What old concepts from movies/games will be made canon next?

[Cybersai]

Since apparently modern Dragon Ball is all about re-using old concepts and ideas that were previously non-canon, what do you think will be made canon next?

1. Android 21. She basically is canon already, and given Toriyama designed her I think it's only a matter of time before she gets a "proper" debut in canon. Dr. Gero's wife turned Android mixed with Buu DNA is likely going to have a mainline appearance at some point. I'm surprised she hasn't appeared outside of Fighter Z yet to my knowledge, not even in Sparking Zero.

2. Cooler. I figure this is inevitable, after Broly he was the most popular movie villain. He keeps showing up in games/heroes. I don't know how they'll explain where he's been all this time, maybe Freeza was embarrassed by him and didn't let him lead an army of his own. Who knows.

3. Supreme Kai of Time. Maybe? I dunno. I don't think we need Future Trunks as a time patrol person, but I think she might be worked in somehow. We already know she's a glind now.

4. Adult Gotenks, This is basically nothing major, but we still haven't seen adult Gotenks properly in canon yet. I figure it's only a matter of time.

Some other things I could see them going for is the Shadow Dragons in particular Omega Shenron or Janemba, but who knows. If you told anyone even just 5 years ago that we'd have a canon Broly, Gogeta, SSJ3 Vegeta and SSJ4 Goku...they would have laughed in your face. But here we are and all of that is canon now. So anythings game I guess.

[JulieYBM]

Coola or Kuriiza being brought in to go along with the Black Freeza arc would be fun. Imagine Coola coming to Earth, making friends with Gokuu and friends and claiming that Freeza is attempting to do something really dangerous, only to pull the rug out from them and reveal that he is the true threat?

One can literally do anything they want, really. Heck, fold Artificial Humans #13-15 into being foot soldiers of #21! Heck, with #21 you could even do a 'return to the Demon Realm' arc to follow up on Daima, since she is also a Majin.

Want to do Hirudegarn? What if they are rampaging in the demon realm?

Literally just do whatever story sounds like fun to do.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

Fake Bardock, fake Broly, and now fake Ssj4 are worse in every way compared to their classic counterparts, so hopefully they don't ruin anything else. Also; can we please start demanding more original content from this franchise ? Has everyone forgotten what a breath of fresh air Battle of Gods was in 2013 ? I want more of that.

[Kaboom]

Fake Bardock, fake Broly, and now fake Ssj4 are worse in every way compared to their classic counterparts, so hopefully they don't ruin anything else. Also; can we please start demanding more original content from this franchise ? Has everyone forgotten what a breath of fresh air Battle of Gods was in 2013 ? I want more of that.

Ditto on this, enough cool classic stuff has fallen prey to the "canon curse" already. But I don't even want attempts at genuinely "new" material anymore because that only turns out terrible too. Just cut the losses and let it stop already.

[JulieYBM]

Fake Bardock, fake Broly, and now fake Ssj4 are worse in every way compared to their classic counterparts, so hopefully they don't ruin anything else. Also; can we please start demanding more original content from this franchise ? Has everyone forgotten what a breath of fresh air Battle of Gods was in 2013 ? I want more of that.

I enjoy Bardock from Super a lot more than the Dragon Ball Z depiction. I can really relate to his melancholy, which I think helps sets him apart from other Saiyans in a way that is less, "I'm a chosen one with the ability to see my own demise" and more "Bardock was discovering the potential of the Saiyans to evolve as a people just as he was wiped away from existence."

Also, he's just more attractive in Movie #20? I think that's definitely the way to go whenever someone feels excited to come up with a new story for an older character.

[WittyUsername]

DBE. Justice for Geeko and his sliding hair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyn6XYW2T64

[Vegeta th3 4th]

I enjoy Bardock from Super a lot more than the Dragon Ball Z depiction. I can really relate to his melancholy, which I think helps sets him apart from other Saiyans in a way that is less, "I'm a chosen one with the ability to see my own demise" and more "Bardock was discovering the potential of the Saiyans to evolve as a people just as he was wiped away from existence."

The biggest issue I have with modern Bardock is that he's nearly a clone of Superman's dad Jor-El, making Goku's origin even closer to Superman's. Then with him and his mom being good or better than the average Saiyan, it made Goku becoming a good guy more destined than just a lucky coincidence of him hitting his head. Of course we can't forget the whole wish disaster from the Granola arc that took so much away from Goku's accomplishments as a kid.

Classic Bardock was not special, even if he was our hero's dad. He was just as weak as any other Saiyan, and had little authority outside his own squad. What makes his story more tragic is that despite being able to see into the future, he couldn't do a single thing to change it. So many other stories of a similar nature would've dropped the ball somewhere along the road, but the team behind the Bardock special didn't. They told a story that was a good story, not just a good DB story.

Also, he's just more attractive in Movie #20? I think that's definitely the way to go whenever someone feels excited to come up with a new story for an older character.

I really missed the blood socked headband and green armor; they both gave him a very unique look.

