Two Japanese television commercials promoting the new Dragonball Z Sparking! METEOR (Budokai Tenkaichi 3) have been posted online, showcasing the battle system and playable characters. The game was released on the PS2 and Wii in Japan on October 4, with a North American shipment date of November 13, 2007.

Rightstuf has slashed its prices on most of the current Dragonball Z Movie DVDs, down to just $4.99 per DVD! Whether or not this is in anticipation for new releases, its is a great chance to fill your collection! Check them out here.

Top Anime DVD This Week

Dragonball Z Season 3 DVD Box Set
Whatever problems you may or may not have with this widescreen format, these Dragonball Z “season” box sets are extremely affordable. Own this great series on what will most likely be the last Dragonball DVD release (but get those checkbooks ready for those Blu-Ray releases down the road!)

Buy now from Rightstuf for only $44.98
Buy now from AnimeNation for only $44.98

Top Manga This Week

Phoenix Volume 11
The great Osamu Tezuka considered this manga his “life’s work” and you should too! Don’t miss this enlightening series, now available from Viz Media.

Buy now from Rightstuf for only $12.74
Buy now from AnimeNation for only $15.29

Black Lagoon DVD #3 [ Geneon ]
September 18, 2007 | $29.98 | 100 min.

Dirty jobs are a part of life for the Black Lagoon, but things seem to be getting worse by the minute. Their latest problem is a maid from Columbia. She’s a killing machine out to rescue Garcia from the clutches of the Black Lagoon and will kill anyone who gets in her way. As if that wasn’t enough, international terrorists make their move and set the scene for a showdown with the Hong Kong Triad, the C.I.A. and the Black Lagoon smack dab in the middle! Can Rock count on his new family to pull him out of a pinch or will he be left to rot?

Dragon Ball Z Season 3 Uncut DVD Box Set [ FUNimation ]
September 18, 2007 | $49.98 | 830 min.

The battle to decide the fate of the universe begins! On the distant Planet Namek, the seven magic Dragon Balls have been brought together and the dragon Porunga summoned. Now, Goku and the Z-fighters are all that stand between the evil Frieza and his wish for immortality!

Having survived their encounters with Frieza’s dreaded minions, Goku and his friends are now left to contend with the ruthless tyrant himself. Despite their recent victories, however, the Z-fighters are ill prepared to face the terrifying reality of Frieza’s power. To defeat this seemingly invincible foe and restore peace to the universe, there is but one hope - a Super Saiyan must emerge!

Fullmetal Alchemist DVD Box Set 1 [ FUNimation ]
September 18, 2007 | $49.98 | 400 min.

As children, brothers Edward and Alphonse used the clandestine science of Alchemy to try the unthinkable: resurrect their dead mother. They failed, unleashing an alchemic reaction that ripped their bodies apart.

Four years later, Ed and Al are combing the country for a rumored stone that could amplify their alchemy and bring their bodies back to normal. And it appears they may have found it - in a strangely prosperous desert village.

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Three new Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkiachi 3 (Sparking! METEOR) game characters have appeared in a scan from the Japanese Weekly Shounen Jump magazine. All three characters are from the original Dragonball series; (left to right) Android 8 (Ha-chan), Namu and Akkuman. Other new playable characters include Babidi, Dr. Uiro (Dr. Wheelo), Ozaru, Spopovitch, and Tambourine. The game will go on sale in Japan on October 4, 2007 for the PS2 and Wii, a North American release is expected for this holiday season.

The Montreal Gazette has announced Fox will be producing the live action adaptation of Dragonball Z with a budget over nine thousand - $100 million. Filming is expected to take place this fall and winter, with the movie premiering sometime in 2008. Fox originally announced it had the license for such an adaptation back in 2002, unfortunately rescheduling and finally canceling production in 2004.

In related news, a mysterious “Dragonball Ultimate Edition DVD” has been spotted on RightStuf with a release date of October 30, 2007. The credited publisher is Tai Seng, the distributor for the 1989 Hong Kong live action adaptation of Dragonball (DragonBall: The Magic Begins). This may be a re-release; confirmation has not yet been made.

