State of the Fandom

Velasa · Post by **Velasa** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:57 am

This is the most active dragonball I've been able to find in a long time, and I'll admit I was pretty stunned at first. Everything in my experience has told me that from 02 the fandom took a nosedive and the vast majority of people died off with just the hardcore base hanging on by their fingertips. I'm curious whether this has been the case for most people's experience, or if I and the people I knew just had more of a problem because we stuck to a less popular niche of the fandom.

And as a second question, what do you think the movie is going to do for the fandom? As much as I'm hating how it seems the characters are going to be dealt with, I have to be excited by the idea of a rush of new blood to the community. A lot of it will be bad, but there's going to be a few gems in there as well, and maybe even some old schoolers drawn back in again. What does everybody else think about this?

BrollysKin · Post by **BrollysKin** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:03 am

In my opinion, I would say that yes, DBZ fandom has taken a fall but tends to rise and fall here and there. It's not on TV anymore so many kids don't have access to it anymore. other cartoons have taken it's place both Japanese and American.

An indicator of this is Funi's decision to release the episodes in a much cheaper and sensible package (not saying widescreen/faux remastering is sensible). They did away with the 3 episodes for $25 package.

The movie? It would have done better say 5 years ago in my opinion. But if FOX wants to lose money. Nothing off my back.

The Time Traveller · Post by **The Time Traveller** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:24 am

The original fandom for me was people with names like SSJ10 and saying Saiyajin is pronounced the same as Saiyan. After that I got into anime and manga very quickly, and then reopened my love for Dragon Ball by reading the manga when it came out in England, the Gollancz Manga/Orion Books version. And then Got the new season sets when ever they were released since DBZ is what started it in England, DB came waaaay after DBGT here,

Daizenshuu EX is like any anime forum, only Dragon Ball dedicated and uses correct terminology, rather than a bunch of 12 year olds making things up. So I actually think the fandom is growing into...proper fans.

JulieYBM · Post by **JulieYBM** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:02 pm

At this point fans that lived off of the Toonami airings and the original DVD releases have 'grown up' or rather are now introducing the current generation to DB/Z/GT and as to whether or not this will heighten or make the 'older school generation' that came slightly before my time any more prominent or simply aid in their fading away has yet to be seen.

Chuquita · Post by **Chuquita** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:32 pm

I consider myself a middle generation fan (I came in about a month or two before Season 3 aired) and while I still have a few places to hang, I definitely miss the old gang back at ff.net (back when that site was actually good).

I'm a G/CC (Goku/Chi-Chi) fan so I guess the movie generating some brand new fanfics could be good. Who knows, since this is pre-Vegeta, maybe Yamcha and Piccolo will become the "new" Vegeta in terms of fanbase size.

Velasa · Post by **Velasa** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:41 am

I came in at the middle of the sayiajin sage on the first run through the series that showed the end of Freezer. I remember the good days at FF when most of it was good and everybody was excited. But it's PN I miss the most.

Good luck with the P-CC stuff. One thing this movie should be good for is actually having female characters who do things, so hopefully it brings up some fun ideas for you guys.

Chuquita wrote:Who knows, since this is pre-Vegeta, maybe Yamcha and Piccolo will become the "new" Vegeta in terms of fanbase size.

You have no idea how much I want that to happen o_o I love those boys. And the concept of non-sayiajin chars really coming to prominence again fills me with happy.

I have to hope that the fandom'll come back if there's more big DBZ stuff out again. Even if the stuff isn't the best, it could be enough to get people interested and then they find the source material > >

AnzuMazaki · Post by **AnzuMazaki** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:00 am

Velasa wrote:
Chuquita wrote:Who knows, since this is pre-Vegeta, maybe Yamcha and Piccolo will become the "new" Vegeta in terms of fanbase size.
You have no idea how much I want that to happen o_o I love those boys. And the concept of non-sayiajin chars really coming to prominence again fills me with happy.

I have to hope that the fandom'll come back if there's more big DBZ stuff out again. Even if the stuff isn't the best, it could be enough to get people interested and then they find the source material > >

Same, Especially Yamcha, I see so many traces on the "newest" section on deviantART these days that it annoys me

But I do see some great beautiful original works done for Dragonball, which is awesome, but I wanna see more of those and less of those traces of Toriyama and Toei's done by some ten year olds.

Velasa, why don't you pop in to see my gallery some time again, I posted plenty of new Dragonball art http://www.mihonosaka.deviantart.com

Your art is one of the best.

Anyway the DB fandom isn't what it used to be back in 99-2003.
I miss those days.

DemonKingPiccolo · Post by **DemonKingPiccolo** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:37 am

The DB fandom is dying, and there's no good way to revive it. But I have no doubt that it will be revived next year when the live action comes out.

Brakus · Post by **Brakus** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:58 am

DemonKingPiccolo wrote:The DB fandom is dying, and there's no good way to revive it. But I have no doubt that it will be revived next year when the live action comes out.

