Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール, Doragon
Bōru) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It
was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995; later the
519 individual chapters were published into 42 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha.
Dragon Ball was inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West.
The series follows the adventures of the protagonist Goku from his childhood
through adulthood as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search
of the seven mystical orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which can summon a
wish-granting dragon when gathered. Along his journey, Goku makes several
friends and battles a wide variety of villains, many of whom also seek the
Dragon Balls for their own desires.
The 42 tankōbon have been adapted into two anime
series produced by Toei Animation: Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, which
together were broadcast in Japan from 1986 to 1996. Additionally, Toei has
developed seventeen animated feature films and three television specials, as
well as an anime sequel titled Dragon Ball GT, which takes place after the
events of the manga. From 2009 to 2011, Toei broadcast a revised, faster-paced
version of Dragon Ball Z under the name of Dragon Ball Kai, in which most of
the original version's footage not featured in the manga was removed. Several
companies have developed various types of merchandising such as a collectible
trading card game, and a large number of video games.
The manga series was licensed for an
English-language release in North America by Viz Media, in the United Kingdom
by Gollancz Manga, Australia and New Zealand by Chuang Yi and Malay-language
release in Malaysia by Comics House. The entire anime series was licensed by
Funimation Entertainment for an English-language release in the United States,
although the series has not always been dubbed by the same studio. In China, a
live-action film adaptation was produced in 1989. In 2002, 20th Century Fox
acquired the rights to produce an American-made live-action film that received
a negative reception from critics and fans; the movie was released on April 10,
2009 in the United States.
Since its release, Dragon Ball has become one of
the most successful manga and anime series of all time. The manga's 42 volumes
have sold over 152 million copies in Japan and more than 200 million copies
worldwide. Reviewers have praised the art, characterization, and humor of the
story. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest manga series ever made,
with many manga artists such as Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Eiichiro Oda (One
Piece), Tite Kubo (Bleach), Makoto Raiku (Zatch Bell), Yoshio Sawai (Bobobo-bo
Bo-bobo), and Hiro Mashima (Rave Master, Fairy Tail) citing Dragon Ball as a
source of inspiration for their own now popular works. The anime, particularly
Dragon Ball Z, is also highly popular in various countries and was arguably one
of the most influential in greatly boosting the popularity of Japanese
animation in Western culture.
Plot summary
See also: List of Dragon Ball characters
The series begins with a young monkey-tailed boy
named Goku befriending a teenage girl named Bulma. Together, they go on a quest
to find the seven Dragon Balls. Goku later undergoes rigorous training regimes
and educational programs under the martial artist Master Roshi in order to
fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament, a competition involving the most
powerful fighters in the world. During his training time with Roshi, he meets a
bald Shaolin monk named Krillin, who starts out as Goku's rival classmate;
however, they soon become best friends. Outside the tournaments, Goku faces
diverse villains such as Emperor Pilaf, the Red Ribbon Army, and the Namekian
King Piccolo. Several of the enemies and rivals Goku encounters eventually
become his allies and close friends, including the desert bandit Yamcha, the
assassin Tien Shinhan, the samurai Yajirobe, and King Piccolo's
offspring/reincarnation Piccolo Jr.
As a young adult, Goku meets his older brother
Raditz, who reveals to him that they are members of a nearly extinct
extraterrestrial race called the Saiyans. The Saiyans had sent Goku to Earth as
an infant to conquer the planet for them, but he suffered a severe head injury
soon after his arrival and lost all memory of his mission, as well as his
blood-thirsty Saiyan nature. Goku refuses to help Raditz continue the mission,
and is soon killed along with Raditz in battle; however, he is revived a year
later by the Dragon Balls. He then begins to encounter other enemies from
space, most notably the Saiyan prince Vegeta, who becomes his rival and
eventually ally. Goku also encounters Frieza, the galactic emperor responsible
for the destruction of almost the entire Saiyan race, whose actions cause Goku
to transform into a legendary Super Saiyan. After an epic battle on the planet
Namek, Goku defeats Frieza, avenging the lives of billions across the galaxy.
Some time later, a group of androids from the
former Red Ribbon Army appear, seeking revenge against Goku. During this time,
an evil life form called Cell emerges and, after absorbing two of the androids
to achieve his final form, holds his own fighting tournament to decide the fate
of the Earth entitled the Cell Games. However, Cell is eventually defeated by
Goku's son Gohan in a desperate Kamehameha wave struggle. Seven years later,
Goku and his allies are drawn into yet another battle for the universe against
a magical demon named Majin Buu. After numerous battles, Goku destroys Buu with
his ultimate attack; the Spirit Bomb. Ten years later, at another World Martial
Arts Tournament, Goku meets Buu's human reincarnation, Uub. Leaving the match
between the two of them unfinished, Goku takes Uub away on a journey to train
him.
Themes
At its core, Dragon Ball maintains the central
tenets of the Weekly Shōnen Jump philosophy of "friendship, struggle, and
victory". As the series shifts from a "heart warming" story into
a more action-oriented piece, the protagonists go through an unending cycle of
fighting, winning, losing and improving. They continue this cycle by using
miraculous devices to achieve life after death and continue to learn lessons as
they defeat their challengers.The series also follows the idea that people can
better themselves and achieve their goals by constantly challenging themselves.
Production
Wanting to break from the Western influences common
in his other series, Akira Toriyama loosely modeled Dragon Ball on the classic
Chinese novel Journey to the West. He also redeveloped one of his earlier one
shot manga series, Dragon Boy, which was initially serialized in Fresh Hump and
released in a single tankōbon volume in 1983.This short work combined the
comedic style of Toriyama's successful six-year series Dr. Slump with a more action-oriented
plot and paid homage to famous martial art actor Jackie Chan. Toriyama notes
that his goal for the series was to tell an "unconventional and
contradictory" story.
In the early concept of the series, Goku and
Piccolo were from Earth. With the introduction of Kami, the idea of having
fights from other planets was established and Goku and Piccolo were changed to
alien species. For the female characters, Toriyama felt it was not fun to draw
"weak females" so he created women that he felt were not only
"beautiful and sexy", but also "strong". Going against the
normal convention that the strongest characters should be the largest in terms
of physical size, he designed many of Dragon Ball's most powerful characters
with small statures, including the protagonist, Goku.
The Earth of Dragon Ball
The fighting techniques were initially unnamed, but
the series editor felt it would be better to name them all. Toriyama proceeded
to create names for all of the techniques, except for the Kamehameha which his
wife named when Toriyama was indecisive about what it should be called. When
creating the fictional world of the series, Toriyama decided to create it from
his own imagination to avoid referencing popular culture. However the island
where the World Martial Arts Tournament is held is modeled after Bali. When
including fights in the manga, Toriyama had the characters go to uninhabited
locations to avoid difficulties in drawing destroyed buildings. In order to
advance the story quickly, he also gave most fighters the ability to fly so
they could travel to other parts of the world without inconvenience. This was
also the reasoning behind Goku learning to use Instant Transmission (thus
allowing characters to teleport to any planet in a second).
