The series again continues the adventures of Son Goku, who is turned back into a child in the beginning of the series by the Black Star Dragon Balls and is forced to travel across the galaxy to retrieve them.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Dragon Ball GT
Dragon Ball GT is an anime-only sub-series of the Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball GT is the sequel to the Dragon Ball Z anime, which was an adaptation of the Dragon Ball manga volumes. It is the only series that is not based directly on Toriyama's original story.
Dragon Ball GT
Dragon Ball GT is an anime-only sub-series of the Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball GT is the sequel to the Dragon Ball Z anime, which was an adaptation of the Dragon Ball manga volumes. It is the only series that is not based directly on Toriyama's original story.[
Films
1. The Dead Zone
2. The World's Strongest
3. The Tree of Might
4. Lord Slug
5. Cooler's Revenge
6. Return of Cooler
7. Super Android 13!
8. Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan
9. Bojack Unbound
10. Broly Second Coming
11. Bio-Broly
12. Fusion Reborn
13. Wrath of the Dragon
2. The World's Strongest
3. The Tree of Might
4. Lord Slug
5. Cooler's Revenge
6. Return of Cooler
7. Super Android 13!
8. Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan
9. Bojack Unbound
10. Broly Second Coming
11. Bio-Broly
12. Fusion Reborn
13. Wrath of the Dragon
Sagas
1. Saiyan Saga
2. Namek Saga
3. Captain Ginyu Saga
4. Frieza Saga
5. Garlic Junior Saga
6. Trunks Saga
7. Android Saga
8. Imperfect Cell Saga
9. Perfect Cell Saga
10. Cell Games Saga
11. Great Saiyaman Saga
12. World Tournament Saga
13. Babidi Saga
14. Majin Buu Saga
15. Fusion Saga
16. Kid Buu Saga
2. Namek Saga
3. Captain Ginyu Saga
4. Frieza Saga
5. Garlic Junior Saga
6. Trunks Saga
7. Android Saga
8. Imperfect Cell Saga
9. Perfect Cell Saga
10. Cell Games Saga
11. Great Saiyaman Saga
12. World Tournament Saga
13. Babidi Saga
14. Majin Buu Saga
15. Fusion Saga
16. Kid Buu Saga
The FUNimation version is noted for featuring dialogue not found in the original, dubbing that results in minor changes to the original story, the replacement of the entire original musical score written by Shunsuke Kikuchi, and renaming many characters, terminology, and locations. Funimation selected composer Bruce Faulconer to create this original music score for episodes #68 through the end of the series (episode #291), and this music is commonly referred to as the American Soundtrack for the series, and it currently airs on the Cartoon Network, having aired since 1999 to the present.
In 2003, FUNimation began to redub the first two sagas (Saiyan and Namek). They also redubbed the first three Pioneer-distributed movies that were dubbed by the Ocean Group voice actors. The distribution of the redubs on DVD, under the Ultimate Uncut Special Edition title, began in April 2005.
In the summer of 2005, Cartoon Network started showing the uncut version of the first two seasons of Dragon Ball Z. This version used the original Japanese footage, with the exception of the Japanese opening and closing themes, and has an entirely new score of music. The uncut version also featured many scenes with large amounts of blood, as well as mild language, sexual humor and nudity. Generally, while some lines were maintained from the original dub, several mistranslations were also corrected. The uncut dub was given a TV-PG rating unlike the original dub's TV-Y7 rating.
Until 2001, other English speaking countries including the UK, Canada, Australia and Republic of Ireland received FUNimation's English version of Dragon Ball Z, both the Saban and In-house incarnations. This changed when Episode 108 aired in the UK (also in The Netherlands); the English Dub switched to a version produced in Canada. This version regained the original voice cast by the Ocean Group instead of the FUNimation actors. This version began airing in Canada in the autumn of 2001 from Episode 168, and ran through to the end of the series. It used FUNimation's own videotracks and its scripts, albeit with some changes. This version used music recycled from the Mega Man and Monster Rancher cartoons, as well as a few original pieces for the series by Jon Mitchell, Tom Keenlyside and David Iris. This version suffered from low production values and a rushed schedule. Many voices did not stay consistent through the series, and by the end few remained from the original 1996 cast. See below for a complete cast listing.
In 2003, FUNimation began to redub the first two sagas (Saiyan and Namek). They also redubbed the first three Pioneer-distributed movies that were dubbed by the Ocean Group voice actors. The distribution of the redubs on DVD, under the Ultimate Uncut Special Edition title, began in April 2005.
