T5W#389-Top 5 Tips for Getting into Dragon Ball Z

With new generations of Anime fans being born everyday, it’s hard to believe that in an age of shiny, brand spanking new titles, legacy franchises can still act as proper gateway titles for them.  Case in point, the myth, the legend that is Dragon Ball Z.  Ever since it took over US airwaves on Cartoon Network’s Toonami in the late 90s, the adventures of Goku, Vegeta and the Z-Fighters have continues to dazzle, amaze and cause several generations of Anime fans to freak out over a new power up or ultimate move unleashed on screen.  As such, DBZ remains one of the most popular Anime in the world and of all time.  After talking about it a little bit with a friend who has a son who really loves the show and characters, I’m opting to take this week to do them a solid and provide a nice little overview of what to expect should they sit down to watch a bunch of shiny haired guys punch the crap out of each other for 25 minutes.  Considering how important this Anime means to me and my overall history with the fandom, it feels only right to present new readers and viewers with these Top 5 Tips for Getting into Dragon Ball Z.

 
#5-It Doesn’t Start with Z (Hard to Believe I Know)

Considering the instant recognition that comes with its name, it’s easy for many to realize that Dragon Ball Z is actually a sequel.  The original Dragon Ball ran in Japan from 1986-1989 (with Z starting right after it ended).  It chronicles the early adventures of Goku as a child as he meets his lifelong friends for the first time and begins his equally lifelong search for the seven Dragon Balls.  The OG Dragon Ball doesn’t have many of the hallmark or iconic elements of Z, being more of a sprawling adventure series rather than an all out action spectacle (though the final arc starts steering things in that direction).  That doesn’t mean that is isn’t worth checking out.  After all, if it hadn’t been so dang popular, we wouldn’t have Dragon Ball Z now would we?

 
#4-Lots of Episodes and Characters (Get Comfy)

Dragon Ball Z has one of the biggest worlds in Anime, spanning not just an alternate Earth but the cosmos as well.  All that said, this series is long.  Sure it’s not One Piece well into 1000 episodes long but it’s still a long watch.  The original version runs 291 episodes across 9 official seasons.  The upside of this is not only do you get all the legendary action delivered regularly but you also get to connect with dozens of characters who are also legend.  Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Frieza, Cell, Krillin.  These are only a fair few of the many characters you’ll be getting to know quite well across the entire series and you’ll quickly learn they’re still popular for several reasons.  There’s also Dragon Ball Z Kai, which runs are a shorter 159 episodes and cuts out much of the filler from the original series, instead adhering much closer to the original Manga’s direct storyline. 

 
#3-The Movies Aren’t Cannon (Mostly)

As a long running Shonen Anime, it’s no surprise Dragon Ball Z has numerous theatrical outings under its belt.  However, one thing that might catch casual viewers off guard: where do any of these movies fit into the TV Series timeline?  The answer is…for the most part they don’t.  Besides the first film, Dead Zone, which gets a follow up arc in the TV Series, the only two DBZ Movies that are officially cannon are Battle of Gods and Resurrection F because they act as prequels to Dragon Ball Super.  Every other feature film is pretty basic in its plot and are mostly just excuses to watch some larger than usual fights for about an hour or so.  That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be skipped (a couple for sure though) and the Movies can also act as a nice little sampler of what DBZ as a whole has to offer.

 
#2-Skip GT (Go Right to Super)

In the whole of the Dragon Ball franchise, one particular chapter is always going to be a black spot on its history.  That black spot is Dragon Ball GT.  Conceived as a follow up to DBZ after it ended, GT jumps us nearly ten years into the future and…look the plot details don’t matter because this series is downright abysmal.  It lacks the creative involvement of series creator Akira Toriyama and tries to return to how the original Dragon Ball used to do things before desperately trying to recapture the magic of Z and failing.  Just for context: the original Dragon Ball ran for 186 episodes, DBZ as we covered went for 291…GT only lasted 64 pitiful episodes before getting cancelled.  Do yourself a favor and just go right to Dragon Ball Super after you finish DBZ.  It serves as the “true sequel” with Toriyama back in the Directors seat and is a welcome return to the glory days of Z for many fans while GT is a nightmare we all wish we could forget ever happened (except the theme songs, those are good).
 

#1-Dragon Ball Z Abridged (An Easier Entry Point?)

As a lifelong fan of Dragon Ball Z, I will always say you should check out the official release and support it.  However, there is one unorthodox suggestion I’d like to make for potential newcomers to DBZ…and that’s Dragon Ball Z Abridged.  Created by fans who love the series and grew up with it, DBZA is a comedy focused adaptation that pokes fun at the world, story and characters of DBZ but also, in it’s own way, honors the legacy of the franchise too.  DBZA loves to poke fun but also knows when to treat the more serious and dramatic moments as such.  While they don’t cover all 291 episodes (stopping at the end of the Cell Games arc), this a project deserved to be seen by all and is pretty accessible even if you aren’t a die hard fan.  And, as the intro always says, the creators always implore the viewers to support the official release…cause this piece of comedy gold wouldn’t be possible without Dragon Ball Z.