[Article] Ayu Goku to Grace New Single

[Maxker]

Image courtesy of Sankei Sports

Popular manga-ka Toriyama Akira has been commissioned to draw an illustration of J-pop queen Hamasaki Ayumi (30, profile) for her latest single.

The connection of course is that "Rule" is the theme song for the global release of "Dragonball," the Hollywood adaptation of Toriyama's mega-popular manga.

The first pressing of the single will be printed with the image of Hamasaki as the character Goku on both the CD and an accompanying DVD. It is the first time for Toriyama to create an original illustration for a recording artist. He said, "Actually I'm really not good at caricatures, and for a while I regretted taking on this job.

"Hamasaki-san has so many fans and I hope they don't get angry that the image doesn't resemble her!"

Called "Dragonball Evolution" for its Japan release, the movie opens in Japan on March 13. The double-A side single "Rule/Sparkle" goes on sale February 25.

Source: Japan Zone Entertainment News
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Akira Toriyama draws Ayumi Hamasaki
Tue, February 3, 2009 (2:15am EST)

Pop star Ayumi Hamasaki is teaming up with mangaka Akira Toriyama for her upcoming single "Rule / Sparkle." Toriyama has drawn a likeness of Hamasaki that will be printed on the first press CDs and DVDs of the single. This is his first time doing an illustration for a music artist, as well as his first time drawing a real person for a commercial product.

The collaboration is a result of Hamasaki's "Rule" being used as the theme song for the worldwide release of the live-action "Dragonball" movie, which is based on Toriyama's popular manga. "Rule / Sparkle" goes on sale on February 25, ahead of the movie's March 13 release date.

Source: tokyograph.com

Originally Posted by miskiq

Dragon Ball manga creator Akira Toriyama has sketched a portrait of singer Ayumi Hamasaki for the CD single of "Rule," the theme song for James Wong and 20th Century Fox's live-action film adaptation of the manga. The sketch puts Hamasaki in the trademark orange outfit of Son Goku, the main character of Dragon Ball. This the first time that Toriyama has done something similar for a release by a musical artist. It is also the first time that a portrait that Toriyama drew of an actual person has been made into a product.

According to Sankei News, Hamasaki is a big Toriyama fan who has all of the Dragon Ball anime DVDs. Toriyama was worried about making the portrait's likeness close enough to satisfy fans, while Hamasaki complimented and thanked Toriyama on the sketch. As a fan who listened to all of Hamasaki's music, Wong had personally requested her for the film's theme song.

The first pressing of the CD/DVD set will include picture labels with the sketch for both discs. The set goes on sale on February 25, while the actual film opens in Japan on March 13 and in the United States on April 8. "Rule's" music video has Hamasaki and her dancers performing one particular piece of choreography that is patterned after Goku's Kamehameha attack.

Source: Sankei News

link

Articles in Japanese:

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[U-GO-BOY]

I like the picture but I think Ayu looks more like a man~

[waterballoon]

Well Ayu is supposed to be portrayed as Goku... and Goku is a man so yeah.

[keikeiaznqueen]

At first glance, I had no idea what the character was doing on the CD.

But then when I looked closer, damn, it looks a lot like Ayu!!!!!!! She did have a hairstyle quite like that a couple of years back, but the face and the way it was shaded reminded me of her makeup during (miss)understood.

[Maemi]

I don't like it~

[prussian blue]

its a priveledge for ayu to be drawn by the artist its great imo

[miskiq]

Dragon Ball manga creator Akira Toriyama has sketched a portrait of singer Ayumi Hamasaki for the CD single of "Rule," the theme song for James Wong and 20th Century Fox's live-action film adaptation of the manga. The sketch puts Hamasaki in the trademark orange outfit of Son Goku, the main character of Dragon Ball. This the first time that Toriyama has done something similar for a release by a musical artist. It is also the first time that a portrait that Toriyama drew of an actual person has been made into a product.

According to Sankei News, Hamasaki is a big Toriyama fan who has all of the Dragon Ball anime DVDs. Toriyama was worried about making the portrait's likeness close enough to satisfy fans, while Hamasaki complimented and thanked Toriyama on the sketch. As a fan who listened to all of Hamasaki's music, Wong had personally requested her for the film's theme song.

The first pressing of the CD/DVD set will include picture labels with the sketch for both discs. The set goes on sale on February 25, while the actual film opens in Japan on March 13 and in the United States on April 8. "Rule's" music video has Hamasaki and her dancers performing one particular piece of choreography that is patterned after Goku's Kamehameha attack.

Source: Sankei News

link

[alternarist]

it's not about us fans being angry at the drawing.

but it doesnt look like ayu AT ALL. what's wrong with the Toriyama?

[AyuGAME]

thanks for the article

[freedreamer]

wads kamehameha??

anyway..WE'RE NOT ANGRY WITH YOU AKIRA-SAN! U r superb

[aloopy]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

wads kamehameha??

anyway..WE'RE NOT ANGRY WITH YOU AKIRA-SAN! U r superb

kamehameha is a fighting move goku and others in the dragonball manga/anime use xD

It doesn't look like her, but I'm not angry about it, haha.
I do wish it wasn't the first pressing though >__<

[se7entheaven]

ayu actually looks like some RPG characters or something like Final Fantasy LOL

[MissElin_]

No it doesnt look like her, but cool that he did it anyway.
Thx for the articles.

[heartplace83]

wow kamehameha!!

that is Goku's fireball, which he learned from the Kame Old man. Supposedly his powerful spell? i dont remember. but that was his signature move. wow i wonder how ayu n the dancers would be doing that haha.

[SolarAngel]

Lol good effort! It doesn't look much like her but then again, it's only a caricature. It's supposed to be fun.

[ohsixthirty]

Am I the only one who thinks the picture looks a lot like ayumi? If I just saw the picture randomly I would instantly think of her.

It reminds me of her "no way to say" era for some reason.

[Lady_Eowyn]

Originally Posted by touchedstar

Am I the only one who thinks the picture looks a lot like ayumi? If I just saw the picture randomly I would instantly think of her.

It reminds me of her "no way to say" era for some reason.

IT DOES look like her. soooooo amazing she was drawn by such a huge artist as Akira . the shape of the nose, the size of the neck and the distance between the eyes is indeed accurate, so the pic it's very alike, though is not an exact portrait.

[Ayumiko]

Originally Posted by touchedstar

Am I the only one who thinks the picture looks a lot like ayumi? If I just saw the picture randomly I would instantly think of her.

It reminds me of her "no way to say" era for some reason.

I thought I was the only one...lol...it does look like ayu...especially the nose and hair.

oh I wanna see the 'Kamehameha attack' dance move~

[LacusClyne]

Originally Posted by alternarist

it's not about us fans being angry at the drawing.

but it doesnt look like ayu AT ALL. what's wrong with the Toriyama?

Originally Posted by touchedstar

Am I the only one who thinks the picture looks a lot like ayumi? If I just saw the picture randomly I would instantly think of her.

It reminds me of her "no way to say" era for some reason.

i do find that it looks a litle like ayu, he manage to put ayu's strongest feature right-her BIG eyes, and her hair reminds me of these pictures