In the summer of 2005, Cartoon Network started showing the uncut version of the first two seasons of Dragon Ball Z. This version used the original Japanese footage, with the exception of the Japanese opening and closing themes, and has an entirely new score of music. The uncut version also featured many scenes with large amounts of blood, as well as mild language, sexual humor and nudity. Generally, while some lines were maintained from the original dub, several mistranslations were also corrected. The uncut dub was given a TV-PG rating unlike the original dub's TV-Y7 rating.
Until 2001, other English speaking countries including the UK, Canada, Australia and Republic of Ireland received FUNimation's English version of Dragon Ball Z, both the Saban and In-house incarnations. This changed when Episode 108 aired in the UK (also in The Netherlands); the English Dub switched to a version produced in Canada. This version regained the original voice cast by the Ocean Group instead of the FUNimation actors. This version began airing in Canada in the autumn of 2001 from Episode 168, and ran through to the end of the series. It used FUNimation's own videotracks and its scripts, albeit with some changes. This version used music recycled from the Mega Man and Monster Rancher cartoons, as well as a few original pieces for the series by Jon Mitchell, Tom Keenlyside and David Iris. This version suffered from low production values and a rushed schedule. Many voices did not stay consistent through the series, and by the end few remained from the original 1996 cast. See below for a complete cast listing.
History
The Dragon Ball Z anime first aired in Japan from April 26, 1989 to January 31, 1996,and was dubbed in several countries around the world, including Latin America and in the United States. The American themes and soundtracks were composed and produced in part by Bruce Faulconer.
The series continues the adventures of Son Goku as an adult who, along with his companions, defend the Earth and other fictional planets against various supervillains. While the original Dragon Ball anime followed Goku through childhood into adulthood, Dragon Ball Z parallels his adult life with the maturation of his first child, Son Gohan. The series also gives focus to the evolution of his rivals, Piccolo and Vegeta, from evil to good. The separation between the series is also significant as the later series takes on a more dramatic and serious tone, with a number of villains either threatening or committing acts of mass murder or outright genocide.
Akira Toriyama's self-parody manga series Neko Majin satires many concepts introduced in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z.
The first run of the English Version of the show began airing in September 1996 on the WB. Beginning with the Saiyan Saga, severe restrictions were put in place for a syndicated TV program, thus resulting in extensive editing of the series (cutting out the equivalent of 14 of the first 67 episodes-- almost 21%), including the complete removal of references to character death ("sent to another dimension"), blood, and language. To many fans of the series, these edits actually made the series worse as violence was always shown without consequence. Eventually it was canceled in May 1998, due to low ratings. In August 1998 however, the Ocean Group dub was brought to Cartoon Network's new action-animated block, Toonami and it found new life through a wider audience.
In 1999, FUNimation decided to cut their partnership with Saban and from the Ginyu Saga onwards, dubbed the show themselves with their own in-house voice actors and a newly commissioned musical score. They also cut some of their previous restrictions, such as the inclusion of blood (to a certain degree), though still edited some of the violence, in order to continue to make it appealing to viewers of all ages, thus leading to the show receiving a TV-Y7-FV rating for fantasy violence. The series ended its first run in April 2003. The new FUNimation dub became very popular and it also greatly helped expand the anime market in the US.
In September 2002, Dragon Ball Z was Number One on all cable TV (#1 program of the week on all cable television with boys 9-14). Currently the show still airs on Cartoon Network's Toonami Saturday night block at 10:30 PM ET/PT.
The series continues the adventures of Son Goku as an adult who, along with his companions, defend the Earth and other fictional planets against various supervillains. While the original Dragon Ball anime followed Goku through childhood into adulthood, Dragon Ball Z parallels his adult life with the maturation of his first child, Son Gohan. The series also gives focus to the evolution of his rivals, Piccolo and Vegeta, from evil to good. The separation between the series is also significant as the later series takes on a more dramatic and serious tone, with a number of villains either threatening or committing acts of mass murder or outright genocide.
Akira Toriyama's self-parody manga series Neko Majin satires many concepts introduced in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z.
The first run of the English Version of the show began airing in September 1996 on the WB. Beginning with the Saiyan Saga, severe restrictions were put in place for a syndicated TV program, thus resulting in extensive editing of the series (cutting out the equivalent of 14 of the first 67 episodes-- almost 21%), including the complete removal of references to character death ("sent to another dimension"), blood, and language. To many fans of the series, these edits actually made the series worse as violence was always shown without consequence. Eventually it was canceled in May 1998, due to low ratings. In August 1998 however, the Ocean Group dub was brought to Cartoon Network's new action-animated block, Toonami and it found new life through a wider audience.
