They keep dropping hints about Gohan

[HeroR]

Merriam Webster:

Theme- a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <this dance piece deals with the timeless themes of birth and death.

Considering that Over the course of two arcs Goku tries to pass the mantle of hero of earth over to his sons- I would say it was a major theme of both the cell and Buu sagas.

The entire cell saga's climax was about Gohan surpassing his dad.

The entire climax of the Buu arc revealed how the world was capable of defending itself.

Big arcs revolved around Goku willingly giving up his mantle in order to allow the next generation a chance.

Furthermore, the next generation has been proven to be stronger than the previous.

Goten/Trunks/Gohan/Pan all showcase infinitely more potential then goku

Trunks didn't even need Whis's training to surpass Goku. And Gohan has a implied potential above Trunks.

I don't need you giving me the meaning of themes, thank you.

Goku tries to pass the torch, but it wasn't the theme of the saga. Gohan didn't take over for Goku until the last part of the Cell Games. Before then he went into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Gohan had no major role in the Android/Cell story arc and most of the struggle revolved around Piccolo, Vegeta, Krillin, and Trunks trying to find ways to stop the androids while Goku was ill. Even then, the primary focus was surpassing Super Saiyan.

The Buu Saga had the younger generation try to fight Buu mostly because all the best fighters were dead or too weak to do anything against Buu, like Piccolo.

A theme is more than just the climax of a story arc. It is theme is the thing that wholes the entire story together and passing the torch wasn't the theme of the Cell or really the Buu Saga.

The next generation have the potential of surpassing the old. However, that isn't a theme of Dragon Ball since the younger generation also lack the drive to surpass their limits unlike Goku and Vegeta. You can have all the potential in the world, but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't work to hone it. Also, Trunks didn't surpassed Goku giving that he had a much better performance against Merged Zamasu, and even the theme wasn't about surpassing the old generation. The theme was about mortals protecting themselves by some rampaging god and Trunks taking care of his world instead of relying on the past warriors to save him.

The only overreaching theme of Dragon Ball is, 'there is always someone stronger'.

[Ssenrof]

Merriam Webster:

Theme- a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <this dance piece deals with the timeless themes of birth and death.

Considering that Over the course of two arcs Goku tries to pass the mantle of hero of earth over to his sons- I would say it was a major theme of both the cell and Buu sagas.

The entire cell saga's climax was about Gohan surpassing his dad.

The entire climax of the Buu arc revealed how the world was capable of defending itself.

Big arcs revolved around Goku willingly giving up his mantle in order to allow the next generation a chance.

Furthermore, the next generation has been proven to be stronger than the previous.

Goten/Trunks/Gohan/Pan all showcase infinitely more potential then goku

Trunks didn't even need Whis's training to surpass Goku. And Gohan has a implied potential above Trunks.

I don't need you giving me the meaning of themes, thank you.

Goku tries to pass the torch, but it wasn't the theme of the saga. Gohan didn't take over for Goku until the last part of the Cell Games. Before then he went into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Gohan had no major role in the Android/Cell story arc and most of the struggle revolved around Piccolo, Vegeta, Krillin, and Trunks trying to find ways to stop the androids while Goku was ill. Even then, the primary focus was surpassing Super Saiyan.

The Buu Saga had the younger generation try to fight Buu mostly because all the best fighters were dead or too weak to do anything against Buu, like Piccolo.

A theme is more than just the climax of a story arc. It is theme is the thing that wholes the entire story together and passing the torch wasn't the theme of the Cell or really the Buu Saga.

The next generation have the potential of surpassing the old. However, that isn't a theme of Dragon Ball since the younger generation also lack the drive to surpass their limits unlike Goku and Vegeta. You can have all the potential in the world, but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't work to hone it. Also, Trunks didn't surpassed Goku giving that he had a much better performance against Merged Zamasu, and even the theme wasn't about surpassing the old generation. The theme was about mortals protecting themselves by some rampaging god and Trunks taking care of his world instead of relying on the past warriors to save him.

The only overreaching theme of Dragon Ball is, 'there is always someone stronger'.

There is no story (with the length
Of Dragon ball ) in existence that only has a single theme. You can have major and minor ones, but dragon ball consists of a multitude of themes- not just one. Teamwork, overcoming obstacles, self sacrifice are all themes seen in dragon ball. Your insistence that their is aways someone stronger is the single most important theme is nonsense. Besides, their is no one stronger than the omniking other than a potential Potara fusion between past/future versions of
Himself.

You could argue that dragon ball is about surpassing ones limits- that being a primary theme consistent in every arc.

So I'll agree with you on the always someone stronger recurring themes to be a very significant, perhaps even the main theme.

Howver, other themes do exist, and keep on reccuring every arc.

but ultimately who cares what the "main" thematic elements in dragon ball are?

that has nothing to do with this thread.

Besides, having gohan come back stronger than ever fits into the theme of " there is aways someone stronger" anyway.

[HeroR]

There is no story (with the length
Of Dragon ball ) in existence that only has a single theme. You can have major and minor ones, but dragon ball consists of a multitude of themes- not just one. Teamwork, overcoming obstacles, self sacrifice are all themes seen in dragon ball. Your insistence that their is aways someone stronger is the single most important theme is nonsense. Besides, their is no one stronger than the omniking other than a potential Potara fusion between past/future versions of
Himself.

You could argue that dragon ball is about surpassing ones limits- that being a primary theme consistent in every arc.

So I'll agree with you on the always someone stronger recurring themes to be a very significant, perhaps even the main theme.

Howver, other themes do exist, and keep on reccuring every arc.

but ultimately who cares what the "main" thematic elements in dragon ball are?

that has nothing to do with this thread.

Besides, having gohan come back stronger than ever fits into the theme of " there is aways someone stronger" anyway.

Different sagas have different themes, but the next generation surpassing the old was only a theme in the 22nd tournament with Roshi. The climax of the Cell Saga was Gohan taking over for Goku before Toriyama changed his mind. Even then, it wasn't the major theme of the saga.

This argument started because a poster said the theme of Dragon Ball was the new generation surpassing the last, which was never really the theme unlike Naruto.

[toadma]

I won't believe it until I see it.They had a chance to use him or his future counterpart but like always they blew it.

[Ssenrof]

.

Different sagas have different themes, but the next generation surpassing the old was only a theme in the 22nd tournament with Roshi. The climax of the Cell Saga was Gohan taking over for Goku before Toriyama changed his mind. Even then, it wasn't the major theme of the saga.

This argument started because a poster said the theme of Dragon Ball was the new generation surpassing the last, which was never really the theme unlike Naruto.

Basically, one interpretation of Dragon Ball Is that the new generation has the potential To surpass the Old- but is too lazy/unmotivated to realize it.

Dang, dark commentary Toriyama has going on.

Your right, In dragon ball - rarely does a generation actually surpass the previous for more than a single arc other than when The Z Crew Surpassed Roshi.

Considering that, it's not accurate to state that surpassing the previous generation is a Major theme, it can't be since it happens so rarely.

A more accurate theme is that the new generation has more potential than the previous. Basically every member of the new generation has more potential than the one befor it.

King Vegata < Vegeta < Trunks ( potential wise )

Bardock < Goku < Goham =? Goten < Pan


Which is more or less the same Thing as the new surpassing the previous.

You have to admit that the distinction between actually surpassing and having greater potential is very similar.
Similar enough that it's easy to see why the other poster many have overstated.

Of course, the overarching theme Of always surpassing new limits does support Gohan achieving new uncharted levels of power. For the sake of this thread.