Dragonball Evolution
Dragonball Evolution is a 2009 American live-action martial arts fantasy film directed by James Wong and loosely adapted from Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga series. The story centers on teenage Goku (Justin Chatwin), who discovers his Saiyan heritage and teams with allies including Bulma (Emmy Rossum), Yamcha (Justin Hires), and Master Roshi (Chow Yun-fat) to collect seven Dragon Balls and thwart the villainous King Piccolo (voiced by Ian Ziering), portrayed as a demonic entity seeking world domination.[1][2] Produced by Stephen Chow and released theatrically in the United States on April 10, 2009, following an earlier debut in Japan on March 13, the film deviated substantially from the source material by Americanizing Goku as a high school student with a conventional romantic subplot and omitting core elements like his rural upbringing and martial arts tournament origins.[3] These changes, combined with criticized visual effects, fight choreography, and performances, contributed to its reputation as a fidelity-compromising adaptation that alienated the franchise's fanbase.[4] Critically, Dragonball Evolution holds a 14% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 63 reviews, with consensus highlighting its failure to capture the manga's spirit amid "cheesy effects" and "wooden acting." It underperformed commercially, earning $9.4 million domestically and $56.5 million worldwide despite a modest production budget, marking it as a box-office disappointment relative to expectations for a high-profile IP adaptation.[2][5] The film drew backlash for "whitewashing," as Western actors were cast in roles of characters with Japanese cultural ties in the original, prompting debates on representation in Hollywood anime adaptations.[6] Akira Toriyama voiced regret over the project, noting in interviews that it strayed far from his vision and lacked the involvement needed to preserve the series' essence, while screenwriter Ben Ramsey later issued a public apology to fans for the result.[7][8]Background and Conceptualization
Origins of the Live-Action Adaptation
In 2002, 20th Century Fox secured the live-action film rights to the Dragon Ball franchise from Shueisha, the Japanese publisher of the original manga serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump.[9] This acquisition marked the formal inception of the project, initially envisioned as an adaptation of Dragon Ball Z, the sequel series to Akira Toriyama's original *Dragon Ball* manga that debuted in 1984.[9] Fox's move capitalized on the manga's global popularity, which had expanded through anime adaptations by Toei Animation starting in 1986, though prior unofficial live-action attempts in Asia, such as fan-inspired shorts, had not involved official licensing.[10] The studio quickly advanced development by commissioning a screenplay from Ben Ramsey, a writer known for genre scripts, who delivered an initial draft focused on Dragon Ball Z elements like adult Goku and intense martial arts battles.[11] Ramsey's version, completed around 2003, earned him a reported $500,000 payment from Fox, reflecting the project's early ambition to blend high-stakes action with the franchise's lore of ki energy, Dragon Balls, and escalating threats.[11] However, as development progressed, creative shifts occurred, with the story pivoting toward the original Dragon Ball timeline featuring teenage Goku, a decision influenced by studio executives aiming for broader teen appeal over the more mature Z narrative.[10] Toriyama, consulted during early stages, provided input on character designs and lore but later expressed reservations about the adaptation's direction, cautioning producers against deviations that could alienate core fans—a warning that went unheeded amid rewrites by multiple writers.[12] These origins highlight Fox's intent to Westernize the property for Hollywood, prioritizing marketable spectacle over fidelity, setting the stage for subsequent production challenges.[9]Rights Acquisition and Initial Development Hurdles
In March 2002, 20th Century Fox acquired the live-action film rights to the Dragon Ball franchise from Shueisha, the Japanese publisher of Akira Toriyama's manga, with plans for a high-budget adaptation initially pegged at $100 million and Toriyama enlisted as a creative consultant.[13] The deal aimed to launch a trilogy, capitalizing on the franchise's global popularity following the end of Dragon Ball Z's original anime run in 1996, though Shueisha retained limited oversight, licensing the property without final creative approval rights.[9] Early development encountered significant setbacks, including prolonged delays and high director turnover that stalled progress for over five years. Stephen Norrington, known for directing Blade (1998), was attached shortly after the rights deal but departed around 2004 amid reported creative disagreements with Fox executives, who favored a teen-oriented PG-13 tone over his vision for a darker adaptation. James McTeigue, assistant director on The Matrix trilogy, replaced him in 2004 and oversaw script revisions but exited in 2006 to pursue other projects, leaving the production in limbo. These shifts contributed to inconsistent scripting, with Ben Ramsey hired in 2004 for $500,000 to pen a draft incorporating elements like Krillin and Emperor Pilaf but adapting them into a more Westernized high school narrative.