Jose Fernandez on Dragonball
Dragonball Movie Blog recently had the opportunity to speak to the head of Ironhead studios, Jose Fernandez. Here’s what he had to say about his work on Dragonball:
DBMB: How did you get involved with Dragonball? Was there some sort of “auditioning†process or where you approached by Fox/James Wong?
JF: I was approached by Fox. I’ve done a handful of films for them, so we have a bit of a relationship.DBMB: What characters did you work on in this film?
JF: In the early design phase I worked on almost, if not every character. After the initial drawings, the director and studio chose what they did and didn’t want to use. As far as final design and fabrication, I was responsible for Piccolo’s full costume and armor, everything except for his makeup, which ADI was responsible for. I also assisted Mayes Rubeo with realizing Goku’s costume and gei.DBMB: What was it like working with the cast and crew?
JF: Other than James Marsters, I had little contact with the cast. I was only on set for a couple of days to make sure that the costumes were maintained, and looked the best they could on film.DBMB: What was James Wong like as a director?
JF: I didn’t have the pleasure of working with James in depth. We met in a few preliminary meetings and e-mailed a few times. He seemed very focused and open to creative ideas.DBMB: What was James Wong looking for in terms of character design?
JF: Well, James seemed to have a healthy respect for the source material. He wanted to create a memorable world that satisfied fans, but also was grounded in reality.DBMB: How do you expect post-production to effect the look of certain characters? In what ways do you hope it will?
JF: I can only hope that the post-production work enhances the film. My favorite effects are the ones that seamlessly blend the practical and digital worlds. One world should enhance the other. Believability is always key.DBMB: Were you familiar with the source material when you joined the project? If not, did you consult the original material for inspiration?
JF: I was not at the time, but there were those around me that were. That said, I immediately immersed myself in the world. Hopefully the fans are pleased.DBMB: In terms of the styling of the characters you worked on for this film, what were some of the details that James Wong had requested you include?
JF: I specifically remember our conversations concerning Goku. James wanted to make sure that he wasn’t too tailored. He wanted Goku to feel like a timeless warrior. A combination of the new and old. Rather than come out of a superhero factory, Goku pieced together his costume from various sources that were important to him.DBMB: What was the most challenging part of Dragonball?
JF: The biggest challenge for me specifically were budget and time constraints. I’m always pleasantly surprised with what can be done in a limited amount of time. I look forward to those challenges. They force you to be a problem solver.DBMB: What directors would you like to work with that you haven’t worked with already?
JF: The new vanguard. Zack Snyder, Jon Favreau, Christopher Nolan…. I’m not sure in what capacity he could use me, but I’m a huge fan of Bryan Bird. For me, that guy can do no wrong.DBMB: And of course I must ask, who is your favorite Dragonball character and why?
JF: I’m a fan of Yamcha. He reminds me of Han Solo. I’ve always been partial to the “loveable rogue†character. They have the most interesting arcs.
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Jose did a amazing job with Chawin’s blue gi
awsome stuff
thanks adam
Yeah!
More info..this is amazing news
Thank you
thank you really good stuff
Good stuff. Looks like whoever did the interview did a great job with [the] questions.
@fhernandezy8: You have the same last name?
More interviews?
Hell Yeah
huh watcha talkin ’bout??
oh no my last name is hernandez
Funny how people have compared Goku to Luke Skywalker and Yamcha to Han Solo.
Piccolo telling Goku his origins (a Saiyan) is kind of like Darth Vader telling Luke his origins (being his son).
The characters seem like they are going to be great, if handled right this could be a timeless classic just like Star Wars.
@ROb: That was very well said Rob!! I love the direction this film is going in. I have a feeling it’s going to be a masterpiece
I hope like the original Star Wars movie….
Kamehamehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
not the crappy prequels
i always though a dragonball movie should deserve to be at the same level as star wars,, though its nearly impossible to achieve, if something can pull it of, its definitely dragonball,, who knows,, we can only hope for the best
Wow im looking at Jose Fernandez website right now and his creativity is amazing. He adds Rock and roll to his sculptures!!
http://ironheadstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/jose-and-batman.jpg
He is defiantly the right person for the job
He did such excellent job in Batman returns, Batman Forever, Fantastic four: Rise of the silver surfer, and the X-men films etc….
He is like the Michael Jordan of costume sculpture..
I can’t wait to see King Piccolo full effect
Very good interview. I like how the arm guards are some kind of leather instead of cloth. He did a good job on goku’s costume. They seem to be going for something that’s faithful to the original but cooler and more realistic. Nice. Now just have Bulma in a bunny costume and we’re gold.
Special and visual effetcs in this movie will rock, there is a very excellent crew for that things.
I don’t know if it interest, but I have a small itv of Texas Battle on my website.
yeah from all the parts of the movie(battles,scenery,differt personalities-heroes),now the costumes are going to rock!!!!!
†Goku pieced together his costume from various sources that were important to him.â€
So lets see, he takes the blue shirt from Gohan and pants from gohan and the outer shirt from Roshi? Yeah that sounds right. I always wondered why he added a blue shirt later when he fought Ma Junior
HEy great news! loving it!
Yamcha…Han Solo?
Well that’s a new one.
