Dragonball Z Movie

[Lord]

Majin Buu's when the manga and anime started to lose popularity and drop in the ratings from what i heard.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

^ I think that's a pretty extreme generalization.

And I always thought Majin Buu was second in popularity with Cell being first. Idk, it just always seemed that way to me.

It was a joke. I was hoping someone would get it.

Majin Buu's when the manga and anime started to lose popularity and drop in the ratings from what i heard.

I can definitely seeing that be true but it's also where the manga/anime ended. Keep in mind it only happened because people wanted more. It was supposed to end at Frieza, with Goku dying with Frieza and planet Namek, and Gohan being the Earth's new protector, but he extended to Cell, with Goku dying again with the villain and Gohan being the new protector, but it was extended yet agian.

 

[Lord]

I can definitely seeing that be true but it's also where the manga/anime ended. Keep in mind it only happened because people wanted more. It was supposed to end at Frieza, with Goku dying with Frieza and planet Namek, and Gohan being the Earth's new protector, but he extended to Cell, with Goku dying again with the villain and Gohan being the new protector, but it was extended yet agian.

Actually, that's just a myth, here's a list analising all the supposedly intented endings:

http://www.kanzenshuu.com/intended-end/

He never really knew where to end, in fact, Gohan was originally supposed to take over as the main character after Cell. The manga was extended far more than he thought it would, but he never once said he wanted to end after Frieza or Cell.

 

[Victarion]

One thing I'd like to see from a film franchise is Yamcha, Tien, and Krillin being kept on a level with the saiyans. Or kept useful, anyway.

 

[EssayM]

I won't go so far as to say "nobody watched Dragonball", but it's definitely not as well-known as DBZ.

There's also a marketing problem: Once you tell people that "alien karate supermen fighting planet-destroying monsters and robots" is going to be a movie, it's very difficult to make them sit through "small child flies on cloud, fights grown men with martial arts, falls in love with princess" as an appetizer. That's like telling someone, "You can watch Game of Thrones, but first you have to watch a few episodes of Dora the Explorer".

I'm not saying it's impossible, but you have to be very skilled about it.

 

[Lord]

I disagree, it's like saying you're going to see a major wizardy war but having to sit through Harry growing up and beating Voldemort 2 times before he's actually resurrected, it's simply how you tell a story, you can't jump right into the action, your film is called Dragon Ball, not Saiyans Attacks, you need to set up many things before going into the major action, without emotional attachment that won't work in a film series.

 

[Victarion]

Between King Piccolo and the Red Ribbon Army, you can tell a pretty epic story with Dragon Ball.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I won't go so far as to say "nobody watched Dragonball", but it's definitely not as well-known as DBZ.

There's also a marketing problem: Once you tell people that "alien karate supermen fighting planet-destroying monsters and robots" is going to be a movie, it's very difficult to make them sit through "small child flies on cloud, fights grown men with martial arts, falls in love with princess" as an appetizer. That's like telling someone, "You can watch Game of Thrones, but first you have to watch a few episodes of Dora the Explorer".

I'm not saying it's impossible, but you have to be very skilled about it.

oh my god, it was a joke. did you not see my previous post?

One thing I'd like to see from a film franchise is Yamcha, Tien, and Krillin being kept on a level with the saiyans. Or kept useful, anyway.

doubtful. that's important, so I don't think that would be changed. they'd be more important characters in the prequel series for sure.

I disagree, it's like saying you're going to see a major wizardy war but having to sit through Harry growing up and beating Voldemort 2 times before he's actually resurrected, it's simply how you tell a story, you can't jump right into the action, your film is called Dragon Ball, not Saiyans Attacks, you need to set up many things before going into the major action, without emotional attachment that won't work in a film series.

this is all still for a dragon ball z film franchise though, not dragon ball. z comes first.

