How would you definitively end Dragon Ball?

[Nejishiki]

I guess in an ideal world, or if we're talking really specifically of how I personally would try to craft it's ending, some kind of combination of the two? Because I do really like the evil Dragons arc as a 'final battle' of the main conflicts as well.

Given "Super" throwing a sort of wrench in both GT and DBO, I could see it eventually appropriating bits of both, and doing exactly what you just described. Arguably, Revival of F complicates the living hell out of the whole "Freeza's army thought he was killed by Mr. Satan" thing. So if we wanted "Super" to cohere with DBO, we'd have to come up with a different reason for that final battle. And I think that the Evil Dragons (appropriated from GT) could serve as a great (I'd even say better) substitute. No Goku or Vegeta around anymore to help out, either.

To be fair, everyone involved in Freeza's revenge plan died, but it still seems odd for them to repeat the same plot whether they're aware of the Saiyans or not.

[Zephyr]

The thing that gets me is that Sorbet and co. knew about Goku and Trunks. Also, I could have sworn that there was a mention about Freeza bringing with him to Earth all of his remaining forces (though I could definitely be wrong, as I don't remember where exactly that was said).

Assuming that he didn't bring all of what remained with him, those who survived could have simply not known about Goku, Trunks, or Freeza's revival. Alternatively, they could have assumed that Mr. Satan defeated him when he went to Earth for his revenge. Neither strike me as particularly likely though.

[Dr. Casey]

I'm sure I'd be in the minority here, but I believe concluding the story after Goku makes peace with Gohan is an appropriate book end to the series. We start with him being a lonely boy in the wilderness who accidentally kills him to the simple boy growing up, exploring the world, gaining companions, and mastering the craft his grandfather taught him the basics to, and finally dropping the weight of losing him unexpectedly with promise of meeting him after his own adventures conclude in his lifetime. It also makes the wish of reviving a person all the more poignant since it would be the sole instance this happens in the series and he skips on deciding to revive Gohan in favor of letting him rest. I know this should be definite, but I'm a sucker for open endings left to the imagination, sorry!

Of course, I love all of Dragon Ball regardless. :D

Some really unique ideas and thoughts here, I like it. :)

[UltimateHammerBro]

I'd say a combination of DB Online ending and the DBGT ending would be perfect.
Goku and Vegeta realise they're close to death, and decide to fight one last time. We see an epic fight, they both die offscreen, and the rest of the cast mourns them.
Then we go 100 years in the future, and we have Goku and Vegeta Jr. fighting, and Goku appearing to an older Pan and saying goodbye to the audience. Cue credits.

[fadeddreams5]

GT's ending and DBO's ending clash so much with Super's tone and light-heartedness that I'll pretend we're speaking strictly DB/DBZ.

As others pointed out, and I have in the past, I would have loved the ending to be a final battle between Goku and Vegeta. The novelty of this has been stripped entirely in Super though.

[Soppa Saia People]

Maybe it's my bias wards to Dragon Ball but I really wouldn't Gokuu and Vegtea to have one last fight, I'd much prefer if it was Kuririn and Gokuu, they've been friends since the second saga, IMO it would make a lot more sense.
@fadeddreams5 We get it, you don't like Super, I don't like it ether but I don't feel the need to constantly shit all over it.

[Marco Polo]

I'd much prefer if it was Kuririn and Gokuu, they've been friends since the second saga, IMO it would make a lot more sense.

They sparred at the end of GT and somehow Krillin won.

[voltlunok]

I'd much prefer if it was Kuririn and Gokuu, they've been friends since the second saga, IMO it would make a lot more sense.

They sparred at the end of GT and somehow Krillin won.

I think the argument for Krillin winning that is that Goku was exhausted. He just had nothing left to give but wanted one last spar with his best friend before leaving.

As for the topic, yeah I'd just prefer how GT ended things, its just really fitting to me.

[Cetra]

I'd much prefer if it was Kuririn and Gokuu, they've been friends since the second saga, IMO it would make a lot more sense.

They sparred at the end of GT and somehow Krillin won.

He learned that trick from Sorbet.

[dae428]

I actually really despise the ending of GT. I've hated it since I was a kid. The world acknowledges Goku as a hero which I personally don't think Goku would care for at all, the Briefs' family and Goku's family completely drift apart which is pretty messed up given the story of Dragon Ball started with the meeting of Bulma and Goku, and we get these little snot nosed clone toddler characters who can go Super Saiyan or Super Saiyan 2 or whatever. Also Goku fuses with Shenlong and becomes some sort of mythical god being or some other stupid open ended tripe which honestly never sat well with me. That's just my opinion of course. Personally. If I were to definitively end Dragon Ball, I would just have it end with Goku either becoming an old man and playing the role of the teacher, dying after a major epic fight kind of like in Dragon Ball Online, or just disappearing from the main story outright. To me Dragon Ball started with Goku and once Goku is out, the story of Dragon Ball is over. Also I would ensure there wouldn't be any acknowledgement by the world of Goku as this amazing defender and savior of the world because that's just not who Goku is. He's no hero. He's just a guy who wants to fight strong guys who likes his friends and has no interest in being acknowledged by people. I guess I would end it similarly to how the original manga ended and as far away form the GT ending as possible.

