30 September 2007

Podcast Episode #0096
VegettoEX @ 8:50 pm EDT -- Episode #0096 of the podcast is available for download! In addition to finally getting to catch up with Julian during a normal recording, we also had some minor audio equipment explosions that put our regular plans to a very quick halt :P. No matter! We chug on into the future with an episode! Prompted by a listener e-mail, we had a little discussion about DragonBall GT's importance and relevance to fandom as a whole. Should we "acknowledge" it? Simply tolerate it? Or something else entirely? You'll also hear a little recap of AWA, some of October's bigger releases, some additional e-mails, and a whole lot more. Definitely check it out.

Sparking! METEOR Famitsu Scores
VegettoEX @ 8:00 pm EDT -- Holy crap. Not too shabby. If you head over to The Magic Box, you can check out Famitsu's scores for Sparking! METEOR, which is out this Thursday (October 4th) in Japan.

9, 8, 8, 8 for the Wii, and 8, 8, 8, 8 for the PS2.

Podcast Episode #0096 coming very soon... wanted to get this up, though!

29 September 2007

Two New Anime Music Videos
VegettoEX @ 11:55 pm EDT -- Hey, how about some new AMVs to break up the monotony of the evening? OK!

Both of these videos premiered at Anime Weekend Atlanta last week. While neither of them are DBZ-related in any way (there'll be one of those coming soon!), you'll probably find something you enjoy.

There are both H.264/MP4 and XviD encodes of each video. The H.264 versions (which look slightly better) can be obtained as a local download over on AnimeMusicVideos.org (links to both video entries are over on the "Music Videos" page), while the XviD versions can be directly downloaded right from these pages.

Adolescent Mayhem
Death Note
My Chemical Romance - "Teenagers"

XviD Direct Download (47.4 MB)

This was my AWA Pro entry. While it received no nominations, it was actually played during the awards ceremony with a title card that read something like "Honorable Mention... because we can!"

Obligatory Matrix Trailer
Megazone 23 (Part 1)
"The Matrix" Theatrical Trailer

XviD Direct Download (46.6 MB)

This was something I threw together in five days to meet the Expo deadline :P. Despite that short time available to work on it, I love it to death. If you don't know the back story on and correlation between Megazone 23 and The Matrix, watching this trailer should spell it out for you.

Oh, and "Never Fall Apart" won "Best Sentimental" in Expo! :D

Again, more information on the videos, links to both download options, and more can be found over on the "Music Videos" page. Look forward to Iron Editor videos in the near future, and Episode #0096 of the podcast at some point tomorrow!

27 September 2007

Live Action Movie! Remastered! New SFX! Whoa!
VegettoEX @ 7:38 pm EDT -- Tanooki Kuribo is up to no good, again. And by that, I mean that he sent me funny stuff.

Yep. You read that correctly. "Remastered and with all new special effects!" I can't wait. You can check out the updated description over at RightStuf, where you can also pre-order it for a mere $11.24. You'll also see the confirmation of multiple language tracks (making our prediction accurate, as expected).

I'm thinking it's finally time to have a party to watch this movie where there's so much booze, it actually becomes tolerable.

Look for new AMVs very soon! If not tonight, tomorrow.

23 September 2007

Podcast Episode #0095! We're Back From AWA!
VegettoEX @ 9:10 pm EDT -- Phew! What a weekend. We're all back up here in New Jersey after spending some good time down there in Georgia for Anime Weekend Atlanta. Many stories to be told, many new AMVs to premier... but all in good time. Until then, enjoy this:

Yep. That's a new Kuririn figure I picked up. There was a Chibi Goku that goes along with him, but I only picked up the one. He's about eight inches tall.

Oh, right. The podcast! Yep, Meri and I recorded this little guy last week before the convention. Like we say during the episode, it's pretty much just us "geeking-out" for a bit, going back and forth between our top five... uhh... well, if you want to explain it in a nutshell, it's something like "unfinished grudge matches we want to see concluded"... or something like that. Definitely check it out.

We'll be back next week with a regular episode. We don't know exactly how it'll be structured, but there'll be some good AWA-reporting in there, along with catching up on the news, and a whole Hell of a lot more.

Keep checking back over the next couple days for some great new contest!

19 September 2007

We're Off To AWA!
VegettoEX @ 8:56 pm EDT -- OK, Julian's in Japan so he's not exactly on his way with us, but the rest of us... being... myself... and a bunch of friendly cohorts are on our way down to Atlanta tomorrow for Anime Weekend Atlanta! This convention has a pretty big focus on Anime Music Videos, so if you're coming down, be sure to check out the "VAT" (Video Art Track) for our panel on Friday. Jeff, Meri, and I will be showcasing some of our work from over the years and lots of other fun stuff. Saturday afternoon there will be a podcasting panel hosted by the folks over at Anime World Order; they've invited us to crash in on the panel, so that should be good fun. Saturday afternoon also has the AMV awards, but then the big event is Saturday evening with Iron Editor! Come watch Meri and I (vs. the one and only jbone) attempt to make an AMV in two hours (DBZ movie 12 is one of the sources!), all while game shows are going on, videos are played, prizes are given away, and all sorts of other general shenanigans take place.

