Dragon Ball GT

This show is taking a lot of heat from die-hard fans of the popular manga and anime Dragon Ball Z, because it is a revisitation to and - in some fashion - a retelling of the original dragon ball series, on a much grander scale and in increasingly obfuscated terms. The basic plot and premise of the beginning of this series is simple; a trio of child heroes disembark from earth in a rocketship to find powerful magical artifacts called 'black star dragon balls', that have been scattered across the galaxy. The result, known under the name Dragon Ball GT, is an anime series that is fair in its own right, but succumbs to its ambition. Not only does the fact that GT has been written by a large number of different storyboard writers cause the whole to be diffuse and incoherent, but the series had been canceled before its due date as well, making watching GT a laborious effort for some.

Despite this, it's hard to blame GT for how it might or might not have turned out, because the series is at its very core a large marketing exercise, a service to fans worldwide who were not ready for their favorite anime series to be decommissioned just yet. The moral of the story behind GT, then, is that trying to please everybody at the same time is a fool's errand.

GT incorporates the playfulness and adventure-element of the early Dragon Ball series, as well as the high-octane fighting from Dragon Ball Z. Fans of the former may just end up complain about the latter, and vice versa. At the same time, the resulting series is neither as original nor as exciting as either Dragonball or Dragon Ball Z. The first half of GT utilizes the same archetypical main characters as in Dragonball - Goku, Trunks and Pan in GT, compared to Goku, Yamcha and Bulma from Dragonball. The 'new' character of Pan, although often fun and rebellious, is not always interesting and may at times test the limits of your patience with her pre-pubescent levels of self-reliance. GT is a mixed bag, a mutt amongst anime that you either learn to like or love to hate.

What vexes many Dragon Ball afficionados the most is that GT introduces a lot of plot holes to the formerly reasonably tight storyline of its predecessors. Many of these storytelling oversights can be attributed to alterations of the original plot. Resultingly, GT can be considered somewhat of a retcon because of it, if not a downright non-chronicle addition to the Dragonball universe. BUT...

... let's be fair now and consider that Dragon Ball Z itself isn't exactly famous for its storyline depth to begin with. One might even argue that if it weren't for the Saiya-Jin and Freezer sagas, and the thoroughly interesting and well-developed character of Cell, Dragon Ball Z wouldn't have enough story to wrap around on itself and make a hole in the first place. What GT doesn't fail to bring, then, is an engaging little plot, even if it diverges from the canon. Said plot is interspersed with a myriad of interesting locales, characters and villains, and allows for a variation not seen since the early stages of Dragonball (I am of course referring to the recurring theme of high-octane battles over barren mesas). Also, perhaps by virtue of their absurdity, GT boasts less emphasis on the by then truly cyclopean power levels of the characters it features, whether that is for the better or worse.

In conclusion, GT is definitely worth a once-over. Find out for yourself if you love or hate it, but don't think it isn't worth watching, because it is. 6/10

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.

Dragonball GT began life in 1996 as the immediate 'sequel' to Dragonball Z. However, its creator Akira Toriyama was only used as a character consultant and its clear from watching the show that it has taken on a new creative and artistic spin.

For the first 25 episodes the show returns to its roots with the original Dragonball, filled with oddball humor, various locales (and its denizens), and of course the hunt for the black star dragonballs. The premise of the whole series is that Son Gokuh has been turned into a little boy again by the evil Pilaf, and now must beat the clock to recover the black star dragonballs which have now spread out across the galaxy (as opposed to merely the Earth).

As they wrap up their dragonball hunting, they unleash a mutant machine named Baby whose goal is to get revenge on Gokuh and take control of everyone on Earth. I won't spoil the plot from here on.

What I truly enjoyed about this series was that all the characters seemed to have evolved and changed, although not in a way that alienates their original personality. Vegeta is still a hardass who wants to be the strongest fighter ever, but (as he had conceded at the end of DBZ) knows Gokuh is #1 and has made a life for himself with Bulma and his two kids. Trunks has turned from an arrogant brat into the mature Future Trunks we saw back in the Cell saga. It is this great attention to detail and plot that made this a joy to watch.

