Do you think it's time for a new Dragonball anime?

[Luke Groundwalker]

Whether it be a sequel, an adaptation of Dragonball Online's backstory, a remake of the entire series, or a combination of all three. This is a subject that I think is on the minds of a lot of people in the fandom.

Dragonball as a series is continuously getting milked...and as we seen with the cancellation of Kai in Japan, and the lack of sales for the recent video games in all parts of the world, makes me think that people are getting simply tired of the series continuously rehashing the same story over and over again. This is no surprise cause series such as Star Wars, for example, are kept afloat by the fact that they have a massive expanded universe and stuff like the Clone Wars TV series is keeping it in the mind of younger generations who may not have grown up on Star Wars otherwise.

Though I'm not saying that Dragonball should be in the same boat as Star Wars, cause dear god that would be terrible. But what I am saying is that no matter how you look at it, fans want fresh content. Do you honestly think, for example, that Star Wars fans would be happy with video games continuously adapting the same movies without any interesting additions to them? There's a reason why games like KOTOR are some of the most successful games in the entire property.

I think this is primarily why the core fanbase is interested in stuff like Dragonball Online, including myself. Now I've actually got the chance to play it, and I can say for fact that it's a ridiculously mediocre MMORPG. However the fact that it has new content, that takes in account a previous canonical source (unlike Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans, for example), is very refreshing for the slew of rehashed material out there that is given the Dragonball property.

Once I think about it, what else could a developer like Spike do when all they have to pull from is old material? Most likely the developers of these games are restricted under guidelines to directly not include any original storylines or original characters, and if they do they probably still have to adapt Freeza, Cell, Boo, etc.

This is why I think that at this point in the franchise's lifetime, it might be appropriate to launch a new anime. Whatever quality the fans such as ourselves may view the final product won't change the fact that something like this could bring new material to the franchise such as new characters and new story arcs to merchandise.

Personally I think Dragonball is dead, in the sense that the series is finished and stuff like One Piece for example picked up the slack and even surpassed Dragonball is almost every way possible. While seeing a new anime would be nostalgic for me, I don't think I would really welcome it with open arms unless it was material by Toriyama himself.

However my personal wishes isn't relative to the market itself, and I'm pretty confident that if there is a new anime that audiences would literally eat it up especially the Western audience. I mean, especially if you take in account how popular DBGT is in America compared to it's popularity in Japan...it's an astounding difference to be quite honest.

Do you think it's time for a new Dragonball anime? Do you want a new Dragonball anime? Why?

[jjgp1112]

This is the part where I shamelessly promote the fanfic in my sig.

No, but seriously, although a new DB series would be great in theory, I think we have to wait for Kai to fade off a little bit more. But honestly, I'd only be interested if it had an all new set of characters, something that took places centuries after GT, because honestly, there's not much more that you can do with the original cast that wouldn't be boring, forced, and cookie cutter (SHAMELESS FANFIC PROMOTION #2). Either that, or an alternate universe mini-series, maybe something about Trunks traveling to the wrong time or something.

[ArchedThunder]

I think they need to first do more manga like the new Bardock one and make OVA's of those to get into doing the animation properly and then go for a new series, maybe something to tie in with Online in a way and overwrite GT, or hell maybe a sequel to GT*shivers*. Eh... maybe not.

This is the part where I shamelessly promote the fanfic in my sig.

No, but seriously, although a new DB series would be great in theory, I think we have to wait for Kai to fade off a little bit more. But honestly, I'd only be interested if it had an all new set of characters, something that took places centuries after GT, because honestly, there's not much more that you can do with the original cast that wouldn't be boring, forced, and cookie cutter (SHAMELESS FANFIC PROMOTION #2). Either that, or an alternate universe mini-series, maybe something about Trunks traveling to the wrong time or something.

Better idea, show us what happened in the timeline where Trunks never came back because Cell killed him before he came back. Not the Trunks timeline, but the past.

[Fox666]

No.

1 - Toriyama. If it's not Toriyama doing the story-line, it's a no-no. We know what happened before (cof GT cof) thus it's not worth it if it's not Toriyama. And it doesn't seems like Toriyama is willing in continuing Dragon Ball. And this might not be possible, as Toriyama may have forgotten most of the history.

2 - Animation quality. Toei works under low budgets. Kai is the pinnacle of Toei way of gathering audience.

3 - Censoring. I wouldn't like a new whole series being wasted because of poor censoring.

[Scarz]

Yes.

1. There have been plenty of great spin-off series in other animes and tv shows that worked well even without the original creator behind it. Yes, there have been some bad ones but there have also been some great rememberable ones as well.

