At this year’s [email protected], it was announced that the new Dragon Ball movie will be titled Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and a teaser was released that you can watch below.
Taking part in the Comic-Con panel, which you can also check out in full below, were Ms. Masako Nozawa (voice of Son Goku), Mr. Akio Iyoku (executive producer of the Dragon Ball series at Shueisha), and from Toei Animation, Norihiro Hayashida (producer of TV animation and movies for the Dragon Ball series including Dragon Ball Super: Broly) (buy at Amazon).
The broadcast contained previews of the setting art, background art, and even a clip of Goku from Super Hero. Plus, there was a special live performance from Hironobu Kageyama.
The new release will be the second film based on Dragon Ball Super, the manga title and the anime series which launched in 2015. The first such movie was the 2018 release Dragon Ball Super: Broly which was a smash hit with audiences – setting a worldwide box office record of over $120 million.
“I’m sure you’re all bursting with excitement waiting for the Dragon Ball movie! I’m certain that Super Hero will more than live up to everyone’s expectations! The Super Hero subtitle is pretty cool, right? I love how simple and straight-to-the-point it is! The new characters designed by Toriyama don’t quite look like anyone we’ve seen before,” said Masako Nozawa.
“They’ve got a great sense of style! Looking slick wearing boots, they’re definitely a unique addition to Dragon Ball, and I can’t wait to see what they can do! It’s one of those amazing movies where, after you finish watching it, you and your friends and family can all talk about the details and about what parts you liked best! I can’t wait to hear all of your impressions of the movie!”
Akio Iyoku added: “Now that the release date in Japan has been set for 2022, we’re working at full steam. For now, all I can say is that it’s going to be fantastic! Toriyama has been working with us since the story development stage and was highly involved in the illustration process for the movie’s characters.
“As we’ve worked on it, the movie has just kept getting better and better! Like I said, I’m confident it’s going to be a fantastic movie, but I really think that it could end up being a movie that leaves fans stunned, thinking things like, ‘So THIS is what Dragon Ball is capable of!’ and ‘I never expected it to be THAT good!’ I hope all the fans out there can withstand their building anticipation and hold out until next year!”
Norihiro Hayashida commented: “I think this new movie has a different appeal to the outrageously intense Broly. There are a lot more slice-of-life scenes that really put a spotlight on the rich world that Toriyama has created. Of course, that’s not to say the movie doesn’t have its share of intense scenes! It’s a perfect fusion of classic Dragon Ball and new aspects to the series, which is why I feel it might just end up being something truly original and groundbreaking!
“I really think that we’re going to be able to please all the fans out there as well as Toriyama with this movie! Presenting Toriyama’s incredible stories and designs in the coolest way possible has always been our mission! I hope you all do us the kindness of waiting patiently and excitedly a little while longer!”
And Hironobu Kageyama added: “The fact that the new Dragon Ball movie was announced at an iconic event like San Diego Comic-Con is pretty astounding, and the fact that I was able to perform CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA was such an honor! I’ve been so lucky to be able to perform all over the world and make so many friends thanks to anime and anime songs.
“Among those friends are countless die-hard Dragon Ball fans who I’m sure will be rejoicing right about now!
I hope everyone around the world joins me in continuing to spread the Dragon Ball movement in whatever ways we can!”
The Dragon Ball phenomena began in 1984 when Japan’s well-known manga from Akira Toriyama premiered in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump – becoming a top ranked title throughout its 10 and a half years of publication. Since then, the manga’s popularity has continued to grow with an astonishing record of 260 million copies sold worldwide and counting.
And with Dragon Ball’s ever-increasing popularity, it has expanded beyond manga to include TV animation, movies, games and merchandising. Now 37 years after the launch of the original manga, the franchise continues to evolve and will reach new heights starting with this new large-scale movie.
You can visit the newly-launched official site at 2022dbs.com.
Planning for the new film project was kicked-off in 2018, before the release of Broly, with the goal of telling a large-scale story that would build on the enthusiastic response for the previous theatrical series and the global fervor for Broly.