Dragon Ball Z's Warriors Behind the Series Converse the Battle at Hand


Creator Akira Toriyama was behind the manga and television series Dragon Ball which adapted into its sequel Dragon Ball Z. Which has spanned across several territories all over the world in terms of the manga and the show developing into countless seasons, video games, and merchandise the craze for this fandom is flawless. Now that the series is still reigning strong a new film called Battle of the Gods - that follows the events from the Dragon Ball Z television series, after the defeat of Majin Buu, a new power awakens and threatens humanity.

Beerus, an ancient and powerful God of Destruction, searches for Goku after hearing rumors of the Saiyan warrior who defeated Frieza. Realizing the threat Beerus poses to their home planet, the Z-fighters must find a way to stop him before it's too late. Only Goku, humanity's last hope, can ascend to the level of a legendary Super Saiyan God and stop Beerus from destroying Earth, and possibly the entire universe!
FUNnimation and Screenvision are bringing Dragon Ball Z to theaters for a limited run, beginning August 5. The film will be played across 400 screens nationwide.

"We're very excited to bring Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods to movie theatres across the country this summer," said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and President of FUNimation Entertainment.  "Dragon Ball Z has always been a huge part of everything we do at FUNimation, and speaking as a fan myself, I can't wait to watch it on the big screen."

"Partnering with FUNimation Entertainment is a great way to bring more unique programming to our exhibitor partners and their movie-goers, while also bringing Dragon Ball Z to the big screen" said Darryl Schaffer, Executive Vice President, Operations and Exhibitor Relations, Screenvision.

Producer Justin Cook, Sean Schemmel voice of Goku and Chris Sabat voice of Vegeta will be taking part at this year's Anime Expo convention. But have taken some time to discuss this film, the series, and the plans ahead that the fans of the DBZ fandom will rejoice in enjoying both new and old alike.


1. How does it all make you feel to be at this year's edition of the Anime Expo?

Justin: Excited fantastic Anime Expo is a wonderful convention it's great to be a part of it.

Sean: I have never been to the Anime Expo so I am so excited.

Chris: I love it and loved it a couple of years ago when I attended a panel when they were discussing the re-mastering of the blu ray and DVDs of this series. I had never seen a crowd as large as this convention it's insane and exciting.

2. Why did you all want to come out and be a part of this convention festivities?

Sean: Well my producer basically made me! Haha just kidding! I like being a part of any convention so in this particular situation it wasn't like "Hey I wanna go to Anime Expo" when I talked to my producer Justin - he was like "We're doing this at the Anime Expo are you in?" I'm like "hell yeah!" That's how it happened for me.

Justin: Yeah being a part of the Anime Expo this year is going to be that big push for Battle of the Gods the new Dragon Ball Z film. I think it's a fantastic movie and it's well worth of one of the biggest anime conventions of the states.

Chris: Absolutely plus I want to go because they're playing the Battle of the Gods movie and I have not seen the final cut of it yet. None of us have seen the final cut of it.

3. For those who may not be familiar with the Dragon Ball Z series/franchise can you give us a brief summary as to what it's all about?

Chris: I think we should explain the whole show.

Justin: We'll start at the beginning?

Sean: I tried explaining this the other day and person was lost in like 1 minute. It's like explaining Star Wars to someone but it's more complicated.

Chris: It's a delightful little show about a bunch of dudes who are best friends who become powerful and the more training they do, they all gain more confidence, and the stronger they become the more blonde hair and blue eyed they become, which is for them really important because they hate the way they look. The show is more about vanity and how attractive you can look, as a blonde haired blue eyed dude.

Sean: There's Dragon's balls in it so you can wish for more beauty and compete with who's going to be better looking. And you don't want to see the dragon's balls.

Chris: It's definitely not appropriate for kids because they show the dragon's balls a lot.

Sean: There's 7 of them just putting that into perspective.

Chris: That's like 3 and a half Dragons.

Justin: Dragon Ball Z is a gigantic multi-generational story of the main character Goku played by Sean,  it wasn't too far off to what these guys were saying, Goku befriends several personalities and really deals with various topics. I think why it's such a hit is because it's so accessible multiple cultures.

Sean: That really doesn't explain what it's about really.

Chris: It's about a bunch of dudes who are trying to get enough power to defeat the enemies while defending the Earth.

Sean: They also squirt energy out of their hands.

Chris: There's over 9, 000 episodes!

Justin: There are!

4. What can you tell us about the new Dragon Ball Z movie Battle of the Gods, who are the Gods and what are they battling for?

Sean: Well I don't want to give away too much. But Dragon Ball Z revolves around Goku as he finds out there's this guy who's a God and finds out and wants to fight him.

Chris: At the same time it's no joke the God of destruction wakes up  from a decade nap because he has this premonition that there's someone out there who could be a rival to him so he has this vision of a Super Saiyan God, so he comes to Earth to try to find that Super Saiyan God meanwhile Goku doesn't know what a Super Saiyan God is he just wants to punch him in the face.

Sean: Goku has this obsession, with almost getting turned on,  when he finds out there could be someone more powerful than him that he can fight. So really I think Goku could of started Fight Club since he loves to fight. But not giving too much away again the Battle of Gods really isn't about Goku and the main protagonist although there's  a fight between them there's an even bigger fight I won't talk about that I think the serious hardcore fans will get.