2. Animation quality... Okay Toei has been pretty shitty recently but they can pull off a great job when they need to.

3. Censorship does not make or break a series. Story does.

And 4. I want a new series, damnit! We're long since overdue for one. At least throw us a movie or a tv special.

[Gaffer Tape]

Nope.

Dragon Ball finished up over 15 years ago. It's over. It doesn't need to keep being artificially extended. But even if I could be convinced that it really needed an extension, it certainly doesn't need to be now. The brand is totally oversaturated, and we're just coming off of a currently-airing series. Franchise fatigue indeed.

[Luke Groundwalker]

Nope.

Dragon Ball finished up over 15 years ago. It's over. It doesn't need to keep being artificially extended. But even if I could be convinced that it really needed an extension, it certainly doesn't need to be now. The brand is totally oversaturated, and we're just coming off of a currently-airing series. Franchise fatigue indeed.

Well let me reword my question.

Would you prefer Dragonball as a property to be artificially extended like it is today, or legitimately extended?

Honestly the later is way more appealing than artificially extending Dragonball, which is happening in the market right now with video games that are borderline shovelware at this point and stuff like Funimation constantly re-releasing the series over and over again.

To me if they're going to continue the Dragonball property, they should at least keep it fresh even if we get a mixed bag of new material.

No matter what, there's a market for Dragonball. Just please for the love of Christ stop rehashing it.

[Hellspawn28]

As I mention many times before, a new series can work if they can find a good team that would put effort on a new series. There is a good amount of ideas that can work in Dragon Ball and can be better then GT. Dragon Ball can't stay dead forever, they will likely find a way to bring it back with something new.

[Gaffer Tape]

Well, the thing is is that I don't see any current or even potential DB products as being anything more than an artificial extension. As far as I'm concerned, there is no legitimate extension. As I said, it's ended, it's over. It's long since time for the franchise to finally be allowed to rest in peace.

[MCDaveG]

What will be really interesting, if they will make a series set in the same world, but in different reality like Gundam is.
For example create some new warrior race with same abbilities like Saiyans etc. There is lot of possibilities what to do.
But milking the same story over and over probably won't work.
TOEI have a great opportunities in their hands, but they always screw it up. Don't mention bad animation of half the episodes and really rudiculous writing team.
They should learn from Sunrise.

''My grudge for f**ked up Saint Seiya adaptation will never leave this planet even after my death''

[Hellspawn28]

As I said, it's ended, it's over. It's long since time for the franchise to finally be allowed to rest in peace.

Dragon Ball is a big series with a huge fan base and help the series last for two and half decades. Saying Dragon Ball will be dead forever is like saying Star Wars or Dracula will say dead forever. They will likely creating some new series without Toriyama. I doubt he will care what Toei does with the series.

[Fox666]

1. There have been plenty of great spin-off series in other animes and tv shows that worked well even without the original creator behind it. Yes, there have been some bad ones but there have also been some great rememberable ones as well.

There have been good spin-offs for other series, but with Dragon Ball it never happened (except for very short stories), nothing compares to Toriyama.

Now consider that Toei is only interested in stretching the profit, and that Toriyama doesn't seems to be able to control or even to care about how they threat his series, I find it unlikely we will ever get something good out of that.

2. Animation quality... Okay Toei has been pretty shitty recently but they can pull off a great job when they need to.

Anyone can as long there is budget. But Dragon Ball is already established, they won't put money on it. That's how Toei has been working in recent hits such as Naruto or One Piece.

3. Censorship does not make or break a series. Story does.

No, it doesn't. But I don't like the idea of never knowing the real story the author had planned which censors prevented to be released.


4. The most recent character designs aren't interesting. I won't like to see a whole series with the visual Goku has in the remake of Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans.

[Luke Groundwalker]

Naruto isn't by TOEI, bro.

Also the animation quality is MUCH better now than back in the day. Nothing to worry about that, the fact is that the animation quality would be better.

Personally I would love for a remake series, if it's done right. Like imagine the 5 minute Freeza battle to actually take 5 minutes on screen. That would be pretty neat to see.

But a sequel series, to me, really depends on if it's done well. For example I view the Blackstar Dragonball episodes of DBGT to be done well in style and tone, and something like that for an entire series would be pretty neat. DBGT's problem is that it fell into the DBZ trap of having these super powerful characters fighting these huge battles, with pacing that's based off the anime rather than the manga.

[jjgp1112]

Really, unless they planned to toss in some hardcore porn/torture scene I highly doubt the censorship would have that much impact on the story. And I think sometimes you guys put way too much stock in Toriyama, to the point where anything that doesn't have his "stamp of approval" is deemed complete trash from the get go.

