Akira Toriyama

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The Debate That Got Me Ejected From Kanzenshuu Forums: Is Gohan Out Of Character In The Cell Games?

 "I don’t need this shit."

 

PART I: The Preamble
 

I’ve been a fan of the Dragon Ball franchise off and on since about the time Dragon Ball Z first broadcast in syndication in September of 1996. I didn’t immediately latch onto the show. It took a while. A friend of mine, Jon Oakes, who I used to play SNES with at his house (I had a Sega Genesis, and we alternated homes for playing), introduced me to the series, and I didn’t quite latch onto it until I started watching it on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block. When I started branching out into different types and titles of anime, I kept pushing the DB franchise back, exploring the more complex and compelling narratives of shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Serial Experiments Lain, and Cowboy Bebop. And after all, I would argue, the English version of Dragon Ball Z was so poorly done it was impossible to stomach the show except with subtitles, and I didn’t even have a DVD player until around 2001. By then, I looked at my DB fandom as an object of nostalgia at best and embarrassingly poor childhood taste at worst. read more

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Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods Review

 "Battle of Gods"

Spoiler-Free Synopsis: After a thirty-nine year sleep, Beerus, the God of Destruction, has awoken, and is seeking the "Super Saiyan God" he saw in his dream. He and his attendant Whis sense the remaining Saiyans, first questioning Son Goku as he trains on Kaio’s planet. Goku is soundly beaten in battle with Beerus, even at Super Saiyan 3 level, and the God of Destruction goes to Earth to inquire of Vegeta. On Earth, Bulma’s birthday party is interrupted by Beerus, Whis, and the Pilaf gang (who are looking to make money). Beerus is accomodated by Vegeta, but soon loses his temper when denied pudding from Buu, and a battle breaks out. When Goku himself is no match for the God of Destruction, what chance do the others have? Beerus demands the Super Saiyan God to appear or he’ll destroy the planet Earth! read more

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Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods Clip

Wow, that looks, moves, and sounds fucking gorgeous. Guaranteed purchase from me when we get it over here. Unf. The only problem I have is that there’s a weird glare, an over saturation of color, I think. It can be a little overwhelming.

I wonder how Kaio got a new planet? This one seems bigger than the previous one. I know that in the notes for the movie, Toriyama said it was Birusu who made Kaio’s previous planet small to begin with because he destroyed most of it and Kaio had to reconstruct it. Now Kaio has a bigger planet and Birusu appears and wrecks it again? What a bad guest. read more

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Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods Trailer

Premise: Some God of Destruction awakens from a long sleep, discovers someone has defeated Freeza, and decides the universe needs balance (which I guess Freeza was providing by being a dick?) and challenges Goku. Despite the participation of Akira Toriyama himself in the development of this new movie, the same DBZ formula is likely to follow.

I wonder how Kaio got a new planet. The Kaioshins, perhaps? 

The first person to complain about Goku’s voice, I shall stab that person in their very soul. (Though to be honest, the Kamehameha in the end isn’t Nozawa’s best work.) read more

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