Chris:  Yeah it's about Goku and his mother trying to extend Goku's curfew that's what the real fight is.

5. Does this film connect to the TV show or is it its own story?

Sean: That's an excellent question. That's actually one of the first things I noticed after the finished recording of the movie, you do not have to be a Dragon Ball Z fan to get many elements of Dragon Ball Z. If you are a fan then there is a lot of fan service in the film that you will get. Non-fans will get it and real fans will love it! I think it's one of the best movies and bit of the Dragon Ball Zdom to date it's my favorites out of everything Dragon Ball Z related I've done.

Justin: I think not only is it accessible but I think it would encourage people who have not seen the series after seeing the movie to want to see the series.

Sean: Yeah I think they would go back and want to watch the series.

6. What was your favorite part or line to do for this film and why?

Sean: Well for me, I got asked this question earlier, when  I realized it was at the end of the film when Goku is referencing something Vegeta had said earlier, does this in the Japanese version so I did it in English, does a Vegeta impression so that was my favorite part that I had done. But my favorite part that does not involve me as an actor is when the Dragon finds out that Versace is there and he's all nervous and scared.

Chris: Favorite line oh wow.... There's a really important part where Vegeta the character I play shows emotions towards his significant other that he typically doesn't show he has awesome moments regarding his relationship Bulma. I don't want to spoil it too much but when you see it you'll understand.

Sean: Yeah I like those moments as well.

Justin: I think there's a lot of great comical moments between a lot of the supporting cast members throughout the movie that was enjoyable scenes and fun to do.

Sean: The way I would summarize the movie is the first half is more Dragon Ball in terms of the pace and story where the second half is more Dragon Ball Z in terms of a giant long fight  then you have a nice comic moment at the end which is the Dragon Ball Z cast. It's a well done edition nod to the whole series and is awesome and you will like it.

7. Does it ever get annoying whenever someone asks you to say the voice or a line from a show or do you not mind it?

Sean: I hate it! Haha naw I'm flattered when asked. But when people ask me to do "Ka-me-ha-me-HA!!!" that's something I don't like doing because it's super loud hurting the ears and hurts my throat.

Chris: That's the only thing that bothers me is that sometimes it's embarrassing when doing these characters especially in the Dragon Ball there very loud characters. There's only been two times that have only bothered me that much. One is where they ask me to do something in a crowded place that's where I can embarrass myself doing it. The other would be where they don't ask, we live in a generational time of where people just walk up with their phones already going "Alright do this for my sister or my grandma or my friend say " Vegeta I love you!" that's like the only thing that bothers me. At least be a little bit more polite by asking if they can shoot me before they start filming. Most people are happy to do it, it can just be a little embarrassing  unless you're really feeling it.

 Sean: I think one of the things I struggle with is they ask me to do a line and unlike other films or television shows we don't memorize all of our lines because we just read them off the script while we're acting  them out. So sometimes they will say "hey do a line!" and I don't have any of them memorized other than "Ka-me-ha-me-HA!!!"  or "Hey it's me Goku" so I have no idea what to say or I will ask them what's your favorite line and then they don't know. It ends up being a very funny contest of who remembers what.

8. Why should people go out and see this film at the theaters as opposed to viewing it on DVD or streaming it online?

Sean: Well streaming online is illegal so if you're doing that unless it's like Netflix.

Chris: I think for the fact that it is being shown at the theater it would be a unique experience to see it because you don't normally get to see anime that way on a huge screen like that especially something as epic as the Dragon Ball series. I don't even know how you would not want to watch it in the theater if you had the opportunity to do so.

Justin: I think this is a enormous moment not only for Dragon Ball but for anime in general because it doesn't always get this kind of publication. I feel like it's great for anyone who's a fan of this medium but help support by letting the public know we want this kind of entertainment at the theater.

Sean: I work on Pokemon also and I found out that in Japan that Pokemon and other anime that get released in the theaters does better than their main stream it will be number 1 at the box office for all movies in Japan. So we don't have that culture that supports that kind of culture that supports anime as much in the theaters in America. So if this does well in the theater then it will open the door for more anime in the theater and what theaters will accept what for release opening it up that door for other anime and I think this film is good enough to do just that.

9. Do any of you have any other projects going on currently or anything that you would like to discuss or promote?

Sean: I was just cast in Sofia The First on a couple of different roles that will be airing in about 10 months also have got some video game projects and hoping we do something for the Dragon Ball Xenoverse video game do not know anything about that but hopefully pretty excited.

Chris: Pretty sure we will be doing that very soon.

Sean: New game coming out soon.

Chris: Coming out at some point.

Justin: Most of what I work on is with FUNimation so I would say go check out the website - http://www.funimation.com/ check out all of the properties we have and have coming out. To keep that anime addiction going for those who are out there.

Chris: At www.fun.com.

Sean: Dot net? Dot com?

Justin: Don't go to www.fun.com.


10. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us!

Sean: Thanks!

Justin: Thank you see ya later!

Chris: Thanks see ya!

Post a Comment

[facebook] [blogger]

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

Powered by Blogger.
Javascript DisablePlease Enable Javascript To See All Widget