After the first chapters were released, readers
commented that Goku seemed rather plain, so his appearance was changed. New
characters (such as Master Roshi and Krillin) were added and martial arts
tournaments were included to give the manga a greater emphasis on fighting.
Anticipating that readers would expect Goku to win the tournaments, Toriyama
had him lose the first two while continuing his initial goal of having Goku be
the champion and hero. After Cell's death, he intended for Gohan to replace
Goku as the series' protagonist, but then felt the character was not suited for
the role and changed his mind.
Toriyama based the Red Ribbon Army on a video game
he had played named Spartan X in which enemies tended to appear very fast.
After the second tournament concluded, Toriyama wanted to have a villain who
would be a true "bad guy". After creating Piccolo as the new villain,
he noted that it was one of the most interesting parts of the stories and that
he and his son became the favorite characters of the series. With Goku
established as the strongest fighter on Earth, Toriyama decided to increase the
number of villains that came from outer space. Finding the escalating enemies
to be a pain to work with, he created the Ginyu Force to add more balance to
the series. During this period of the series, Toriyama placed less emphasis on
the series' art work, simplifying the lines and sometimes making things
"too square." He found himself having problems determining the colors
for characters and sometimes ended up changing them unintentionally mid-story.
In later accounts, Toriyama noted that he didn't plan out the details of the
story, resulting in strange occurrences and discrepancies later in the series.
Media
Manga
Dragon Ball
See also: List of Dragon Ball manga volumes
Written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama, Dragon
Ball was initially serialized in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump
starting on December 3, 1984. The series ended on June 5, 1995 when Toriyama
grew exhausted and felt he needed a break from drawing. The 519 individual
chapters were published into 42 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha from November 10,
1985 through August 4, 1995. In 2002, the chapters were re-released in a
collection of 34 kanzenban volumes, which included a slightly rewritten ending,
new covers, and color artwork from its Weekly Shōnen Jump run. Toriyama also
created a short series, Neko Majin, that became a self-parody of Dragon Ball.
First appearing in Weekly Shōnen Jump in August 1999, the eight chapter series
was released sporadically until it was completed in 2005. These chapters were
compiled into a "kanzenban"-style package for release in Japan on
April 4, 2005.
The Dragon Ball manga was licensed for release in
English in North America by Viz Media which has released all 42 volumes. Viz
released volumes 17 through 42 under the title Dragon Ball Z to mimic the name
of the anime series adaptated from those volumes, feeling it would reduce the
potential for confusion by its readers. They initially released both series in
a monthly comic book format starting in 1998, and later began collecting them
in graphic novels. The first 10 volumes of both series were re-released from
March to May 2003 under the "Shonen Jump" format, with Dragon Ball
being completed on August 3, 2004 and Dragon Ball Z finishing on June 6,
2006.In June 2008, Viz began re-releasing the two series in a wideban format
called "VIZBIG Edition," which collects three individual volumes into
a single large volume.
In 2006, Toriyama and One Piece author Eiichiro Oda
teamed up to create a single chapter crossover of their individual hit series.
Entitled Cross Epoch, the chapter was published in the December 25, 2006 issue
of Weekly Shōnen Jump.
Spin-offs
A manga adaptation of Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and
His Friends Return!! illustrated by Naho Ōishi, was published in the March 21,
2009 and April 21, 2009 issues of V Jump.
A spinoff manga titled Dragon Ball SD, also written
by Naho Ōishi, has been published in Shueisha's Super Strong Jump magazine
beginning in December 2010. A second issue was released in April 2011. This
manga is a condensed retelling of Goku's adventures as a child, with many
details changed.
Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock is a three-chapter
manga, once again penned by Naho Ōishi, that was published in the monthly
magazine V-Jump between August and October 2011. This manga is a sequel to the
1990 TV special Bardock - The Father of Goku with some key details changed. As
the title indicates the manga's story revolves around Bardock, Goku's father,
who in this special is featured in a "what-if" scenario in which he
did not die at the hands of Frieza and gets to fight his enemy as a Super
Saiyan. The fact that Bardock appears as a Super Saiyan is based on the Dragon
Ball Heroes card featuring him as one.
Anime series
Dragon Ball
See also: List of Dragon Ball episodes
Toei Animation produced an anime series based on
the manga chapters, also titled Dragon Ball. The series premiered in Japan on
Fuji Television on February 26, 1986 and ran until April 12, 1989, lasting 153
episodes.
Harmony Gold USA licensed the series for an
English-language release in the United States in 1989. In their voice dub of
the series, Harmony renamed almost all of the characters, for example, Goku was
renamed "Zero." This dub version was test-marketed in several cities,
but was cancelled before it could be broadcast to the general public.
In 1995, Funimation Entertainment acquired the
license for the distribution of Dragon Ball in the U.S., as well as its sequel
series Dragon Ball Z. Funimation contracted BLT Productions to create an
English voice track for the first anime at their Canadian-based dubbing studio
and the dubbed episodes were edited for content. Thirteen episodes aired in
first-run syndication during the fall of 1995 before Funimation cancelled the
project due to low ratings and decided to shift their focus on the more
action-oriented Dragon Ball Z. Vidmark Entertainment (later known as Trimark
Pictures) purchased the home video distribution rights for these dubbed
episodes sometime after. In March 2001, following the success of Dragon Ball Z
on Cartoon Network, Funimation announced the return of Dragon Ball to American
television, featuring a new English audio track produced at their own
Texas-based dubbing studio, as well as slightly less editing, and left the
original background music intact unlike their dubs of the two sequel series.
The re-dubbed episodes aired on Cartoon Network from August 20, 2001 to
December 1, 2003. Funimation also broadcast the series on Colours TV and their
own Funimation Channel starting in 2006.
Funimation began releasing their in-house dub to
Region 1 DVD box sets in March 2003. Each box set, spanning an entire saga of the
series, included the English dub track and the original Japanese audio track
with optional English subtitles. However, they were unable to release the first
thirteen episodes at the time, due to Lionsgate Entertainment holding the
distribution rights to their original dub of the same episodes, having acquired
them from Trimark after the company became defunct. After Lionsgate's license
to the first thirteen episodes expired in 2009, Funimation remastered and
re-released the complete Dragon Ball series to DVD in five individual season
box sets, with the first set released on September 15, 2009 and the final set
released on July 27, 2010.
Dragon Ball Z
With the ending of Dragon Ball, Toei Animation
quickly released a second anime series, Dragon Ball Z (ドラゴンボールZ(ゼット),
Doragon Bōru Zetto?, commonly abbreviated as DBZ). Picking up where the first
left off, Dragon Ball Z is adapted from the final twenty-six volumes of the
manga series on Weekly Shounen Jump from 1988–1995, it premiered in Japan on
Fuji Television on April 26, 1989, taking over its predecessor's time slot, and
ran for 291 episodes until its conclusion on January 31, 1996.