[lancerman]

Goku dying on Namek after defeating Freeza, finding fulfillment that he finally became the strongest guy in the universe and had accomplished what he wanted and could now go spend the rest of his time training in Otherworld.

It really was the perfect spot to end the series.

If I have to end without being retroactive, probably something like Goku vs Beerus having a battle for the fate of the universe with the winner getting to make a wish from the Super Dragon Balls. Goku wins and asks the Dragon to remove all his limits so he can always train and get stronger (as they notes Goku and Vegeta were nearing theirs).

[Kuririn Fan]

Goku dying on Namek after defeating Freeza, finding fulfillment that he finally became the strongest guy in the universe and had accomplished what he wanted and could now go spend the rest of his time training in Otherworld.
It really was the perfect spot to end the series.

Nah, that not Dragon Ball. The actual ending that we got is good enough, but it would be better without Oob.
Basically, Goku doesnt ask for Boo to be reincarnated and it just ends wih this:

Spoiler:

Then the Beerus and all this new stuff would make much more sense and it would flow nicely.

[successoroffate]

Seems like the GT ending is the most popular response. I agree but I am going to add a little twist.


Toyotaro's AF ending is probably the most emotional non canon material I have ever seen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9f_UkKHDLY






I think this ending gives us closure, Roshi meets with everyone in heaven or Roshi's equivalent which is Kame's house with the whole gang.

[NitroEX]

I'd wipe the slate clean from EoZ onwards and retcon all the current stuff along with GT by just flat out ignoring it. Super Saiyan Gods, Golden Freeza and all of Super's inventions can all go in the bin along with GT and Super Saiyan 4 for all I care.

I'd have one, maybe two feature length films to put the series to bed, the film would pick up exactly where the series left off with a reanimated version of the Goku vs Oob fight. The audience immediately gets nice quick dose of nostalgia as we're greeted by intense (well animated) action. This fight scene also serves another purpose by firmly planting you in the time period everyone wanted to see before Super came along.

Anyway, after a brief version of the fight Goku says goodbye as normal and flies off with Oob, from here on out Goku's appearances would be kept to an absolute minimum as this story is no longer about him anymore. Goku would make one last grand return but it would only be saved for the middle or end of the film in which he returns with a trained Oob.

The meat of the story would take place a couple years after EoZ and focus mainly on Pan as she would be a good surrogate for the audience to be reintroduced to the DB world and it's characters (well.. the important ones at least). We'd get a brief glimpse of their lives during peacetime and Pan would remark how "boring" they've all become without Goku, the audience would also likewise yearn for the days of action and adventure so this would instantly create a common connection to Pan as protagonist. Pan would then embark on a hunt for the Dragonballs in order to make a wish to find Goku.

Gohan will of course play an important role in the film since he's her father. The two of them have barely had any bonding time in the series and I think there's huge untapped potential in seeing their relationship develop on screen. With Goku out of the way this would be a good chance to flesh them both out and give Gohan some much needed closure as a character. We all know that due to Goku's deaths and absences, Gohan was essentially left fatherless for a large part of his childhood, he's also repeatedly been mocked by fans (and even in universe characters) for giving up the fighters life, not to mention his many failures throughout the Buu arc. All of these issues could be addressed in the final story and motivate him now that his own daughter shows disappointment in him. Gohan could come to the realization that, due to his commitment to work life, he's now missing out on Pan's childhood in the same way Goku missed out on most of his. He'd be essentially repeating the cycle of abandonment just in a different way. We could see him struggle with the dilemma of career vs fatherhood and show him making a huge sacrifice in order to essentially be the father she wants him to be and fill the void that Goku left. I think the fans would also appreciate seeing him finally return to form and break free of the suits and ties for once.

If you wanted to add an interesting twist to Gohan's character you could even have him reveal some built up resentment towards Goku and Oob. I for one think it would be pretty interesting to see him becoming aggravated at Pan's favouritism for Goku over him not to mention the fact that Oob is basically living the childhood he always wanted (with Goku). I don't think it would need to end in a fight between them but I do think it would at the very least make us more sympathetic to Gohan needing to prove himself to his own daughter. I mean she wasn't even alive for all his cool moments as a fighter, for all she knows he's always been a "nerd".

