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Tributes/References to other franchises in Dragon Ball
Tributes/References to other franchises in Dragon Ball
Are there tributes/references from other franchises in Dragonball? Like Future Trunks/Android saga is a tribute to the Terminator franchise.
Discuss it in this thread.
Discuss it in this thread.
" You can take control of my mind and my body, but there is one thing a Saiyan always keep... his PRIDE! "-Vegeta
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Karin Tower looks very similar to Cloud City from Star Wars (Toriyama is a Star Wars fan after all).




James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.
Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Oh cool, I never realised this!
" You can take control of my mind and my body, but there is one thing a Saiyan always keep... his PRIDE! "-Vegeta
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Freeza's head in this third form does remind me of a Xenomorph from the Alien franchise.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
http://fullpowerdbz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=978 There are several nice references listed on this french forum. I really enjoyed getting to know about this stuff, hope it's not everything 
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Along with Bulma's choice of attire on the way to Namek:Hellspawn28 wrote:Freeza's head in this third form does remind me of a Xenomorph from the Alien franchise.

Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Thanks for the link but I couldn't get all the references because of the low resolution of the pictures.peter291 wrote:http://fullpowerdbz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=978 There are several nice references listed on this french forum. I really enjoyed getting to know about this stuff, hope it's not everything
" You can take control of my mind and my body, but there is one thing a Saiyan always keep... his PRIDE! "-Vegeta
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Here are a few speculations I found on an italian DBZ fansite, none of which are confirmed as far as I know:

The Saibamen and Alien Mutants from the 1955 film "This Island Earth"

Goku's origins and Superman's seem pretty similar.

The Oozaru looks pretty much the same as the King Kong depiction in the film King Kong vs Godzilla.

Freeza's 3rd Form seems to be a take on the 1979 film Alien.

Again another Terminator reference, there was also the guy in Dragon Ball who I'd say was even more of a reference than #16.
There are a few more on the site but they seemed to be clutching at straws or referring to anime-only content. There would definitely seem to be a lot of nods to the Star Wars franchise though.

The Saibamen and Alien Mutants from the 1955 film "This Island Earth"

Goku's origins and Superman's seem pretty similar.

The Oozaru looks pretty much the same as the King Kong depiction in the film King Kong vs Godzilla.

Freeza's 3rd Form seems to be a take on the 1979 film Alien.