The final two episodes are filled with raw emotion- deservedly so, for it represents the end of three generations of great anime. So long, Gokuh!

[Semi Spoilers]

I liked Dragonball. And DBZ. The only reason I even watched GT is because maybe I held some little flickering light of hope within me that this show would be more like the original Dragonball's comedic adventures.

Luckily for all you big-time Akira Toriyama fans, you have nothing to worry about, because this pathetic end to the Dragonball saga won't be tarnishing your favorite show's name. This is because Akira Toriyama, past scribbling a few robot designs, had absolutely nothing to do with this show. This was created by the TV people, more specifically Toei Animation, because Toriyama wanted to give Dragonball a rest and move on with his career, but Toei wanted more green (or whatever color Japanese money is). I heard this show was actually cancelled before it even finished its run, which is practically unheard of with anime (the only other instance I've heard of is the original Gundam's mid-series cancellation, and those 70's people didn't know a good thing when they saw it).

Though some anime fans don't realize it, the average Japanese viewer is not like an American fan. American fans are typically fairly intellectual people, often young people in college or grown adults. Average Japanese viewers, on the other hand, are just like average American viewers, which means that if something was cancelled, that means it must have been REALLY bad (This is why there can be such a big difference between what's popular in Japan and what's popular among US fans).

Now on to Dragon Ball GT. Since the story and characterization and so on are just a continuation of Dragon Ball Z, this review will be less categorical than most of mine are. What's been created here is a true spectacle of what horrors marketing can wreak on a work. This is even more of a perversion than Yugioh, since the second Yugioh starts on the screen you can see it was created for the sole purpose of marketing tie-ins. It was made to be a commercial, and it is, but Dragonball wasn't, and now it's been made into one.

Coming from the side of a fan, I can say that if Toriyama had actually wanted to carry on Dragon Ball Z, I'm sure he would've found some way to do it. It may not have been as stupid as this, but this is only a small step up from some of the things he did do. It isn't the actual lame contrived "plot" twist used to drag on this concept that really makes this show worthless; it's the execution. Much as I complain about the parts of Dragon Ball Z that Toriyama actually created, I can see how much he really does for it when something he wasn't involved in comes around (in this case, I'm talking about the worthless movies or the abysmal Garlic Junior Saga in the TV show). Those were boring beyond all logical comparison (more boring than Dune combined with Boogiepop Phantom combined with Ghost in the Shell, and without the other appeal). I don't know what it is; something to do with the fights, or the designs, or the overall feel, but something Toriyama does takes Dragon Ball Z from unbearable to mediocre (or in the mind of a fan, from mediocre to excellent).

Actually, I was lying; I do know what it is Toriyama does (Warning: Corny Artistic Rant Ahead). When he makes Dragon Ball Z, even if the story is nonexistent, even if the characterization is painfully simplistic, and even if the fights drag on lamely for eight hundred episodes, he injects his soul into it. Every scratchy, mysteriously empty panel of the manga has concentrated soul of Akira Toriyama in it, and the movies, Garlic Junior Saga, and GT have the concentrated soul of marketing in them, which basically means they're crap.

Dragon Ball GT marks the introduction of a new character: Pan, Goku's granddaughter. She appeared at the age of five in like the last three episodes of DBZ, and if I thought Lum Cheng from Silent Mobius was a superfluous character, was I in for a surprise. Pan brought a new meaning to the word "superfluity." In this one she's like twelve years old and she travels the galaxy with Goku and Trunks. Of course, in true Dragonball style, she's both the weakest and stupidest character for no discernible reason, since she's the only female character (by the way, her name means "bread" in Japanese). She's the most dull Dragonball character since the Supreme Kai in the Majin Buu saga. No characterization can hold up for the ungodly episode count this series is breaching unless every episode is sort of the same, like Pokemon, and this is where Dragonball's collapses.

