Manga starts in February, preceding the film's April debut

This year's March issue of Shueisha's V-Jump will announce on Wednesday that the upcoming Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no F (Dragon Ball Z: The F in Fukkatsu, or 'resurrection') film will get a three-chapter manga adaptation starting in the April issue on February 21. Toyotarō will draw the manga.

Dragon Ball manga creator Akira Toriyama said in an interview in November that the 'F' in the film's title stands for "Frieza," who will be revived in the film. Toriyama noted that he thought of the title while listening to "F" by rock band Maximum The Hormone, whom he came to know personally through a friend. The song itself features Frieza as a motif, and will be used as a "battle song" during one of the battle scenes in the film. The band originally released the song as its eighth single in July 2008.

Toriyama is personally credited with the original concept, screenplay, and character designs of the new movie. Dragon Ball Z animation director Tadayoshi Yamamuro will direct the new movie. Pop idol group Momoiro Clover Z (Sailor Moon Crystal, Bodacious Space Pirates) will perform the film's theme song



The film will star two original characters designed by Toriyama himself: Sorbet (seen above-left) and Tagoma (above-right). The characters are the survivors of the Frieza army who use the dragon balls to revive him .

The film will premiere in both 2D and 3D in theaters across Japan on April 18. Those who purchase advance tickets will receive an exclusive earphone jack strap of either Goku or Frieza modeled by Toriyama. Regular advance tickets cost 1,400 yen (about US$12), middle and elementary school student tickets cost 800 yen (US$7), and pair tickets cost 2,100 yen (US$17). Special movie ticket cards are on sale now.