Dragon Ball GT

Many people bash Dragon Ball GT for being simply a commercial hit by Toei Animation, because it's not made by Toriyama, and because Z is 100000 times better. I can agree on these points, they are all true, but GT is not as bad as it could have been.

Biggest Dragon Ball fans know full well that after GT ended, fans were so wanting for more, even if GT wasn't quite the big deal - it was even cancelled after only 64 episodes, compared to the total of over 400 of the previous 2 series. Many, many fan-fictions were made (at times, I even made a few, I so loved the world created by Toriyama). Dragon Ball GT, in a way, is a fan-fiction, as it's hardly even related to Toriyama, if not for a few concepts like the SSJ4. So, a Dragon Ball made purely to make the crying fans shut up, by different authors who didn't properly follow the previous events of the series? Well that sounds just terrible. The series though, isn't all that bad.

The Dragon Ball fan-base was always split in 2 - those who preferred the comicity and absurdity of the 1st Dragon Ball series, and those who loved the sci-fi macho fights between ubermuscle'd saiyans of Z. GT obviously tries to give bread to both fan-bases, making the 1st part of the GT series a tribute to the 1st series with all the searching of the Dragon Balls - some plots even rip-off completely previous plots from the 1st series! Even the trio, Goku, Trunks and Pan seems a homage to the Goku - Yamcha - Bulma trio of 1st series. In fact, the 1st part of the series is actually pretty lame. It gets interesting in some parts, but only the Baby part really changes the things for the best, thus making GT actually worth a watch.

This part is obviously a homage to Z, more like to Buu series, and it's the longest enemy in GT, lasting quite some episodes - which is good, because I find this part far the most interesting in the series. Here we get some insane combats, some actually pretty inventive, but most of them kind of missing the thrills of DBZ, but with many situations that are resolved by luck and not by skills. This thing happens later on as well, in the following enemies, which are far less interesting than Baby in fact. The way Toei tries to continue the android-saga over 3-4 years after it ended is quite mad, as it really adds no depth - except for the final words about it maybe, which I won't spoil. The last part of the series focuses on a situations that fans were "what-if-ing" from several years - what would happen if the Dragon Balls turned against our friends? Well, despite the logical happening of that, this part is actually very boring, and only at the very end it gets any interesting, even thought it's very much like the Janemba movie of Z. The ending is fairly logical, but it's not worth the wait, and I think a better ending should have been made.

At the end, GT is not bad, considering. The core fighting is still very good, and some fights are really well-done, especially for the time. Some parts though fail very hard, because they completely rip-off earlier plots. The characters aren't as good as before either, with Pan being so whiny that it's often annoying. Goku turned out to be stupid as well. And there's some heavy plot-hole. But at the core, this is Dragon Ball. If you liked the mindless combats in Z, there's no reason for you to miss GT either. Just be prepared that GT is a cheap and unofficial way to end an amazing series, and while it's not bad compared to general animes, it's quite a downfall for Toriyama.

A must for hardcore fans, otherwise you won't be missing much.

There are many complaints against DragonBall GT. Many people complain about the lack of characters who get things to do, the lack of favourite characters from the first two series, and the mix of styles from the first two series. The first DragonBall was a very comedic show that centered around Goku growing up as a child, while DragonBall Z introduced many new characters, evolved the existing ones and took itself a lot more seriously. Both shows worked fine in their individual styles, but did feel slightly contrasting next to each other.

DragonBall GT is also disregarded by many fans, as the series original creator did not work on this series other than having the job of character consultant.

But looking past the complaints, and regarding it as a series in it's own right, DragonBall GT is very fine. The first step it takes is noticeable - reducing Goku back to the state of a child. The second is probably more noticeable - reducing the regular cast list to only 3; only two of which were favourites from DragonBall Z. In later episodes, an all new fourth party is also added - Gil, a robot who swallowed the Dragon Radar from the original series - unfortunately, he generally slows things down, but at least there has been innovation, which is commendable.

What this series does - and very successfully, it's worth noting - is consistently merge the comedic DragonBall with the action-laden DragonBall Z. Everyone is a winner here, even if their favourite style is not featured as much as in their favourite of the two original series. Reducing Goku to a child was a sensible move, as it allowed fans of the original who drifted during Z's adult-Goku to become interested in the series with the character they knew and loved again. The series utilises it's license to the fullest - resurrecting Emporer Pilaf from the original series (noticeably absent from DragonBall Z), and recreating the importance of the DragonBalls (who were generally merely aesthetic in DragonBall Z). The series also introduces the character of Pan - who showed a lot of potential at the end of DragonBall Z. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the show, Pan does take up a lot of the screen time, but her character is a direct descendant of Bulma from the original series (despite family tree relations), with the role of 'growing up' given to Goku in DragonBall and Gohan in DragonBall Z.