The resentment for Oob would simply be the fact that he's the new prodigy who's essentially Gohan 2.0 with the rage boosts and all, just far stronger thanks to Kid Buu's inherited power. Gohan would not only be trying to prove himself in the eyes of his daughter but a part of him would also be trying to impress his father who's now long since forgotten about Gohan's potential now that the new and improved Oob has become his new pet project. The dynamic between those four characters alone has the potential to make for an interesting film in itself never mind the new villain or the inclusion of other characters like Vegeta, Goten and Trunks.

I haven't decided on a villain yet but since Pan would be collecting the Dragonballs you could potentially tie that in and have a hijacked wish bring back someone dangerous like an old villain (yawn) or an ancient being who we've never seen or heard of before. Perhaps this villain absorbs Oob and Goku which leaves Pan and Gohan to fight alone. You could even throw fans a bone and officially make Pan become Super Saiyan or discover she's inherited Mystic/Ultimate power during the fight.

Most fans would probably hate this ending but... fuck it, if I had it my way I'd straight up kill off Goku during the climax by sacrificing himself to free Oob from absorption and simultaneously helping Pan and Gohan get the finishing blow. Right before Goku dies however, there'd be room for some touching goodbyes. After the fight Gohan would then promise to continue training Oob in his father's place which would give him a reason to continue fighting (for the new generation of heroes).

[ABED]

I'd go out on a happy note and I wouldn't introduce an important character in the final 3 episodes. I wouldn't have revived Vegeta. He would've gone to Hell, but he would've gone after his epiphany. I like GT's ending, but I'm also fond of the filler episode where Goku's late for the party, but it ends with all of his friends and family around the table listening to his story. I'd also have some big moment that involves Goku and Bulma to give the series some measure of circularity.

That page showing Roshi dying after "Maybe my job is done" is interesting, but not nearly that poignant. His job ended years prior. He passed on his knowledge to the next generation and was surpassed all the way back in Dragon Ball during the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai. That was a beautiful end to his arc.

If you wanted to add an interesting twist to Gohan's character you could even have him reveal some built up resentment towards Goku and Oob. I for one think it would be pretty interesting to see him becoming aggravated at Pan's favouritism for Goku over him not to mention the fact that Oob is basically living the childhood he always wanted (with Goku). I don't think it would need to end in a fight between them but I do think it would at the very least make us more sympathetic to Gohan needing to prove himself to his own daughter. I mean she wasn't even alive for all his cool moments as a fighter, for all she knows he's always been a "nerd".

That doesn't imbue Gohan with sympathy, that makes him look petty and insecure.

[successoroffate]

I'd go out on a happy note and I wouldn't introduce an important character in the final 3 episodes. I wouldn't have revived Vegeta. He would've gone to Hell, but he would've gone after his epiphany. I like GT's ending, but I'm also fond of the filler episode where Goku's late for the party, but it ends with all of his friends and family around the table listening to his story. I'd also have some big moment that involves Goku and Bulma to give the series some measure of circularity.

That page showing Roshi dying after "Maybe my job is done" is interesting, but not nearly that poignant. His job ended years prior. He passed on his knowledge to the next generation and was surpassed all the way back in Dragon Ball during the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai. That was a beautiful end to his arc.

If you wanted to add an interesting twist to Gohan's character you could even have him reveal some built up resentment towards Goku and Oob. I for one think it would be pretty interesting to see him becoming aggravated at Pan's favouritism for Goku over him not to mention the fact that Oob is basically living the childhood he always wanted (with Goku). I don't think it would need to end in a fight between them but I do think it would at the very least make us more sympathetic to Gohan needing to prove himself to his own daughter. I mean she wasn't even alive for all his cool moments as a fighter, for all she knows he's always been a "nerd".

That doesn't imbue Gohan with sympathy, that makes him look petty and insecure.

Look at the scene afterwards where he meets everyone again, Who cut all these onions?

[Khin]

Dragon ball Online's ending.Goku and Vegeta having a one final battle,Gohan having a book about ki,Tenshinhan and Kuririn starting the new Crane and Turtle Sage school etc.I really like it and hope that it will be the real ending for the series.

[ABED]

It's heart is in the right place but it's far too on the nose to be effective for me.

[Marco Polo]

Seems like the GT ending is the most popular response. I agree but I am going to add a little twist.


Toyotaro's AF ending is probably the most emotional non canon material I have ever seen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9f_UkKHDLY


http://s4.postimg.org/dfpfqbdfh/AF_s_ending.jpg

http://s3.postimg.org/7jcblrhab/ending2.jpg

I think this ending gives us closure, Roshi meets with everyone in heaven or Roshi's equivalent which is Kame's house with the whole gang.

Would Roshi even go to heaven? He can't ride the Kinto'un.

[ABED]

You don't need to be pure of heart. I doubt that's the qualification.