In 1999, FUNimation decided to cut their partnership with Saban and from the Ginyu Saga onwards, dubbed the show themselves with their own in-house voice actors and a newly commissioned musical score. They also cut some of their previous restrictions, such as the inclusion of blood (to a certain degree), though still edited some of the violence, in order to continue to make it appealing to viewers of all ages, thus leading to the show receiving a TV-Y7-FV rating for fantasy violence. The series ended its first run in April 2003. The new FUNimation dub became very popular and it also greatly helped expand the anime market in the US.
In September 2002, Dragon Ball Z was Number One on all cable TV (#1 program of the week on all cable television with boys 9-14). Currently the show still airs on Cartoon Network's Toonami Saturday night block at 10:30 PM ET/PT.
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime series produced by Toei Doga (now Toei Animation). Dragon Ball Z is the sequel to the Dragon Ball anime and Japanese comics of the same name, which covers the first 16 volumes of a 42 volume manga series created by Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball Z adapts the last 26 volumes of the original manga, which portrays the adulthood of the series' main character, Son Goku.
Dragon Ball Z first aired in Japan from April 26, 1989, to January 31, 1996, and was dubbed in several countries around the world, including Latin America and the United States. The American themes and soundtracks were produced in part by Bruce Faulconer.
Dragon Ball Z first aired in Japan from April 26, 1989, to January 31, 1996, and was dubbed in several countries around the world, including Latin America and the United States. The American themes and soundtracks were produced in part by Bruce Faulconer.
Evolution
A unifing component of the plot accompanying the Son Goku's progression as a martial artist is his search for the eponymous Dragon Balls. The Dragon Balls themselves are seven magical orbs which are scattered across the world. When assembled, they can be used to summon Shenlong, the dragon who will grant one wish within its limit. After the wish is granted, the Dragon Balls are scattered again across the world and become inert for one year. In times past, it would take generations to search the world and gather the Dragon Balls. In the beginning of the story, however, a 16 year old genius girl named Bulma has created a "Dragon Radar" to detect the Dragon Balls and made the process far easier than it was originally intended to be.
The story of Dragon Ball unfolded gradually over 11 years of publication. During those years, the tone and the style of the stories gradually changed to reflect the tastes of the readers and the editors of Japanese Shonen Jump. The early volumes of the manga (chapters 1-134) are primarily humorous fantasy stories, but containing some minor sci-fi elements, much like Dr. Slump. Notable fantasy elements include not only the monkey boy Son Goku and the Dragon Balls themselves, but also many talking animal characters, unlikely martial art techniques, and characters identified as gods and demons. Despite the fantasy elements, the world does contain highly advanced technology including hoi-poi capsules, space-saving capsules which are pocket sized but can store almost any object, including cars, planes, houses, and other "near future" objects. The overall mood of the earlier volumes is light with few deaths and an emphasis on adventure and humor.
A subtle but significant change in mood began after Son Goku's best friend Kuririn was killed (the first of many deaths in this arc). This began the Piccolo Daimao arc (chapters 135-194) in which the manga enters a darker tone compared to its earlier volumes. Dragon Ball fully transformed into an action based shōnen manga at the onset of the Saiyan arc (chapters 195-241). Starting with introduction of Son Goku's first son, things begin to take a much more serious and harder sci-fi approach. Many characters which previously had fantasy origins (Son Goku, Piccolo) are recast as aliens from other planets. Space travel, alien threats, and powerful cyborgs & androids take center stage instead of more fantastic villains. After the defeat of Vegeta, and the conclusion of the Saiyan arc, the survivors of the vicious Saiyan attack head off to the Planet Namek to resurrect their friends. This begins the Freeza arc (chapters 242-329). The Freeza arc is noteworthy for introducing the first Super Saiyan, now a staple of the series. It also set the tone for more awesomely powerful characters. For example, the antagonist Freeza has a "power level" (the series' futuristic measure of a fighter's speed and strength, i.e. one average human is listed as 5) of 530,000. He then transforms into a more powerful form, at which point his power level is over one million. After two subsequent transformations, he reveals that he is still only using a fraction of his full power.
