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.
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.
Chris: www.funimation.org/weirdos wait www.funimation.com
it's dot net!
10. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us!
Sean: Thanks!
Justin: Thank you see ya later!
Chris: Thanks see ya!
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