How much actual fighting is in the series?

[Anonymous Friend]

A few people in the newest "Live action DB" topic kept mentioning how Dragonball is a kung fu fighting series. I thought how most western action/fighting movies will have a fight scene every fifteen to twenty minutes or so. They make room for plot, story, characters, and such.

In OG DB, barring the tournament arcs, did the plot, story, characters, and such moments outweigh the fighting scenes? What about Z, GT, Super, and the movies?

[fleahop]

Great question and I believe there needs to be a distinction between manga and anime. This is obviously because the anime can do fighting animation loops as well as interject filler and transitions you wouldn't need in the manga.

We also need to clarify what is considered fighting. Dragon Ball is known to have dialogue, B plots, and gags interspersed throughout the fights. Would those moments be considered part of the fight? Is the fight only when there is actual character/ki movement?

Lastly, what ratio do we consider as one aspect outweighing another? Is it half? Do fight scenes "weigh more" because of the action? That's not for me to decide.

It's a harder thing to judge than it seems. Not to mention this is a massive body of work to look over.

To quickly summarize my opinion? I have to so no. In DB, DBZ, DBGT, and DBS the fighting does not outweigh the rest on a scene by scene basis. I'm speaking for anime and manga.

The movies may make a case for having more fights fighty than talky talky. I don't watch them very much.

Maybe if we can really break down the definitions and categorize the franchise by fight scene to the rest, we may have a decently objective answer.

[Saiya6Cit]

We also need to clarify what is considered fighting. Dragon Ball is known to have dialogue, B plots, and gags interspersed throughout the fights. Would those moments be considered part of the fight? Is the fight only when there is actual character/ki movement?

AH yeah, very important. I think since fights in manga happen faster, I mean, please don't make me bring up the 5 MINUTES at Namek XD


How much actual fighting is in the series?
that is a funny question hahahah I don't think anybody has ever sat down to watch one dragon ball episode with a chronometer by their side and then as soon as they start to fight hit it and when the fight is over hit it again to stop because that would be the only scientific and accurate way to answer your question.


When the fighting does happen however it is very enganging action wise, that is why most people remember dragon ball as an anime about fighting. I think this is a good opportunity to share this video which is really interesting when you try to analize How much FIGHTING is it really on Dragon ball:

Vegeta's Fighting Style ANALYZED | Dragon Ball Z
https://youtu.be/j3t3q4MCVwY

Peace.