 

[EssayM]

I disagree, it's like saying you're going to see a major wizardy war but having to sit through Harry growing up and beating Voldemort 2 times before he's actually resurrected, it's simply how you tell a story, you can't jump right into the action, your film is called Dragon Ball, not Saiyans Attacks, you need to set up many things before going into the major action, without emotional attachment that won't work in a film series.

I get that, but I'm not convinced you need an entire separate film series to get that emotional attachment. One or two DB films should do the trick.

 

[EssayM]

Side note: Just read that they're bringing DBZ: Battle of Gods to American theaters. If that does well, maybe it will renew widespread interest in the franchise, and then...well, who knows?

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Side note: Just read that they're bringing DBZ: Battle of Gods to American theaters. If that does well, maybe it will renew widespread interest in the franchise, and then...well, who knows?

I hated battle of gods. I can't believe people don't see it as a 1. milking of the franchise 2. milking of the saiyan species/genetics/legacy 3. personally me I hate devaluing the word god.

 

[Lord]

I see more praise for it on the net than from people i know, though i guess most of us just want more DBZ by Akira Toriyama.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I see more praise for it on the net than from people i know, though i guess most of us just want more DBZ by Akira Toriyama.

Na man, I hate them trying to add onto the first story, which ends as Goku leaves to train Uub.

If they're gonna add to the story it should be alternate storyline type **** you know?

 

[Raku]

I don't know...

Personally I would rather they reboot the anime series like HunterXHunter did. A retelling could help fill out plot holes and ease fan concerns that were raised over the years. Plus it should be easy to do now that we have a universe mapped out instead of winging it like Akira did throughout the series run.

However if we did have to have a western movie adaptation I would personally prefer it be cartoon or something Pixar/Dreamworks like than a live action.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I don't know...

Personally I would rather they reboot the anime series like HunterXHunter did. A retelling could help fill out plot holes and ease fan concerns that were raised over the years. Plus it should be easy to do now that we have a universe mapped out instead of winging it like Akira did throughout the series run.

However if we did have to have a western movie adaptation I would personally prefer it be cartoon or something Pixar/Dreamworks like than a live action.

no. that's like retelling the harry potter franchise. this is the type of story that is did and done. the lore should not be messed around with. the film franchise installments could fill in whatever plot holes there are.

 

[Harry Dresden]

No. Some stuff doesn't need to be adapted into a live-action movie. DBZ is one of them.

 

[KangConquers]

Another thing, may seem strange to believe it, but in some places the characters from the franchise are more known by young adults and teens than the ones from Star Wars, i'm not sure if it was as big in the USA, but DB definitelly has a large following, thinking it won't be successful because it's obscure? Really? Before the Cap films, many would more easily know of Vegeta than Bucky.

Even if it wasn't that popular, all that it matters is that you make a good and entertaining film, those that didn't like the franchise before, may like it after. Dragon Ball Evolution was like Captain America from 1990, just act as if it didn't happen and move on. Fox is now rushing for the Fantastic Four because it's the new crase going around in Hollywood, but before that i imagine there were plenty of excuses not to adapt American comics as well.

Mangas sell plenty of volumes and most of the fans don't even buy them, they're far from being obscure stories (even that wouldn't make them unadaptable), what more excuses do you need until they're taken serious? Shane Black to make a hit Death Note Film? The Rurouni Kenshin sequels to make 100 million each? Plenty of potencial if you ask me.

One problem with this idea is that fans only make up maybe 1% of your typical superhero film's audience. If you want a massive blockbuster, you need to sell the property to the General Audience.

I feel like Dragon Ball Z has a very strong, yet very insular following. If we're talking about a Man of Steel budget, you're going to need a gross of $600 M just to make your money back. I have a hard time seeing that happen, and I think anyone pitching an 8 film, $1.6 B (200 M a pop) budgeted Dragon Ball Z film series would get laughed right out of any/ every major studio.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

One problem with this idea is that fans only make up maybe 1% of your typical superhero film's audience. If you want a massive blockbuster, you need to sell the property to the General Audience.