The Cell arc (Chapters 330-420) introduced Trunks, a mysterious Half-Saiyan Half-Human from a destroyed future world where all of the Z Senshi have been killed by evil, seemingly invincible war machines called the Jinzōningen, and the enigmatic and villainous Cell who was made from the cells from most of the heroes as well as some of the villains. It was between this arc and the last arc that creator Akira Toriyama stopped measuring characters' power levels in the stories, deciding that it limited the stories. This arc is notable for being the only arc in which Goku does not defeat the main villain, but instead it is his son, Son Gohan, who defeats Perfect Cell. It is in this arc that Son Gohan surpasses the level of Super Saiyan and reaches the stage of Super Saiyan 2 in order to defeat Perfect Cell.
After these arcs and Son Goku's death and staying in heaven is the Majin Buu arc (chapters 421-519) which is the very last arc of the manga. The Majin Buu arc features more of the humor and fantastic plot elements that were present in the very early volumes of the manga. The beginning of this final arc concentrates on a teenaged Son Gohan mostly. Son Goku makes his return after being dead for seven years. All the male saiyans manage to reach the level of Super Saiyan at least (including fusions). Super Saiyan 2 is reached by Son Gohan, Son Goku and Vegeta. And the ultimate level of the Saiyans, Super Saiyan 3, is reached by Son Goku and Gotenks. A considerable number of fusions also take place to add to the series, allowing Son Goten and Trunks to merge to form Gotenks, and Son Goku and Vegeta fuse to create the incredibly powerful, invincible Super Vegetto. During this series, Majin Buu manages to kill everyone on Earth including central characters like Vegeta and increasing his own power by absorbing Gotenks, Piccolo and Son Gohan. Majin Buu also succeeds where the villains Vegeta, Freeza and Cell had previously failed and destroys Earth. Everyone (including Earth) is restored using the Dragon Balls, and Majin Buu's evil side is destroyed by Son Goku's Genki Dama (Spirit Bomb).
Majin Buu's evil side is reincarnated into a being of pure good called Uub. Son Goku and Uub fight at the 28th Tenkaichi Budokai, Uub enters to get money (zennie) for his village. Son Goku decides to train Uub to become even stronger than himself, the strongest fighter in the entire Universe. Uub's village will get money from Mr. Satan. To say goodbye every hero character to ever appear in the entire manga (except minors), all wave to the readers and a huge "THE END" sign floats above them.
After completing this series, Toriyama had a rest and then made another manga called Neko Majin. This manga featured many elements and characters from Dragon Ball, including Mr. Buu, Vegeta and even Son Goku himself.
The story of Dragon Ball unfolded gradually over 11 years of publication. During those years, the tone and the style of the stories gradually changed to reflect the tastes of the readers and the editors of Japanese Shonen Jump. The early volumes of the manga (chapters 1-134) are primarily humorous fantasy stories, but containing some minor sci-fi elements, much like Dr. Slump. Notable fantasy elements include not only the monkey boy Son Goku and the Dragon Balls themselves, but also many talking animal characters, unlikely martial art techniques, and characters identified as gods and demons. Despite the fantasy elements, the world does contain highly advanced technology including hoi-poi capsules, space-saving capsules which are pocket sized but can store almost any object, including cars, planes, houses, and other "near future" objects. The overall mood of the earlier volumes is light with few deaths and an emphasis on adventure and humor.
A subtle but significant change in mood began after Son Goku's best friend Kuririn was killed (the first of many deaths in this arc). This began the Piccolo Daimao arc (chapters 135-194) in which the manga enters a darker tone compared to its earlier volumes. Dragon Ball fully transformed into an action based shōnen manga at the onset of the Saiyan arc (chapters 195-241). Starting with introduction of Son Goku's first son, things begin to take a much more serious and harder sci-fi approach. Many characters which previously had fantasy origins (Son Goku, Piccolo) are recast as aliens from other planets. Space travel, alien threats, and powerful cyborgs & androids take center stage instead of more fantastic villains. After the defeat of Vegeta, and the conclusion of the Saiyan arc, the survivors of the vicious Saiyan attack head off to the Planet Namek to resurrect their friends. This begins the Freeza arc (chapters 242-329). The Freeza arc is noteworthy for introducing the first Super Saiyan, now a staple of the series. It also set the tone for more awesomely powerful characters. For example, the antagonist Freeza has a "power level" (the series' futuristic measure of a fighter's speed and strength, i.e. one average human is listed as 5) of 530,000. He then transforms into a more powerful form, at which point his power level is over one million. After two subsequent transformations, he reveals that he is still only using a fraction of his full power.
