So, maybe everything exists in one, single canon?

[DBZGTKOSDH]

It seems to me that the official sources are hinting that everything is in one canon, but in different dimensions. Toriyama said in Daiz6 interview that he considers the movies as existing in a different dimension from the manga. Daiz6 also said about some movies that they belong into different/parallel world. Now for the manga & anime. Daiz6 say about the Bardock TV Special that the story is happening in both anime & manga time-frames, separating them.
So, by these, we officially have the Manga Dimension, the Anime Dimension & the Movie Dimension.
There are also the video games, and other Specials, OVAs, manga specials, etc. Maybe they too exist into different dimensions, or in one of those tree?
What do you think about this?

(Note: This is NOT a "what's your personal canon" thread)

[Gaffer Tape]

Well, I'm not sure how the term "dimension" used in this context is any different from "canon." Unless, of course, you're using it in a sense that Dragon Ball has established in its own universe, like Trunks creating different timelines, and multiple stories of Dragon Ball exist that way, or that there is, for example, the Makaioshin Realm, a twisted version of Dragon Ball's world, and that there are other, very similar dimensions like that. But other than that, I see the terms like "dimension," "continuity," and "canon" all pretty interchangeable when used in this way.

[DBfan4life]

I was thinking if these are all parallel universes than then that would mean they are all in separate continuities. For example, each movie having its own universe and continuity, but you can say movie 5 and 6 are same universe and continuity. Also movies 8, 10, and 11, since they all have brolly, would be in the same continuity for those movies as well. That would mean there are many different timelines for DB.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

I was thinking if these are all parallel universes than then that would mean they are all in separate continuities. For example, each movie having its own universe and continuity, but you can say movie 5 and 6 are same universe and continuity. Also movies 8, 10, and 11, since they all have brolly, would be in the same continuity for those movies as well. That would mean there are many different timelines for DB.

Movie 12 has at least a villain from almost all the previous movies, so it's safe to assume that all the movies belong into one world.

[hleV]

I don't think it exists. I think it shows an alternate ways things could have been. Because it's fun watching that.

[DBfan4life]

I was thinking if these are all parallel universes than then that would mean they are all in separate continuities. For example, each movie having its own universe and continuity, but you can say movie 5 and 6 are same universe and continuity. Also movies 8, 10, and 11, since they all have brolly, would be in the same continuity for those movies as well. That would mean there are many different timelines for DB.

Movie 12 has at least a villain from almost all the previous movies, so it's safe to assume that all the movies belong into one world.

Wow! I can't believe I forgot about movie 12 . Yeah so I guess it can be said they are in the same one world. Now that you said that I have a question that you yourself asked as well. How about the Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans video game movie. Would that count as a continuity of the movies since Cooler, Slug, and Turles make an appearance or would it be some weird continuity of the series itself since Freeza makes an appearance as well. Of course it could also just be a whole new world of its own.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Wow! I can't believe I forgot about movie 12 . Yeah so I guess it can be said they are in the same one world. Now that you said that I have a question that you yourself asked as well. How about the Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans video game movie. Would that count as a continuity of the movies since Cooler, Slug, and Tullece make an appearance or would it be some weird continuity of the series itself since Freeza makes an appearance as well. Of course it could also just be a whole new world of its own.

Since it is connected with 3 movies, I guess it belongs in the same continuity too.

[Michsi]

Personally, I interpret that statement as the author encouraging fans to acknowledge non-manga material as much as they do the manga itself. I seriously doubt he was thinking in clear terms such as sperate dimensions and what not.

[DBfan4life]

Since it is connected with 3 movies, I guess it belongs in the same continuity too.

Yeah I guess so, but then how would the Cell arc play out if Trunks is already here and Gohan can already turn super saiyan?

Off topic: Thank god this isn't gundam lol. As much as I love gundam (which I do a lot) there is so many manga, novels, and what not when it comes to talking about continuities.

[Bussani]

Well, I'm not sure how the term "dimension" used in this context is any different from "canon." Unless, of course, you're using it in a sense that Dragon Ball has established in its own universe, like Trunks creating different timelines, and multiple stories of Dragon Ball exist that way, or that there is, for example, the Makaioshin Realm, a twisted version of Dragon Ball's world, and that there are other, very similar dimensions like that. But other than that, I see the terms like "dimension," "continuity," and "canon" all pretty interchangeable when used in this way.

Personally, I interpret that statement as the author encouraging fans to acknowledge non-manga material as much as they do the manga itself. I seriously doubt he was thinking in clear terms such as sperate dimensions and what not.

I'm with these two. It's probably reading too much into it to say anything more than that. However, there's nothing really wrong with interpreting the franchise this way, if you want to.