To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Toonami Jetstream will begin adding a few more popular anime to its lineup. One Piece will begin airing on August 13 and Dragonball Z on September 10. Zoids Genesis, Eyeshield 21, and IGPX will also be added at an unconfirmed date (as early as this fall).

The free online video service currently airs new episodes of Hikaru no Go, MÄR, Mega Man Star Force, The Prince of Tennis, as well as reruns of Dragonball, Naruto, and Pokemon.

Navarre has reported their sales for its fiscal 2008 Q1. Overall the corporation was slightly up in net income, however its Funimation branch has posted a staggering 60% increase in sales. This increase has been highly attributed to the Dragonball Z Box Sets and Afro Samurai, stating the new Dragonball releases have completely revived the property. A small decrease is expected in Q2, with no large releases, but growth is predicted for both Q3 and Q4.

Funimation now controls 32% of the North American anime DVD market share, up from last quarter’s 24%.

Viz Media confirmed updates for its Shonen Jump manga magazine. A Dragonball Z Collector supplement will begin in October, this will include in-depth character profiles and unique information (including character fusion information and an illustrated hair guide). Bleach will begin serialization in November. December’s issue will feature the first chapter of Slam Dunk and a short “Naruto prototype” story before publishing Naruto Shippuden in January.

In an attempt to squeeze the market dry, Viz will be re-releasing a few of their longest-running manga titles, Dragonball, Dragonball Z, and Rurouni Kenshin in 3-volume long omnibus collections. I would insert a joke here about how Inuyasha may also see an omnibus release format if Rumiko Takahashi learns how to write an ending, but it’s not even funny anymore.

Update: This new Viz line has been dubbed “Viz Big” and will begin publishing Kenshin in January 2008, Dragonball and Dragonball Z in May 2008.

Following the news a few days ago, FUNimation has confirmed they will be releasing Dragon Ball Z Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan and Dragon Ball Z Broly: Second Coming on the Blu-Ray format. Stating the movies have been transferred directly from the original 35mm film with enhanced 5.1 Surround Sound. My assumptions also look to be correct, as FUNimation has also stated they will be expanding they’re high-definition releases with their most popular titles.

Navarre/Funimation’s AnimeOnline.com beta test has closed down indicating “technical issues”. Although they promise a relaunch, ANN reports editors Dale North and Gia Manry stated they were looking for employment elsewhere. I found Anime Online’s navigation and content system rather annoying with a myspace-esque feeling and their member forum was rather small, but they offered extremely unique news and articles that will be missed.

Two of the highest rated anime of 2006 have been licensed in America. Funimation has licensed Ouran High School Host Club, I expect they’re hoping for another Fruits Basket hit. The much anticipated Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion has been licensed by Bandai Entertainment with a confirmed television syndication in 2008.

And lastly, the Dragon Ball Z DVD confusion may soon be reaching the next step. Anime distributor AAA Anime has listed a Blu-Ray version of the Dragonball Z Movie: Broly Double Feature DVD with a release date of November 13, 2007 and MSRP $34.98. It is unknown what stance Funimation will be taking for high-def DVDs, but it is certain Dragon Ball Z will be seeing another version in the future. Wonder if they’ll ever completely release the series in a single format without stopping, “revamping,” and re-re-releasing.

Nov. 13, 2001: Dragonball Z: Freiza - Eleventh Hour is released on DVD. Nobody really gets the joke about the title until they’ve watched the entire ending of this horrid saga.

Nov. 14, 2001: Cardcaptor Sakura - The Clow is released. Fangirls go freaking insane.

Nov. 15, 2005: ADV releases Hello Kitty’s Animation Theater. The Japanese become giant screaming cosplayers when it’s discovered that there are no free Hello Kitty stickers included with the DVD collection.

Nov. 16, 2004: Funimation releases Dragonball GT Movie - A Hero’s Legacy, somehow one-upping themselves as the worst dub of all time.

