Shanpa bears resemblance to Battle of Gods' Beerus in anime premiering July 5

The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper's Mantan Web and other websites revealed the name for one of the new characters in Dragon Ball Super, the first new Dragon Ball television anime series in 18 years, on Saturday. Shanpa (pictured far right in image below) is the new character who resembles Beerus, the God of Destruction from the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' films.

Dragon Ball Super 's story will take place shortly after the decisive battle with Majin Buu, and will contain plot elements that tie it to the recent Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' film. The characters Beerus and Whis will return from the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' films as regular characters in the series.

Shueisha's V-Jump magazine published a preview of the first episode's story:

After defeating Majin Buu, life is peaceful once again. Ordered by Chi-chi to earn money, Goku works even as he wants to train even more. Meanwhile, Goten, about to become a brother-in-law to Videl, sets out on a journey with Trunks to find her a present.

Toei Animation's European website is listing Dragon Ball Super at 100 episodes, although the anime's Japanese website has not confirmed the number of episodes.

The official website also revealed the show's character designs and confirmed the returning cast:

Masako Nozawa as Son Goku

Masako Nozawa as Son Gohan

Masako Nozawa as Son Goten

Ryo Horikawa as Vegeta

Hiromi Tsuru as Bulma

Takeshi Kusao as Trunks

Mayumi Tanaka as Krillin

Masaharu Satou as Kame-Sen'nin

Toshio Furukawa as Piccolo

Naoko Watanabe as Chi-Chi

Yuko Minaguchi as Videl

Unshou Ishizuka as Mr. Satan

Kozo Shioya as Majin Buu

Kouichi Yamadera as God of Destruction Beerus

Masakazu Morita as Whis

Additionally Jouji Yanami will return as the narrator.

Toei Animation also aired a commercial with the opening theme song "Chōzetsu☆Dynamic" (Excellent Dynamic) by Kazuya Yoshii on Sunday:

Goku: Hey, I'm Goku.

Goku: Crossing 18 years of time, it's time to enter a new series!!

Goku: Dragon Ball Super premieres in July!

Text: Every Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

Text: Original Creator, Original Story & Character Concepts: Akira Toriyama

Goku: Everyone, please be sure to catch our new battles.

Text: Sponsored by Bandai Namco Entertainment



Dragon Ball Super will premiere on July 5 on Fuji TV and other channels, and it will run on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. This will be the first new Dragon Ball television series since Dragon Ball GT , which aired from 1996 to 1997. The story of the anime is set a few years after the defeat of Majin Buu, when the Earth has become peaceful once again.

Akira Toriyama is credited as the original creator, as well as for "original story & character concepts." Toei Animation's Kimitoshi Chioka (Hakaba Kitarō, Kamisama Kazoku) is the series director, and Naoko Sagawa (Yomiko Advertising, Inc.) and Atsushi Kido (Toei Animation) join Osamu Nozaki as producers. Kido entered Toei just as the company was animating the Dragon Ball Z anime's Frieza arc.

Kazuya Yoshii performs the opening theme "Chōzetsu☆Dynamic" (Excellent Dynamic) and rock band Good Morning America performs the ending theme "Hello Hello Hello."

Toyotarō is drawing the show's manga adaptation in Shueisha's V Jump magazine.

A new film taking place after the Majin Buu Saga, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' , premiered in Japan in April. The film will eventually screen in 74 countries worldwide. Funimation hosted the North American premiere of the film on April 11 in Los Angeles. The company plans to release the film in more theaters with an English dub this summer.

Update: Just as the names of Beerus and Whis reference alcoholic drinks, "Shanpa" is pronounced the same way as the beginning of "champagne" in Japanese. Thanks, JacobYBM