Why did the animal characters just disappear?
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Why did the animal characters just disappear?
As the series progressed, we began seeing less and less anthropomorphic animals, and as of Super, they’ve become virtually nonexistent, outside of some occasional appearances by Oolong and Puar. Does anyone have any ideas as to what happened to them? The world of Dragon Ball honestly feels less distinctive without them.
- Pantalones
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
It is really odd that there's no furry guys running around like back in original Dragonball anymore. The king's still a dog and there's still a few stragglers from the original cast like you mentioned, but I can't remember any others showing up in post-Z Dragonball. Until Dragonball Online, anyway -- I know I remember there being a bunch of NPCs/enemies of the humanoid critter variety in there.
Maybe there was a plague that only affected them at some point between the end of Dragonball and the start of Z? Or for whatever reason they all started moving away from the major human population centers, so in city/crowd scenes we don't see them anymore?
Maybe there was a plague that only affected them at some point between the end of Dragonball and the start of Z? Or for whatever reason they all started moving away from the major human population centers, so in city/crowd scenes we don't see them anymore?
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
Is the King of the World still in charge at the end?
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
I don’t recall him ever being mentioned in Super.The S wrote:Is the King of the World still in charge at the end?
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
I think he is last seen in the final battle when the Earth gives their Genki to defeat Boo, at least in the anime.The S wrote:Is the King of the World still in charge at the end?
As for the animal characters, I've always loved them. Just the idea of a mother bear out running errands with her bear son, or a crocodile watching a tournament in the audience is great stuff and really helps give life to the series.
- Makaioshin
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
I have to imagine Toriyama just wasn't interested in drawing detailed minor characters or backgrounds after awhile. After the 23rd TB the characters spend their time fighting in wastelands, on a barren planet, or in seclusion. There were less background characters in general until the cast is reintegrated in the Boo arc. Super kind of brings animal characters back to the forefront between characters like Botamo, the Wolfgang crew, and obviously Beerus. Before that I guess there is Neko Majin and that boar man who could transform his hands in GT.
They also seemingly lampoon the disappearance of animal-type earthlings by having General Bon establish the Red Pants Army to restore the power of the animal humans.Pantalones wrote: Until Dragonball Online, anyway -- I know I remember there being a bunch of NPCs/enemies of the humanoid critter variety in there.
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
The animal characters of Earth been phased out as the setting changed to different worlds/universes, which featured a few animal characters (Trio de Dangers) but mostly different alien beings.
Only Korin and Puar are still around, since they're part of the main cast.
Only Korin and Puar are still around, since they're part of the main cast.
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
Is there any actual in universe explanation for this? There aren't even any furries at the Buu arc/EOZ tournaments I don't think so at least.
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Original Dragon Ball arcs ranking: 23rd Budokai, Saiyan, 21st Budokai, Red Ribbon, Freeza, Piccolo Daimao, 22nd Budokai, DB Hunt, Cell, Buu
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
From a storytelling standpoint, I think the animal characters were de-emphasized due to the more mature and action-oriented tone compared to earlier in the series. You can see this as early as the Daimao arc; with the exception of Korin and King Furry, no animal public characters appear, and they are also completely absent in the 23rd TB.
Disappearing along with them are the more non-martial arts nationalistic characters, like Native Americans and Australians that appeared earlier on (the anime held onto this a bit longer thanks to shoving in Suno at the King Furry parade thing). In fact I dare say that King Chappa in the 23rd TB is the last nation-specific character (India or thereabouts) in the whole series until we get the middle eastern elements of Buu and the Egyptian ones of Beerus. Until then every new character is either quite alien and not themed after a culture's designs, or are generically white anime characters (and yes I'm counting tanned Goku in GT here). Although Mr. Satan may be an exception there, which is nice.
Disappearing along with them are the more non-martial arts nationalistic characters, like Native Americans and Australians that appeared earlier on (the anime held onto this a bit longer thanks to shoving in Suno at the King Furry parade thing). In fact I dare say that King Chappa in the 23rd TB is the last nation-specific character (India or thereabouts) in the whole series until we get the middle eastern elements of Buu and the Egyptian ones of Beerus. Until then every new character is either quite alien and not themed after a culture's designs, or are generically white anime characters (and yes I'm counting tanned Goku in GT here). Although Mr. Satan may be an exception there, which is nice.
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
This question is addressed and answered in an interview with Toriyama from the July 2006 (#43) issue of the American Shonen Jump magazine, and is one of the (rare) actual times that Toriyama figures he may have simply forgotten about something (combined with other circumstances):
In the beginning of Dragon Ball, there are many animal-headed people — panda people, crocodile people, cow people, cat people, etc. — in the backgrounds. But, by the end of the series, there are almost no animal-headed people. Was this a result of the increasing "seriousness" of the story?
It could be the seriousness, but it's probably that I'd forgotten by the end to include them. In the beginning I was still working under the after-effects of Dr. Slump.
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Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
There's a whole plotline in DBO about animal-human discrimination as the main motive for new recruits to join the Red Pants Army, the RR revival. So, there's that for In-Universe explanations, at least for DBO/XV/H (?) canon.
Re: Why did the animal characters just disappear?
Of course, antropomorphic animals have made a BIG comeback to the DB universe in recent years, with Beerus being the cataclyst (pun noticed).
Of course these new animal people in the franchise are never earthlings but that doesn't change the fact that from a design point of view they are just as much anthropomorphic animals as Oolong and the rest of the old guard. And personally I'm happy that they exist because antropomorphic animals are favorite ingredient in fiction of mine.
Of course these new animal people in the franchise are never earthlings but that doesn't change the fact that from a design point of view they are just as much anthropomorphic animals as Oolong and the rest of the old guard. And personally I'm happy that they exist because antropomorphic animals are favorite ingredient in fiction of mine.