[14] Further hurdles arose from budgetary constraints and limited input from original creators; the announced $100 million figure was later revised downward to approximately $30–50 million, forcing compromises on visual effects and scope that foreshadowed production challenges. Toriyama provided design and story suggestions, including character visuals, but these were largely disregarded by the studio in favor of Hollywood conventions, exacerbating tensions given Shueisha's hands-off licensing approach and Fox's push for broad market appeal over fidelity to the source material's martial arts and fantastical roots. Filming did not commence until November 2007 under director James Wong, highlighting the extended pre-production timeline from acquisition to principal photography.[9]Pre-Production
Scriptwriting and Creative Liberties
The screenplay for Dragonball Evolution was authored by Ben Ramsey, who undertook the adaptation of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga without prior familiarity or enthusiasm for the franchise, viewing it primarily as a lucrative assignment.[10][15] Ramsey's initial draft incorporated select canonical elements, such as the Kamehameha technique powered by inherent goodness, the Flying Nimbus cloud, Goku's power pole, and appearances by characters including Pilaf, Shu, Mai, Oolong (depicted as an essence-sucking wraith), Krillin, and Master Roshi at a martial arts tournament.[16] Subsequent revisions by director James Wong and 20th Century Fox producers stripped much of this content, omitting Oolong, Pilaf's gang, Krillin, and other supporting figures while introducing Hollywood-oriented clichés like Goku as an 18-year-old American high schooler named "Goku" (revealed as Saiyan "Kakarot") navigating teenage romance and self-doubt, rather than the manga's rural, adventure-focused orphan child.[16][17] The setting shifted to a modern urban United States with contemporary references, abandoning the manga's fantastical, isolated locales like remote mountains and islands.[17] Character portrayals underwent substantial reconfiguration for perceived Western accessibility: Bulma Briefs pursued "unlimited energy" via high-tech gadgets, diverging from her manga's initial quest for the Dragon Balls to fulfill boyish whims; Chi-Chi shared immediate mutual attraction with Goku, unlike the source's arranged promise-based dynamic; Mai became a shape-shifting assassin; and Master Roshi lacked his signature turtle companion or ties to the manga's Mutaito lineage, instead referencing an invented "Sifu Norris."[17] Plot elements were altered, such as Grandpa Gohan's death via Piccolo razing his home (contrasting the manga's accidental Ōzaru transformation killing), a verbose Dragon summoning ritual replacing the simple "Come forth, Shenron!" invocation, and original abilities like Piccolo's blood-spawned Fu Lum demons or the Shadow Crane Strike, which had no manga precedent.[17] These liberties prioritized dramatic tropes like high school drama and streamlined action over the manga's episodic humor, martial arts tournaments, and lore fidelity, resulting in a narrative that condensed early arcs into a linear quest while fabricating Namekian threats to Earth millennia prior, conflicting with the source's portrayal of peaceful Namekians.[17] In 2016, Ramsey publicly apologized, assuming full accountability for the "disappointment" and "flat out garbage" outcome, attributing it to his passionless approach while implying production alterations compounded the issues.[10][15]Budget Allocation and Studio Involvement
Dragonball Evolution was produced on a budget of $30 million.[5] This figure covered principal photography, visual effects, and other production costs, though specific breakdowns such as allocations for visual effects or marketing were not publicly disclosed.[5] Twentieth Century Fox acted as the primary production company and worldwide distributor, presenting the film under its banner.[18] Dune Entertainment co-financed the project in association with Fox, a common arrangement for the studio during the late 2000s to share financial risks on mid-budget action films.[18] [19] Additional financing came from Ingenious Film Partners and Star Overseas, contributing to the overall funding structure without specified individual contributions.[18] The involvement of these entities reflected a standard Hollywood model for adapting international properties like the Dragon Ball manga, where major studios like Fox handled creative oversight and distribution while partners mitigated costs.[19] Neither Toei Animation nor Funimation, holders of the anime adaptation rights, participated in the live-action production.[20]Production Process
Casting Choices and Rationale
