I have a question to ak you. I don’t think i’ve seen more than 5 episodes of either DB and DBZ, but I want to know, how good is it?
How good is it if I were to start watching now, from the beginning, the original DB? How do they hold up over time? Are there certain parts that are more shittier than others?
The reason I’m asking is because I’m trying to think of a long, engrossing “fighting” anime to show this girl (we’ve seen naruto, kenshin, etc.), and I know DBZ is all about fights, I just don’t know if its good. And is it good for showing females? (Keep in mind she loves Naruto).
Is it impossible to go back and take DB seriously after having seen shit like the newer stuff that’s out there, or does it still hold up even if you’ve never even seen it before?
Basically I’m asking you guys, just how good is DB/DBZ?
I’m looking for a variety of opinions so more than one answer would be appreciated. Thanks.
^Personally, if I were to recommend a long, engrossing fighting anime to someone, I’d go with Hajime no Ippo.
DB would be a good choice but I’m not sure about DBZ. DB is more of an adventure but still has plenty of fights and humor. DBZ can get repetitive but if she can make it through the Namek/Frieza arc then it gets better.
yeah i saw that shit…>(…Gootube strikes again. I don’t know what the fuck their problem is. It’s a PARODY DAMMIT! Technically they can’t do anything but they do it anyway.
The abridged video VAs are pretty damn good, hysteriously good.
DB/DBZ is legendary. Is it even possible for it to die out? I personally enjoy the few early episodes DB where Goku and Krillin starts training under master roshi. DBZ got too dragged out, skip and few scenes/episodes and you’re still set to go.
It’s very good, but honestly, the comics are a lot better. The show is pretty much a straight adaptation, and the voice acting is really great in its original language, but the pacing is slow and bloated. There are also some idiotic filler episodes.
And DB and DBZ up through the end of the Freeza saga is probably your best bet for Dragon Ball. Beyond that, it gets a little dumb.
I dunno I think it hit its peak with the Cell Saga. The Buu saga’s pacing was kinda weird…I liked the Majin Vegeta angle, Vegito and Gotenks are cool too, but the whole thing didn’t feel the same as the last ones.
The Freeza Saga was good but I’m probably in the minoirty when I say that I certainly don’t think it was the pinnacle of the Z series. To me, it seemed like it lost some of its juice as it wore on. Big whup if Freeza was the first OHNOEESSSTOOMUCH POWAAAAAAA!!!1111 villain. Cell had a far more interesting (if a bit too complex) backstory to him. Plus Gohan going Super Saiyan 2 and beasting on Cell is just too much. The music track that plays when Gohan loses it is so awesome. I admit that I like the songs with lyrcis in Japanese DBZ but the regular music just flat out sucks.
OG Dragon Ball is really good. Daniel-San, if you want to get into the series and save some money, I recommend picking up the manga. DB is 16 books. DBZ is 26 books. 42 books total $7.95 each. Of course if you’re into reading your manga online, there’s probably some place on the net where you can check out all the manga. Me, I’ve yet to find a site that has DB/DBZ manga. Plus, I’m one of those dudes who prefers manga in his hands as opposed to on the screen.
Hokuto no Ken is pretty damn good and the 1st season is over 100 episodes.
Hajime no Ippo has the classic loser coming from nowhere to turning into a dangerous fighter
Dragonball to Dragonball Z is very good,but its a very long series and it definitely has its share of filler,but its worthwhile for anybody to watch as it is pretty much set the bar in terms of how you can compare power from different anime series.
I like the Saiyan saga myself. Probably a nostalgia thing since it was the first saga I watched, but most of the later sagas just rip off what this saga does. Plus it’s a lot shorter which is a Good Thing.
Regarding Bleach: I watch it (up to 58 at the moment), but it doesn’t do anything for me.
Yeah, I understand the DB/DBZ manga is probably the shit but keep in mind this is something for me to show to a female (and others if its really good), so it’s not like she’s going to want to sit with me and read a comic. Which is why I’m looking for anime only.
So from what I’m hearing, Dragon Ball is actually BETTER than Dragon Ball Z? Which is funny because coming from a huge anime fan like myself who has never really seen ANYTHING DB/DBZ related I always thought it was the other way around.
Thanks for the ideas on what eps not to watch. With long shows like this where there’s bound to be shitloads of filler it’s always good to know what you should skip. Is there anywhere I can go and get the comprehensive list of DB/DBZ episodes I should watch and the ones I should skip? Example, watch 1-75, 85- 140, 151-180, 200-231, etc. Or should I watch ALL of them up to a certain point and end the series early (like after the frieza or cell arc as some have suggested)?
Like Wikipedia tells you what Naruto/Bleach anime episodes are based on the manga and which ones are not (filler), so it’s a handy little tool to see which eps need to be watched.
For DBZ, I’d suggest skipping the Garlic Jr. Saga but other than that, watch everything else. Even though Akira Toriyama himself wanted DBZ to end with the Cell Saga, The Buu saga still has memorable moments.
Also, look up the DBZ movies since those have great fight scenes too. You may want to avoid the 2nd and 3rd Broly movies though.
He wanted to end it with the Freeza saga. Then he wanted to end it with the Cell saga. Then he wanted to end it with the Buu saga. By then, he said, “Fuck it, you guys do whatever you want. I don’t even care anymore.” Hence, GT.
It depends. If you’re looking for a lighthearted action-oriented fantasy/comedy that gets sort of dark at the end, go with DB. If you’re looking for a 100% action-focused sci-fi show with the occasional fantasy/comedy overtone, go with Z.
Ultimately, though, the addition of “Z” to the title is cosmetic. You can watch DB and Z as if it were all one continuous series. The tonal shift from light to dark, and from light action to heavy action all gradually occurs throughout. The only real reason you’d look at them as two separate entities is that Son Goku’s origin is revealed at the beginning of Z, which simultaneously introduces sci-fi into the mix and downplays the earlier fantasy elements.
Interesting thing about DB is that even though techniques like Bukujitsu got slowly introduced into the series, I was still “wowed” by the first appearance of them, even though I saw DBZ a few years before DB. A sign of good storytelling.