See you this coming weekend for Episode #0095 of the podcast! Also look for lots of new AMVs to start trickling out once we get back. Excitement!

(Yes, Episode #0095 is all recorded and mixed, but it's not even uploaded, so you'll just have to wait until Sunday evening to get your audio fix :P)

16 September 2007

Podcast Episode #0094
VegettoEX @ 8:08 pm EDT -- Episode #0094 of the podcast is available for download! This week, Meri and I took a look at the "Dragon Ball Collector" segment that can be found within the October 2007 of the domestic Shonen Jump. Tune in for our thoughts on its content, including a brief interview with Akira Toriyama, their translation of Neko Majin Z 5, various bits of information, and a whole lot more. Per the norm, you've also got this month's releases, some e-mails, and just a whole lot of fun. Julian checks in from Japan, again, too! Definitely check it out.

I totally forgot to mention it during the episode... but if you're at all into indie music, and/or like the sound of Jeff's voice when our resident DBZ n00b virgin is on the show, you'll want to check out the latest episode of his podcast, Lo-Fidelity. Some guy named Mike (I don't think you'll have heard of him) filled in as a special guest co-host this last week to review Hot Hot Heat's Happiness, Ltd. and The Go! Team's Proof Of Youth.

10 September 2007

IGN Budokai Tenkaichi 3 "Video Diary"
VegettoEX @ 10:30 pm EDT -- Looks like the folks over at IGN got another update regarding the game... and this time it's significant! OK, so it's really not all that amazing, but you'll hear the Japanese voices in the gameplay, which caught my interest more than it normally would. Check out some info on the upcoming game from Tsuyoshi Hirana (Game Planner, Spike) and Eddie Nagura (Production Selection - Bandai Namco). The video's a little over two minutes long, so definitely check it out if you're at all interested in the game. There's an older "Video Diary" on the page from August 30th if you missed it, too.

IGN / Atari Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Blog Updated
VegettoEX @ 6:56 pm EDT -- I'm tempted to say "Man, F' this... this isn't news"... but it gives me a good chance to promote a similar item that we've covered :P.

Donny Clay (Atari producer-something-or-other) has updated the official Budokai Tenkaichi 3 blog they have with IGN to reminisce a bit about the "greatest hits" in DBZ... and by that, he means when someone dun got smacked hard (not that the game's going to come out for $20, 'cuz it's not :P).

Meri actually covered this as a Top 5 list way back on Episode #0024 of the podcast; check out the images over on the archive page for the lists.

09 September 2007

Podcast Episode #0093
VegettoEX @ 10:47 pm EDT -- Episode #0093 of the podcast is available for download! We took a look at volume eight of the manga this week, essentially bringing the Red Ribbon Army arc to an end. The collective opinion seems to be that Toriyama finally figured out where he wanted to take the story, and when he's confident, it turns out really well. Good stuff! All the big news from the week (see all the updates below) are reviewed, September's releases are gone over, some e-mails are read, and all sorts of general fun is had. Definitely check it out.

I've also updated the "DVD Guide" a bit with clean-up work regarding the first couple DBZ TV seasons. FUNimation's releases are so convoluted, it's an absolute pain trying to make sense of it for a section. Ah, well. If you see anything that needs some attention to detail cleaned-up, just lemme know.

Hey, don't miss out on Jeff's indie music podcast, either! I hear he's got a special guest host filling in next week, too...

Oh, and happy birthday, Dreamcast!

07 September 2007

Sparki... Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Extras @ Gamestop?
VegettoEX @ 11:56 pm EDT -- This page over on FUNimation's official DBZ website has a poll up for you to select some of your favorite fights from the show (thanks Magica). It seems to indicate that some type of bonus material will be included if you purchase (pre-order?) the domestic release of the game from Gamestop.

Will it be a bonus DVD sorta like the "Behind the Screams" featurette that came with the "Limited Edition" version of Budokai 3 a few years back? Possibly. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I love how they spell it as "Vegita" (alongside "Vegeta") on their own website. And also "Freiza" (alongside "Frieza"). And rolling over "Baby Gohan vs Vegito" gives you Vegeta vs Baby/Bebi- Gohan from DBGT.

Sure, it was probably outsourced, possibly even to Gamestop... but c'mon... it's your own damn site!

( He shoots, he scores...! :P )

06 September 2007

Game (Sparking! METEOR) News, Music News, Etc.
VegettoEX @ 6:58 pm EDT -- The big gaming news going around right now is (obviously) the three additional Sparking! METEOR characters. Thanos6 linked me over to the official Atari forum for the scanned image, but it's from a Jump and that means it will be all over the place soon :P.

Nice! That's Jinzôningen Hachigô (or simply Ha-chan), Namu, and Akkuman. All from DragonBall...!

Hey, what about music, though...?!