Justin Chatwin was cast as the protagonist Goku following an audition that included performing full scenes on camera while in costume at a constructed temple set in the San Gabriel Mountains, after which he was selected two weeks later.[21] To prepare, Chatwin trained for five hours daily over five weeks, adhered to a strict diet of seven high-protein meals per day excluding sugar, bread, and pasta for five months, and studied films such as Enter the Dragon, Seven Samurai, and Kung Fu Hustle as recommended by director James Wong.[21] Emmy Rossum portrayed Bulma, undergoing weapons training with U.S. Marines at a firing range for several weeks to embody the character's inventive and resourceful traits.[21] James Marsters was selected for the villainous Lord Piccolo, a role demanding four hours daily in prosthetic makeup to achieve the character's green-skinned Namekian appearance, which Marsters advocated for to align more closely with the source material's depiction.[21] Chow Yun-fat joined as Master Roshi, with director James Wong citing the actor's status as an icon and commanding presence essential for the ancient martial arts mentor central to the narrative.[22] Jamie Chung, known from her reality television background on The Real World: San Diego in 2004, was cast as Chi-Chi and trained daily for one month specifically for a key fight sequence, utilizing a body double for complex choreography.[21] The selections emphasized actors capable of handling physical demands and bringing recognizable appeal, blending established stars like Chow Yun-fat and Marsters with emerging talents, though the choices for lead roles deviated from the Japanese ethnic origins of the manga characters, prompting fan criticism over cultural adaptation.[23]Filming Techniques and Locations
Principal photography for Dragonball Evolution commenced on December 3, 2007, in Mexico City, where urban scenes were primarily filmed, including interiors and exteriors utilizing local architecture for establishing shots.[24] The production then relocated to Durango, Mexico, starting January 2, 2008, for the majority of exterior and practical set work, leveraging the region's diverse terrain such as deserts and rock formations to represent otherworldly environments.[25] Specific sites included the Sierra de Organos in Sombrerete, Zacatecas, which provided rugged, pillar-like rock landscapes doubling as alien or fantastical terrains, and an abandoned jeans factory in Durango converted into soundstages for controlled environments.[26] Additional shooting occurred in Estado de México in March 2008 for supplementary scenes, with some studio work at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, California.[26] Filming techniques emphasized a blend of practical effects and digital augmentation to depict the source material's high-energy martial arts and supernatural elements. The production utilized blue and green screen chroma keying extensively in the Durango factory sets to facilitate post-production visual effects integration, allowing for the addition of energy blasts, flying sequences, and transformations via computer-generated imagery handled by vendors including Hybride, Frantic Films, and CafeFX.[27] [28] Cinematography was captured on Super 35mm film using Arricam LT cameras equipped with Cooke S4 and Angenieux lenses, maintaining a 2.35:1 aspect ratio for widescreen presentation, with sound mixed in Dolby and DTS formats.[29] Practical sets in Durango were constructed on a large scale to support wire work and stunt choreography for fight scenes, prioritizing visual impact through physical props and locations before heavy CGI overlay, though this approach contributed to noted production challenges in achieving seamless effects.[30][27]Visual Effects Development and Challenges
The visual effects for Dragonball Evolution were supervised by Ariel Velasco-Shaw and executed by a team of specialized studios, including Frantic Films VFX, Hybride, and CafeFX, to translate the anime's fantastical elements—such as energy blasts, transformations, and otherworldly environments—into live-action.[27][31] Frantic Films VFX delivered 334 shots from its Vancouver facility, focusing on 3D modeling, animation, and rendering for key sequences, including vast digital mountainscapes and a molten lava lake with simulated cascading falls to depict volcanic terrains central to the plot's climactic battles.[32][33] Hybride and CafeFX handled additional complex tasks, such as integrating particle simulations for ki-based attacks and creature animations, while practical enhancements like animatronics and prosthetics for monstrous entities were provided by Amalgamated Dynamics.[27] Innovative on-set techniques supported VFX integration, including "fist-cams"—compact cameras from Iconix mounted directly on actors' fists—to capture first-person perspectives during martial arts sequences, facilitating seamless compositing of supernatural impacts and energy effects.[34] Other vendors, such as Ollin Studios, Zoic Studios, and Imagine Engine, contributed to ancillary elements like matte paintings and digital extensions for urban and mystical locales.[24] Development faced constraints from the film's $30 million production budget, which, after initial plans for higher expenditures (initially estimated near $100 million under producer Stephen Chow before scaling back), limited the scale and polish of effects relative to contemporary blockbusters.[5][19] This necessitated heavy reliance on a distributed vendor model to manage workload, but resulted in challenges like rushed compositing for high-volume action shots and difficulties in convincingly replicating the fluid, exaggerated physics of anime-style combat in photorealistic contexts.[31] Post-production critiques highlighted inconsistencies, such as underwhelming energy auras and environmental interactions that appeared low-fidelity, exacerbated by budget-driven shortcuts like omitting practical wind machines for hair movement during power-up scenes.[23]Narrative and Adaptation
