In a surprise move, terrestrial network ABS-CBN has announced through a television advertisement that Dragon Ball: Battle of Gods movie is slated to air as its first Anime offering this 2015.
The 2013 animated film is set to air on the channel’s “Kapamilya Blockbusters” movie block this Sunday, January 4, at 10:45am.
Shortly after the defeat of Majin Buu, Beerus, the God of Destruction, awakens after a long slumber. After hearing rumors of a Saiyan warrior who defeated Frieza, he tracks down that warrior, Son Goku. Excited at the prospect of a new challenge, Goku faces him in battle, only to be quickly overwhelmed by his power, and he is defeated shortly thereafter. Realizing the threat Beerus poses to the entire universe, Goku and his friends must find a way to stop him before it’s too late. (Synospis from Anime News Network)
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is the 18th movie of the Dragon Ball franchise and the 14th movie under the Dragon Ball Z branding. It is also the first Dragon Ball movie in about 17 years, where the last one was during the franchise’s tenth anniversary movie, titled “Dragon Ball: The Path to Power”, in 1996.
Masahiro Hosoda, who worked on titles like Saint Seiya and Jigoku Shoujo, directed the anime movie, while Yuusuke Watanabe, who worked on the two live-action Gantz movies, handles the film’s screenplay.
The Dragon Ball series first premiered on Philippine television during around mid-90’s on terrestrial network RPN-9, soon to be known as CNN Philippines, which was dubbed locally in English.
The series was then aired on GMA Channel 07, the direct competitor of ABS-CBN, around January 2000 on its “Anime Assault” primetime block, in English dubbing then eventually in Filipino dubbing.
Dragon Ball Z premiered on the channel in late 2000, and Dragon Ball GT premiered in 2003, both in Filipino dubbing.
Dragon Ball: Battle of Gods was screened exclusively by SM Cinema branches in the Philippines in August 2013, which was distributed by Pioneer Films (Movie Punch). It will also be the first Dragon Ball franchise that will air on ABS-CBN.
Article written with contribution by Marlo Magtibay, and You can follow him on Twitter at @AnimeKabayan.
