plain old "Dragon Ball" in 1986, the anime switched its title to "Dragon Ball Z" before reaching the peak of its popularity. Later came the retouched "Dragon Ball Kai," a leaner, cleaner version of the Z portion of the "Dragon Ball" anime library.
The new series, for which visuals are yet to be released, will be called "Dragon Ball Super" in both English and Japanese, although written with the kanji character 超 (pronounced "cho" and meaning “super”). Unlike the lengthy period between the announcement and premiere of "Sailor Moon Crystal," we won’t have long to wait for the first episode of "Dragon Ball Super," since it’s scheduled to start airing in July on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on Fuji Television, the ancestral home of "Dragon Ball" on Japanese broadcast TV.
And just in case you’re worried that this is another "Dragon Ball GT"-like attempt to milk the "Dragon Ball" name for all it’s worth, you can rest easy knowing that Toriyama himself is handling story planning for the new series, which is set following the end of protagonist Goku’s battle with the villainous Majin Buu. Fuji TV producer Osamu Nosaki has already read the plot penned by Toriyama, calling it “the stuff of dreams” and telling fans they might be seeing Goku and pals take on an enemy even stronger than Buu or the ever-popular Frieza.
As much as we’d like to praise the 60-year-old Toriyama as “tireless” for continuing to work on his masterpiece at an age when most people would be thinking about retiring, the description seems even more fitting for voice actress Masako Nozawa, who will turn 79 this October. Nozawa isn’t passing the torch to anyone else for "Dragon Ball Super," as she’ll once again be voicing Goku as well as his sons Gohan and Goten.
“I’ve said the word ‘super’ countless times in commercials, games, and such,” mused Nozawa. “But nothing has felt as good as being able to say ‘Dragon Ball Super’ is starting.”
For all the rest of us, that feels pretty good to hear, too.
Source: Comic Natalie
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Vegeta to be the lead in a new Dragon Ball movie?! -- Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama’s Newest Work Released… to Japanese Environmental Groups -- Rock band Good Morning America performs new Dragon Ball Kai ending
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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Jason Campbell
As a long time DB Fan, I'm overjoyed Akira is back. After DBZ, things went really sideways. GT was pretty damn awful. Can't wait for it to come along.
Genmaken
Toriyama should not be continuing this at all. The man has forgotten most of what he has wrote which has been evident in interviews and mistakes he had to correct in the new movies. Simply trying to rewrite a big portion of what many fans loved. Now we get to enjoy blue hair and the characters with little muscle and weaker than ever!
Para Sitius
Toriyama isn't the only creator to handily forget history if it gets in the way of telling a story. Still, this new series surely can't be any worse than the monstrosity that is GT.
Kaal Singh
Agree with Genmaken, I hoping it will be good but judging from the recent movies he's changed the DBZ universe and the way the power ups work. He doesn't care about the other characters except Goku as well which he showed in the movie. He did care about character development earlier on in the DBZ series though but not now. Vegeta was a complete joke in the recent movie.
However, I disagree about the little muscle. Muscles do not make sense anyway because they rely on Ki energy to grow their power and strength. The little muscle actually made Goku look more godly.
lostrune2
It's Super Cyan Goku and Vegeta
vallum
9 PM?
9 AM, right?
mistie710
That's tempting fate, methinks!
I just hope that this doesn't mean that the anime folk are going to indulge in sequelitis in the way that the US has. It would be a shame. If the story is worth telling, great, but otherwise leave it alone.
CoconutE3
This is great. DB has huge cult following so it's nice to rekindle excitement every so often. Thanks!
Mirai Hayashi
Why ruin a classic? Give it a rest and start something new.
Cliffy
Still going on? It was a pretty boring show, talk for almost a few episodes before action. Liked it when I was really young, but now, no. Even my 12 year old son does not like it. Well, he is into Kinghts of Sidonia/SAO/Fate Stay Night/Attack on Titans.
Joshua Degreiff
A great artist like Picasso say "good artists copy but great artists steal"