Plot Synopsis
The film opens with a flashback to ancient times, where a group of warriors utilizes seven mystical Dragon Balls to seal the demonic warlord Lord Piccolo and his forces beneath the Earth, preventing his conquest and destruction of the planet; the balls are subsequently dispersed globally to safeguard them.[35] In the present, teenage martial artist Goku lives with his grandfather Gohan, who has trained him in harnessing ki energy. On Goku's 18th birthday, Gohan entrusts him with a four-star Dragon Ball as a gift.[35] [1] At school, Goku endures bullying but demonstrates his ki prowess by stopping a bully's punch, catching the attention of classmate Chi-Chi and earning an invitation to her birthday party. He attends the event carrying the Dragon Ball, while Lord Piccolo, newly freed from his imprisonment, dispatches minions to retrieve the orbs and unleash his reign of terror. Piccolo's forces assault Gohan's home, resulting in the grandfather's death during a confrontation with the villain's lieutenant, Mai. Devastated and guilt-ridden, Goku vows vengeance.[35] Goku encounters Bulma, a brilliant inventor seeking the Dragon Balls using her radar device, who identifies his orb and recruits him for the quest. They visit the reclusive Master Roshi, guardian of a hidden Dragon Ball, who joins after testing Goku's potential and revealing Piccolo's plan to collect all seven orbs to summon Shenron and wish for Earth's annihilation. The group expands with the reluctant aid of the thief Yamcha, and they evade Piccolo's spawn—Fumana and Hoi-Poi—while racing to assemble the balls. Goku develops a romantic interest in Chi-Chi, who later aids in the pursuit, and undergoes intensified training to master advanced techniques like the Kamehameha wave.[35] [2] In the climax atop a sacred temple, Goku and his allies confront Piccolo, who has amassed six Dragon Balls. Roshi sacrifices himself to shield the group, enabling Goku to secure the final orb and briefly summon Shenron, which Piccolo attempts to corrupt. Drawing on his Saiyan heritage—disclosed as alien warrior descent—and Gohan's spiritual guidance, Goku defeats Piccolo in a decisive ki-infused battle, restoring peace. The Dragon Balls turn to stone, concluding the immediate threat.[35] [1]Character Portrayals and Deviations from Source Material
In Dragonball Evolution, Goku is portrayed as an 18-year-old high school student facing typical adolescent social challenges, including bullying and romantic interests, markedly diverging from the original manga's depiction of him as a naive, mountain-raised child of about 12 years old with immense innate strength and minimal exposure to modern society.[36][37] This adaptation eliminates Goku's canonical tail and Great Ape transformation, while altering his origin to emphasize human-like vulnerabilities over Saiyan heritage traits like rapid power growth through battle.[17] Bulma appears as a more tactical, grounded inventor with brown hair, contrasting her manga counterpart's turquoise-haired, affluent, and often temperamental personality as the Capsule Corporation heiress who initiates the Dragon Ball quest out of curiosity.[17] The film reduces her agency, positioning her as reliant on Goku's combat skills rather than her technological ingenuity driving the plot, and omits her familial ties to key characters like Vegeta.[36] Master Roshi, played by Chow Yun-fat, is depicted as a wise but less comically perverted martial arts mentor who provides guidance on Dragon Balls and trains Goku briefly, stripping away much of his original lecherous, turtle-keeping eccentricities central to early manga humor and character development.[17] Similarly, Chi-Chi is reimagined as Goku's immediate high school crush and combat partner, accelerating their relationship far beyond the manga's timeline where she first appears as a feisty ox-king's daughter encountered later in Goku's journey.[37] Piccolo, portrayed by James Marsters as "Lord Piccolo," serves as the primary antagonist seeking to conquer Earth with Dragon Balls after escaping ancient imprisonment, but lacks his manga origins as a demonic spawn of the earlier King Piccolo, complete with spawn like Tambourine and no ties to the guardian Kami.[38] This version forgoes Piccolo's regenerative abilities, egg-spawning reproduction, and eventual redemption arc, reducing him to a generic alien warlord without the nuanced villain-to-ally evolution.[17] Supporting characters like Yamcha are condensed into a bandit ally with minimal depth, absent his original desert wolf companion and bandit gang dynamics, while the film introduces deviations such as Goku's prior knowledge of Dragon Balls, inverting the manga's setup where Bulma educates the ignorant Goku.[17] These changes collectively prioritize a streamlined, Westernized teen adventure narrative over the source material's episodic quest structure, martial arts tournaments, and character-driven growth through training and rivalry.[36]Music and Audio Design
