The Spanish website ANMTV is reporting that Arait Multimedia has confirmed they have acquired the distribution rights for DragonBall Kai in Spain. As done elsewhere internationally (i.e. outside of Japan), the series will be released under the title Dragon Ball Z Kai. The company has also announced plans to start dubbing the series in Spanish relatively soon, as the series is thus far only available in Spain dubbed in the Catalan, Galician, and Basque languages.


Arait Multimedia has also expressed plans to air a censored version of these Spanish dubbed episodes on TV, indicating that the uncut version would only be available through home video releases. The article also notes that a fan movement for the series has begun and is calling for the return of DragonBall Z's original Spanish dub voice cast.

Here at Kanzentai we've translated several interviews in which Toriyama reminisces about his work on DragonBall numerous months, years, or even decades after the fact. Today though we've got something from the opposite end of the spectrum, a Q&A conducted while the series was still in its early phases! This interview comes from the DragonBall: Adventure Special, a one-shot DragonBall-centered magazine put out by Weekly Shounen Jump in December 1987, shortly after DragonBall's 150th chapter and midway through the Piccolo Daimao arc. It's essentially the earliest guidebook devoted to the series, and is the source for much of the extra character background information later incorporated into Daizenshuu 7. It also contains a reprint of "Dragon Boy" (Toriyama's short DragonBall prototype manga), a look at Oolong and Puar's school days, plus some really neat-looking games. Unfortunately that will all have to wait for another day, but the Q&A with Toriyama is pretty nice by itself! It covers a wide range of subjects, from DragonBall secrets, to the manga-creating process in general, and even to Toriyama's love life.


Want to know Toriyama's Zodiac sign, his wife's name, his favorite manga and anime, or his weight as of 1987? It's all here, along with various other facts you may or may not be happy to learn! Learn the depths of his depravity, and if he'll ever wear a wig. You heard it here first!

FUNimation has confirmed through a statement released Thursday that an immediate suspension of all current production for all planned DragonBall Z Blu-ray releases (including the recently announced Level 2.1 and 2.2). The press release reads as follows:

Blu-ray editions of Dragon Ball Z went into production based on fan demand, however due to technical challenges of restoring from the original film frame by frame, we are unable to continue these releases by way of this process. FUNimation will be re-evaluating the current process and researching more efficient methods of restoration.

We be sure to keep you posted as FUNimation re-evaluates their current process and available options. Nevertheless, it looks like there will be yet another tale to add to the ever growing release backstory of the DragonBall franchise in North America.

As first reported by French anime news Twitter account @manganewsjapon, and subsequently by Daizenshuu EX, the March issue of Saikyo Jump will come with a bonus insert DVD containing a copy of the recent "DragonBall: Episode of Bardock" and the Raging Blast 2 bonus feature, "DragonBall: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans". Since then, the official Saikyo Jump website has been updated with this information, noting that the March issue will go on sale 3 February 2012.


In addition, the latest issue of Saikyo Jump notes that the magazine's featured manga will begin receiving tankoubon releases on 3 February 2012. So far only releases for "Chopperman" (One Piece spin-off) and "Rock Lee" (Naruto spin-off) have been announced, which are set at ¥400 (~$5.20) a piece. Oddly enough, there has been no mention of DragonBall SD or any other main series being released. This is presumably due to the fact that SD is drawn entirely in color, as opposed to the others which are simply drawn in black and white.

This year's Jump Festa has officially come to an end, and with it comes the announcement that the DragonBall: Episode of Bardock anime adaptation that premiered at the event will be streamed online starting on 19 December 2011 via the "Bandai Channel" website. The special will be available for a limited time, as the stream will be taken down on 3 January 2012. However, the stream will not be available to those outside of Japan due to IP restrictions. Unfortunately, it seems this will be the same situation we saw back in 2008 for the Jump Super Anime Tour special.


A flyer handed out at the advanced screening of Episode of Bardock at Jump Festa details the online availability, along with character profiles and a few screen shots from the special (photo courtesy of Radittsu0395). There's also nothing confirming earlier rumors that a TV broadcast of the new anime will taking place in April 2012. However, it has been confirmed through various Japanese blogs that Nozawa Masako did return to voice Bardock and that Chilled was indeed voiced by Nakao Ryusei (Freeza).


Update: Toei Animation's "Anime Jan" retail website is now offering a free stream of the DragonBall: Episode of Bardock anime until 28 December 2011, at which point you will have to begin paying to watch it. However, unlike other websites, this stream is not region-locked and is available worldwide, of course with no subtitles. The only requirement is that you have the latest version of Microsoft's Silverlight installed. For those of you with legal concerns, I will note that this is a completely legal free stream provided by Toei, so enjoy it to your heart's content while you can!

The kick off of Jump Festa '12 on December 17th in Tokyo is less than a day away, so now's as good a time as any to get caught up on all the wonderful DragonBall events taking place this year! As we mentioned in mid-November, the biggest DragonBall-related event this year is the advanced screening of DragonBall: Episode of Bardock, an anime adaptation of Ooishi Naho's spin-off manga revolving around Bardock that ran in the August to October issues of V-Jump. The screenings are scheduled both days at 12:40 and 3:10 at the "Jump Studio" manga and anime special stage.

In celebration of the premiere of Episode of Bardock, the V-Jump booth will be set up as a life size replica of the original Tenkaichi Budoukai arena, although with two 65-inch plasma TVs to further enhance your experience. The booth will also feature a few exhibits, including one showcasing DragonBall.


If you'd like to keep track of the event on your own, you can either follow Jump Festa '12 on Twitter or visit their staff blog, both of which they'll be updating regularly over the next two days (even if you don't know Japanese, they post a lot of nice pictures). We'll be sure to keep you posted if any other DragonBall goodies pop up over the weekend!

With Christmas right around the corner you're probably scrambling to find the perfect gifts for your friends and family. Well, we at Kanzentai have come to the rescue once again with the perfect holiday shopping catalog: the Daizenshuu 7 Item Dictionary! This handy catalog goes through just about every item that appeared in the manga, the DragonBall and DragonBall Z anime, and even the movies and TV specials, making your Dragon World shopping a snap! Whether it's a Capsule Refrigerator for Dad, a Namekian Spaceship for Uncle Bob, or a Submachine Gun for little Suzy, you'll be sure to find everything you need to make this truly the merriest time of year!


Disclaimer: Item prices are subject to change depending on the ever-fluctuating Zenny to Yen to Dollar exchange rates. Lending rates and fees may apply. Any item painstakingly reorganized into English alphabetical order cannot be combined with any current sales, promotional discounts, or coupons. DragonBall GT items not included. All items are nontransferable, not actually for sale, and not redeemable for cash. All sales are final.