Favorite Filler Moments

[matt0044]

- Gohan's training and survival prior to the Saiyan's arrival: This is arguably my favorite filler in all of Dragon Ball. The way that Gohan's character was developed and evolved was fantastic. You really saw how the trials and tribulations transformed Gohan from a scared little boy into a child solider. I became a fan of the character because of those filler episodes. They were that well done. I have to specifically give a special shout out to the episode with Gohan and the orphans.

I always found it odd that Toriyama didn't write in filler himself during the time skip since, well, it'd give him a chance to take a break from the linear story arc with more episodic adventures.

[ABED]

- Gohan's training and survival prior to the Saiyan's arrival: This is arguably my favorite filler in all of Dragon Ball. The way that Gohan's character was developed and evolved was fantastic. You really saw how the trials and tribulations transformed Gohan from a scared little boy into a child solider. I became a fan of the character because of those filler episodes. They were that well done. I have to specifically give a special shout out to the episode with Gohan and the orphans.

I always found it odd that Toriyama didn't write in filler himself during the time skip since, well, it'd give him a chance to take a break from the linear story arc with more episodic adventures.

If Toriyama had written it, I wouldn't call it filler because I do think it furthered Gohan's story. His journey in the manga is bare bones.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

It doesn't slow it to a crawl.

Compared to other parts of Z, maybe not. Compared to how the scene is actually supposed to play out, the anime's version is painful. Totally out of place.

It's not out of place at all. It helps the emotion of the scene immensely instead of it just being a mechanical struggle of power against power. The manga's version is far too quick. The struggle doesn't feel nearly as dramatic or intense.

We'll just have to agree to disagree then. I'd agree that the manga is a bit too breakneck, but I don't think the final struggle deserved a second more than half an episode.

[ABED]

Compared to other parts of Z, maybe not. Compared to how the scene is actually supposed to play out, the anime's version is painful. Totally out of place.

It's not out of place at all. It helps the emotion of the scene immensely instead of it just being a mechanical struggle of power against power. The manga's version is far too quick. The struggle doesn't feel nearly as dramatic or intense.

We'll just have to agree to disagree then. I'd agree that the manga is a bit too breakneck, but I don't think the final struggle deserved a second more than half an episode.

Maybe not, but there are things to cut out beyond the moment you are pointing to. It is a great moment of reflection for those characters and add so much to what is just another beam clash.

[floofychan333]

I liked Goku and Piccolo's driving lesson, the Other World tournament, and any Pilaf Gang stuff.

[ABED]

The Pilaf Gang stuff, especially in the first 13 episodes. In the Manga, they are simply the final enemy, but threading them through the entire arc works better. Plus, they are so darn entertaining.

[8000 Saiyan]

It doesn't slow it to a crawl.

Compared to other parts of Z, maybe not. Compared to how the scene is actually supposed to play out, the anime's version is painful. Totally out of place.

I honestly prefer the anime version to the manga.

[MajinMan]

There are a lot of great filler moments in the series. Some of the best are:

- Tao Pai Pai filler
- The 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai filler
- Training with Popo filler
- Saiyan arc Gohan training filler
- Pre-Cell Games filler
- Great Saiyaman filler
- End of Z filler

There's probably more that I missed, but those are the filler episodes that I think are the best.

[matt0044]

I think MistereFusion put it best that Goku just getting the power up drink before facing Piccolo was cheap and the Anime took advantage of the need for filler by adding in an other worldly journey to the juice.

[GreatSaiyaJeff]

I think MistereFusion put it best that Goku just getting the power up drink before facing Piccolo was cheap and the Anime took advantage of the need for filler by adding in an other worldly journey to the juice.

Yeah, in the manag always feels off but the anime makes it feel so right. Gives Goku a challenge to earn the power up.

[precita]

I also love Krillin trying to fight Kid Buu a bit in Otherworld. It just seemed right after Krillin could do nothing against Super Buu.

[matt0044]

I think MistereFusion put it best that Goku just getting the power up drink before facing Piccolo was cheap and the Anime took advantage of the need for filler by adding in an other worldly journey to the juice.

Yeah, in the manag always feels off but the anime makes it feel so right. Gives Goku a challenge to earn the power up.

There's also Tenshinhan at least attempting the Mafuba only to fail rather than abandoning the rice cooker entirely.

[Big Green The Yoshi]

The driving episode takes this by storm. It reflects how Goku and Piccolo can't function in everyday life in spite of being two of the Universe's most powerful fighters.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

I've always thought the driving episode was more of a pseudo-meme than anyone's actual favorite. It was cute, but such a nothing episode otherwise for me. Interesting that there are people who do count it among their favorites.

[Dbzfan94]

I think MistereFusion put it best that Goku just getting the power up drink before facing Piccolo was cheap and the Anime took advantage of the need for filler by adding in an other worldly journey to the juice.

Yeah, in the manag always feels off but the anime makes it feel so right. Gives Goku a challenge to earn the power up.

I like the concept of the journey, but after watching the series a few times, that filler is boring to me so I usually skip it.

[ABED]

I think MistereFusion put it best that Goku just getting the power up drink before facing Piccolo was cheap and the Anime took advantage of the need for filler by adding in an other worldly journey to the juice.

Yeah, in the manag always feels off but the anime makes it feel so right. Gives Goku a challenge to earn the power up.

I like the concept of the journey, but after watching the series a few times, that filler is boring to me so I usually skip it.

That part fills two episodes. Just skip the first, but the second is really good.

I'll say it, I don't like the driving episode. It's somewhat amusing, but it's hardly laugh out loud funny to me.

[Dbzfan94]

Yeah, in the manag always feels off but the anime makes it feel so right. Gives Goku a challenge to earn the power up.

I like the concept of the journey, but after watching the series a few times, that filler is boring to me so I usually skip it.

That part fills two episodes. Just skip the first, but the second is really good.

I'll say it, I don't like the driving episode. It's somewhat amusing, but it's hardly laugh out loud funny to me.

Yeah I skip the first one mainly.

[Kamiccolo9]

I was a big fan of the Red Ribbon Army filler. The expanded Colonel Silver stuff, and basically everything involving Violet was great.

[precita]

It's too bad Kai made most people think filler episodes or scenes are garbage. Granted there has always been a negative stigma toward filler, but everytime I marathon through the anime I realize how much I like the filler scenes and some episodes. Of course there is horrid filler too (Fake Namek comes to mind), but I do like most of the others.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

It's too bad Kai made most people think filler episodes or scenes are garbage. Granted there has always been a negative stigma toward filler, but everytime I marathon through the anime I realize how much I like the filler scenes and some episodes. Of course there is horrid filler too (Fake Namek comes to mind), but I do like most of the others.

I don't think Kai made anyone dislike the filler, it just gave them a catalyst to actively disavow it. I was young, so I don't remember a whole lot from the pre-Kai era, but I do remember that everyone complained about it back then, too.