I feel like Dragon Ball Z has a very strong, yet very insular following. If we're talking about a Man of Steel budget, you're going to need a gross of $600 M just to make your money back. I have a hard time seeing that happen, and I think anyone pitching an 8 film, $1.6 B (200 M a pop) budgeted Dragon Ball Z film series would get laughed right out of any/ every major studio.

someone in this thread was talking about sales of the manga and how it was close to being on par with the sales of the harry potter series. I really don't think it would be unfathomable for them to pull this off.

 

[KangConquers]

someone in this thread was talking about sales of the manga and how it was close to being on par with the sales of the harry potter series. I really don't think it would be unfathomable for them to pull this off.

You have to consider how many volumes there are though. Harry Potter has sold 450 Million copies based on 8 books. Dragon Ball has sold (300 M?) based on 42 volumes/ 519 solo issues.


That means the average Potter Book has sold 56 M units, and your average Dragon Ball has sold about 7 M. Nowhere near comparable.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

You have to consider how many volumes there are though. Harry Potter has sold 450 Million copies based on 8 books. Dragon Ball has sold (300 M?) based on 42 volumes/ 519 solo issues.


That means the average Potter Book has sold 56 M units, and your average Dragon Ball has sold about 7 M. Nowhere near comparable.

true but take into account that the story was told in graphic novel form. and as we all know, films based on graphic novels usually make for some high grossing films.

 

[EssayM]

true but take into account that the story was told in graphic novel form. and as we all know, films based on graphic novels usually make for some high grossing films.

I think DBZ is better known as a cartoon than as a graphic novel. It's not like Watchmen or V for Vendetta or anything like that. You can't have the trailers say "Based on the best-selling Graphic novel" and have people know what your talking about.

 

[Brother Jack]

I'd rather a live action film wasn't made at all. The show just doesn't work live action. It barely works on its own to be honest, at least in terms of longevity (it peaks at the Frieza saga and after the Cell saga the redundancy becomes overwhelming).

 

[Lord]

One problem with this idea is that fans only make up maybe 1% of your typical superhero film's audience. If you want a massive blockbuster, you need to sell the property to the General Audience.

I feel like Dragon Ball Z has a very strong, yet very insular following. If we're talking about a Man of Steel budget, you're going to need a gross of $600 M just to make your money back. I have a hard time seeing that happen, and I think anyone pitching an 8 film, $1.6 B (200 M a pop) budgeted Dragon Ball Z film series would get laughed right out of any/ every major studio.

Actualy, my suggestion is to start with the DB story in a budget of around 100 million, not to go all The Man of Steel lite right away.

The franchise offers the right ingredients for a successful film franchise, bringing nostalgia, potential for varied marketing and toys to be sold to kids, a relatable story, interesting world and a new way to make fight scenes.

I don't realy see how DB would get laughed at more than Transformers or G.I.Joe (Many places in Europe even had Action Man instead of G.I.Joe) were.

You have to consider how many volumes there are though. Harry Potter has sold 450 Million copies based on 8 books. Dragon Ball has sold (300 M?) based on 42 volumes/ 519 solo issues.


That means the average Potter Book has sold 56 M units, and your average Dragon Ball has sold about 7 M. Nowhere near comparable.

You have to consider that more than a half of Dragon Ball fans have never bought a single volume of the manga in their entire life, most have watched the anime when they were kids.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I think DBZ is better known as a cartoon than as a graphic novel. It's not like Watchmen or V for Vendetta or anything like that. You can't have the trailers say "Based on the best-selling Graphic novel" and have people know what your talking about.

obviously yes but the anime comes from the manga. and the anime doesn't tell a different story; it tells the same story as the manga with some fillers. and i'm pretty sure the end credits of the cartoon does say based on the comics by akira toriyama

 

[Black Dynamite]

if they ever did make a live action movie series about dragon ball i would like to see the prologue be about Bardock trying to stop goku from being sent to earth