Following their short-lived dub of Dragon Ball in
1995, Funimation began production on an English-language release of Dragon Ball
Z. They collaborated with Saban Entertainment to finance and distribute the
series to television, sub-licensed home video distribution to Pioneer
Entertainment (later known as Geneon Universal Entertainment), contracted Ocean
Productions to dub the anime into English, and hired Shuki Levy to compose an
alternate musical score. This dub of Dragon Ball Z was heavily edited for
content, as well as length; reducing the first 67 episodes into 53. The series
premiered in the U.S. on September 13, 1996 in first-run syndication, but also
struggled to find a substantial audience during its run and was ultimately
cancelled after two seasons. On August 31, 1998, however, these cancelled
dubbed episodes began airing on Cartoon Network's weekday-afternoon programming
block, Toonami, where the series received much more popularity. With new
success, Funimation continued production on the series by themselves, now with
less editing due to fewer restrictions on cable programing. However, they could
no longer afford the services of either the Ocean voice cast or Shuki Levy's
music without Saban's financial assistance, resulting in the creation of their
own in-house ADR studio and a new musical score composed by Bruce Faulconer.
Dragon Ball Z was now in full production in the U.S. and the new dub of the
series aired on Cartoon Network from September 13, 1999 to April 7, 2003. In
2004, Geneon's distribution rights to the first 53/67 episodes of Dragon Ball Z
expired, allowing Funimation to re-dub them with their in-house ADR Studio and
restore the removed content. These re-dubbed episodes aired on Cartoon Network
during the summer of 2005.
In 2006, Funimation remastered the episodes cropped
to 16:9 widescreen format and then began re-releasing the series to Region 1
DVD in nine individual season box sets, with the first set released on February
6, 2007 and the final set released on May 19, 2009. These sets were notable for
including the option of hearing Funimation's in-house dub alongside the
original Japanese music, an option that had previously not been available.
Other options included hearing the in-house dub with the American soundtrack
composed by Bruce Faulconer and Nathan Johnson, and a third option included
watching the original Japanese version, with the original Japanese soundtrack
and English subtitles. In July 2009, Funimation announced that they would be
re-releasing Dragon Ball Z in a new seven-volume DVD set called the
"Dragon Boxes." Based on the original series masters with
frame-by-frame restoration, the first set was released on November 10, 2009 and
the final set was released on October 11, 2011.Unlike the season box sets,
Funimation's "Dragon Box" release is presented in the original 4:3
fullscreen format.
Funimation and Toei released a statement in January
2011 confirming that they would stream Dragon Ball Z within 30 minutes before
their simulcast of One Piece. Dragon Ball Z is now being streamed on Hulu,
containing the English dub with the Japanese music and uncut footage, as well
as subtitled Japanese episodes.
In July 2011, Funimation announced plans to release
Dragon Ball Z in Blu-ray format. Dragon Ball Z Level 1.1, containing the first
17 episodes, was released on November 8, 2011. However, on January 26, 2012,
Funimation suspended the release of the third Blu-ray volume of Dragon Ball Z,
as well as production of the rest of the Blu-ray releases, citing concerns over
restoring the original film material frame by frame.
Dragon Ball GT
Produced by Toei Animation, Dragon Ball GT (ドラゴンボールGT(ジーティー),
Doragon Bōru Jī Tī?, G(rand) T(our)) premiered on Fuji TV on February 2, 1996,
and ran until November 19, 1997. Unlike the first two series, it was not based
on the original Dragon Ball manga. The series lasted 64 episodes. In Dragon
Ball GT, Goku is transformed back into a child by the Black Star Dragon Balls
and is forced to travel across the galaxy to retrieve them in order to
transform back into an adult.
Following the success of both Dragon Ball and
Dragon Ball Z on Cartoon Network, Funimation licensed Dragon Ball GT for
distribution in the U.S. as well. Funimation's dub of the series aired on
Cartoon Network from November 14, 2003 to April 16, 2005. The television
broadcast initially skipped the first sixteen episodes of the series. Instead,
Funimation created a composition episode entitled "A Grand Problem,"
which used scenes from the skipped episodes to summarize the story. The skipped
episodes, advertised as "The Lost Episodes," were later aired after
the remaining episodes of the series had been broadcast.
Funimation later released their dub to bilingual
Region 1 DVD in two season box sets, with the first set released on December 9,
2008 and the final set released on February 10, 2009, which also featured the
Dragon Ball GT TV special, A Hero's Legacy. In a similar fashion to their DVD
releases for Dragon Ball Z, the DVD box sets have the option of hearing the English
dub alongside the original Japanese music, and the rap song used for the TV
airing of the show (nicknamed by fans "Step Into the Grand Tour") has
been replaced by English-dubbed versions of the original Japanese opening and
ending songs. Funimation later released a "Complete Series" box set
of Dragon Ball GT (using the same discs as the two season sets, but with
different packaging) on September 21, 2010.
Dragon Ball GT has been re-broadcast in the U.S. on
Nicktoons, beginning on January 16, 2012.
Dragon Ball Z Kai
In February 2009, Toei Animation announced that it
would begin broadcasting a revised version of Dragon Ball Z as part of the
series' 20th anniversary celebrations. The series premiered on Fuji TV in Japan
on April 5, 2009, under the name Dragon Ball Kai (ドラゴンボール改(カイ),
Doragon Bōru Kai?, lit. "Dragon Ball Revised"), with the episodes
remastered for HDTV, featuring updated opening and ending sequences, and a
rerecording of the vocal tracks by most of the original cast. The footage was
also re-edited to more closely follow the manga, resulting in a faster-moving
story, and damaged frames removed. As such, it is a new version of Dragon Ball
Z created from the original footage.
On March 9, 2011, Toei announced that due to Kenji
Yamamoto's score for Dragon Ball Kai infringing on the rights of an unknown
third party, the score for remaining episodes and replays of previous episodes
would be replaced.Later reports from Toei claimed that with the exception of
the series' opening and closing songs, as well as eyecatch music, Yamamoto's
score was replaced with Shunsuke Kikuchi's original score from Dragon Ball Z.
The series concluded with the finale of the Cell arc as opposed to including
the Majin Buu arc. It was originally planned to run 98 episodes, however due to
the Tōhoku offshore earthquake and tsunami, the final episode of Dragon Ball
Kai was not aired and the series ended on its 97th episode in Japan on March
27, 2011.
Like all other Dragon Ball-based anime, Funimation
licensed Dragon Ball Kai for an English-language release in the U.S., under the
title Dragon Ball Z Kai. The series was broadcast on Nicktoons from May 24,
2010 to January 1, 2012. In addition to Nicktoons, the series also began airing
on The CW's Saturday-morning programming block, Toonzai, on August 14,
2010.Both the Nicktoons and Toonzai airings are edited for content, though the
Toonzai version is censored even more so than Nicktoons', most likely due to
The CW being a broadcast network. Both these versions are rated TV-Y7-FV.