[JulieYBM]

I enjoy Bardock from Super a lot more than the Dragon Ball Z depiction. I can really relate to his melancholy, which I think helps sets him apart from other Saiyans in a way that is less, "I'm a chosen one with the ability to see my own demise" and more "Bardock was discovering the potential of the Saiyans to evolve as a people just as he was wiped away from existence."

The biggest issue I have with modern Bardock is that he's nearly a clone of Superman's dad Jor-El, making Goku's origin even closer to Superman's. Then with him and his mom being good or better than the average Saiyan, it made Goku becoming a good guy more destined than just a lucky coincidence of him hitting his head. Of course we can't forget the whole wish disaster from the Granola arc that took so much away from Goku's accomplishments as a kid.

Classic Bardock was not special, even if he was our hero's dad. He was just as weak as any other Saiyan, and had little authority outside his own squad. What makes his story more tragic is that despite being able to see into the future, he couldn't do a single thing to change it. So many other stories of a similar nature would've dropped the ball somewhere along the road, but the team behind the Bardock special didn't. They told a story that was a good story, not just a good DB story.

I feel like the Jor-El comparisons are just a bit too much, to be honest. Jor-El is a far more fleshed out character in the mythos of Superman than Bardock is and their arcs are way different, with Bardock's design to send his son off not really being this big, planned ordeal. Even when Jor-El returns during the Rebirth era of Superman comics and gets a new storyline, it only serves to depict Jor-El as regretting his decision to send Clark/Kal off to Earth.

I can't remember the Granola arc to save my life. That was the one where Bardock tangentally wishes for his kids to grow up well? I feel like that's not really something to take overtly literally.

I think that Gine should be written better, but that's my problem with every character—especially the female characters. Gokuu doesn't seem all that less aggressive because of Gine's influence, but he's also just barely given any sort of space to react during those flashback segments to begin with.

I really missed the blood socked headband and green armor; they both gave him a very unique look.

Oh, I was talking about his personality. Dads who want to do right by their kids are pretty hot. And, again, the melancholic element is pretty relatable.

I do think that the blood-soaked bandana is a nice touch, but obviously it's contextually not going to work in the Dragon Ball Super: Broly story.

[Kaboom]

The real Bardock is interesting because he was a contrast to Goku, not in any way an inspiration or support for him. He's a tragic antihero character and an unapologetically murderous bastard who was punished for his sins. The final blow was a vision in his dying moments, rebuking him one last time by showing that the son he utterly disregarded for being "weak" would eventually be the one to take down Freeza and avenge him.

The pathetic and softened "Dollar Store Jor-El" modern version of Bardock wishes his story packed even half that much pathos and intensity.

[JulieYBM]

The real Bardock is interesting because he was a contrast to Goku, not in any way an inspiration or support for him. He's a tragic antihero character and an unapologetically murderous bastard who was punished for his sins. The final blow was a vision in his dying moments, rebuking him one last time by showing that the son he utterly disregarded for being "weak" would eventually be the one to take down Freeza and avenge him.

The pathetic and softened "Dollar Store Jor-El" modern version of Bardock wishes his story packed even half that much pathos and intensity.

Bardock (Super) and Bardock (Z) are both pretty cool characters for the stories that they're telling. It's not a competition. I'm not an edgy 20 year old, so I relate more to Bardock (Super) and I like to think that I can articulate that without comparing him to a television special from nearly 30 years before he was brought into existence.

Somebody has to say it, but goddamn boys, you sound like children when you throw around silly words like 'real' and 'fake' in reference to this shit. It's like using fraught language like 'real fan', only now you're applying some weird morality to a fucking fiction character for the sake of feeling good about yourself for being 'right' in a debate no normal person gives a shit about. You're grown men (unless there are some pronouns in bios I'm missing out on?), you can talk about these silly cartoons and comics without silly qualifiers like 'real' and 'fake' to refer to alternate depictions of characters, like the rest of us.

Like, I think Dragon Ball Super is a travesty to the industry overall for its treatment of its production crew, but it isn't without its strengths—Bardock in Dragon Ball Super: Broly is one of them.

[pepd]

Well, Tori is gone.. so it wouldn´t really make it canon like with Broly, Burdack or SS4, but I think I maintain the position that anything they can execute well, only that since there´s no longer the author, I would prefer if they don´t dwelve into stuff that changes or expands anything relevant lore-wise like Time kaioshin. But if they can make something fun with Coola, Kuriza or whatever sure I don´t really mind. At the end it will be side content for me either way, so even if they totally mess up lore at least make it fun and feel like dragonball please.

[Almighty Majin]

Bardock (Super) and Bardock (Z) are both pretty cool characters for the stories that they're telling. It's not a competition. I'm not an edgy 20 year old, so I relate more to Bardock (Super) and I like to think that I can articulate that without comparing him to a television special from nearly 30 years before he was brought into existence.

Somebody has to say it, but goddamn boys, you sound like children when you throw around silly words like 'real' and 'fake' in reference to this shit. It's like using fraught language like 'real fan', only now you're applying some weird morality to a fucking fiction character for the sake of feeling good about yourself for being 'right' in a debate no normal person gives a shit about. You're grown men (unless there are some pronouns in bios I'm missing out on?), you can talk about these silly cartoons and comics without silly qualifiers like 'real' and 'fake' to refer to alternate depictions of characters, like the rest of us.