I'm also not sure the movies are meant to take place in one big continuity. Again, you can interpret it that way if you want, but the fact that previous villains appear again in another movie doesn't really mean anything to me. Who says they're not alternate versions of the characters themselves? But more honestly, I think they're just there because it's cool.

[Insertclevername]

I just say that they all exist in separate dimensions, ones like Future Trunks', with some coexisting with others. So in a way, everything could possibly be canon.

[Bussani]

So in a way, everything could possibly be canon.

This isn't really directed at you, but I'm not sure why some people seem to want everything to be one big canon. I mean, with nothing non-canon to compare with, the term sort of loses its purpose.

Look at the Tenchi Muyo! canons, for instance. You could just as easily say that each of those is just an alternate reality in some sort of Tenchi-multiverse, because why not? But what's the point? If you're talking about the rules or events or things that happened in one reality as opposed to another, then it's perfectly valid to refer to it as a canon--the canon of that series. Make everything "one canon with lots of dimensions" and you lose that for no reason at all as far as I can see.

[Gaffer Tape]

Agreed. Again, I don't really see the difference anyway. Obviously a lot of those events from different media are simply incompatible with one another. Hell, a lot of filler is incompatible with its own continuity, given that the anime mostly follows the manga anyway. So even if you're arguing that they are just alternate realities in the same universe, you're still admitting they're wholly incompatible with one another and have to be in alternate realities just to co-exist. Seems rather pointless and no different from just saying they're different continuities altogether.

[Insertclevername]

So in a way, everything could possibly be canon.

This isn't really directed at you, but I'm not sure why some people seem to want everything to be one big canon. I mean, with nothing non-canon to compare with, the term sort of loses its purpose.

Look at the Tenchi Muyo! canons, for instance. You could just as easily say that each of those is just an alternate reality in some sort of Tenchi-multiverse, because why not? But what's the point? If you're talking about the rules or events or things that happened in one reality as opposed to another, then it's perfectly valid to refer to it as a canon--the canon of that series. Make everything "one canon with lots of dimensions" and you lose that for no reason at all as far as I can see.

Yeah I agree and to be honest, I don't take canon into consideration when I'm, per say, watching one of the movies since its kind of a waste of time trying to squeeze something that was clearly made without any care for being "canon", to be canon. So yeah, I just kinda added that last part to spice up the topic.

However you could use stuff like the fireman special and traffic safety special to oppose the "canon". Just putting it out there.....

[Bussani]

I'm the same. Outside of in-depth in-universe discussions, the only people canon is really important to are the creators themselves, since they have to decide what does and doesn't have any bearing on what they write next. For the most part I don't feel like I have to worry about canon at all, since it's such an opinion based thing that it really doesn't matter much. Even "official canons" are just the opinions and guidelines of the people in charge.

[OWmyDragonBallz]

The anime and manga of DB are separate continuities, however they do deliver the same message through the story. To me, they are both canon, but of course they will not turn out the same since one continues into another while the other continues into something else before the main arc begins. I am talking about the overall message that both versions deliver. That's the main canon, but as far as separate continuity goes, they are different realities. Take Paikuhan arc for example. That arc is canon to the anime version showing what Son Goku was up to after they defeated Cell. He goes up against an opponent who completely outclassed him resulting into even using Super Kaioken (which he could manage now that his body was more durable being dead and all) and Shikun Idou which caught Paikuhan off guard (which he used on Cell, who had completely outclassed Son Goku as well).

But seeing as how Toriyama considers DBGT and the movies side stories, those can be considered alternate universes the way I see it. Sure DBGT is a sequel to Z, but more like Z entering an alternate universe and not an actual continuation in the main series. I ultimately consider the end of the story at the conclusion to Z and the manga.

[Hellspawn28]

I view them as their own separate continuities as well. I view the DBZ movies to take place in their own timelines just like how the recent Godzilla films are. Movie 12 could take place in some wired universe where all of the movies happen somehow and Gohan must have killed Buu. He could be mystic going by his hair style in the movie 12?

[Nex Carnifex]

I can agree with the movies maybe existing in alternate timelines but the anime is just the manga with some silly filler to drag on events already present in the manga and tons of inconsistencies so that's just stupid to consider it as an alternate timeline.

[omegalucas]

To me, they're like different dimensions, different timelines where different things happen. Just like in the fanmanga/comic "Dragon Ball Multiverse".

[012yArthur0]

I don't think so. Some are sequels of their own OVA's because of fanbase. And if they was "interligated" so much, the sun would just blow up due to Spirit Bomb "spammage".