What does Dragonball mean to you?

soulnova · Post by **soulnova** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:46 am

I started to watch Dragon Ball when I was 11 years old. It was such an amazing story and I grew up with it loving every episode of it. I'm 27 years old now. I have loved DB for more than 2/3rds of my entire life. I couldn't imagine my life without them.

What the series taught me:

There's always someone who's going to be better than you, and that's why you should strive to surpass your limits and better yourself.

Don't marry based on "illusions". Choose knowing all the faults of that person.

People can be jerks, but that doesn't mean they are evil... most of the time.

Find something to die for, and protect it.

Post by **TripleRach** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:51 am

I guess Dragon Ball has kind of contributed to one of my most important philosophies in life: Don't give up. Surpass yourself. As a whole, I just feel like I should never settle, and I can always get (metaphorically) stronger. There are always ways to improve.

But Dragon Ball is also important to me in other ways, like the fact that the fandom has introduced me to a lot of amazing people, and my general love for the series is motivation to keep trying to improve my writing, Japanese, and web design skills.

Gounks · Post by **Gounks** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:50 am

In all honesty, Dragon Ball didn't teach me anything specific.

Instead it gave me an escape from reality and something to love.
Like many others, I grew up with Dragon Ball. I wouldn't have gotten into it if it wasn't for my older siblings nor if it wasn't on TV. I didn't care much for it once other TV shows took its place, but I've always had it in the back of my mind. I still kept all the posters and cards I got from magazines. I also still have the old recordings of it when it was on TV and the Final Bout ps1 game.

About 2 or so years ago when I first started university, I was looking eagerly for something to escape all the stress I was having. I had moved on from anime by then... but slowly I was getting back into it... It wasn't until early 2010 my friend at the time spoke highly of TFS, which of course got me interested. From there I ended up taking out all my DBZ stuff I had stashed away. And then finally I spent my year re-watching it. I also found this place and began to listen to the podcasts on my bus rides to and from classes and home.

To say DBZ came back into my life with a huge impact would be an understatement. It's kinda taken over my life. Admittedly, it's made me meet a lot new people online and has helped me make so many new friendships. And It's given me an escape from reality. Days when I'm really stressed or just need something to get my mind off things, I would watch some Dragon Ball. Kinda cheesy I guess... But I love it and I hope this *faze* doesn't end soon. It's also given me the inspiration to pick up drawing again too. Although, in saying that, I'm now drawing all types of anime.

So I guess the point is, it's made me happy?

DragonBoxZTheMovies · Post by **DragonBoxZTheMovies** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 6:43 am

Dragon Ball, or rather Toriyama, taught me that you can make up a story as you go along and still have it turn out well.

Aoi · Post by **Aoi** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:39 pm

Gounks wrote:In all honesty, Dragon Ball didn't teach me anything specific.

Instead it gave me an escape from reality and something to love.
Like many others, I grew up with Dragon Ball. I wouldn't have gotten into it if it wasn't for my older siblings nor if it wasn't on TV. I didn't care much for it once other TV shows took its place, but I've always had it in the back of my mind. I still kept all the posters and cards I got from magazines. I also still have the old recordings of it when it was on TV and the Final Bout ps1 game.

About 2 or so years ago when I first started university, I was looking eagerly for something to escape all the stress I was having. I had moved on from anime by then... but slowly I was getting back into it... It wasn't until early 2010 my friend at the time spoke highly of TFS, which of course got me interested. From there I ended up taking out all my DBZ stuff I had stashed away. And then finally I spent my year re-watching it. I also found this place and began to listen to the podcasts on my bus rides to and from classes and home.

To say DBZ came back into my life with a huge impact would be an understatement. It's kinda taken over my life. Admittedly, it's made me meet a lot new people online and has helped me make so many new friendships. And It's given me an escape from reality. Days when I'm really stressed or just need something to get my mind off things, I would watch some Dragon Ball. Kinda cheesy I guess... But I love it and I hope this *faze* doesn't end soon. It's also given me the inspiration to pick up drawing again too. Although, in saying that, I'm now drawing all types of anime.

So I guess the point is, it's made me happy?

I really enjoyed reading that. It's very similar to my experiences watching the show. I did learn things here and there, but the show has been with me during very critical moments in my life. My perception of the show has actually evolved somehow over the years and I've learned to enjoy it for different reasons.

As a kid (age 10), I remember being blown away by the story structure of the Saiyan/Namek arc. I just couldn't get enough of the show. I had never seen anything like it and felt a strong connection to the narrative and characters. In short: I loved the show's style. The narrative was so "out there", and yet fascinating to uncover.