I don't think the Dragon Ball fandom is dying. From the point of view of those that grew up via tape trading, or that grew up with the Toonami broadcasts, they might think the fandom is dying because DB/Z isn't as prominent as it once was. However, when I was at Katsucon this year, there was a good group of Dragon Ball cosplayers walking all over the convention on Saturday. Really good ones too. Also, friends of mine that still have their DBZ tee shirts still wear them. I used to make fun of them - now I point out to them, "Hey, I know that guy! Trunks is awesome, isn't he?"

For all the flack that FUNimation gets on this forum for their quote about DBZ, there's some modicum of truth to it: a 9-year-old is born every day. Or in some cases, "reborn". DBZ may be a kids' show, but it's been so close to so many hearts all over Japan, America, and quite possibly, even the world.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:56 am

The audience that it was popular with in its hay day in the US is now out of highschool. Most of that audience wasnt into any other anime either, or knew DBZ was an anime. I think the movie will do well with that audience for the sheer nostalgia factor.

The new junior high/early high school audience, the same age group that DBZ was popular with 8 years ago, may see the movie. Though I doubt it'll introduce them to the anime, with Naruto doing extremely well with that age group.

Basically, I really dont see the movie attracting any new fans to the series.

Velasa · Post by **Velasa** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:55 pm

Brakus wrote: However, when I was at Katsucon this year, there was a good group of Dragon Ball cosplayers walking all over the convention on Saturday. Really good ones too.

That actually surprises me. I've gone to either AUSA and Katsu on and off every year since 02 and besides myself I've seen exactly... one 18, one Krillan, one Gohan, one multi-form Son and a Trunks. Never more than two per con. I need to get back to katsu it sounds like- I've been wanting to hang out with other dbz cosplayers forever.

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:59 pm

Sun_Wukong wrote:Basically, I really dont see the movie attracting any new fans to the series.

This is true. Factor in the ways in which the story is going to be changed in the movie; if it were to generate new fans I don't think that they'll appreciate the anime as much seeing as how an American FOX Entertainment Blockbuster is what they were first exposed to.

Velasa · Post by **Velasa** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:37 pm

There have been multiple occasions where I've come into a fandom at first through a really bad modern movie interpetation, only to find the source material and get into that instead of the newer rendition. It can happen.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:06 am

Mike D wrote: if it were to generate new fans I don't think that they'll appreciate the anime as much seeing as how an American FOX Entertainment Blockbuster is what they were first exposed to.

Agreed, I think it'll be the same when the Speed Racer movie comes out. I think kids will be very turned off by the 1960's toon

Raki · Post by **Raki** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:21 pm

I'm glad the Dragonball fanbase still exists. To a large extent, I think we are doing fine. Most of that is due to www.daizex.com and its wonderful staff.

DaemonCorps · Post by **DaemonCorps** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:39 pm

^ Agreed. My fandoms for other anime (YYH, Naruto...) would be much stronger if I knew of some kind of site that was just as authoritative as daizex is with DB.

DBZGirl · Post by **DBZGirl** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:08 pm

About the movie: Honestly, I believe I am going to be embarrassed to be a fan of DBZ after it comes out. Kinda like I was embarrassed to be a One Piece fan when the series came out. But who knows? Maybe it'll be awesome. But even if it may suck, I think it'll bring a rise in the fandom once again. At least for a week?

bkev · Post by **bkev** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:25 pm

Brakus wrote: For all the flack that FUNimation gets on this forum for their quote about DBZ, there's some modicum of truth to it: a 9-year-old is born every day. Or in some cases, "reborn". DBZ may be a kids' show, but it's been so close to so many hearts all over Japan, America, and quite possibly, even the world.

I love this qote so much. Mind if I sig it?

Kid Trunks · Post by **Kid Trunks** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:58 pm

DBZGirl wrote:About the movie: Honestly, I believe I am going to be embarrassed to be a fan of DBZ after it comes out.

I agree.

Brakus · Post by **Brakus** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:06 pm

bkev wrote:
Brakus wrote: For all the flack that FUNimation gets on this forum for their quote about DBZ, there's some modicum of truth to it: a 9-year-old is born every day. Or in some cases, "reborn". DBZ may be a kids' show, but it's been so close to so many hearts all over Japan, America, and quite possibly, even the world.
I love this qote so much. Mind if I sig it?

Sure, I don't mind, be my guest.

Some days life beats me up and leaves me for dead. On such days, sometimes I'll want to watch something like DBZ so I can just relax and enjoy.

A friend of mine -- about the same age as I am -- just got the DBZ Season 4 Box set (on sale at Best Buy this week only for $20), and he just loves watching it all over again. He doesn't mind the faux "remastering" - he's very content to see it in a decent format that isn't a 4th-generation fansub on an old VHS tape.

DBZ makes some people feel something that resembles joy, I think....