Forum - View topicWhy do people watch Dragonball / DBZ / GT?
|
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next |
| Author | Message | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P€|\||§_|\/|ast@
 Posts: 3498 Location: IN your nightmares |
|
|||||
|
I don't want people to immediately get the impression that I think these shows are bad (I don't personally like them myself), it's just that I am curious as to the appeal it has for others. I like anime with martial arts and fighting so I might actually get into the show if I sat down an watched it.
But there's got to be another reason why many anime and fighting show fans watch it. When I think of DBZ fans, I think of people who don't watch alot of other anime besides DBZ (or the other DB universes). There are other shows that are of similar fighting nature like Naruto and YuYu Hakusho. How do these compare since I've never watched DBZ? If you are into DBZ and have watched alot of it does it go past all the hype of just endless battles of fist clenching, face wrinkling power-ups? There are lots of characters in the show, including female ones so there must be other story elements like adventure, romance and comedy which would obviously be redeeming factors besides just fighting. I don't know. Help me out. |
||||||
|
||||||
Deltakiral
 Posts: 3338 Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK) |
|
|||||
|
Short answer: Most people have a soft spot in their heart for that first show. And for most people in the US (Well at least this new wave of fandom) we watched DBZ after high school and then Gundam Wing. And really at the time there wasn't any other animated show like those two, and that's what really interested me in the beginning. Personally I find it hard to watch DBZ and I can't watch GT at all, but their moments in DBZ (Gohan vs Cell really stands out for me) that I do enjoy and it pulls me back to a simply time in life when there wasn't bills to pay and I could relax for a few hours with those silly cartoons.
As such Gundam Wing which isn't exactly the best anime ever but it's still holds a special spot in my heart because I enjoy the characters from that series so much, because they really got me into Japanese Animation. As such more fans were pulled in by DBZ so there are more people who still have those feelings about the characters regardless of how good/bad the show was. |
||||||
|
||||||
ikillchicken
 Posts: 7272 Location: Vancouver |
|
|||||
|
Well, I think the main problem is that people try and veiw DBZ the same way as they would a normal Anime series. But you cant do that cause its different.
Firstly, DBZ is looooooooooooooooooooooooooong. Its much better suited to being watched on TV where you can tune in every night/week to watch another episode. You probably wont like it if you try and watch it in whole chunks at a time. Idunno, maybe thats cause you get into it over time, maybe thats because if you watch too much of it at once it gets boring. Youre also probably right about alot of DBZ fans being people who don't watch alot of other anime. Thats my second point. DBZ is not all that Animeish. Its something that people with no real Anime knowlege can still enjoy. I dont think this means Anime fans cant enjoy it, but they need to not expect it to be like your average Anime. Im not sure if that even really relates to your question. As for the actual appeal of DBZ, Im not exactly sure. I liked it, I dont entirely know why. I guess its just a cool show. The characters arent exactly deep, but theyre all just neat characters. The plot isnt anything amazing however I think its suitable for the kind of show DBZ is though. It isnt the main attraction, but does a good job of facilitating the characters and action which are the main attraction. As for GT, I though it sucked and I liked DBZ... |
||||||
|
||||||
undeadben
 Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
|
|||||
|
Lets see.. I remember that I loved Dragon Ball from the very first episode; it was just really fun, so I kept watching this story of a young martial artist with a tail. The fun aspect is probably the most important to me. I especially liked all of Goku's adventures when ever he set off on a mission, or Dragon Ball hunting, or his training journeys which always had some fun, outlandish, exciting, suspenseful, or even touching moments. When he was momentarily spoiler[reunited with his grandfather] was one of the moments I always remember fondly. And I also love all the characters, Goku, Bulma, Roshi, Yamcha, Chouzu, Tenshin-han, and even the cowardly Oolong and the insane Lunch-san were all wonderful and fun to watch. Even the villains, from the outrageous like the Red Ribbon Army to the sinister like TaoPaiPai and Piccolo, helped make the series rather well rounded. And the martial arts were also pretty neat in this series, there was more emphasis on techniques instead of just who can launch the bigger energy attacks.
