'Dragon Ball Z' composer making new music

SANDUSKY — Sandusky Schools alumnus Tristan Schell will create the album art for new music by popular anime composer Bruce Faulconer.Faulconer is best known for his work on the Japanese anime "Dragon Ball Z," which aired on Cartoon Network for nearly a decade and continues to remain relevant worldwide with new video games, films and a sequel series."My fans have been asking for more music for years," Faulconer told the Register. "Dragon Ball fans will recognize the style and sound of my new work. It will include new pieces but also classic sounds."Faulconer and his team scored the overwhelming majority of the 290-plus episodes that aired in the U.S, which included more than 70 hours of original music."I loved all of it, especially when I got to intertwine different themes," he said.Schell, a 2018 Sandusky High School graduate, is a huge fan."My friends and I have been listening to Bruce's Dragon Ball Z soundtracks for years," he said. "The show, music and art have been huge parts of my life." Read: Who is Bruce Faulconer? Composer Bruce Faulconer writes 'Dragon Amnesty,' a new music composition inspired by his previous work on the anime 'Dragon Ball Z.' Provided photo/BRUCE FAULCONER Dedicated to fansFaulconer recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to get his new project off the ground.The project, titled "Dragon Amnesty," will be a new music composition "rich in mystery and intrigue," that will leave listeners "energized with hard-driving action," according to the campaign description. "With elements of fantasy and sci-fi, you'll be on edge as you experience the performance."The Kickstarter campaign must raise $28,000 by Sept. 18.Kickstarter is an online crowdfunding platform that follows an all-or-nothing model. Participants can pledge money to support a project. But if the monetary goal isn't met by a set date, the project won't receive funds. Supporters' accounts aren't charged unless the funding goal is met.So why does the project need $28,000?"This is going to take several months of work and include the services of live musicians," Faulconer said. "You'd be surprised how expensive it is to hire performers, use a studio, and mix and master music."He will split the production into two phases. Phase one, which is happening right now, involves writing the music and enhancing his workspace to complete the project. Phase two will require hiring musicians to perform and record. "These performers will include some of the best talent available, and we will be providing them with opportunities for work during this difficult time with the COVID-19 pandemic," Faulconer said.The budget encompasses studio time, mixing and mastering, artwork, CDs, T-shirts, photos, printing and more.Faulconer, who said he will incorporate some of what he calls "legacy Dragon Ball Z" instruments, hopes to release "Dragon Amnesty" in February 2021."We won't go with a full orchestra," he said of the recording process. "It will be like a chamber orchestra but with string instruments, woodwinds real guitars and more to add energy to the performance.""Dragon Amnesty" will be a 10- to 15-minute musical piece. Faulconer said the long-form composition will feel like three tracks that harken listeners back to the anime while incorporating new themes and instruments."Fans will recognize the style and sound," Faulconer said. "Our music journey together has been both exciting and challenging. It's also a journey I wish to continue. (The fans) have been asking for more music from me for a while now, and with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an opportunity of time for me to grant that wish. I'm writing a very special piece of music and I'm dedicating it to you, (the fans.)" Schell Provided photo/TRISTAN SCHELL The ultimate fanSchell, the local man working on Faulconer's album art, is a self-described Dragon Ball Z fanatic. The show's music and art style have inspired him since he was 6-years-old."Even now, I'm surrounded by Dragon Ball Z figures," Schell told the Register. "My brothers and I watched the show when it was on TV. It's been a big part of my life and has inspired me as an artist."In addition to being an artist, Schell is an avid YouTuber. His channel, "TM Schell," started off as a place for fans to see Dragon Ball Z content. The channel has since grown to include a catalog of commentary videos, with Schell seeking out different topics on the internet to review.Schell has a background in art and video production. He studied commercial art for two years and learned how to use Photoshop. He reached out to Faulconer in August upon viewing the first draft of the album art for "Dragon Amnesty.""I saw his post online and the art looked like it had been done quickly," he said, adding how the original cover was very basic and "wasn't fierce" enough. "I reached out and said I could improve upon it. I've made five variations so far for him to review."One version is being promoted on Faulconer's Kickstarter campaign."Bruce is a household name for anime fans, but it didn't seem like he was as knowledgable about social network promotion, or how to capitalize on his name online," Schell said. "I thought I could help with promotion, too. So we had a Zoom meeting and talked for 90 minutes. We talked about the show, how it came to be, YouTube and more."Schell explained how Faulconer's music still resonates with fans in 2020, evidence by his 62,000-plus followers on Spotify, a music streaming platform."I'm helping him with the art first and foremost, and as a side thing, we've been emailing every day just to update each other on the promotion of the project," he said.Schell said he isn't accepting payment from Faulconer. Rather, he wants his contribution with the artwork to serve as his support for "Dragon Amnesty.""I'm a little bit of a starving artist, and I wanted to do it this way," Schell said. "Bruce is very excited about the project. He has a crazy good work ethic on top of being a fantastic composer."How to helpWant to pledge to Dragon Ball Z composer Bruce Faulconer's "Dragon Amnesty" Kickstarter campaign? Go to kickstarter.com/projects/dragonamnesty/dragon-amnesty.Reach Sandusky Register news editor Patrick Pfanner at pfanner@sanduskyregister.com.