Tanooki Kuribo's on top of things... which is code for "he finds weird shit and e-mails me". Check this out. So Target's selling a Koro-chan Pack, eh? Sorry, I mean a Colo-chan Pack...!

Pretty interesting stuff. They say it will be available 01 October 2007; keep in mind that both the DB and DBZ Koro-chan Pack CDs will be available over in Japan pretty soon on 19 September 2007. Buyer beware! Good stuff, and good luck. Let's keep going.

Brakus gave us a link to this YouTube video over on the forum...

What is it, you ask? Well, it's a music promotional video of Tokyo Brass Open performing "Makafushigi Adobenchâ!" They have a bunch of CDs out, and it looks like their latest, Brass Style Tengoku, is the one with the DB cover. In fact, if I'm assuming reading correctly, the "Limited Edition" version with the bonus DVD has this video on it. Gooooooood stuff~!

05 September 2007

More (American) Live Action Movie News
VegettoEX @ 6:46 am EDT -- You've probably already read it elsewhere, but it would behoove us to update with the information, as well. Via IGN (and note the update to their own report at the end):

September 4, 2007 - It looks like 20th Century Fox is rushing the long-awaited live-action movie adaptation of Dragon Ball Z into production before the looming industry strikes happen next year.

According to the Montreal Gazette, Dragon Ball Z will shoot in Montreal sometime in the coming year; while an exact start date isn't known yet, the paper reports that production is expected to be completed by next July.

Dragon Ball Z is based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, which also beget an anime series of the same name. There's no word yet on who will write or direct the picture.

UPDATED: 20th Century Fox has informed IGN that this report cannot be confirmed as neither start dates nor locations are locked in at this point.

Huh. Basically, IGN grabbed the same news that everyone else did from the Montreal Gazette, and then Fox got back with them and said something to the effect of, "Well, we have it, but let's not actually go ahead and confirm anything about the movie."

So basically... we're in the same position we were in back in 2002. Great. OK. Wake me up when something's confirmed :P.

03 September 2007

Japanese 2008 Calendars
VegettoEX @ 10:21 pm EDT -- Hey, we're back again so soon with another update...?! Wasn't planning on it, but over on our forum Futabatei Shimei dropped a little info that should be of interest to folks out there. CDJapan is taking pre-orders for a couple new calendars, including the official DBZ 2008 calendar!

It was exactly this time last year that we started getting wind of the next year's calendars over in Japan, so it's great to see them keeping up with the releases. This particular one will set you back a mere ¥2100 at retail, and it's out on 14 September 2007.

There's also a general Toei Animation calendar coming out the same day for only ¥1575 at retail; check that one out on CDJapan, as well.

Don't miss the podcast episode update right below this :P.

Podcast Episode #0092... Plus Video Footage!
VegettoEX @ 8:30 pm EDT -- Episode #0092 of the podcast is finally available for download! And it has a special bonus video to go along with it! We're hitting you back once again with another discussion about an inconsistency between the manga and the TV series. This time around, it's all about Cargo! You know Cargo... No, really... You do. He's Dende's little brother. He's around for a couple panels, and then he's dead. Good stuff.

So to get you ready for the podcast, here's the video. The link will take you over to the video hosted on YouTube.

In addition to the topic, we also went over some pretty huge news (which you already know about since you read this home page ^_~), September's ridiculous amount of releases, and hit up a few e-mail questions all related to AMVs. Definitely check it out.

02 September 2007

Podcast Episode #0092 — Slight Delay
VegettoEX @ 9:11 pm EDT -- We're working on it; worry not! We did another "Inconsistencies" topic this week, so look for another video to go alongside the podcast topic. It'll all definitely be up at some point tomorrow.

In case you missed the last one we did, check out Episode #0068 and the video that corresponds to it (YouTube link).

Plus, you know... playing Puzzle Fighter on XBLA with you guys is also cutting into the editing time :P.

01 September 2007

(American) Live Action Movie News
VegettoEX @ 8:10 pm EDT -- Yes, yes... we read the news. Did you think we somehow weren't going to get wind of it? :P

Over on Anime News Network, we have a link to the Montreal Gazette's story by Brendan Kelly stating the following:

The 20th Century Fox studio is expected to shoot three big-budget movies in Montreal over the next year; each has a budget of at least $100 million. The films are the Night at the Museum sequel Another Night, Independence Day director Roland Emmerich's remake of the sci-fi flick Fantastic Voyage and a big-screen adaptation of the Japanese manga Dragonball Z.

[...]

Dragonball Z is adapted from the manga created by Akira Toriyama; the work was also turned into a Japanese anime series that played all over the world. It tells the story of an alien sent to destroy Earth, who has a change of heart and decides to join the humans in their fight against various aliens and bad guys.

There are no details yet as to when these three shoots will begin, but they are expected to wrap production by next July.

And there you have it. After all the years of confirmed news, additional rumors, more confirmations, fall-outs, more rumors, etc... the damn thing is finally going to get made.

Here's a bunch of old articles from Anime News Network and other sites that discuss the live action movie over the years, just to help give a little perspective of how long and detailed this... thing... has gotten.