[Luke Groundwalker]

Censorship would only be an issue if it's remaking the series.

A sequel series wouldn't get censorship, but rather it would be designed to avoid censorship.

[JulieYBM]

If the series was only twenty-six episodes then I could see Toei using good animation teams, but a protracted series would definitely turn out bad. Most of Toei's good animators are working on their films or Pretty Cure right now. Even One Piece has only had two or three good animators as of late and even then they don't really get a chance to show off very well. A shorter series would make Yamamuro and other veteran key animators more available and easier to afford. It would also allow for a more concentrated plot.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

I'd never turn down them giving us a new series, I always crave more Dragon Ball, but I don't think this is the right time for a new series, or at least a new anime. Maybe give us a few more special chapters like the Episode of Bardock, and then sometime down the road, release a couple of new OVAs that animates them. They could also give us a DBO anime when the game actually manages to come out in Japan, or maybe if Heroes continues to do well, they could give us something animated based off of it and its additions to the franchise, similar to a super extended version of their commercials.

[AgitoZ]

Although I too crave more Dragon Ball I don't think I would want a full blown sequel series. Maybe some more stories like the Jump Special where the characters are just goofing around, nothing extravagant, just more of it. If it was a full blown series I'd rather have some spin-offs with other characters. Shenanigans with Mr. Satan and Boo, Fast Times at Orange Star High School, or an anthology series of just unrelated stories of characters from DB.

Although I don't think now is the best time for anything. The franchise needs a rest.

[xzero]

I don't think they should do a new series. Maybe a couple of OVAs or a movie with--gasp!--some sort of plot that's more than just "Big Enemy Shows Up Who Will Beat Up Everyone Until Goku/Gohan Kills him."

Kai was supported by something resembling a justification. It was the series' 20th anniversary year in 2009, and the original version was replete with filler. It's rare to get a true-to-the-manga version of an anime without filler, and it was a neat idea to see it. Granted, it could have been executed infinitely better, but that would have cost money and required actual effort. The only people who really seemed to make something out of Kai were the Funimation folks.

The situation would be different if there were some good reason for a new series. For instance, Fullmetal Alchemist had an anime-exclusive plot and ending for the entire second half of its run. It's not even a filler situation; it's just different (and good, though not quite as good as the manga version now that its ending has been reached). Because of that divergence, FMA: Brotherhood was not only justified, but supported by a solid rationale: getting the manga story animated because it never was before. By contrast, DBZ was the end of its manga, and the story was completely animated. It was further supplemented by a wealth of movies and a sequel TV series. And a true-to-the-manga re-edit that didn't perform up to par in Japan.

If an anime company is going to go back and make a new series, they'd be better off sticking with something else. For example, Rurouni Kenshin's third manga arc never got properly animated because of how crappy the anime's filler season was. That would be something that there's a purpose for. A new Dragon Ball anime just wouldn't have much of a purpose as far as I can tell. I'd still watch it, though

[Fox666]

Naruto isn't by TOEI, bro.

Yeah, sorry, I mistook. I was thinking of another series, Saint Seiya (I think it was already mentioned in the thread). Toei made some OVAs that are so cheap and poor quality that I can't even describe. On the other hand, the OVAs of the spin-off Lost Canvas was made by another studio (TMS) and it is just fantastic!

The only thing I can say is that series licensed by Toei are doomed.

Also the animation quality is MUCH better now than back in the day. Nothing to worry about that, the fact is that the animation quality would be better.

I don't think Dragon Ball has ever had such a big budget. For example, yu Yu Hakusho animation was much better. However the animation of today is even cheaper, with poor computer effects to make objects move on screen.

I have nightmares thinking of what would be the result.

Really, unless they planned to toss in some hardcore porn/torture scene I highly doubt the censorship would have that much impact on the story.

It's not like it would be the worst thing in the world. But for example: in One Piece, after a shipwreck, an old man gives all of his food to a kid while he cut and eat his own leg. In the anime he lost his leg in the shipwreck... so we loose all the emotion in the scene.

And remember that porn/torture aren't exactly the limit of Toei censoring. Naked children or blood is cut off, as we could see in Kai. I imagine a pre-Z Kai series would cut all sexual Shin-Chan-style jokes.

Of course Dragon Ball DO have plenty of torture and mutilation scenes.

And I think sometimes you guys put way too much stock in Toriyama, to the point where anything that doesn't have his "stamp of approval" is deemed complete trash from the get go.

Nobody deemed as complete trash anything that doesn't come from Toriyama. For example, Bardock and Trunks special are very good.

However most of the filler scenes, movies and series (aka GT) ARE complete trash.