If GT didn't exist...

[Bejiita]

To say Dragonball Z is for kids is true in a way but not young kids, older kids, like over 15(which is the usual age most teens start smoking, drinking and ignoring film ratings(I have always been allowed to watch 18 rated films since I was under 8 or something)).

What get's on my nervers is those people who think they have finally accepted they are watching a children's show and try to shout at everyone saying DBZ isn't for kids, because in a way, it isn't. If you watch some of the uncut Namek episodes you see some raw things going on, the episode where Dodoria kills those Nameks and Dende's brother, and he snaps the elders neck, those are some raw scenes you see, even I think they are quite raw for DBZ, so imagine what little kids must think.

Also, the BGM plays a huge roll on the 'it's for kids' subject, I absolutely despise the dub because of the annoying BGM that is constantly played through the episode, some tracks I can stand, but the stupid synthesized sounds (which are usually played where there is silence in the Japanese episodes), they make the Cell Games actually feel like a dumb game, the stupid crap playing in the background everytime the scene flips over the Mr. Satan and the TV crew you hear some of the most irritating music. It's makes it more of a kiddy show, the Japanese music has some deep tunes that set the mood perfectly, and silence leads to a scene building up where something will happen. The dub voices are acceptable(to a certain extent), but the music is what really makes me hate the dub.

Ok, I went too far off topic there.

[Kodoshin]

The proof is in the merchandising, it's most definitely a kids show. Things such as the Absorbing Boo Playset, ridiculous amount of action figures, comforters, bed sheets, school supplies and trading card games etc. are generally things marketed towards kids. Some adults buy them yes but I'd be willing to bet a limb that the main market for these things is kids.

Heck it's marketing like this that gets the WWE (which claims not to market to kids) in trouble as kids snapup their merchandise far more than their claimed "target demographic".

Working at a Gamestop the past several years I almost exclusively sell the DBZ Videogames to kids in the 8-12 range, very rarely have I ever sold to anyone 13+ (We only enforce the ratings system on M rated games).

[Leotaku]

The finger-poking game is called "Kancho."

Kancho? I thought you guys were talking about Boong-Ga Boong-Ga.
http://www.monzy.com/intro/boong-ga/ass_closeup.jpg
http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/arcade/boonga.jpg
http://www.syberpunk.com/images/misc/boonga/boonga3.jpg

If you can't make the pictures out too well, there's an arcade machine with an ass that you're supposed to poke with a hand that has its finger extended. Think about how some arcades have guns attached; this has a finger.
Sorry for getting off topic.

[SpaceKappa]

"Kancho" is played on the schoolyard, where kids do it to each other. "Boong-Ga Boong-Ga" is an arcade game.

[Trunks Master Swordsman03]

Dude, get a better world view. Not all countries are as hyper sensitive about light nudity as the North American ones are.

Edit: (Obviously directed to Master Swordsman)

Well they should be, I don't think parents in any country want their kids seeing Bulma in the shower at ages as young as DB is watching here.

[SpaceKappa]

The human body is NOT a big issue in Japan. Bulma's boobs are toilet humor; it's the equivalent of a fart joke here. What aren't you getting?

I have a huge problem with people who feel the need to impose their morals on others.

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

The proof is in the merchandising, it's most definitely a kids show. Things such as the Absorbing Boo Playset, ridiculous amount of action figures, comforters, bed sheets, school supplies and trading card games etc. are generally things marketed towards kids. Some adults buy them yes but I'd be willing to bet a limb that the main market for these things is kids.

Heck it's marketing like this that gets the WWE (which claims not to market to kids) in trouble as kids snapup their merchandise far more than their claimed "target demographic".

Working at a Gamestop the past several years I almost exclusively sell the DBZ Videogames to kids in the 8-12 range, very rarely have I ever sold to anyone 13+ (We only enforce the ratings system on M rated games).

It's marketed for kids, correct. CENSORED DBZ is. Un-cut DBZ is supposed to be viewed by the 13+ group, says FUNi. And I agree. In the U.S., kids aren't ready to have Bulma's huge breasts in their face.

Har har har.

[Blastero]

Well of course in America DBZ is a looked down upon as a kid show. When I say a wide audience show, I mean mainly the original.

[Trunks Master Swordsman03]

I myself have nothing wrong with nudity, they are not my morals, my point still is DBZ is not directed at kids, Uncut DBZ is very bloody, blood shooting out of the mouth, & probably the most grusome thing......Krillin's almost death by Frieza.