The Cell arc (Chapters 330-420) introduced Trunks, a mysterious Half-Saiyan Half-Human from a destroyed future world where all of the Z Senshi have been killed by evil, seemingly invincible war machines called the Jinzōningen, and the enigmatic and villainous Cell who was made from the cells from most of the heroes as well as some of the villains. It was between this arc and the last arc that creator Akira Toriyama stopped measuring characters' power levels in the stories, deciding that it limited the stories. This arc is notable for being the only arc in which Goku does not defeat the main villain, but instead it is his son, Son Gohan, who defeats Perfect Cell. It is in this arc that Son Gohan surpasses the level of Super Saiyan and reaches the stage of Super Saiyan 2 in order to defeat Perfect Cell.
After these arcs and Son Goku's death and staying in heaven is the Majin Buu arc (chapters 421-519) which is the very last arc of the manga. The Majin Buu arc features more of the humor and fantastic plot elements that were present in the very early volumes of the manga. The beginning of this final arc concentrates on a teenaged Son Gohan mostly. Son Goku makes his return after being dead for seven years. All the male saiyans manage to reach the level of Super Saiyan at least (including fusions). Super Saiyan 2 is reached by Son Gohan, Son Goku and Vegeta. And the ultimate level of the Saiyans, Super Saiyan 3, is reached by Son Goku and Gotenks. A considerable number of fusions also take place to add to the series, allowing Son Goten and Trunks to merge to form Gotenks, and Son Goku and Vegeta fuse to create the incredibly powerful, invincible Super Vegetto. During this series, Majin Buu manages to kill everyone on Earth including central characters like Vegeta and increasing his own power by absorbing Gotenks, Piccolo and Son Gohan. Majin Buu also succeeds where the villains Vegeta, Freeza and Cell had previously failed and destroys Earth. Everyone (including Earth) is restored using the Dragon Balls, and Majin Buu's evil side is destroyed by Son Goku's Genki Dama (Spirit Bomb).
Majin Buu's evil side is reincarnated into a being of pure good called Uub. Son Goku and Uub fight at the 28th Tenkaichi Budokai, Uub enters to get money (zennie) for his village. Son Goku decides to train Uub to become even stronger than himself, the strongest fighter in the entire Universe. Uub's village will get money from Mr. Satan. To say goodbye every hero character to ever appear in the entire manga (except minors), all wave to the readers and a huge "THE END" sign floats above them.
After completing this series, Toriyama had a rest and then made another manga called Neko Majin. This manga featured many elements and characters from Dragon Ball, including Mr. Buu, Vegeta and even Son Goku himself.
Plot
Simple, monkey-tailed Saiyan boy from outer-space Son Goku goes on a life-long adventure beginning with a quest for the seven titular Dragon Balls, befriends many different martial artists and faces various villains, goes through many rigorous martial arts training regiments and educational programs, defeats a series of increasingly powerful martial artists, dies and comes back to life several times, and becomes the top martial arts superhero in the Dragon Ball universe.
Dragon Ball
Dragon ball is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama with an anime adaptation. The basis for the storyline took inspiration from two Chinese-related works, Jackie Chan's Drunken Master II and Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West.In Japan, Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z were collected into a single 42-volume series(called tankōbon) after the manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995.
“
The setting of Dragon Ball has a sort of Chinese feel to it, but it's not necessarily China. Exactly where it takes place is uncertain. The overall story is very simple, but I'd like to keep making up more details and illustrations as I go along. This way, I can draw anything I want to and enjoy the tension and excitement of figuring out what I'll draw next. — Akira Toriyama, 1985
”
In 2004, the manga was re-released in a 34 volume collection called kanzenban, which included a slightly rewritten ending, new covers, and color artwork from its Weekly Shonen Jump run. As of 2006, the distributing company Viz Media has released all 42 volumes (nearly matching the first Japanese set) into English-language in the United States. Viz titles the second portion of the manga Dragon Ball Z to lessen confusion for North American readers.The series is published in the United Kingdom by Gollancz Manga.
“
The setting of Dragon Ball has a sort of Chinese feel to it, but it's not necessarily China. Exactly where it takes place is uncertain. The overall story is very simple, but I'd like to keep making up more details and illustrations as I go along. This way, I can draw anything I want to and enjoy the tension and excitement of figuring out what I'll draw next. — Akira Toriyama, 1985
”
In 2004, the manga was re-released in a 34 volume collection called kanzenban, which included a slightly rewritten ending, new covers, and color artwork from its Weekly Shonen Jump run. As of 2006, the distributing company Viz Media has released all 42 volumes (nearly matching the first Japanese set) into English-language in the United States. Viz titles the second portion of the manga Dragon Ball Z to lessen confusion for North American readers.The series is published in the United Kingdom by Gollancz Manga.
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