Dragon Ballis one of the most successful and important anime and manga franchises in history.Its influence on the battle shōnen scene cannot be understated, and it remains as popular today as it ever was. However, compared to some of the titles coming out ofWeekly Shōnen Jumptoday, it’s a relatively simple story.
Unfortunately, that’s led to some members of the anime community subscribing to the belief thatDragon Ballis a dumb series, void of much substance or smart writing. Sure,the series doesn’t peddle deep or complex messages throughout its narrative, but any anime fan who would deny Akira Toriyama’s writing prowess isn’t much of an anime fan at all.
Dragon Ballis home to some of the best characters in the medium, and the writing behind them has made them what they are. The series may not be the most complex,but there are plenty of scenes which showcase the genius ofDragon Ball.
10Cell’s Arrival Was a Rare Touch of Horror
One of the Series' Most Iconic Villains Made An Unforgettable Entrance
Dragon Ball’s Cell Saga underwent several changes during serialization, and the twists and turns of the final product reflect that. Toriyama’s intended final antagonist changed on a number of occasions,but when the true villain appeared on the scene, he made quite an impact.
In a rare moment for the series,Dragon Ballleaned into horror, with the disappearance of an entire city and the heroes' mysteriously sensing each other’s power in the distance. Cell’s arrival was overflowing with suspense, roping the audience into the mystery, and it remains the greatest villain entrance in franchise history.
9Goku’s Early Fight With Jiren Showcased His Fighting Genius
Goku Isn’t Just an Overpowered Hero, He’s a Fighting Genius
Dragon Ballis known for its over-the-top and flashy fights, and while it’s true that some of its greatest moments come from overly muscular fighters screaming their iconic attacks,Goku is a far smarter fighter than most might expect. His strategy is put on display on a number of occasions throughout the series, especially on Namek, but the best example comes fromthe Tournament of Power.
Early in his fight with Jiren, before Goku tapped into Ultra Instinct for the third time in the tournament, he attempted to eliminate the series' most powerful foe to that point with a sly bit of strategy. When dodging attacks, he secretly laid small landmines of energy around the ring, hoping Jiren would step on them and fall to his elimination. Unfortunately, the plan didn’t work,but it showed off his cerebral style of fighting.
8Vegeta’s Fight With the Androids Put His Cunning Side On Display
Goku Isn’t Dragon Ball’s Only Fighting Genius
Goku might beDragon Ball’s protagonist,but he isn’t the series' only fighting genius. Vegeta’s entire fighting style is based on his smarts in battle, and nowhere is that better displayed than during his fight with Android #19 and Dr. Gero during the Cell Saga. During the battle, #19 got a hold on Vegeta and drained his energy, but the power of a Super Saiyan far outmatched his opponent.
When he turned his attention to Gero, Vegeta acted as though he was all set to dominate the fight, and the mad scientist fled in fear. However, the energy drain left Vegeta quite damaged,and only through his bluff were the main cast able to get the jump on Gero. Vegeta has always been a strategist, and his finest moments are usually when his brain, rather than his muscle, does the heavy lifting.
7Vegeta’s Death On Namek Jump Started His Character Arc
The One-Time Villain Showed Why He Became a Mainstay Cast Member
Vegeta is at the center ofquite a few ofDragon Ball’s best moments, and one of his greatest contributions came during his first death scene on Namek. Following the arrival of the Saiyans, Goku’s struggle with his own identity played a large role in his characterization, and he finally decided to fightas a member of the Saiyan race after Vegeta begged for him to defeat Frieza.
The villain of the prior arc had not only teamed up with the good guys, but was in tears,pleading with the character who handed him his first major defeat to keep his Saiyan pride alive. The moment is the beginning of the legendary character arc Vegeta experienced inDragon Ball, and also acts as Goku’s first time embracing his Saiyan roots.
6Future Trunks' Introduction Was Entirely Unexpected
Dragon Ball Was Able to Deliver a Coherent Time Travel Story Despite Editor Interference
The Namek Saga is arguablyDragon Ball’s most iconic arc, and its showdown between Goku and Frieza was grueling and high-energy. The series' protagonist barely made it out of the confrontation alive, so when a mysterious teen Super Saiyan arrived and disposed of Frieza with minimal effort,fans were left in absolute shock and confusion.