Nov. 18, 2004: The Magic Box releases the first screenshots of Dragonball Z Sagas. Wow, viewing those again really makes me wish I would have beaten Frieza and moved on to the rest of the game. Alas, the only character I ever have trouble beating in any DBZ game is that little f***er.

Nov. 18, 2005: AnimeMusicVideos.org is served with a cease & desist order regarding music by Evanescence, Creed, and Seether. Nearly 2000 emo-related AMVs were removed from the website due to this, merely a scratch to the large community-driven site.

This update will cover notable anime & manga news from the past two weeks. Sorry, the 17 month gap between these updates is a little too much to cover today. I’m sure I’ll find something to make up for it :sweatdrop:

ICv2 gave some praise for Naruto and a bit of doubt on Bleach’s behalf as the release of Bleach manga volume 1 sold only 52% of the Naruto’s debut. To put it in prospective, volume 1 of Naruto, which was released over two years ago is outselling the first volume of Bleach by 32%. Ouch! ICv2 says it’s “far too early to tell” whether Bleach can come close to Naruto and that they believe Naruto “gives every appearance of being a once in a lifetime phenomenon.” This is in reference to the Naruto manga’s unrealistic success in the US, including ranking 21nd on the USA Today’s best seller’s list back in August.

Anime News Network reports that Blood+ may very well be hitting Cartoon Network soon, but that no broadcasting date has been scheduled. Cartoon Network has yet to confirm this rumor.

Viz has confirmed that two companies will be releasing Bleach merchandise in the US and Canada, including magnets, shoelaces (WTF?!), post cards, jewelry, stickers, patches, pins, buttons, plushes, key chains, wall scrolls, and “arm, hand, and headwear” (ugh…here we go again).

Former up again down again Britney Spears is divorcing that twat Kevin Federline. Holla for prenup! PRENUP!! Oh wait…this isn’t anime news…

Death Note: The Last Name topped the Japanese box office earlier this month. Anyone know if the “spoiler” was in either of the first two death note movies? Will it completely kill all hope for the rest of the entire franchise? :v

The FLCL Ultimate Edition release has been delayed ’til December 26th. Apparently releasing possibly popular merchandise after the holidays is the new craze! Sorry Timmy, you won’t be able to get your fill of wacky guitar whacking anytime soon!

Yesterday, Dragonball returned to television in America on the CoLours TV network. It will air weekdays at 10pm (e/p) and there will also be a six hour marathon on Thanksgiving Day. In December, the series will begin airing on the Funimation Channel. Thank you Funimation for striking deals with cable networks, including yourself, that nobody freaking watches.

The day after I was once again bitching to Atreus about how many different DVD releases Dragonball Z has and how confusing it’s become, ANN reports that beginning next year, the entire series will AGAIN be “digitally remastered” in high definition and released in box sets beginning in February.

4Kids is yet again receiving more than they deserve. They have reported a $256k loss in the last quarter, citing $2 million in a loss of revenue compared to Q3 2005. It just goes to show that relying on a bunch of ninja turtles and an anime that fairs better with youtube parodies will land your ass on a burning fire.

The last volume (36) of Ranma 1/2 was released today, marking the longest running manga released by Viz (unless of course you count Dragonball the way it was meant to be “count”) and it only took them 14 short years. Congrats, Viz.

For anyone that cares, the twelfth DBZ movie, Fusion Reborn, will be airing tonight on Cartoon Network at 9:30 (est/pst), and the last movie of the series, Wrath of the Dragon, will air on December 2nd.

But not only that! This Monday thru Friday there will be two back-to-back episodes of Naruto each day at 9pm, running through both the Neji vs Hinata and Gaara vs Lee battles. Woohoo.

Okay, so if you’re not interested in either, maybe you’ll be interested in the return of my daily anime updates? Oh yes that’s right. I’m planning on posting anime news updates on a regular basis again, like in the old days when people actually bothered to read this shit.