[B-kun]

Trunks, you seem to have this mental block regarding cultural standards. =/

[Jerseymilk]

There seem to be some people in denial here. It is a kid's show. When I used to watch the fansubs, I was treated to commercials from toys to eye drops all marketed at kids. Heck, even for adverts about upcoming DBZ movies, you could tell by the way Goku talked, he was talking to kids about it, not adults. And don't give me the whole "little kids aren't ready to see Buruma's bare breasts" thing. Trust me, when I was a little kid, I knew what bare breasts looked like, as did the other kids, from other stuff on TV or elsewhere in media, and believe me we found it just as funny as Japanese kids would. We didn't see it as shocking or overtly sexual. It was like, "Ha ha ha, look you can see her boobies!" Kids need to be given more credit.

[Xyex]

I myself have nothing wrong with nudity, they are not my morals, my point still is DBZ is not directed at kids, Uncut DBZ is very bloody, blood shooting out of the mouth, & probably the most grusome thing......Krillin's almost death by Freeza.

You're not getting it. You just aren't. The Censored American DBZ here in the states is being aimed at the SAME age group as the UNCUT ORIGINAL WAS IN JAPAN. Japan isn't full of uptight idiots like the states who think a kid seeing ANIMATED breasts/death is going to turn them into a bunch of serial killers. They don't care that their 8-12 year old is watching Roshi trying to grope Bulma, or Freeza is ripping off Nail's arm, etc...

It's all cultural. Ya, it seems odd to us, but that's because of our culture. WE don't do it here, so it seems odd that others would. But they do. You have to move outside of your little bubble and look at the world for once. America is one of the most uptight 'OMG NO IT'S BREASTS ON TV' countries on the planet. We are one of the most heavily censored and 'protected' nations, since 'nudity is a sin' and all that crap. Bleh.

[Aurek]

There are up points and down points to Japanese culture it seems to me. However one of the most telling thigs was when I was watching an episode of DBZ with my nephews. These kids are big into Power rangers, Batman, Spiderman all that stuff. At one point one of them points at Vegeta and says "Whats that on his face?", "Thats blood" I say, "when people fight they may get cut and bleed". "Oh" he replies.

[omae no kaasan]

To say Dragonball Z is for kids is true in a way but not young kids, older kids, like over 15

DBZ, in Japan, was/is intended for people of all ages and was made to appeal to small children.

Today the standards have changed and some of the same things that were easy to get away with in DB, are now frequently harder to find. Perfect example, One Piece has a scene which shows the decapitation of a dinosaur. So does DB. That scene found itself in place in animated DB but edited out of animated Japanese OP.

The fact remains, DBZ was originally intended (I don't care which country) for children.

Life goes on.

[Blastero]

I'm not like the fanboys who go "OMG! DBZ has blood! Now I can go telling all my friends that I get to watch an adult show!!" No. I honestly don't care if it has a few Bulma boobs or bloody and gorey deaths. The one thing that pisses me off the most is people worrying about that stuff, instead of just having a sense of humor about it. No. DBZ has a very wide audience, and I'm sure Toriyama knew it would attract adults and kids when he made the series. And no I'm not saying it was marketed towards adults. To me, DBZ isn't a kid's show. It's not an adult show either. Its just a show. That simple.

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

There seem to be some people in denial here. It is a kid's show. When I used to watch the fansubs, I was treated to commercials from toys to eye drops all marketed at kids. Heck, even for adverts about upcoming DBZ movies, you could tell by the way Goku talked, he was talking to kids about it, not adults. And don't give me the whole "little kids aren't ready to see Buruma's bare breasts" thing. Trust me, when I was a little kid, I knew what bare breasts looked like, as did the other kids, from other stuff on TV or elsewhere in media, and believe me we found it just as funny as Japanese kids would. We didn't see it as shocking or overtly sexual. It was like, "Ha ha ha, look you can see her boobies!" Kids need to be given more credit.

DBZ. WAS. MARKETED. TOWARDS. KIDS. IN. JAPAN.

The DBZ that kids watched in Japan isn't the one the kids here watch.

[VegettoEX]

What don't any of you fucking understand?

Stop trying to have the last word. That's the moderator's job. You're either on topic, or you're not. Typing in all caps, typing in bold, proclaiming to know all of Japan... I don't give a god damn rat's ass.

You either talk about the subject at hand, or you get the Hell out of here.

[Trunks Master Swordsman03]

DBZ is NOT a kids show. Whether or not breasts are an issue doesn't even matter. What about all the blood & gore. It's not edited. There is blood shooting out of the mouth at times, just constant blood flow.

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

Oh lord.

[Fuujin]

There's constant blood flow in DBZ?

Is there a "Ultimate Super Chou Mega Blood Flow Uncut DBZ" version in Japan?

Damn, what we watched on DVD's was all lies!