Score Composition
The score for Dragonball Evolution was composed by Brian Tyler, who drew on a percussive and melodic style evoking Jerry Goldsmith's orchestral techniques to underscore the film's action and adventure elements.[39][40] Tyler conducted recording sessions with an 82-piece ensemble from the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Newman Scoring Stage on the 20th Century Fox lot in February 2009, integrating pre-recorded tracks featuring instruments he performed himself.[39] The orchestration was prepared by Robert Elhai, Brad Warnaar, Dana Niu, and Pakk Hui, with mixing handled by Bobby Fernandez and music editing by Joe Lisanti.[39] Key compositional features include sweeping heroic and romantic themes introduced in cues like "Dragonball Evolution" and "The Legend," alongside pulsating action sequences built on jagged string ostinatos, driving brass, wordless male vocal choirs, and tempestuous percussion incorporating subtle Asian influences.[40] Certain tracks, such as "Body Work," incorporate harsh techno elements blended with orchestral forces, while others emphasize lyrical motifs and unobtrusive sampled effects for dynamic tension.[40] Sessions were attended by director James Wong and actors Joon Park and Jamie Chung, ensuring alignment with the film's pacing.[39] The original motion picture soundtrack, totaling about 60 minutes across 23 tracks, was released by Varèse Sarabande on March 17, 2009, under catalog VSD-6954, preceding the film's U.S. theatrical debut.[40][41]Sound Design Elements
The sound design team for Dragonball Evolution included supervising sound editors John Morris and Chuck Michael, both of whom also contributed as sound designers, with Michael handling additional re-recording mixing. Foley editing was overseen by Scott Curtis, while sound effects editing involved additional department members to craft auditory elements for action sequences and supernatural phenomena. Albert Roca provided support in dubbing and sound design aspects. These efforts focused on integrating effects for ki energy blasts, combat impacts, and environmental ambiance to approximate the exaggerated auditory style of the original anime, though specific techniques like Foley recording locations or custom sound libraries remain undocumented in available production records.[42][43] Critics highlighted the audio design's role in enhancing fidelity to the source material, noting its effective use alongside production elements to evoke the franchise's energetic essence despite narrative shortcomings. Dialogue delivery was described as clean and clear, with sound effects rendered crisply to support fight choreography without overwhelming the mix. The overall audio track on home media releases maintained balance, prioritizing intelligibility in vocal performances amid explosive effects. No nominations or awards were received for sound categories, aligning with the film's broader technical underachievement relative to expectations.[44][45][46]Marketing and Tie-Ins
Promotional Strategies
The promotional campaign for Dragonball Evolution emphasized tie-in media and digital trailers to leverage the franchise's existing fanbase ahead of its April 10, 2009, theatrical release. 20th Century Fox released several trailers, including a teaser trailer and an international version, which debuted online and in select theaters during early 2009 to generate buzz.[47] These trailers highlighted action sequences and key characters, aiming to attract both anime enthusiasts and general audiences unfamiliar with the source material. A key strategy involved cross-media extensions, notably a video game adaptation for the PlayStation Portable. On January 19, 2009, Namco Bandai Games and Fox announced the tie-in title, developed by Dimps, which expanded on the film's storyline and was released in Japan on March 19, 2009, and in North America on April 7, 2009, just days before the movie's debut.[48] This timing sought to build synergistic hype through interactive content mirroring the film's narrative. Promotional posters, often featuring ensemble casts or individual characters like Goku (Justin Chatwin) and Master Roshi (Chow Yun-fat), were distributed for advertising and merchandise displays.[49] Further efforts targeted comic fans via Shonen Jump publications, including a promotional posterzine in the U.S. edition to bridge the anime origins with the live-action adaptation.[9] However, observers noted the campaign's restrained scope, with limited traditional media buys and reliance on online platforms and franchise loyalty rather than broad advertising pushes, which may have contributed to subdued pre-release awareness.[50]