However, in addition to the TV airings, Funimation is also releasing bilingual
Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray volumes of the show. These box sets contain the
original Japanese audio track with English subtitles, as well as the uncut
version of the English dub, which does not contain any of the edits made for
the TV airings. The uncut version is rated TV-PGFollowing the plagiarizing
accusations of the series' original musical score, both the Nicktoons and
Toonzai airings have also been featuring the original Dragon Ball Z background
music, as well as the uncut DVD/Blu-ray version beginning with its fifth volume
release.
Anime films
See also: List of Dragon Ball films
Seventeen anime films based on the Dragon Ball
series have been released in Japan. The first three films were based on the
original Dragon Ball anime series. The remaining films included thirteen Dragon
Ball Z films and one tenth anniversary special (also based on the first anime
series). However, the films are generally either alternate re-tellings of
certain story arcs or extra side-stories that don't correlate with the same
timeline as the series. Funimation has licensed and released all of the films to
home video in North America.
Specials
Three television specials based on the metaseries
were released in Japan. The first, Bardock – The Father of Goku, was released
on October 17, 1990. It is a prequel to the series, set years before the start
of the manga and details how Goku's father, Bardock, discovers that Frieza is
planning to kill all the other Saiyans, and his efforts to stop him. The second
special, The History of Trunks was released on March 24, 1993. Based on an
extra chapter of the original manga, it is set in a parallel universe where
most of the series characters are killed by the evil androids and focuses on
Bulma and Vegeta's son Trunks. A Hero's Legacy, released on March 26, 1997, is
set 100 years after the end of Dragon Ball GT. It features one of Goku's
descendants who begins looking for the Dragon Balls in order to help his sick
grandmother, Pan.
Two other specials were also released in Japan. A
two-episode original video animation (OVA) series titled Dragon Ball Z Side
Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans, based on the Famicom video game of the
same name, was released in 1993 and was set during Dragon Ball Z.Another
special, Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!, premiered at the
Jump Super Anime Tour on November 24, 2008. The special is set two years after
the defeat of the evil Buu and has Goku and his friends facing against new
enemies, Abo and Kado, and meeting Vegeta's younger brother, Tarble and his
wife, Gure.
A remake of Dragon Ball Z Side Story: Plan to
Eradicate the Saiyans titled Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans
was released on November 11, 2010 as bonus feature on Dragon Ball: Raging Blast
2. In November 2011, V-Jump announced an animated adaptation from Bardock's
spinoff manga by Naho Ōishi titled Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock which aired
in Japan on December 18, 2011.
Video games
The Dragon Ball franchise has spawned multiple
video games across various genres and platforms. Earlier games of the series
included a system of card battling and were released for the Nintendo
Entertainment System following the storyline of the series. Starting Super
Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Saturn and the PlayStation most of the
games were from the fighting genre including the series Super Butoden. The
first Dragon Ball game to be released in the United States was Dragon Ball GT:
Final Bout for the PlayStation on July 31, 1997. For the PlayStation 2 and
PlayStation Portable games the characters were redone in 3D cel-shaded
graphics. These games included the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai series and the Dragon
Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit was the first game
of the series developed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A massively
multiplayer online role-playing game called Dragon Ball Online is currently
playable. It has been stated that Akira Toriyama has been working on character
designs for this project for several years, and the game is available in Japan
and South Korea.
Soundtracks
See also: List of Dragon Ball soundtracks
Myriad soundtracks were released to the anime,
movies and the games. The music for the first two anime Dragon Ball and Z and
its films was directed by Shunsuke Kikuchi, while the music from GT was
directed by Akihito Tokunaga and the music from Kai was directed by Kenji
Yamamoto. For the first anime, the soundtracks released were Dragon Ball: Music
Collection in 1985 and Dragon Ball: Complete Song Collection in 1991 although
they were reissued in 2007 and 2003, respectively.For the second anime, the soundtrack
series released were Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection Series. It was produced
and released by Columbia Records of Japan from July 21, 1989 to March 20, 1996
the show's entire lifespan. On September 20, 2006 Columbia re-released the Hit
Song Collection on their Animex 1300 series. Other CDs released are
compilations, video games and films soundtracks as well as music from the
English versions.
Nintendo DS
Dragon Ball: Origins
Follow Goku and his sidekick Bulma as they travel the world overcoming enemies and obstacles to collect the 7 Dragon Balls.
Playstation 3
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
Dragonball Z: Burst Limit is the first game of the Dragonball Z series to hit the next generation consoles. The game features detailed graphics and dramatic, seamless battles, expected from a next generation console. The plans are to have characters and movement reminiscent of the animation, and high-intensity battles. During each battle, find conditions to create new dramatic scenes. After the battles, watch a unique story unfold each time you play. There is also a stronger element of offence and defence, due to added energy saving and fighting techniques. Features characters: Goku (Base, Kaio-ken, Super Saiyan), Kid Gohan, Teen Gohan (Base, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2), Piccolo, Vegeta (Base, Super Saiyan), Future Trunks (Base, Super Saiyan), Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Saibaman, Raditz, Nappa, Recoome, Captain Ginyu, Freeza (1st Form, 2nd Form, 3rd Form, Final Form, 100% Full Power, Mecha), Android 16, Android 17, Android 18, Cell (Imperfect, Semi-perfect, Perfect, 100% Perfect Form), Bardock Broly (Base,Legendary Super Saiyan)
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast is a 3D fighting game featuring over 70 Dragon Ball Z characters. Experience the fast and powerful fighting style of the popular Dragon Ball Z series in a brand new game for the next gen systems! Dragon Ball: Raging Blast features over 70 playable characters, including transformations, and allows you to relive epic battles from the series or experience alternate moments not included in the original anime and manga.
IMPORT Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
More info coming!
PlayStation 2
Dragon Ball: Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 delivers an extreme 3D fighting experience, with over 150 playable characters, enhanced fighting techniques, beautifully refined effects and shading techniques, making each character's effects more realistic, and over 20 battle stages. The PlayStation 2 version of this game comes with with a bonus Fusion Disc System that will help unlock gameplay modes in the previous two games after they are inserted.
DragonBall Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 takes the acrobatic and intense 3D flying and fighting dynamic made popular in last year?s blockbuster and takes it to a whole new level with exciting new features sure to please die-hard Dragon Ball fans and those new to the franchise. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 offers the complete DBZ mythology from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball GT with a staggering roster of over 100 DBZ heroes and villains and an expansive story mode that allows players to recreate some of the storied confrontations from the TV show, or all-new showdowns of their own with characters that never actually fought in the animated series. Lightning-fast fighting, light RPG and action gameplay elements give players the power to engage in titanic battles set in 15 vast and vibrant 3D highly destructible environments. The game also features levels that are twice the size of those in the original, in-game transformations, tag battles, an all new vanishing attack and complete environmental destruction.
Dragon Ball: Origins
Follow Goku and his sidekick Bulma as they travel the world overcoming enemies and obstacles to collect the 7 Dragon Balls.