So after enjoying DB so much I really couldn't avoid having a look at DBZ. And early on it was still great to watch, some of the interesting new villains like Vegeta and Frieza really helped make it enjoyable, and a lot of the fights were pretty cool too. However, this series is where it really just starts to follow formula; training, getting stronger, defeating the bad guy, peace. And then the new more powerful villain would be introduced and the cycle would repeat. This is probably where it started to wear on me. It was no longer a character driven story, and with each new cycle more of my favorite characters would be phased out. And although near then end there are still some occasionally good episodes, I still couldn't help but actually root against Goku at the finale just so that it would end. But then, mercifully, it did end. But then someone mentions the next series, GT, and while I still remembered how bad it started to get at the end of DBZ, I still couldn't help but have a look to see if they could bring back the high adventurous fun from the original DB or at least be as good as the early arcs in DBZ. However all I got for my troubles were some incredibly poorly contrived stories that really couldn't hold my attention very well. There were maybe 2 or 3 moments that were neat but overall this was just bad. However knowing by now that this really was the last of it, I did see it through. However my experience with GT didn't really sour me against DB and I still watch the occasional episodes when the mood hits, and even with DBZ I started to pick up the cut-uncut sets so that I can have another go at some of those again. GT is the only series I am quite certain I won't ever watch again. I can't really say for other DB fans because this is one of those topics that is fairly subjective, but that's my personal two cents about why I watched the series. As for DB fans not watching a lot of other anime, I think you've seen my list, but I don't really know if that is a lot more. However I'm pretty certain that there are other DB fans that are more well-rounded anime watchers. As for comparing watching DB to other shounen series, well that’s tough too. Rurouni Kenshin probably stands atop all shounen series, but then it is not really typical. Ruroken is more plot drive and so stands alone for the superb story telling. I have seen YuYu Hakusho, and while I rate this just under DBZ, it was fairly good. I think the difference for me was that I hadn’t had a chance to get to know the characters as well as I did with Goku and company throughout the original DB. Flame of Recca is probably very similar to YYH but it’s a bit more fun and yet more generic and cliché at the same time. I’ve caught just a few episodes of Naruto and in my opinion this would fall somewhere in between YYH and FoR, but with a more modern look. I think for current series Bleach probably stands at the top. I think the characters and interactions in this one are a bit more interesting. That’s probably the only comparison I can make to DB, that it is very fairly reminiscent in that it is a bit more character driven. But though different, the story, when not in fillers, is told fairly well and paced nicely for those subtle twists it likes to add here and there, so the story is good too. But then again, after seeing enough Bleach I consider this more of a ‘magical boy’ series. Sure Ichigo doesn’t have a magic wand but he does have his zanpakutou, he transforms to fight evil, and he doesn’t have a talking pet but he does have Kon. Well those are my thoughts. I hope it made sense, I had to retype it after firefox decided to update itself before I could post it the first time. 
|
||||||
|
||||||
CloverKuroba
 Posts: 506 |
|
|||||
|
For the same reason people watch any other anime (or T.V. show for that matter), it's entertaining. Personally I'm not a fan of DBZ, but I think that people get a kick out of super-powered warriors fighting. They like the characters and the stories, it's fun for them.
I really like Dragonball though. That was a great anime IMO. |
||||||
|
||||||
Zabuza-Sama
 Posts: 6 |
|
|||||
|
Dragon Ball Z had a good story but it was moving way too slow.
The fight with frezza... was... Long like hell! To be honest, I think the Dragon Ball is way too overated, it's longer than it should be, it's childish also, so it's hard for me to get into that world. But... yeah it's one of the most popular and appreciated anime series of all time, I don't think so though. |
||||||
|
||||||
darkhunter
 Posts: 2992 Location: Los Angelas |
|
|||||
Yeah it's "childish" but is any other shounen shows from love hina, kare kano to FMA, they have their childish moment. But I don't see what's wrong with liking Dragon Ball or why it's being single out? This anime came out in the late 80's, early 90s so trying to compare it today's anime is useless. Not to mention DBZ set the standard in anime and basically influence many manga artist that is creating your favorite shounen series today (Oda and One Piece is an example). DBZ overrated? Sure, but the same can be said of any popular that doesn't meet your preference. |
||||||
|
||||||
|
mistress_reebi
Posts: 735 Location: Canada |
|
|||||
|
I really liked Dragonball and DBZ wasn't that bad. GT was different, but I prefer the original out of those three. Dragonball has a cute story line with humour that was great for all ages. Also, I like Chrono Trigger and the character designer was the creator of those three series. I agree that the pacing was slower than a snail, but it was interesting. Not only was the storyline interesting it brings back memories.
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Canuckian
Posts: 184 |
|
|||||
|
I still think I'm one of the few people who love GT over the rest...
It's appeal when it first aired was that nothing at that current time was like it. You didn't have YYH or One Piece airing during those times, you only had the DB/Z/GT trilliogy in North America. At the time it was either DBZ/Sailor Moon/Pokemon, many chose DBZ. |
||||||
|
||||||
BrothersElric
 Posts: 1996 |
|
|||||
That's about the way it is for me. I actually explained it all in my post from another thread, the "I do loves me anime" thread, explaining why we are into anime in the first place. Now I am one of those more well-rounded anime fans, but shonen is and always has been my favorite genre. Not the best, obviously, but my favorite. Personally, I'm a superhero comic book guy, and shonen is the anime equivalent the way I see it. It's like you said, I grew up on this stuff, and DB and DBZ (like many have said, GT was just terrible) are my greatest inspirations in the world of shonen anime. Sure, I've seen much better stuff, but this one in particular has a special place in my heart.
