Favourite self-aware Dragon Ball moments?

[LoganForkHands73]

I suppose "self-aware" is the wrong term here because I'm not talking about fourth wall breaking or overly meta humour. Really I mean those moments where weird little minutae and logistics are brought up in the story. It's hard to explain, but it's those moments where you almost forget that Toriyama had pioneered most of the tropes he was using as he was already, to use TV Tropes speak, "lampshading" aspects of his own story.

For instance, there's tonnes of moments in tournament arcs throughout the series where weird loopholes are exploited and lateral thinking is used, like Roshi destroying the Moon in the 21st Budokai, and the Referee briefly freaks out thinking about all the collateral damage that would realistically cause. Similarly, the fact that all the competitors in the Universe 6 tournament have to take a written exam is weirdly logical for a "battoru manga", and of course Buu is too stupid to even finish it so is disqualified before the fighting even begins.

I feel like I explained this terribly, so just go nuts.

[MasenkoHA]

I guess I am confused. When I think self-aware I think Roshi musing to himself that Nam is too serious for a gag anime or Vegeta realizing Arale is from an 80s gag manga.

Don’t know if taking a written exam to participate in the tournament counts as being self aware.

[Matches Malone]

This isn't exactly breaking the 4th wall, but Kefla (or was it Caulifla ?) saying it was great to be born a Saiyan due to their limitless potential compared to other races.

[SupremeKai25]

Definitely when Black points out to Zamasu that nobody is listening to him, but Zamasu just says that he is so intoxicated by himself and that he doesn't care if he has an audience. That was basically Zamasu giving the middle finger to all the haters who moan about his monologues.

[Robo4900]

I think mine is probably the entire Man-Wolf thing in the 22nd Tenkaichi.

[Fionordequester]

"You don't have a nose, remember?"

[ABED]

Not my favorite, but one not mentioned yet was when Elder Kaioshin excitedly tells Goku he can draw out people's power and Goku tells him it's not that special. Toriyama did it several times before and it's a nice acknowledgement.

to use TV Tropes speak

Lampshading isn't a TV tropes term.

[Fionordequester]

Speaking of Elder Kai, there's also him saying...

"Oh, your ritual was done 5 minutes ago, but things are more dramatic when you wait till the last minute [regarding Super Buu & Gotenks]"

[Michsi]

The "second fiddle" retort from Toppo to Vegeta.

[LoganForkHands73]

I guess I am confused. When I think self-aware I think Roshi musing to himself that Nam is too serious for a gag anime or Vegeta realizing Arale is from an 80s gag manga.

Don’t know if taking a written exam to participate in the tournament counts as being self aware.

Well, it was admittedly a stretch but it's just extremely strange seeing these characters, including Hit, taking a simple written exam in order to partake in a tournament. For me I guess it's also because the franchise has built up a reputation for meat-headedness so it was nice to see that subverted, even in a fairly minor moment.

[dbs fanboy]

17 interrupting the U2 sailor moon fighters's transformation and getting scolded for it by everyone

[Fionordequester]

Blond hair, blue eyes, super strength? I should be recruiting 'zem...

[Dbzfan94]

Super Buu punching Trunks before they could fuse and then he got mad because “you’re supposed to wait for us to transform!”

[Gligarman]

If we’re talking fourth wall breaking gags mine is when Kuririn beats Bacterian by realizing he didn’t have a nose. Also in the manga when Goten and Trunks kept messing up the fusion dance and Kuririn calls out Toriyama for using that scene as an excuse to keep using the same panel over and over again.

[PremiumSalt]

I know most people seem annoyed by it, but 17 interrupting Ribrianne & co.'s transformation and everyone being confused why he would attack while they are doing their long, drawn out transformation is pretty funny to me.

[sunsetshimmer]

When Goku warned Pan about Haze Shenron most likely hiding his true power and having some kind of transformation as those evil guys always transform multiple times, yet it turned out he actually was extremely weak and had no transformation at all.

[DragonBallFoodie]

The English dub of Dragon Ball Z Kakarot has Lunch turn up and Goku say "It's been a while, did someone forget about you?"