Playstation 3
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
Dragonball Z: Burst Limit is the first game of the Dragonball Z series to hit the next generation consoles. The game features detailed graphics and dramatic, seamless battles, expected from a next generation console. The plans are to have characters and movement reminiscent of the animation, and high-intensity battles. During each battle, find conditions to create new dramatic scenes. After the battles, watch a unique story unfold each time you play. There is also a stronger element of offence and defence, due to added energy saving and fighting techniques. Features characters: Goku (Base, Kaio-ken, Super Saiyan), Kid Gohan, Teen Gohan (Base, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2), Piccolo, Vegeta (Base, Super Saiyan), Future Trunks (Base, Super Saiyan), Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Saibaman, Raditz, Nappa, Recoome, Captain Ginyu, Freeza (1st Form, 2nd Form, 3rd Form, Final Form, 100% Full Power, Mecha), Android 16, Android 17, Android 18, Cell (Imperfect, Semi-perfect, Perfect, 100% Perfect Form), Bardock Broly (Base,Legendary Super Saiyan)
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast is a 3D fighting game featuring over 70 Dragon Ball Z characters. Experience the fast and powerful fighting style of the popular Dragon Ball Z series in a brand new game for the next gen systems! Dragon Ball: Raging Blast features over 70 playable characters, including transformations, and allows you to relive epic battles from the series or experience alternate moments not included in the original anime and manga.
IMPORT Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
More info coming!
IMPORT Dragon Ball:
Raging Blast
Dragon Ball is out with Raging Blast, an exhilirating 3D fighter. Veteran Fighters can enjoy facing off against the strongest of the strong while novices can start their fighting career here.
Dragon Ball is out with Raging Blast, an exhilirating 3D fighter. Veteran Fighters can enjoy facing off against the strongest of the strong while novices can start their fighting career here.
Controls are easy, launch the characters' special skills with a press of
a single button, all characters have their specialized skill set, be sure to
have a go at them all. Make use of the area, move in all directions, having the
fight in 3D gives that so much more room to dash around.
Characters' expressions
change during the fight and the environment play a big part in your victories.
Learn to destroy mountains and hide behind rocks to ambush your enemies.
IMPORT Dragon Ball:
Raging Blast
Come fight until you drop. Transform into Super Saiyans, release your Kamegameha and smash your opponents into the rocks in Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2. The Sequel to the Raging Blast will feature more characters, so if your favourite wasn't in the last game, check this one out.
Try out everybody's skill
sets and see how combos could be stringed together for more points. Very little
about the game is actually known at the moment, please check back regularly for
updates. Come fight until you drop. Transform into Super Saiyans, release your Kamegameha and smash your opponents into the rocks in Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2. The Sequel to the Raging Blast will feature more characters, so if your favourite wasn't in the last game, check this one out.
PlayStation 2
Dragon Ball: Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 delivers an extreme 3D fighting experience, with over 150 playable characters, enhanced fighting techniques, beautifully refined effects and shading techniques, making each character's effects more realistic, and over 20 battle stages. The PlayStation 2 version of this game comes with with a bonus Fusion Disc System that will help unlock gameplay modes in the previous two games after they are inserted.
DragonBall Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 takes the acrobatic and intense 3D flying and fighting dynamic made popular in last year?s blockbuster and takes it to a whole new level with exciting new features sure to please die-hard Dragon Ball fans and those new to the franchise. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 offers the complete DBZ mythology from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball GT with a staggering roster of over 100 DBZ heroes and villains and an expansive story mode that allows players to recreate some of the storied confrontations from the TV show, or all-new showdowns of their own with characters that never actually fought in the animated series. Lightning-fast fighting, light RPG and action gameplay elements give players the power to engage in titanic battles set in 15 vast and vibrant 3D highly destructible environments. The game also features levels that are twice the size of those in the original, in-game transformations, tag battles, an all new vanishing attack and complete environmental destruction.
Dragon Ball Z:
Infinite World
Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World combines all the best elements of previous Dragon Ball Z games, while boasting new features such as “Dragon Missions”, new battle types and drama scenes for fans to delve deeper than ever before into the Dragon Ball Z® universe. The new “Dragon Missions” in Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World include many famous scenes from the Dragon Ball Z series never before seen in a video game. A range of missions from time attack in the “Snake Road Mission” alongside other action and racing-style missions puts players’ strategy and quick-thinking skills to the test beyond simply showing off their deadly fighting skills.
Dragonball Z Trilogy
Everything before it was just a training. Dragonball Z Trilogy combines the unprecedented power and freedom of Budokai Tenkaichi, the expansive storyline and character roster of Budokai Tenkaichi 2, and the reinvented, combo intensive fighting system of Super Dragonball Z. Never before has there been such an electric combination of ground-breaking Dragonball Z fighting games -until now. Are you ready to challenge the most powerful beings on Earth?
Dragonball Z: Budokai
Enter the Dragon Ball Z Budokai! A spectacular 3D world filled with the fiercest fighters the universe has ever known. Test your skills against the most powerful Dragon Ball Z heroes and the most sinister villains. Every battle is more intense, more dangerous, and more epic than the one before. Will you be the last warrior standing? Also get the hint guide for $10.00 more!!
Dragonball Z: Budokai 2
The time has come to go beyond the Dragon Ball Z? sagas and experience the full force of the most powerful fighters in the universe. Dragon Ball Z?: Budokai? 2 will challenge players like no other DBZ? game before. Begin with an all-new single player ?Dragon World? that opens the story to new match-ups, surprising character appearances, and missions that will amaze. You can also battle your friends in multiplayer ?VS.? and ?Tournament? modes. If your will and skill prevail, you will come face-to-face with Buu?, the most lethal of all DBZ? villains. Do you have what it takes not only to survive, but to dominate?
Dragonball Z: Budokai 3
The Greatest Warriors. A Tournament of Champions. Only One Will Prevail. Features: Pulverize opponents with the Saiyan Overdrive Fighting System, including: Teleportation Counter ? Recreate the lightening speed of DBZ. Teleportation Tornado Combo ? Pinball opponents in the air. Dragon Rush Attack ? Experience explosive, cinematic new attack moves. Bukujutsu Flight Mode ? Go airborne at any time in the game. Unlock up to 40 bonus characters from Dragon Ball Z?, DBZ? movies, and Dragon Ball GT?. Customize your DBZ? warriors and build the ultimate fighter. Post and retrieve character profiles from the Internet
Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi
Everything before it was just training! Dragon Ball Z?: Budokai? Tenkaichi combines fighting and flying in wide open, destructible 3D environments. In the air, on the ground or under water, DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi gives players the ability to battle with unprecedented power and freedom. Experience the intensity of DBZ fighting in an all-new way by combining melee combat, energy attacks and awesome 3D flight with fully interactive recreation of the Dragon Ball universe. With its intense battles, high-speed flight and deep storyline, DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi offers players a ?superhero? experience of epic proportions ? it?s the DBZ game fans have been waiting for
DragonBall Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 takes the acrobatic and intense 3D flying and fighting dynamic made popular in last year?s blockbuster and takes it to a whole new level with exciting new features sure to please die-hard Dragon Ball fans and those new to the franchise. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 offers the complete DBZ mythology from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball GT with a staggering roster of over 100 DBZ heroes and villains and an expansive story mode that allows players to recreate some of the storied confrontations from the TV show, or all-new showdowns of their own with characters that never actually fought in the animated series. Lightning-fast fighting, light RPG and action gameplay elements give players the power to engage in titanic battles set in 15 vast and vibrant 3D highly destructible environments. The game also features levels that are twice the size of those in the original, in-game transformations, tag battles, an all new vanishing attack and complete environmental destruction.