I'm going to have to disagree with you here. I actually think that Naruto is on the same level as Rurouni Kenshin, and probably better as far as new stuff than Bleach. As good as Naruto's characters and story are, sure, it's not on the same level as some of the others you've mentioned (especially Bleach). But what Naruto has better so than those other series that, as much as these other series have the same, it has more heart and emotional/inspirational effect. I'd personally say on my list (as far as shonen go) FMA at #1 (it is indeed a shonen, remember) with Rurouni Kenshin #2, Naruto #3, Bleach #4, Hikaru no Go #5, D.Gray-man #6, Claymore #7, Trigun #8, Samurai Champloo #9, Hellsing #10, s-CRY-ed #11, Trinity Blood #12, Death Note #13, Prince of Tennis #14, Eyeshield 21 #15, Black Cat #16, YYH #17, Flame of Recca #18, One Piece #19, Inuyasha #20, DB/DBZ #21, Busou Renkin #22, Beat the Vandel Buster #23, and MAR #24. As far as my favorites go, Naruto #1, Bleach #2, FMA #3, DBZ #4, YYH #5, Rurouni Kenshin #6, One Piece #7, D.Gray-man #8, Claymore #9, Hellsing #10, Eyeshield 21 #11, Hikaru no Go # 12, Busou Renkin # 13, Trigun #14, Death Note #15, Inuyasha #16, Black Cat #17, s-CRY-ed #18, Trinity Blood #19, Flame of Recca #20, Samurai Champloo #21, Prince of Tennis #22, Beat the Vandel Buster #23, and MAR #24. Man, I've seen a lot of shonen! This was really hard considering I really like every one of them.
Actually, YYH premiered while DBZ was premiering it's last episodes. So by the time GT came out, YYH had shown quite a considerable amount of episodes. Last edited by BrothersElric on Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:36 pm; edited 2 times in total |
||||||
|
||||||
|
Marikallees
Posts: 6 |
|
|||||
|
>I am curious as to the appeal it has for others.
I'm not a huge fan of DBZ (I didn't really like DB or GT), but there are certain scenes and fights that I rather like when I get a taste for it (Gohan vs Cell being one). I really can't explain it, because the entire series totally doesn't fit my taste in anime. 
>Most people have a soft spot in their heart for that first show. And for most people >in the US (Well at least this new wave of fandom) we watched DBZ after high school That sounds about right. When I first got into it, you had two choices: DBZ and Sailor Moon. I chose Sailor Moon, but caught the occasional DBZ and really didn't miss much of the story because it moved so slowly. You could miss it for two months after a fight with the boss bad guy and come back to see him *finally* lose.
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Canuckian
Posts: 184 |
|
|||||
|
The only reason why DBZ moved so slow was because of it's manga counterpart, Toriyama didn't always give out a lot of chapters to get a source from each week. Which instead of fillers we got the long battles. Not that we didn't get fillers, but less then let's say Naruto...
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Zabuza-Sama
Posts: 6 |
|
|||||
You're saying that comparing anime that came out in the 80's to to today anime is usless, yet it doesn't mean that Dragon Ball (especially Dragon Ball Z) is an enjoyable show, I mean, how can you enjoy a show that for one poor battle with animation that was even bad for it's time lets itself spend more than 10 episodes? not only the battles, there is no deepness in the show, and for an action show, we could at least expect a decent fighting scenes, well, the fights in the show were based on punches and developing to level 2 thing, it was just stupid, no complexity, no nothing. I don't see why you mentioned the comparing newer anime , for me at least Dragon Ball is a series with a decent storyline, bad characters, bad developing, disappointing animation and bad fighting scenes. But it's my opinion of course, yet I know that many people love this anime, and I agree that this series did had influence on many action anime that came afterwards, but Dragon Ball just had a bad execution overall. |
||||||
|
||||||
|
P€|\||§_|\/|ast@
Posts: 3498 Location: IN your nightmares |
|
|||||
|
I have seen about 10-20 episodes in total of the original Dragonball. It was interesting. The different interactions between the very diverse characters I found enjoyable. Like I said I lke fighting in anime and Dragonball kinda also had that epic adventure quality to it which is also something I really like in anime. I think the newer series lost that sense of adventure when they made story arcs shorter and it was more centered on actual fighting and victories of the various heroes. So that's why I've always avoided DBZ. That's at least what my impression of it was.
|
||||||
|
||||||
lady_youko
 Posts: 16 Location: Purdue University BOILER UP! |
|
|||||
|
We watch because its power level is over 9000! *hides from the impending kicks to the face*.
No really, Dragonball and all its counterparts are so heavily watched in my opinion because they are great gateway anime. The shows are perfect for the people (especially younger viewers) who want to get into the genre. It features all (if not more) of the basic plots and devices used in anime and you aren't overloaded with excess philosophy and plot twistings (like say Evangelion and Wolf's Rain). When I started out, Dragonball was the anime that allowed me to recognize what anime looked like (I was seven and had no idea how to recognize one artform from the next). From there I was able to pursue interests in other titles Yu Yu Hakusho (a step up in complexity) and Cowboy Bebop *bows in reverence* (a step up in maturity) and from there it snowballed to make me into the otaku I am today. |
||||||
|
||||||
 |
All times are GMT - 5 Hours |
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group