I think that everyone is so worried about this film is gonna be blown away! This is gonna be an awesome movie ! They have alot of good people workin on this it will be one of the highest grossing series ever! Adam u may not agree but we will see
I also think that since this is DB and not DBZ ther should be 4 movies total! First being dragonball and then dbz, saiyan saga, then frieza and then how could u leave out the greatest saga ever the android and cell into one last final movie! Well, hopefully thats how it will go down! I mean i think the best moments in dbz is 1) Vegetas final flash against cell 2) Gokus instant Kamehameha 3) Gohan turning super saiyan 2!
@Boomersl@live.com: Actually, Goku acquired the weighted blue shirt (and blue hand-things and boots) from his training under Kami. But, yeah, in the movie, they obviously have to change things and mess with the timelines, so it’s a nice trade to have pieces of Goku’s gi be from various places/people that mean a lot to him. =)
Hay i have a question (of topic) what happened to launch from DB to DBZ someone tell me!
:?: 
Good interview. I like someone who enjoys a good challenge. Hmm, Yamcha as Han Solo. . .interesting.
@SSJ Spartan: I remember I mentioned that in the last podcast.
@AAA
ive always wondered that too. Launch just disappeared and was never mentioned again lol
@AAA1058: she was last seen in DBZ with tien when he’s training in the saiyan saga i think. then when goku and vegeta were fightin in the saiyan saga, when vegeta was doing his first big power up theres a short scene with launch in bar when the earth was shaking from vegetas power.
@ROb
dragonball is waaay above star wars! you cant compare the two!
This news gives me a lot of new hope in the costume of Piccolo .
Yamcha- Hans Solo???????????? Meh.
@sonic
LMAO. That’s funny. I wouldn’t go that far.
I love DB/DBZ but it’s nowhere near Star Wars I’m afraid.
I love starwars and I love Dragonball but Starwars>Dragonball and LOTR>Starwars
You’ve got to be kidding. Dragonball > Lord of the rings > Star Wars > Hello Kitty > Warcraft
lol
POSSIABLY A LEAK PICTURE OF PICCILO..Not sure
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2526/picmq0.jpg
@Adam: nah,the story of lord of the rings is nowhere near the ones of star wars and dragonball
the lotr movies are a masterpiece, but the story is still very far from sw or db
@JPHongUhu: Looks more like Kami.
Lunch was last seen in the last episodes when Goku asked for the people of the world to give their energies to kill Majin Buu.
I hope they reach Cell and Majin Buu in future movies. Majin Buu being the last movie of the series.
The current trilogy will probably be:
1st movie: Lord Piccolo (Last DB sagas)
2nd movie: Vegeta (Saiyan Saga)
3rd movie: Frieza (Namek & Frieza sagas).
Then in the future make 2 more movies:
4th movie: Androids & Cell
5th movie: Majin Buu
Being Majin Buu the ultimate demonic evil.
I forgot to mention GT sucked and should never be considered for live action movies, also it was non-cannon.
GT in other words was a disgrace that nobody should ever talk about and be buried in a dark corner where nobody sees or reads anything about it.
-i say dragon ball is the japanese story of super man……..-anyways, they should of aksed moe nosey questions on how does his designs differ from the anime??????
if this one sells, they´ll probably end it with a trilogy with freeza, and goku being the legendary super saiyajin
i can´t imagine how they would fit the entire cell saga into a two hour movie
id love it, its my favourite saga, but it seems impossible
though i wouldn´t mind if they ended it with freeza either, i always though of him as the ultimate villain, he is the incarnation of evil, unlike cell, he takes pleasure not in just killing his enemies (and even allies), but he enjoys torturing them
i really hope we get to a freeza movie
@nanjirou: Yes!! Im also hoping this movie does very well, because I would love to see the Freeza saga. Seeing Goku turn super saiyan is a dream come true!! I wonder how would they make freeza though????
I think Jet li would make a good freeza
It’s possible considering he was in the one
Ending with Freeza would be perfect.
Oh my God, guys. I had a dream about watching the live action Dragon Ball movie. >>;; And it was sooo horrible. A Nightmare! >>;;
I saw kid Gohan in my dream, and I’m like “WHAT THE FUCK?! YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE MOVIE YET, DAMMIT!”
LOL
Oh great…this Jose guy was responsible for the Batman nipple suit. This movie is doomed.
@D: Dude, shut up. =/ I love Piccolo’s new costume and I’m a hardcore Piccolo fan! D< So hush before I e-throw sporks at you!!
<<;;
@nanjirou:
well hey man, look at the robot in the new photos. there may be androids in the future movies with a new origin.
also I love cell too, that saga was better than buu saga for sure.
@JoseMP: Things change in the movie biz, alot. So chances are if Dragonball DOES REALLY GOOD, they could push it to 6 movies. Strange thing is, in North America it’s strange to have that many sequels and such but in Asia it’s normal, just look at all the amazing DBZ movies.
If there was 6, there could be a Brolly movie maybe
@RJ: In the real DBZ cartoon world, it was impossible for Broly to exist. In other words, it was a different dimension. I fyou didn’t know, most of the DBZ movies weren’t possible because it would clash with the Saiyan/Frieza Saga and the Android Saga.
In other words, the DBZ moves was for just plain entertainment. Not to go with the series at all.