While it is true that anime underwent a renaissance back in the 1990s, the medium is starting to make a comeback after a few rocky years. 2017 will mark a rebirth for several popular franchises like Attack on Titan and Code Geass, and shonen fans are eyeing Dragon Ball with anticipation. The franchise rolled out its long-awaited Dragon Ball Super series last year, and it will enter its most exciting saga to date in February. Now, the publisher behind Dragon Ball is speaking out about the iconic franchise, and it looks like they plan to make Goku an his gang of Z-Fighters more popular than ever before.
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Recently, an executive at Shueisha spoke to Yahoo! Japan about Dragon Ball and its impending plans for 2017. The publisher, who prints the ever-popular Weekly Shonen Jump, was represented by its section chief Akio Iyoku who spoke about the company’s ‘Dragon Ball Room.’ The coined phrase refers to one of Shueisha’s marketing initiatives dedicated to Dragon Ball, and Iyoku explained that the project more important now because of Dragon Ball‘s resurgence.
So, if you are wondering why Dragon Ball has made such a big comeback, then you should know the answer is quite simple. It all comes down to legacy fans.
“There’s a generational shift. Parents are from the generation that experienced the series in real time, and I guess you could say they support their children when they get into Dragon Ball,” Iyuko explained. “I think it’s precisely because we’ve reached that timeframe that the series is so popular right now.”
Continuing, Iyuko said the ‘Dragon Ball Room’ initiative has pushed them to adopt brand-new content and marketing strategies that have also made old characters new for every fan.
“Recently they’ve become able to consciously make things that have a different style to them, which is another accomplishment of the Dragon Ball Room. Rather than simply making merchandise, we’re at the point where we can plan things out and go create them together,” Iyoku said.
In February, a brand-new story arc is set to kick off in Dragon Ball Super with the ‘Universal Survival’ saga. Obviously, this new saga will give the company a chance to test how hyped they can get audiences about the popular anime, but ComicBook.com can also help. If you want, you can check out the story’s synopsis below:
“At Goku’s request, the Omni-Kings’ “Tournament of Power” martial arts tournament between universes now begins! …But this also proves to be the beginning of universal destruction. What awaits the victors of this tournament, and the vanquished…?! How will these intense team battles between the elites of each universe turn out…?!”
MORE: Dragon Ball Super Toonami Premiere Date Announced / English Dub Sneak Peek Revealed / Voice Cast Announced / Simulcast Confirmed / New Saga Synopsis, Key Visual Released / Here’s What Happens To Nappa’s Hair When He Goes Super Saiyan
Dragon Ball Super airs on Crunchyroll Saturdays at 7:15 p.m. CST. Toonami will begin airing the English dub on Adult Swim Saturdays at 11:30 p.m starting on January 7th.
[H/T] Kanzenshuu
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