Don't really find them flattering or entertaining for the most part. Most of them are designed to be sexually attractive to typical norms which is very similar to pretty much every other shonen. The downside is they lack cool moments so they are mostly just eyecandy and pandering to the male gaze.
It'd be nice to see women be more than just eyecandy or waifuism.
I don't even care for Ribrianne as her writing shames Krillin for his appearance which is very odd since he's not really attractive.
Tbh this series is so old and rooted in old traditions it's never really going to treat women equally. I've more or less accepted this fact similiar to the racist depictions of black folks in the series.
I recall reading one time Toriyama mentioning he'd like to peek on his grandaughter in the bathroom or something so...yeah not expecting much here.
The Women of Dragon Ball (and your thoughts)
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UltraInstinctRorikon
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Re: The Women of Dragon Ball (and your thoughts)
We the ones
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PurestEvil
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Re: The Women of Dragon Ball (and your thoughts)
Bulma:
Probably the most consistently well written character by virtue of her being an average human in terms of fighting skill and thus not really getting a "sidelining" treatment like the others. I appreciate her as a supporting character, a sort of relatable character for the audience, and the "tech person" among the protagonists despite how sparsely we see that side of her (especially nowadays).
Chi Chi:
I don't think she is that bad of a character nor that bad of a mother. I kind of wish we got to see more of Chi Chi's martial arts action after her settling down with Goku, because it really feels like she is just there for the sake of being a protagonist's mother most of the time.
Android 18:
Aside from her cute relationship with Krillin, 18 is another woman I consider to display some individualism, even if a small amount. She's the hardest ass of the ladies and I am fond of that side of her, especially since she has gotten more fighting action than the other woman. That's what makes her so fun to watch for me.
Videl:
Videl is a freaking disappointment. She went from being a competent martial artist and ki user to a mere entity that fills the role of "Gohan's wife" and "Pan's mother". No need to elaborate further.
Out of the "Big Four Females" of DB, I like 18 the most, but Bulma is a close second.
As for some of the other women in the franchise...
Lunch:
Who doesn't love Lunch? She was such an interesting and funny character, acting both as Goku's lowkey maternal figure and a badass friend. it was a shame she was written off the way she was.
Fortuneteller Baba:
Pan:
She is okay in EoZ and DBS, but I thought her character in DBGT to be very hit and miss. She was a bit of an annoying brat in the Black Start Balls saga, but then became a more mature character when the Baby saga unfolds. However, I felt that she regressed a bit with her poor treatment of Gill in the Shadow Dragon saga. All in all, I hope Pan stays cool in the upcoming DBS:SH movie.
Bra:
She is just kind of there and nothing else. Ideally she could have been a REALLY cool and strong character, being the daughter of the Saiyan Prince himself and all, but she merely ended up being a spoiled BRA-t. (hahahahahaha, okay I'll see myself out).
Mai:
She was a pretty good side-villain in the first arc, and probably my favorite from the Pilaf trio. In DBS, she has two iterations: one of them is a kickass character who displays probably the most progressive representation of a women in Dragon Ball (the Future version), whereas the other is a subject of an obnoxious running joke.
Gine:
Goku's mom, not much else to mention about her.
Ribrianne:
I actually kind of liked Ribrianne as a jab against magical girl clichés. Although she did interrupt the protagonists a lot, I didn't find her role or personality to be annoying at all.
Ribrianne's mates:
I don't remember a whole lot about them, but they certainly did not annoy me, either.
Caulifla:
Apart from her dubious-at-best execution of her unlocking Super Saiyan, she was kind of alright. I liked how genuinely interested she was with Goku and how she wanted to prove how strong she was.
Kale:
Kale annoyed me more than Ribrianne tbh. Her sheer clinginess and jealousy that came from Goku and Caulifla's interactions made her out to be so vapid and shallow. On top of her Berserk SSJ form, I really feel like she was meant to be a proto version of the Broly in the DBS film.
Kefla:
She was awesome! She had the best parts of Caulifla and the least bad parts of Kale, which made her a really formidable foe for Goku and more enjoyable than the Saiyan girls as separates (in my opinion).
Macki:
She was a pretty funny character at first, but she kind of got a bit sidelined as the Cereal saga went on. I appreciate Toyotarou's for introducing a new "evil" female character, though, hopefully it sets a precedent!
So all in all, the female characters are not really that much more badly or well written than the male characters (sexual assault and harassment aside!!!), they are just way less prominent than them and I just wish some of them would be more active.
Probably the most consistently well written character by virtue of her being an average human in terms of fighting skill and thus not really getting a "sidelining" treatment like the others. I appreciate her as a supporting character, a sort of relatable character for the audience, and the "tech person" among the protagonists despite how sparsely we see that side of her (especially nowadays).
Chi Chi:
I don't think she is that bad of a character nor that bad of a mother. I kind of wish we got to see more of Chi Chi's martial arts action after her settling down with Goku, because it really feels like she is just there for the sake of being a protagonist's mother most of the time.
