Would you still like Dragon Ball if it hadn’t been retooled into a martial arts story?

[WittyUsername]

I’m not saying that the Pilaf arc doesn’t have elements of martial arts in it, but the main focus of that initial story is on silly gags and a goofy cast of characters searching for the titular Dragon Balls. Martial arts and fighting doesn’t really become the primary focus until the 21st Budokai arc. How many people here suppose they would have still liked the series if it had remained on that course?

[ABED]

If it hadn't made that transition, I doubt it would've made it much longer. We wouldn't be here, and I likely would never have heard of it.

[Trouser]

Well... If grandma had a moustache, she would be a grandpa. It's hard to tell. I need to watch/read something first before I can say "I like it" or... don't.
But... Wasn't that why Toriyama changed the course of his story? Less fighting = less interest. Or something like that. Can't remember. Someone correct me, please.

[jjgp1112]

Well... If grandma had a moustache, she would be a grandpa. It's hard to tell. I need to watch/read something first before I can say "I like it" or... don't.
But... Wasn't that why Toriyama changed the course of his story? Less fighting = less interest. Or something like that. Can't remember. Someone correct me, please.

Yup. It wasn't that popular and he was going to pull the plug until Torishima pointed to Fist of the North Star and was like "You see that? Do that."

[eledoremassis02]

I actually like the adventure more journey into the west first 13 episodes. I think I would have still watched it, tho I don't know how much longer it would have ran

[Cursed Lemon]

I feel as thought it's the opinion of the majority of this board that DB should've stayed a mystical fantasy show with light elements of fighting. But there's absolutely no arguing that DBZ's heavy focus on punching dudes in the face had a huge influence in the West where cartoons at the time weren't commonly at that level of violence, paired masterfully of course with shounen's inspiring and highly marketable "never-say-die" motif.

I was, like, 11 or something when the Ocean dub started airing, so I'm not even going to pretend that I wasn't swept up by the tsunami of its popularity, but I can confidently say that if it was more like One Piece I don't think I would've enjoyed it as much.

[JulieYBM]

Well... If grandma had a moustache, she would be a grandpa. It's hard to tell. I need to watch/read something first before I can say "I like it" or... don't.
But... Wasn't that why Toriyama changed the course of his story? Less fighting = less interest. Or something like that. Can't remember. Someone correct me, please.

Women have facial hair.

Furthermore, like...yeah? I'd have eventually gotten into it because of the characters, not just endless fighting.

[MasenkoHA]

The first arc was the worst one so no probably not.

[ABED]

The first arc was the worst one so no probably not.

Really? I love that arc.

[MasenkoHA]

The first arc was the worst one so no probably not.

Really? I love that arc.

I don’t hate it but excluding GT and Super it’s my least favorite part of the original story.

[ABED]

I like the episodic nature of the stories. DB could've used more of those sometimes.

[DBZAOTA482]

If Dragon Ball hadn't become a battle shonen, it would have faded into obscurity. I probably would never even seen it.

[goku the krump dancer]

What was Dragon Ball's biggest competition during its initial run in Japan? Chances are if the series fell to the wayside earlier on, I'd be on a dedicated forum to its competition instead.

Its hard to imagine a Dragon Ball without a heavy focus on martial arts though I can still see the Pilaf, RRA and Piccolo Daimaoh Arc's all still happening albeit a little differently.

[DBZAOTA482]

What was Dragon Ball's biggest competition during its initial run in Japan?

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure was probably its biggest competitor during its heyday.

[jjgp1112]

What was Dragon Ball's biggest competition during its initial run in Japan?

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure was probably its biggest competitor during its heyday.

Fist of the North Star and Yu Yu Hakusho were bigger deals than that at varying points, so those are the more likely answers.

[MasenkoHA]

Yuyu Hakusho also came to the States closer to the time Dragon Ball Z did. So if anything Yuyu Hakusho would have been the big hit for a forum that seems to mostly have people based in the US

[DBZAOTA482]

What was Dragon Ball's biggest competition during its initial run in Japan?

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure was probably its biggest competitor during its heyday.

Fist of the North Star and Yu Yu Hakusho were bigger deals than that at varying points, so those are the more likely answers.

But a lot of young anime/mamga fans don't know about those titles while Jojo's Bizarre Adventure gained some relevancy thanks to the relatively recent anime TV series.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Honestly, i think if the Dr. Slump-esque style of over the top gag comedy (given Toriyama had just recently finished up the former when he began Dragon Ball in late 1984) had continued on past the first arc the series would've come and gone relatively quickly and likely been just moderately popular at best. The gradual shift in tone to more straight action from the 21st Budokai onward with some humorous stuff here and there was what it took for the series to really break out into the absolutely massive success it eventually became, and approximately during the first half a year or so of it's serialization in Jump it didn't have an out of the box glowing reception. This change in direction was what Toriyama needed to do or things would not have taken off (there wouldn't be an anime, spin off productions.etc) like they ultimately did.

I can't even visualize what would've happened otherwise, as the series likely could have ended up like as some semi obscure niche thing if the above were to have taken place back then. It's quite possible that Dragon Ball wouldn'tve caught on outside Japan elsewhere in the world to nearly the extent as it actually did.

[precita]

The manga would have ended a lot earlier since the first Budokai was the very next arc. Maybe the Red Ribbon army stuff would have still happened but it probably would have ended after that.

It would probably not get an anime, or if it did, a very short-lived one, and it would have never gained popularity or been licensed for the west in the 90's and most people here would have never heard of the series until decades later.

[MasenkoHA]

The manga would have ended a lot earlier since the first Budokai was the very next arc.

If the manga didn’t switch gears to being a martial arts comic there just would have been a different arc to follow up the Son Goku arc. Probably just focusing on his search for the 4 star ball.