In High School, I have very fond memories of me discovering and playing all of the old SNES Dragon Ball Z games. I started to the series in Japanese when I first began to download all the films subbed. After a period where I stopped watching, I remember watching the entire Buu arc during a stressful time when I was basically locked in my room studying for final exams to get into University. I adored the escape and just felt such a rush watching it.

University- The first time the sets came out. I was worried that I had outgrown the show when I had bought Season 1 and 2 to show my girlfriend at the time. Watched the Saiyan arc in Japanese for the first time and I absolutely adored it. It would be a faithful companion to me during some rough periods (exams, break ups, etc). In short, Dragon Ball's always been a companion for me. It never fails to make me smile, or get me invested in the dramatic scenes. I proudly watch it every 2-3 years in its entirety (DB, Z and yes even GT). It's truly part of me now.

samuraix123 · Post by **samuraix123** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:12 pm

It's great reading everyone's stories. I think we've all at some point hit that wall where we kinda stopped watching the franchise but then it comes right back.

BlazingFiddlesticks · Post by **BlazingFiddlesticks** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:00 pm

I'm really with PenguinTruth; Dragon Ball's stories are too quickly fanciful and its characters not humanized enough for me to draw anything from them. The series continues to amaze me from a narrative standpoint, but not a personal one.

What has been fun is to keep finding fans in real life where I never expect them. A friend of mine recently posted a macro on FaceBook of "Share if your over 18 and still love Dragon Ball Z"- a little bit of cult-of-childhood guilt, but still a worthy post. It racked up likes quickly.

Cipher · Post by **Cipher** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:07 pm

BlazingFiddlesticks wrote:I'm really with PenguinTruth; Dragon Ball's stories are too quickly fanciful and its characters not humanized enough for me to draw anything from them. The series continues to amaze me from a narrative standpoint, but not a personal one.

I guess I never really answered the topic's question, so I'll just say I agree with this.

Except it isn't really amazing from a narrative standpoint either. It's just fun.

BlazingFiddlesticks · Post by **BlazingFiddlesticks** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:54 pm

Cipher wrote:Except it isn't really amazing from a narrative standpoint either. It's just fun.

Dissecting simple fun to the needless extreme we have here is something.

DoomieDoomie911 · Post by **DoomieDoomie911** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:15 pm

Dragon Ball is very special to me. When times that I have felt depressed or alone I always turn to it. It always brings me up and makes me feel happy. Even though I only got into it about 4 years ago, it has changed my life and will remain there forever.

samuraix123 · Post by **samuraix123** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:21 pm

DoomieDoomie911 wrote:Dragon Ball is very special to me. When times that I have felt depressed or alone I always turn to it. It always brings me up and makes me feel happy. Even though I only got into it about 4 years ago, it has changed my life and will remain there forever.

Hey that don't matter at-least you're into it and it makes you happy

I've been into it ever since it came on Toonami with the ocean cast

DoomieDoomie911 · Post by **DoomieDoomie911** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:53 pm

samuraix123 wrote:
DoomieDoomie911 wrote:Dragon Ball is very special to me. When times that I have felt depressed or alone I always turn to it. It always brings me up and makes me feel happy. Even though I only got into it about 4 years ago, it has changed my life and will remain there forever.
Hey that don't matter at-least you're into it and it makes you happy I've been into it ever since it came on Toonami with the ocean cast

That it does, that it does!

DerekPadula · Post by **DerekPadula** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 11:09 am

I asked this same question in 2010, and you may also enjoy reading this article and the comments that follow on my blog:

http://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/phil ... an-to-you/

Lots of great replies, and in my mind it's a very important question.

ShinRogafuken · Post by **ShinRogafuken** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:02 pm

BlazingFiddlesticks wrote:I'm really with PenguinTruth; Dragon Ball's stories are too quickly fanciful and its characters not humanized enough for me to draw anything from them. The series continues to amaze me from a narrative standpoint, but not a personal one.

What has been fun is to keep finding fans in real life where I never expect them. A friend of mine recently posted a macro on FaceBook of "Share if your over 18 and still love Dragon Ball Z"- a little bit of cult-of-childhood guilt, but still a worthy post. It racked up likes quickly.

"Who let the dogs out"?

samuraix123 · Post by **samuraix123** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:07 pm

DerekPadula wrote:I asked this same question in 2010, and you may also enjoy reading this article and the comments that follow on my blog:

http://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/phil ... an-to-you/

Lots of great replies, and in my mind it's a very important question.

Thanks buddy I'll definitely check it out

Kanzenshuu

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