Dragon Ballhas always prioritized lighthearted action and whimsy over complex narratives and deeper character arcs.

Whether toying with symbolism or bringing character arcs to fulfilling ends,Dragon Ballcan get surprisingly deep.

Much of the series can be boiled down to great ideas, and questionable execution.

Dragon Ball GT’s Kid Goku jumping up for an attack over a background of a poster from GT.

One of those great concepts wasthe birth of the Shadow Dragons.

Dragon Ball GT is famously divisive, and its reputation has only tanked following the franchise’s 2010s revival.

But is it as bad as people say?

Image showing Gohan in his various forms during his high school days

Instead,he captured and trained Gohanin order to make him useful in battle.

However,no one embodies that need for strength better than Gohan.

It’sa rare mature moment forDragon Ball, and one that remains a poignant scene all these years later.

Dragon Ball Super Master Roshi Power Kamehameha

The Kamehameha, Goku’s signature move, was one he inherited from Master Roshi as a child.

Unfortunately, Gohan would eventually lose his role asDragon Ball’s protagonist during the Buu Saga.

At the time, however, the moment embodied nearly every major theme that ran through the iconic series.

Gohan, from the scene where he first transforms into Super Saiyan 2, stands in focus with Goku and Veneta behind him.

Image created by Zach Zamora

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.

These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together.

Gohan Tail

Goku frowning after using his Angry Kamehameha to defeat Frieza on Namek.

Dragon Ball Franchise Image

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.

Anime

Dragon Ball