The series is not perfect, however. Early episodes are generally unengaging, with sometimes uninteresting villains and often farcical situations. The early episodes seem to focus mostly on the DragonBall style over the DragonBall Z one - and because of this the series feels alienated to those who have only experienced DBZ (which is probably a large percentage of the fanbase). Animation has dropped noticeably in quality from DragonBall Z - feeling a bit more 'clunky' and hard-edged. Character re-designs are generally awful; Vegeta starts off the series with a moustache, Gohan's glasses now dominate his face, Trunks has been given an odd suit that really can't be categorised, and Krillin is almost completely unrecogniseable from the first series.

On a redeeming note, though, some character redesigns are good - Pan's costume suits the feel of the show, and Bulma looks exactly the same as in DBZ, save a few wrinkles. Goten also looks great as the skinny teenager, and his role is well written. Hercule also looks much better than expected with a bald patch.

Fans of DBZ will be disappointed that many of the characters are left out of the action - Gohan, Goten and others seemingly never get to fight at all, or do anything of utmost importance. Krillin is annoyingly underused, but he was becoming like that in DragonBall Z as well. Yamcha, again, is noticeably missing. And most surprisingly, Vegeta gets considerably less screen-time in DBZ - though of all the supporting cast, he probably does the most, so it's not all bad.

So what is DragonBall GT? It's a decidedly mixed bag - many good features, and many bad. But as a series in it's own right, it is very good, and a few steps above many other action animes that have all action and barely any substance. The light humour adds a lot, too, and feels very much a part of the DragonBall continuity. And because of the linked styles from the first two series, which works very well in the later episodes, the series really does take on a new perspective, and truly does feel like a DragonBall series. It's not perfect, but for fans of the series it's more of the same - repetitive fight after repetitive fight, with Hercule throwing in some overused (but still welcome) cameos here and there.

A good follow up, if not perfect. Definitely worth investing in if a fan of either original series - or if DBZ left you begging for more - which it did for many people.

Still, it was a nice series, I do believe the main problems the show has are both rather easily fixed. Granted, it is to late to do that now. The first problem is the show needed more development. A good twenty episodes more could have helped this show immensely. That way some fights could have lasted longer, Vegeta could have had more face time and new characters explored a bit more. The other problem is the problems in the stories plot. These are not mistakes I am used to seeing in a Japanese animation, but rather the type found in American animation of the type found in a lot of the cartoon shows I watched in the 80's. Like they said let's forget about what happened here, and try this idea that does not fit in the universe anyway. However, complaints aside there is still a lot to enjoy about this series. It starts out like "Dragonball" with Goku being reduced to child form by black star dragonballs that for all purposes should not exist (see the plot problems complaint). These balls are scattered across the universe and Goku, his granddaughter Pan and Trunks must track them down or the earth will be destroyed. Why they pick Trunks is a mystery, I would have rather seen Vegeta tag along as seeing his and Goku's friendship continue to develop after the Z series would have been nice, not to mention Trunks is virtually a non factor once the fighting portion of the show begins with the battle between Goku and Baby. During the search portion of the series the adventures tend to be on the humorous side and sometimes the annoying side as you wonder why Goku and Trunks do not simply turn into super saiyans during some of their fights as that would have simplified things immensely. Once Baby enters the picture the show shifts to more of a "Dragonball Z" feel to it. Then Android 17 reenters the fray and finally there are numerous battles with what are called shadow dragons with the final battle against a rather tough foe called Omega Shenron. Piccolo is almost a no show through the whole series only really making a contribution in the short Super 17 saga. Vegeta was needed more too, but he really makes an impact during the final battle with Omega as he fuses with Goku and Gogeta is born, for like a half an episode (a place where another episode would have worked). All in all though the fighting once Goku begins his battle with Baby as a Super Saiyan 4 is nearly nonstop the rest of the way. Shame it had to end the way it did, I would have liked to seen more, however as the original creator had stopped doing anything Dragonball at this time it was time for this show to be laid to rest.

Continuing from Dragon Ball Z was a near impossible task considering how good it was. GT seems to want to try to mix Dragon ball and Z into a darker show. Its worth a watch but probably not another.

DBGT starts of ten years after the end of the Dragon ball z series, with Goku training on Kami's lookout. Gohan is an adult now , married to Videl, and has a slightly out-of-control adolescent daughter named Pan.

The series, being the only one NOT based off a comic series by its creator -Akira Toriyama, tries to be a balance between the previous two. Keeping the goofy fun of the first series, with a group of youngsters (Goku gets wished back to a child in the first ten minutes) on a quest for the Dragon balls, and mixes it with the action packed fights of the DBZ series.

Its decent and its kinda nice seeing ur favorite characters getting a little older, if youre a fan. And Basically thats what it comes down to, if you're a fan, you'll like this series. If not, it probably wont be the one to convert you (but it could).