Toriyama often planned very little before diving into the next week’s chapter, and the arrival of Trunks isone of the bolder directions he could have taken his already long-running story. The eventual reveal that he was the son of Vegeta and Bulma changed the series forever, and kick-started one of anime’s most impressive and coherent time travel stories.
5Great Ape Gohan Was Vegeta’s Undoing
The Proud Saiyan Was Defeated By a Saiyan Transformation
Vegeta’s time in the Saiyan arc wasdefined by his statements about pride and his rank as an elite warrior. Rarely was there a moment where the one-time villain wasn’t baffled by the fact a low-class Saiyan was able to keep up with him. So when Gohan transformed into the defining Saiyan Great Ape transformation, delivering a heavy blow to Vegeta, it was an incredibly cathartic moment.
A villain being their own undoing is always satisfying, but Toriyama went one step further andmade the very thing Vegeta was so prideful of one of the major causes of his downfall. There couldn’t have been a more satisfying blow dealt to Vegeta, and his eventual defeat at the hands of Earth’s heroes put the first chink in his armor that led tohis growth as a character.
4Goku’s Angry Kamehameha Marked a Shift In His Character
The Kind-Hearted Saiyan Learned He Couldn’t Save Everyone
Goku’s time in Namek Saga was defined by the struggle between his Saiyan roots and human upbringing. Until his showdown with Frieza, the Saiyan formed a habit of sparing his opponents, knowing they could become fighters with whom he would have friendlier battles down the road. However, the end of his fight with Friezataught him that not everyone could be saved.
Goku’s angry Kamehameha and the iconic frown that followed instantly became a classic moment, but it’s also one filled with emotion. His expression wasn’t filled with anger from being attacked by Frieza, but rather he was angry that he gave the space emperor a chance to change, and he didn’t take it. The moment is undeniably badass,and it signals a loss of innocence for the protagonist.
3Vegeta’s Sacrifice Brought His Character Arc to Completion
After Embracing His Evil Side, Vegeta Realized What He Had
Vegeta is arguably anime’s most popular hero turned villain, and his incredibly written character arc is to thank for that.Once a fighter obsessed with little more than his own pride, Vegeta found himself living comfortably with a family of his own by the time the Majin Buu Saga rolled around. Unfortunately, he wasn’t entirely sold on his new life, and his hatred for Goku led him to give himself to Babidi.
Majin Vegeta was the one-time villain’s final grasp at his own fleeting evil nature,his obsession driving him back towards the brutality that once defined him. However, when a new threat arrived that could put his loved ones in immediate danger, Vegeta realized what mattered most to him, and sacrificed himself inone ofDragon Ball’s most emotional scenes.
2The Father-Son Kamehameha Signaled the Passing of the Torch
Goku Passed His Legacy Onto Gohan With His Most iconic Attack
Despite the constant meddling by his editors,Akira Toriyama was able to craft a hell of a story during the Cell Saga. Underneath the changing of villains and various twists and turns, a compelling coming-of-age passing the torch story surfaced in which Gohan took center stage, after two arcs of building his character and hinting towards the power of his rage.
Through a move that Goku only made his own by connecting with and learning from others,the series' protagonist passed the torch as Earth’s main protector to his son. The moment was highly emotional and would have been a perfect conclusion to the series had Toriyama’s editors and Shueisha notpressured him into creating the Buu Saga.
1The Saiyan Plot Twist Flipped Dragon Ball On Its Head
The Reveal Of Goku’s Origin Changed Dragon Ball Forever
Up until the timeskip following the 23rd World Tournament,Dragon Ballwas largely a story that focused on the adventures of a mysterious monkey-boy that took part in tournaments sometimes.The entire story changed when Raditz arrived, and revealed that Goku was actually from a race of brutal space warriors.
The Saiyan plot twist is one of the most important creative decisions in anime history, leading to a number of iconic character arcs,the Super Saiyan transformation, and the introduction of the series' second most popular character, Vegeta.Dragon Balltook on a whole new identity after the arrival of the Saiyans, and the twist continues to shock new viewers nearly four decades later.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