Super Dragon Ball Z
Based on the arcade game, this is a fighting game in the Dragon Ball Z universe, developed by Craft and Master (whose team members include former Street Fighter producer Noritaka Funamizu. Super DBZ is a cell-shaded fighter featuring your favorite Dragon Ball characters. Each character has his own special abilities, with Frieza making use of warps and Trunks using swords for up-close attacks. The game uses a four button setup. Two buttons are reserved for strong and weak attacks. One button is used for guarding with another used for making your character jump. The guard and jump button can be pressed together to execute a dash move. Super DBZ features both ground-based and air-based fighting. Stages are multi-layered, and you can move between different areas, taking the fight to an area that's more advantageous to your character.
IMPORT Dragon Ball Games Section
Join Goku and friends in their fight to protect Earth and the universe!
Check out our selection of Japanese Dragon Ball PS2 video games
Gameboy
Dragonball GT: Transformation
Transformation is the first in a series of two thrilling Dragon Ball GT action/RPGs. Play as one of seven playable DBGT characters and face off against General Rilldo, Luud, Baby and other intergalactic villains. In this game the battles are bigger and the enemies are more dangerous. Can you take your game to the Next Level?
Dragonball Z: Buu's Fury
It all comes down to this: the last great enemy of Goku and the Z-Warriors must be defeated. Only by using all of your skill, teamwork and training will you take down the evil Buu. You must prevail! Play as Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks. Create fusion characters ? Gotenks and Vegito. Match the best character with the right mission to achieve ultimate victory. Unleash authentic, intense attacks with an upgraded combat system that includes powerful combos and super moves. Challenge friends and trade items using the Game Boy Advance Game Link cable. Unlock a secret bonus characters.
Dragonball Z: Legacy of Goku
Dragon Ball Z? - The Legacy of Goku?? will take you on an incredible journey to protect the Universe from the evil Frieza once and for all! You?ll use combat strategies to help fulfill the Legacy of Goku?, the greatest warrior the Universe has ever known!The kidnapping of Goku?s? son Gohan? threatens the safety of the Universe. The future depends on your ability to use your powers to help Goku? defeat his enemies. Get ready to Power Up!
Dragonball Z: Legacy of Goku II
Just when the Z Fighters thought the struggle against evil was over, a new evil approaches. In this RPG, the next episode in the Z Fighters' quest to rid the universe of evil, players will take on the role of Trunks?, Goku?, Gohan?, Piccolo? or Vegeta? as they journey through the Cell Saga and prepare to do battle with the mighty Cell himself. With five playable characters, hours of gameplay, and massive game maps to explore, it?s a DBZ? adventure of epic proportions
Dragonball Z: Legendary Super Warriors (Gameboy Color)
Re-enact your favorite Dragon Ball Z? battles by using high-intensity fighting cards to protect the universe from complete domination! Build custom decks from five unique card types and position your characters to move through level after level of combat! Start out as Gohan? and train against Piccolo??then battle Nappa?, Vegeta? and Frieza?! But it?s not over yet! Have you got what it takes to stand your ground when you come up against the mighty powers of Cell? and Buu?? You can even attain multiplayer and trading status?if you?re fast enough, brave enough and strong enough to defeat your enemies.
Dragonball Z: Taiketsu
Now, take the most intense DBZ battles wherever you go!Unleash devastating combos and super moves alone or against friends in huge multiplayer battles. The gauntlet has been thrown down, the challenge issued. Can you fight your way to the top? Play as one of 15 of the greatest warriors from the DBZ universe including the mighty Broly. Pulverize opponents with powerful combos and super moves. Battle opponents on the ground or in the air with DBZ flight action. Use your power to transform to the next level and let loose massive attacks. Challenge friends using the Game Boy Advance Game Link cable in multiplayer mode.
Dragonball Advance Adventure
Take on the role of Goku in this new adventure game. The game features side scrolling action, as you control Goku punching and kicking enemies along the way.game.More info coming!
Gamecube
Dragonball Z: Budokai 2
The time has come to go beyond the Dragon Ball Z sagas and experience the full force of the most powerful fighters in the universe. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 will challenge players like no other DBZ game before. Begin with an all-new single player "Dragon World" that opens the story to new match-ups, surprising character appearances, and missions that will amaze. You can also battle your friends in multiplayer "VS." and "Tournament" modes. If your will and skill prevail, you will come face-to-face with Buu, the most lethal of all DBZ villains. Do you have what it takes not only to survive, but to dominate?
Playstation
Dragonball GT: Final Bout
The original Dragonball Z game is still one of the most popular among kids and grown-ups alike. With 22 selectable characters, plus 5 more secret characters, mastering this game will take quite some time. Fast and furious 3D fighting is brought to your home in this classic import title. No reading is required and this can be enjoyed by all fans of the show!
Dragonball Z: Legends
The original Dragonball Z game is still one of the most popular among kids and grown-ups alike. With 22 selectable characters, plus 5 more secret characters, mastering this game will take quite some time. Fast and furious 3D fighting is brought to your home in this classic import title. No reading is required and this can be enjoyed by all fans of the show!
Dragonball Z: Ultimate Battle 22
The original Dragonball Z game is still one of the most popular among kids and grown-ups alike. With 22 selectable characters, plus 5 more secret characters, mastering this game will take quite some time. Fast and furious 3D fighting is brought to your home in this classic import title. No reading is required and this can be enjoyed by all fans of the show!
Live-action films
Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World combines all the best elements of previous Dragon Ball Z games, while boasting new features such as “Dragon Missions”, new battle types and drama scenes for fans to delve deeper than ever before into the Dragon Ball Z® universe. The new “Dragon Missions” in Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World include many famous scenes from the Dragon Ball Z series never before seen in a video game. A range of missions from time attack in the “Snake Road Mission” alongside other action and racing-style missions puts players’ strategy and quick-thinking skills to the test beyond simply showing off their deadly fighting skills.
Dragonball Z Trilogy
Everything before it was just a training. Dragonball Z Trilogy combines the unprecedented power and freedom of Budokai Tenkaichi, the expansive storyline and character roster of Budokai Tenkaichi 2, and the reinvented, combo intensive fighting system of Super Dragonball Z. Never before has there been such an electric combination of ground-breaking Dragonball Z fighting games -until now. Are you ready to challenge the most powerful beings on Earth?
Dragonball Z: Budokai
Enter the Dragon Ball Z Budokai! A spectacular 3D world filled with the fiercest fighters the universe has ever known. Test your skills against the most powerful Dragon Ball Z heroes and the most sinister villains. Every battle is more intense, more dangerous, and more epic than the one before. Will you be the last warrior standing? Also get the hint guide for $10.00 more!!
