What do you like about Dragon Ball?

[Kid Buu]

I've been going through my posts and it seems like I've been pessimistic about the series recently, so I'm going to make a positive thread on it for once.

--Action: When the fights are not too one-sided, they're quite intense. The best ones are usually the emotionally-driven ones where there is a sense of damage and their is a sense of the fighters getting weaker as the fight progresses.
--Adventure: One of the best aspects of the series. I love the Dragon Ball hunts in Pilaf arc, Red Ribbon Army, and Namek. Toriyama really offered some great scenarios there, and those three are among my favourite arcs.
--Artwork: One of the most overlooked aspects, well on this forum anyway. Even though Toriyama did not have too many exciting settings in the series, to the extent I think it's something Toei actually improved upon, I love how he puts so much detail in his art.
--Creativity: What really blew me away from the series first time I viewed it is that it never ceased to amaze me. For example, the Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack was really inventive when I saw it, and that's something Toriyama did at the end of the series.
--Humor: There's a few funny gags, such as battles that feature Yamcha and Gotenks. Some might find them immature, but I would be a liar if it didn't make me laugh.

[Storm]

What series like Star Wars and Lord Of The Rings do for many people, Dragon Ball does for me. It returns me to the child-like wonder of watching colorful characters engaged in captivating battles and struggles, but as an adult, I also really have come to love the direction, acting, and soundtrack of the series (moreso in Japanese than anything). Watching a well-made fight in Dragon Ball accompanied with Kikuchi's beautiful score and an incredible ensemble of voice talent is a sight to behold. On its best days, Toriyama's art style bursts forward with bravado and energy into wonderful animation that gives the series the visuals that make it so special.

I love how the scope of the series keeps expanding and expanding, and gradually, too; the transition from Pilaf, to the 21st Budokai, to the Red Ribbon Army, and so on don't seem like much at first…but suddenly, you're on an alien planet with a psychotic war lord while the protagonists are trying to protect the original Dragon Balls and the previous arc's villain is running around causing trouble. I feel like as the series goes on, it grows more mature and thoughtful, without losing the playful charm and humor that encapsulates Dragon Ball so well.

The manga is great as well. I've rarely met a comic artist who can draw fight scenes as well as Toriyama, who has a real talent for placing fights in the mind's eye, so that the choreography and movement seems to burst from the page without feeling stiff or scattered like a lot of comics are wont to do.

And on a side note, the movies act as a great companion piece to the series; despite their simplicity, they give us interesting What If scenarios and at their best are as exciting and poignant as the main series itself.

Well, this post got a little sappy and unironic, but I truly love Dragon Ball, especially after having marathoned the anime start to finish for the very first time this past year. I've been with the franchise for well over a decade (which might not seem like very long for some folks here, but besides a few series almost nothing has been in my mind as consistently as DB), and I don't see myself stopping any time soon.

[RandomGuy96]

The villains. Except for Perfect Cell and some of the comical ones from Dragon Ball, they're all pretty badass and entertaining, and without a doubt my favorite characters.

The way it's able to draw me in. I, for some reason, MUST know every little in-universe thing. How strong is character x? What species is Freeza of? Why do Buu's transformations go the way that they do? How do ki attacks work? Can the movies fit in the timeline? Why did character x do y? What would have happened if blah blah blah? Dragon Ball can inspire me to discuss and speculate with other fans in a way few other things can.

[KentalSSJ6]

The villains. Except for Perfect Cell and some of the comical ones from Dragon Ball, they're all pretty badass and entertaining, and without a doubt my favorite characters.

The way it's able to draw me in. I, for some reason, MUST know every little in-universe thing. How strong is character x? What species is Freeza of? Why do Buu's transformations go the way that they do? How do ki attacks work? Can the movies fit in the timeline? Why did character x do y? What would have happened if blah blah blah? Dragon Ball can inspire me to discuss and speculate with other fans in a way few other things can.

To answer your question about the movies, only Bojack Unbound and Wrath of The Dragon fit without any major issues.

[RandomGuy96]

The villains. Except for Perfect Cell and some of the comical ones from Dragon Ball, they're all pretty badass and entertaining, and without a doubt my favorite characters.

The way it's able to draw me in. I, for some reason, MUST know every little in-universe thing. How strong is character x? What species is Freeza of? Why do Buu's transformations go the way that they do? How do ki attacks work? Can the movies fit in the timeline? Why did character x do y? What would have happened if blah blah blah? Dragon Ball can inspire me to discuss and speculate with other fans in a way few other things can.