Android 18:
Aside from her cute relationship with Krillin, 18 is another woman I consider to display some individualism, even if a small amount. She's the hardest ass of the ladies and I am fond of that side of her, especially since she has gotten more fighting action than the other woman. That's what makes her so fun to watch for me.
Videl:
Videl is a freaking disappointment. She went from being a competent martial artist and ki user to a mere entity that fills the role of "Gohan's wife" and "Pan's mother". No need to elaborate further.
Out of the "Big Four Females" of DB, I like 18 the most, but Bulma is a close second.
As for some of the other women in the franchise...
Lunch:
Who doesn't love Lunch? She was such an interesting and funny character, acting both as Goku's lowkey maternal figure and a badass friend. it was a shame she was written off the way she was.
Fortuneteller Baba:
Pan:
She is okay in EoZ and DBS, but I thought her character in DBGT to be very hit and miss. She was a bit of an annoying brat in the Black Start Balls saga, but then became a more mature character when the Baby saga unfolds. However, I felt that she regressed a bit with her poor treatment of Gill in the Shadow Dragon saga. All in all, I hope Pan stays cool in the upcoming DBS:SH movie.
Bra:
She is just kind of there and nothing else. Ideally she could have been a REALLY cool and strong character, being the daughter of the Saiyan Prince himself and all, but she merely ended up being a spoiled BRA-t. (hahahahahaha, okay I'll see myself out).
Mai:
She was a pretty good side-villain in the first arc, and probably my favorite from the Pilaf trio. In DBS, she has two iterations: one of them is a kickass character who displays probably the most progressive representation of a women in Dragon Ball (the Future version), whereas the other is a subject of an obnoxious running joke.
Gine:
Goku's mom, not much else to mention about her.
Ribrianne:
I actually kind of liked Ribrianne as a jab against magical girl clichés. Although she did interrupt the protagonists a lot, I didn't find her role or personality to be annoying at all.
Ribrianne's mates:
I don't remember a whole lot about them, but they certainly did not annoy me, either.
Caulifla:
Apart from her dubious-at-best execution of her unlocking Super Saiyan, she was kind of alright. I liked how genuinely interested she was with Goku and how she wanted to prove how strong she was.
Kale:
Kale annoyed me more than Ribrianne tbh. Her sheer clinginess and jealousy that came from Goku and Caulifla's interactions made her out to be so vapid and shallow. On top of her Berserk SSJ form, I really feel like she was meant to be a proto version of the Broly in the DBS film.
Kefla:
She was awesome! She had the best parts of Caulifla and the least bad parts of Kale, which made her a really formidable foe for Goku and more enjoyable than the Saiyan girls as separates (in my opinion).
Macki:
She was a pretty funny character at first, but she kind of got a bit sidelined as the Cereal saga went on. I appreciate Toyotarou's for introducing a new "evil" female character, though, hopefully it sets a precedent!
So all in all, the female characters are not really that much more badly or well written than the male characters (sexual assault and harassment aside!!!), they are just way less prominent than them and I just wish some of them would be more active.
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Rest in Peace, Toriyama-san
Rest in Peace, Toriyama-san
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super michael
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Re: The Women of Dragon Ball (and your thoughts)
For Videl we only assumed that she stopped training and fighting, but I don't call that ever being stated.
We assumed that Gohan stopped training and fighting after Buu defeat, just because he didn't enter the tournament. However DBS shows that wasn't correct.
If the rumors are correct about Videl doing martial arts in DBS Super Heroes, then even less evidence that she quit.
We assumed that Gohan stopped training and fighting after Buu defeat, just because he didn't enter the tournament. However DBS shows that wasn't correct.
If the rumors are correct about Videl doing martial arts in DBS Super Heroes, then even less evidence that she quit.
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super michael
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Re: The Women of Dragon Ball (and your thoughts)
DB Pilaf Saga Chi Chi is good, I have no problem.PurestEvil wrote: Thu Jun 09, 2022 4:34 pm
Chi Chi:
I don't think she is that bad of a character nor that bad of a mother. I kind of wish we got to see more of Chi Chi's martial arts action after her settling down with Goku, because it really feels like she is just there for the sake of being a protagonist's mother most of the time.
DB 23rd Martial Art Tournament Chi Chi is good and understandable why she was mad at Goku.
However her character was awful in DB Saiyan Saga, that is until Gohan demanded to go to Namek.
DB Android Saga Chi Chi was dumb but not unreasonable.
DB Buu Saga Chi Chi and Yo Son Goku Ova are the best version of Chi Chi. Supports her son's decisions and allows Goku authority as a parent without giving trouble.
DBS Anime the worst version of Chi Chi. She controls everyone, she doesn't care what anyone wants, only what she wants. Her son competing or training in anyway is taboo. Even Goku has restrictions on training.
She acts like she can control Pan however she likes.
Thinking martial arts and training are bad and useless is extremely dumb, especially when this is a fighting anime. Forbidding that is even more dumb.