I thought the bad guys in previous Dragonball shows were kinda boring, but at least they looked unique and had the gigantic planet-shattering steroid beams that engraved them into your memory. The bad guys in Dragonball GT all just look exactly the same as someone in previous Dragonball shows, and they don't do anything to set themselves apart. General Rilldo and Doctor Myu want to turn every life form in the galaxy into robot mutants! Whoopee! And how exactly do they plan on doing this when their doomsday weapon is the kid form of Majin Buu with a palette swap whose big ability is that, when he runs off with his tail between his legs, he can run into other people's bodies? Not a single steroid beam can come out of his hand, mouth, eyes, lower extremities, or any other part of his body, and previous Dragonball shows have proved that the only way to beat steroid beams is with steroid beams.

As a fan, there were a lot of things in Dragon Ball Z that I thought were utterly ridiculous. I won't go into them right now, because it would take an entire review, and they don't really matter anyway. But Dragon Ball Z always managed to keep enough of a grasp on its roots in Dragon Ball that it never ended up taking itself too seriously, which would have been a disaster. Now we get to see how much of one, because that's one of the worst things, even with everything else how it is, that Dragonball GT does wrong! I laughed until I cried when Goku and General Rilldo stopped fighting so General Rilldo could proclaim "Soon all lifeforms will be robot mutants!", even more so because General Rilldo has an "accent" that sounds vaguely British, so "robot" came out like "robət" (with an upside-down e). It's good that they tried to actually come up with some reason for the heroes to fight the bad guys, which they never even tried to do in Dragon Ball Z, but come on--you can do better than "I want to transform all life into robət-mutants!"

Dragonball GT is the one of the most godawful anime I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. Everything about it is worthless, including the spirit behind its creation. The thing it most favorably compares with is Gatekeepers Full Throttle, since both of them were made to drag on the popularity of something else, both of them had high production values, and both of them were totally worthless. The only difference is GKFT had Miyu Menazure (yeah, it's ru not re, but who cares?). And DBGT has Pan. Pan isn't smart enough to outsmart Miyu, but isn't stupid enough to outstupid her. And that basically sums up the entire show. However, if you could care less about the weird bad guys and endearingly two-dimensional characterization of Dragonball and Dragonball Z, and only watched them so you could see two hulking muscleheads beating the living $*!% out of each other, you'll probably love this show.

Rating: 0.5 -- Narrowly avoids being lumped in with Beyblade and Medabots.

Production Notes Definition

This really should have gone on that review, but here now in its complete unabridged form is the reason why I call Gatekeepers 21 "Gatekeepers Full Throttle"! Well remember Charlie's Angels Full Throttle? It was the sequel to something, had three female main characters, and it sucked. (I also refer to Final Fantasy X-2 as Final Fantasy X Full Throttle for the same reason).

This probably should have gone in the actual review, but there is one big story continuity issue with Dragon Ball GT. Waaaaay back when Goku was training under Kaio-sama, he learned about the history of the Saiyan race and how they destroyed the technologically-advanced Tuffles to gain control of their planet. However, it seems Baby (the big evil thing) is actually supposed to be a Tuffle or something (I was only partially paying attention by this point). I suppose the fact that all the Tuffles are supposed to be dead can be excused (since all the Saiyans but Goku and Vegeta were supposed to be dead, but in the movies a new Saiyan just showed up every time. You'd think with all these Saiyans still lurking around there'd be some lady Saiyans to help them repopulate their race), but whoever was supposed to be a Tuffle is portrayed as being extremely powerful. And Kaio-sama expressly said back in DBZ that the Tuffles only ruled the planet because of their technology, they were no more powerful than regular humans. But I'm sure the creators didn't care about things like that as long as DBGT kept selling T-shirts and action figures.

BOTTEM LINE: Read the DBZ manga [Comic] (Because of people complaining about the Drag-On thing) or the DB Anime.

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.