To answer your question about the movies, only Bojack Unbound and Wrath of The Dragon fit without any major issues.

Let's not start this again, as Movie 5 also fits in pretty well, and Movie 1 is, along with 5, actually officially in-continuity with the rest of the series. That and Movies 9 and 13 DO have issues, like Gohan saying that the tournament in the Buu Saga is the first time he's seen his dad in seven years, and the origin of Trunks' sword.

[DBZASHKACHU]

I like how timeless the Dragon Ball series is. Through his storytelling and artwork Toriyama really draws you into that universe. I think his art style is very unique because nothing else really looks like it, the artwork could be super detailed or super deformed and still work. The story also appeals to a wide audience,if I think back there were kids I had nothing in common with who loved Dragon Ball heck even people who don't like anime like Dragon Ball. I always thought it's story had that power and charm to draw people in no matter what their interests or backgrounds were. I mean new generations of kids are getting into the series and that's pretty cool considering how old the series is. Who doesn't like action, comedy, adventure and a little romance right? You also can't forget the characters of course. You get to grow up with the characters and since Dragon Ball has such a large cast there's one for everybody to connect with. Goku and his friends are pretty charming folks, all so different and unique in their own way. The series has some strong themes that I really appreciate. Themes of courage, friendship, family, good conquering evil and never giving up. That's great stuff for kids to learn growing up maybe even adults lol.

Everything about Dragon ball is very immersive. Sometimes I feel like I hunted for the dragon balls, traveled to Planet Namek, gave Goku my energy for the spirit bomb to defeat Buu etc. If a series can do that well that's just awesome. I also like how you think it's done but then the dust clears and boom! You get new material (like Battle of Gods) that just expands this already large universe. We will fight for love and glory. We will live to tell the story. There is nothing we can't live through, nothing ever dies, we will rise again!!! (I think that fits well with what I'm saying )

[TheGmGoken]

I know this isn't much of a post and I'm sorry for this. But a better question for me would be what I DON'T like about Dragonball. As I honestly like pretty much EVERYTHING about Dragonball. Meaning I like what Dragonball is. Besides some minor things. Nothing turns me off about Dragonball.

[thatdbzguy]

I like Dragon Ball because I'm an idiot who doesn't know literature of actual quality when he sees some.

(Not trying to mock you guys, just admitting to my idiocy.)

[theoriginalbilis]

I typically give the same answer every time: I came for the action and fights, I stay for the characters and charm.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

I like Dragon Ball because I'm an idiot who doesn't know literature of actual quality when he sees some.

(Not trying to mock you guys, just admitting to my idiocy.)

I like Dragon Ball because it knows it's not literature of actual quality and it doesn't make any attempt to pretend that it is. Despite that, it still has a huge following because it knows how to play to its strengths.

Seriously, though. Who cares if it's not well written? I saw you going on about this in the Unpopular Opinions thread. I'm afraid I don't understand.

[Saiga]

It has inconsistencies here and there, some poor decisions and developments, yeah, and some parts are badly written... but I think it's grossly inaccurate to say the whole thing is poorly written, and I believe that the well written parts outnumber the badly written moments.

[Looneygamemaster]

Dragon Ball is a great deal of fun. Especially in the material covered by the first anime, there is a sense of joy and wonder that speaks to the child in everyone.

I see posts in here and other threads about how it's "poorly written" and I'll admit, some of the character writing is a bit iffy. But plotwise? I actually think Dragon Ball's very strong for what it is. I can't recall any plot twists that bothered me, which is quite amazing when you consider that Toriyama was making it up on the fly. Everything in the story flows more or less naturally. I really like its artstyle too--it's pleasingly cartoony (and really, unless the author can tell a truly good drama, that's how "Shonen Fighters" should be), and feels fresh. Some of Toriyama's other art feels uninspired and dull (like Blue Dragon) but I don't get that feeling here.

As for the cartoons...they may add more flaws, but two things they are consistently good at are voice acting and music.

[Daimo-Rukiri]

It's humor, action & fights, story telling, and the characters.
That pretty much sums up the reason why I like Dragon Ball, and have since 93.

[DoomieDoomie911]

I'll have to go with two things, the characters and the humor. The complex characters, and the fun, happy attitude of the whole series really makes Dragon Ball for me.