Like, I think Dragon Ball Super is a travesty to the industry overall for its treatment of its production crew, but it isn't without its strengths—Bardock in Dragon Ball Super: Broly is one of them.

Agreed, wonderfully conveyed. Speaking of "fake" categorizations, I was reminded of Crash Bandicoot with the Fake Crash character and then they later added Fake Coco in Crash Bandicoot 4. It is a funny visual to have when thinking of "Fake Bardock" or "Fake Broly" with that in mind lol.

Anyways, on to the topic... I think that if a concept gets rebooted into the current continuity, I think that Cooler (and Big Gete Star) is the most likely one to come back. Just have the series finally introduce us to the Freeza home world and say that Cooler has been occupied ruling it the entire time, but he never slacked on his training since he was never as gifted as his prodigious younger brother. The Big Gete Star can be his base, a Death Star of sorts. In contrast to Freeza having an army of a variety of alien soldiers, Cooler opts to have his army entirely automated via the Big Gete Star's mass production of robot soldiers and drones. Meta-Cooler can just be Cooler integrating himself into the Big Gete Star interface, becoming one with it. Maybe there can be a Borg situation going on there too, Idk.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

On the topic of "canon", can we please stop throwing that word around without knowing what it means ? Everything outside the original manga is viewed more or less the same by the rights holders of the franchise. Look at Toriyama's description of these projects:

Modern DB: "a casual continuation"
GT: "a grand side story"
The old movies: "different dimensions"

Outside the original manga's 520 chapters, there is no "canon". As far as legitimacy goes, there's the original manga on top, with everything else on equal footing below it. Pretending like Bardock, Broly, and Ssj4 were fake or didn't count until now shows just how insecure fans of modern DB are of their love for this new part of the franchise. Super and Daima hold no more weight with the rights holders than GT and the old movies.

[Cybersai]

I don't really think there's THAT much difference between the two Bardocks, the only difference is the modern one purposely sees Goku off into space whereas the original had no idea he was sent off in the Saiyan space pod. We know Bardock's crew still exists in modern canon, they have cameos in the Broly movie. We can assume Dodoria kills them just the same way. We also know Bardock flies into space and stands up against Freeza and his men the exact same way, since that scene is the same in the Broly movie.

[SupremeKai25]

If you told anyone even just 5 years ago that we'd have a canon Broly, Gogeta, SSJ3 Vegeta and SSJ4 Goku...they would have laughed in your face. But here we are and all of that is canon now. So anythings game I guess.

Fyi, 5 years ago (aka February 2020) it had already been 1 year and 2 months since the Broly movie (December 2018). The Broly movie was over 6 years ago.

Yes, you are that old.

Anyway, I don't know if I want any of those concepts to be made canon now that is Toriyama gone. The fun was in seeing how Toriyama could take old and obscure concepts and improve them. Did he have plans for future stories? I'm kind of out of the loop when it comes to the future of this franchise.

I'm only interested in what Toriyama would have done with those concepts.

[Tian]

Man, I really wish for a film where Freeza is the protagonist (RoF doesn't count) and Cooler is the main villain.

I can already picture Golden Freeza getting his ass kicked by a re-designed and more powerful Fifth Form Cooler, before Freeza makes a comeback and goes Black Freeza.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

Did he have plans for future stories? I'm kind of out of the loop when it comes to the future of this franchise.

Iyoko said back in 2022 that he was already talking to Toriyama about a 3rd Super movie, and chances are Toyotaro had an idea about what Toriyama was planning with Black Freeza. All in all, there's likely two more stories left to be told that Toriyama was involved with: a 3rd Super movie and one last manga arc. Once those two are out of the way, it'll be uncharted territory for the franchise.

[SupremeKai25]

Did he have plans for future stories? I'm kind of out of the loop when it comes to the future of this franchise.

Iyoko said back in 2022 that he was already talking to Toriyama about a 3rd Super movie, and chances are Toyotaro had an idea about what Toriyama was planning with Black Freeza. All in all, there's likely two more stories left to be told that Toriyama was involved with: a 3rd Super movie and one last manga arc. Once those two are out of the way, it'll be uncharted territory for the franchise.

Manga arc = Black Freeza

Movie = 28th World Martial Arts Tournament

Seems like a perfect fit to me.

[GokuHater]

I would rather have something original to be fair

Just... Please... Get to the Black Frieza and EoZ already... This timeframe has been milked long enough

[SupremeKai25]

I would rather have something original to be fair

Just... Please... Get to the Black Frieza and EoZ already... This timeframe has been milked long enough

You do realize that any content past that mark will not have Toriyama's stamp of approval, right?

Toriyama's stamp doesn't necessarily mean a product will be well-written (just look at the Buu saga, ew), but it does give comfort to know that the given story comes from the author's imagination.

Now the franchise is entering uncharted territory, both from an in-universe perspective and an IRL perspective. Thankfully Toyotaro is Toriyama's hand-picked successor, and honestly his Moro arc gives me confidence.