Dragonball Z: Budokai 2
The time has come to go beyond the Dragon Ball Z? sagas and experience the full force of the most powerful fighters in the universe. Dragon Ball Z?: Budokai? 2 will challenge players like no other DBZ? game before. Begin with an all-new single player ?Dragon World? that opens the story to new match-ups, surprising character appearances, and missions that will amaze. You can also battle your friends in multiplayer ?VS.? and ?Tournament? modes. If your will and skill prevail, you will come face-to-face with Buu?, the most lethal of all DBZ? villains. Do you have what it takes not only to survive, but to dominate?
Dragonball Z: Budokai 3
The Greatest Warriors. A Tournament of Champions. Only One Will Prevail. Features: Pulverize opponents with the Saiyan Overdrive Fighting System, including: Teleportation Counter ? Recreate the lightening speed of DBZ. Teleportation Tornado Combo ? Pinball opponents in the air. Dragon Rush Attack ? Experience explosive, cinematic new attack moves. Bukujutsu Flight Mode ? Go airborne at any time in the game. Unlock up to 40 bonus characters from Dragon Ball Z?, DBZ? movies, and Dragon Ball GT?. Customize your DBZ? warriors and build the ultimate fighter. Post and retrieve character profiles from the Internet
Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi
Everything before it was just training! Dragon Ball Z?: Budokai? Tenkaichi combines fighting and flying in wide open, destructible 3D environments. In the air, on the ground or under water, DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi gives players the ability to battle with unprecedented power and freedom. Experience the intensity of DBZ fighting in an all-new way by combining melee combat, energy attacks and awesome 3D flight with fully interactive recreation of the Dragon Ball universe. With its intense battles, high-speed flight and deep storyline, DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi offers players a ?superhero? experience of epic proportions ? it?s the DBZ game fans have been waiting for
DragonBall Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 takes the acrobatic and intense 3D flying and fighting dynamic made popular in last year?s blockbuster and takes it to a whole new level with exciting new features sure to please die-hard Dragon Ball fans and those new to the franchise. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 offers the complete DBZ mythology from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball GT with a staggering roster of over 100 DBZ heroes and villains and an expansive story mode that allows players to recreate some of the storied confrontations from the TV show, or all-new showdowns of their own with characters that never actually fought in the animated series. Lightning-fast fighting, light RPG and action gameplay elements give players the power to engage in titanic battles set in 15 vast and vibrant 3D highly destructible environments. The game also features levels that are twice the size of those in the original, in-game transformations, tag battles, an all new vanishing attack and complete environmental destruction.
Super Dragon Ball Z
Based on the arcade game, this is a fighting game in the Dragon Ball Z universe, developed by Craft and Master (whose team members include former Street Fighter producer Noritaka Funamizu. Super DBZ is a cell-shaded fighter featuring your favorite Dragon Ball characters. Each character has his own special abilities, with Frieza making use of warps and Trunks using swords for up-close attacks. The game uses a four button setup. Two buttons are reserved for strong and weak attacks. One button is used for guarding with another used for making your character jump. The guard and jump button can be pressed together to execute a dash move. Super DBZ features both ground-based and air-based fighting. Stages are multi-layered, and you can move between different areas, taking the fight to an area that's more advantageous to your character.
IMPORT Dragon Ball Games Section
Join Goku and friends in their fight to protect Earth and the universe!
Check out our selection of Japanese Dragon Ball PS2 video games
Gameboy
Dragonball GT: Transformation
Transformation is the first in a series of two thrilling Dragon Ball GT action/RPGs. Play as one of seven playable DBGT characters and face off against General Rilldo, Luud, Baby and other intergalactic villains. In this game the battles are bigger and the enemies are more dangerous. Can you take your game to the Next Level?
Dragonball Z: Buu's Fury
It all comes down to this: the last great enemy of Goku and the Z-Warriors must be defeated. Only by using all of your skill, teamwork and training will you take down the evil Buu. You must prevail! Play as Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks. Create fusion characters ? Gotenks and Vegito. Match the best character with the right mission to achieve ultimate victory. Unleash authentic, intense attacks with an upgraded combat system that includes powerful combos and super moves. Challenge friends and trade items using the Game Boy Advance Game Link cable. Unlock a secret bonus characters.
Dragonball Z: Legacy of Goku
Dragon Ball Z? - The Legacy of Goku?? will take you on an incredible journey to protect the Universe from the evil Frieza once and for all! You?ll use combat strategies to help fulfill the Legacy of Goku?, the greatest warrior the Universe has ever known!The kidnapping of Goku?s? son Gohan? threatens the safety of the Universe. The future depends on your ability to use your powers to help Goku? defeat his enemies. Get ready to Power Up!
Dragonball Z: Legacy of Goku II
Just when the Z Fighters thought the struggle against evil was over, a new evil approaches. In this RPG, the next episode in the Z Fighters' quest to rid the universe of evil, players will take on the role of Trunks?, Goku?, Gohan?, Piccolo? or Vegeta? as they journey through the Cell Saga and prepare to do battle with the mighty Cell himself. With five playable characters, hours of gameplay, and massive game maps to explore, it?s a DBZ? adventure of epic proportions
Dragonball Z: Legendary Super Warriors (Gameboy Color)
Re-enact your favorite Dragon Ball Z? battles by using high-intensity fighting cards to protect the universe from complete domination! Build custom decks from five unique card types and position your characters to move through level after level of combat! Start out as Gohan? and train against Piccolo??then battle Nappa?, Vegeta? and Frieza?! But it?s not over yet! Have you got what it takes to stand your ground when you come up against the mighty powers of Cell? and Buu?? You can even attain multiplayer and trading status?if you?re fast enough, brave enough and strong enough to defeat your enemies.
Dragonball Z: Taiketsu
Now, take the most intense DBZ battles wherever you go!Unleash devastating combos and super moves alone or against friends in huge multiplayer battles. The gauntlet has been thrown down, the challenge issued. Can you fight your way to the top? Play as one of 15 of the greatest warriors from the DBZ universe including the mighty Broly. Pulverize opponents with powerful combos and super moves. Battle opponents on the ground or in the air with DBZ flight action. Use your power to transform to the next level and let loose massive attacks. Challenge friends using the Game Boy Advance Game Link cable in multiplayer mode.
Dragonball Advance Adventure
Take on the role of Goku in this new adventure game. The game features side scrolling action, as you control Goku punching and kicking enemies along the way.game.More info coming!
Gamecube
Dragonball Z: Budokai 2
The time has come to go beyond the Dragon Ball Z sagas and experience the full force of the most powerful fighters in the universe. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 will challenge players like no other DBZ game before. Begin with an all-new single player "Dragon World" that opens the story to new match-ups, surprising character appearances, and missions that will amaze. You can also battle your friends in multiplayer "VS." and "Tournament" modes. If your will and skill prevail, you will come face-to-face with Buu, the most lethal of all DBZ villains. Do you have what it takes not only to survive, but to dominate?
Playstation
The original Dragonball Z game is still one of the most popular among kids and grown-ups alike. With 22 selectable characters, plus 5 more secret characters, mastering this game will take quite some time. Fast and furious 3D fighting is brought to your home in this classic import title. No reading is required and this can be enjoyed by all fans of the show!
Dragonball Z: Legends
The original Dragonball Z game is still one of the most popular among kids and grown-ups alike. With 22 selectable characters, plus 5 more secret characters, mastering this game will take quite some time. Fast and furious 3D fighting is brought to your home in this classic import title. No reading is required and this can be enjoyed by all fans of the show!
Dragonball Z: Ultimate Battle 22
The original Dragonball Z game is still one of the most popular among kids and grown-ups alike. With 22 selectable characters, plus 5 more secret characters, mastering this game will take quite some time. Fast and furious 3D fighting is brought to your home in this classic import title. No reading is required and this can be enjoyed by all fans of the show!
Live-action films
A live-action Mandarin Chinese film adaptation of
the series, Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins, was released in Taiwan in 1989.
Considered a "tacky" version of the story by critics, the plot
revolves around a rag-tag group of heroes, led by "Monkey Boy" (Goku)
trying to stop King Horn from using the wish-granting "Dragon Pearls"
(Dragon Balls) to rule the world.
In December 1990, the unofficial live-action Korean
film Dragon Ball: Ssawora Son Goku, Igyeora Son Goku was released. The movie
follows the original Dragon Ball story, and does so more closely than The Magic
Begins. This live action adaption from Korea is an adaptation of the events of
the first Dragon Ball story arc and a little of the Saiyan arc of Dragon Ball
Z, as Vegeta's partner Nappa makes an appearance in this film.
In March 2002, 20th Century Fox acquired feature
film rights to the Dragon Ball franchise and began production on an American
live action film entitled Dragonball Evolution.Ben Ramsey was tapped to create
a screenplay based on Dragon Ball Z. Directed by James Wong and produced by
Stephen Chow, the film was released in the United States on April 10, 2009. The
film was largely considered a failure by both critics and Dragon Ball fans,and
it only grossed $57 million at the box office.
Art books
Cover art of Dragon Ball - The Complete
Illustrations.
There are two companion books to the series, one
called Dragon Ball - The Complete Illustrations, first published in Japan in
1995, which was then translated and printed in 2008 by VIZ Media. It contains
all the 264 coloured illustrations Akira Toriyama done for the Weekly Jump
magazines' covers, bonus giveaways and specials, and all the covers for the 42
tankōbon. It also includes an interview with Akira Toriyama on his work process.
In Japan it was originally released as Volume 1 of the 7 part Daizenshuu
series.
The other was Dragon Ball GT Perfect Files,
released in May 1997 and December 1997 by Shueisha's Jump Comics Selection
imprint. It include series information, illustration galleries,
behind-the-scenes information, and more. They were out of print for many years,
but were re-released in April 2006 and this edition is still in print.
Collectible cards
There have been collectible cards, based on the
Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT series, released under Bandai.
They feature various scenes from the manga and anime stills, plus exclusive
artwork from all three series. They were previously released in other
countries, like Taiwan and Singapore, before making their debut in the United
States in July 2008.
Reception
Manga
Dragon Ball is one of the most popular manga series
of all time, and it continues to enjoy high readership today. By 2000, more
than 126 million copies of its tankōbon volumes had been sold in Japan alone.By
2007, this number had grown to pass 152 million in Japan and 200 million
worldwide. In Little Boy: The Art of Japan's Exploding Subculture Takashi
Murakami notes that Dragon Ball's "never-ending cyclical narrative moves
forward plausibly, seamlessly, and with great finesse."Goku's journey and
his ever growing strength resulted in the character winning "the
admiration of young boys everywhere".
In a survey conducted by Oricon in 2007 between
1,000 people, Goku, the main character of the franchise, ranked first place as
the "Strongest Manga character of all time." Manga artists, such as
Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto and One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, have
stated that Goku inspired their series' main protagonists as well as series
structure. Dragon Ball was also high inspiration to Yaiba, the manga written by
Gosho Aoyama, best known as the creator of the manga series Detective Conan.
Both Yaiba and Dragon Ball began as a kind of light-hearted gag manga, but
towards the end of their run the tone became more serious and action-packed.
When TV Asahi conducted an online poll for the top one hundred anime, the
Dragon Ball series came in place twelve.
Animerica felt the series had "worldwide
appeal" that uses dramatic pacing and over the top martial arts action to
"maintain tension levels and keep a crippler crossface hold on the
audience's attention spans". Ridwan Khan from Animefringe.com commented on
the manga to have a "chubby" art style but as the series continued it
gets more refined with the characters leaner and more muscular. He also noted
he preferred the manga versions of the series to their animated counterparts
that makes the story slower and pointless.Anime News Network praised the story
and humor of the manga to be very good due conveying of all the characters's
personalities. They also remarked Viz's translation to be one of the best ones
of all the English editions of the series, praising the lack of
censor.Rationalmagic.com remarked the first manga volume as "a superior
humor title". They praised Goku's innocence and Bulma's insistence as one
of the funniest parts of the series. Writer Jason Thompson commented that the
series popularity comes from a formula that Toriyama used in various story arcs
from which he describes as "lots of martial arts, lots of training
sequences, a few jokes." Yet, he noted that such formula became the model
for other manga from the same genre such as Naruto.
Anime
The anime adaptations have also received positive
reviews. Dragon Ball Z was listed as the 78th best animated show in IGN's Top
100 Animated Series, and was also listed as the 50th greatest cartoon in Wizard
magazine's "Top 100 Greatest Cartoons" list. T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews
considered the series characters to be different from stereotypical stock
characters and noted that they undergo much more development. Despite praising
Dragon Ball Z for its cast of characters, they criticized it for having long
and repetitive fights. Anime News Network considered Trunks's storyline to be
one of the better story arcs of the series, with the characters having more
motivation than in previous stories. Some critics and most fans of the Japanese
version have given Funimation's English dub of Dragon Ball Z mixed feelings
over the years. IGN criticized some of the voices to be "quite
annoying" and also noted that Frieza's English voice "made him sound
like a lady. This combined with Frieza's appearance left a lot of fans confused
about Frieza's gender for a while." IGN commented Dragon Ball GT "is
downright repellent" mentioning that the material and characters had lost
their novelty and fun. They also criticized the character designs of Trunks and
Vegeta as being goofy. Anime News Network also gave negative comments about
Dragon Ball GT, mentioning that the fights from the series were "a very
simple childish exercise" and that many other anime were superior. The
plot of the series has also been criticized for giving a formula that was
already used in its predecessors. On several occasions the Dragon Ball anime
series has topped Japan's DVD sales The first episode of Dragon Ball Kai earned
a viewer ratings percentage of 11.3, ahead of One Piece and behind Crayon
Shin-Chan. Although following episodes had lower ratings, Dragon Ball Kai was
among the top 10 anime in viewer ratings every week in Japan for most of its
run.
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