Again another Terminator reference, there was also the guy in Dragon Ball who I'd say was even more of a reference than #16.
There are a few more on the site but they seemed to be clutching at straws or referring to anime-only content. There would definitely seem to be a lot of nods to the Star Wars franchise though.
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
How Toriyama escaped the lawsuits, I have no clue.Sin wrote:Here are a few speculations I found on an italian DBZ fansite, none of which are confirmed as far as I know:
The Saibamen and Alien Mutants from the 1955 film "This Island Earth"
Goku's origins and Superman's seem pretty similar.
The Oozaru looks pretty much the same as the King Kong depiction in the film King Kong vs Godzilla.
Freeza's 3rd Form seems to be a take on the 1979 film Alien.
Again another Terminator reference, there was also the guy in Dragon Ball who I'd say was even more of a reference than #16.
There are a few more on the site but they seemed to be clutching at straws or referring to anime-only content. There would definitely seem to be a lot of nods to the Star Wars franchise though.
That time your teacher asked you to draw Cell in biology class.
This man is my hero:
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To be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less about the fans a re-issue might alienate because if all they're concerned about is being able to scalp the people who were either unaware of the Dragon Boxes or couldn't afford them at the time, they're just leeches and deserve to have their greed backfire on them.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
He just made some references or similarities, and that's not illegal.Gokuden wrote:How Toriyama escaped the lawsuits, I have no clue.
James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.
Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
I know, but for what people are suing for nowadays, they could make a pretty good media push à la Apple and Samsung (only to get shot-down in court of course).DBZGTKOSDH wrote:He just made some references or similarities, and that's not illegal.Gokuden wrote:How Toriyama escaped the lawsuits, I have no clue.
That time your teacher asked you to draw Cell in biology class.
This man is my hero:
This man is my hero:
To be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less about the fans a re-issue might alienate because if all they're concerned about is being able to scalp the people who were either unaware of the Dragon Boxes or couldn't afford them at the time, they're just leeches and deserve to have their greed backfire on them.
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Yeah, I can see the point you're making. It's always nice when subtle references which could be ambiguous aren't attacked for infringing on other materials but are instead humbly acknowledged. I mean we have Jackie Chun, if that homage isn't obvious I don't know what is, but I think that a light-hearted comic strip can exempt itself from any sinister intentions, these tributes are just the author's way of showing the franchises that inspired him.Gokuden wrote:I know, but for what people are suing for nowadays, they could make a pretty good media push à la Apple and Samsung (only to get shot-down in court of course).DBZGTKOSDH wrote:He just made some references or similarities, and that's not illegal.Gokuden wrote:How Toriyama escaped the lawsuits, I have no clue.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
You can get away with spoofs and homages if they are not a total rip off. Also Baragon also appear in one of the episodes of the RR Army saga. Dr. Slump also had some cameos of other popular kajiu like Gamera, Godzilla, I remember Ultraman and Baltan appear in one chapter of Dr. Slump as well.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
The intro the Tenkaichi Budokai episodes in DB was a reference to the Golden Harvest Presentations.
During the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai preliminaries(in the anime), Yamucha says "Boards don't hit back" a line used by Bruce Lee's character in Enter the Dragon(and Bloodsport?).
Muten Roshi rode on his Gamera in early DB.
Bardock's armor was based off of Kikuchiyo(Seven Samurai).
Toriyama got the idea of Muscle Tower from the game Spartan X.
The Dragon in the name Dragon Ball came from Enter the Dragon.
During the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai preliminaries(in the anime), Yamucha says "Boards don't hit back" a line used by Bruce Lee's character in Enter the Dragon(and Bloodsport?).
Muten Roshi rode on his Gamera in early DB.
Bardock's armor was based off of Kikuchiyo(Seven Samurai).
Toriyama got the idea of Muscle Tower from the game Spartan X.
The Dragon in the name Dragon Ball came from Enter the Dragon.
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises

Supaman, a parody of Superman. Yeah, technically from Dr. Slump, but he made an appearance in Dragon Ball.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
I don't have any proof that it's intentional, but I've long thought that someone on the staff of The Legend of Dragoon, one of my favorite old PlayStation games, was a major Dragon Ball fan.
1) The main character, Dart Feld, has spiky blonde-ish hair.
2) Dart's old master, Haschel, uses a 'legendary' style of martial arts, and just happens to be a perverted old man (though not on the same scale as Roshi).
3) Speaking of Haschel, the end of his Dragoon Addition looks an awful lot like a Kamehameha to me. The move I'm talking about takes place from about 16 seconds in the video through 28 seconds.
4) One of the bad guy's named Lloyd uses what could kind of be seen as the Afterimage technique. It's at about 17 through 30 seconds in this video that he uses it, though his is more of an attack than a defense or dodging.
5) In the same video, he uses a longer combo that starts off kind of like Piccolo's Scatter Shot/Hellzone Grenade/whatever-he-used-against-Android-17 and ends in something a lot like a Genki Dama. This set of moves lasts from about 1:23 through 1:40 in the video.
6) Finally, and the most telling, is the Stardust. They're these little hard to find items that, when you collect all 50 of them, your wish is granted. There's nothing summoned mind you, but your wish - which just happens to be to bring someone back to life, kinda - will be granted and fix what only they can fix. They're nigh impossible to find without a guide too, kind of like the Dragon Balls if you didn't have a radar.
1) The main character, Dart Feld, has spiky blonde-ish hair.
2) Dart's old master, Haschel, uses a 'legendary' style of martial arts, and just happens to be a perverted old man (though not on the same scale as Roshi).
3) Speaking of Haschel, the end of his Dragoon Addition looks an awful lot like a Kamehameha to me. The move I'm talking about takes place from about 16 seconds in the video through 28 seconds.
4) One of the bad guy's named Lloyd uses what could kind of be seen as the Afterimage technique. It's at about 17 through 30 seconds in this video that he uses it, though his is more of an attack than a defense or dodging.
5) In the same video, he uses a longer combo that starts off kind of like Piccolo's Scatter Shot/Hellzone Grenade/whatever-he-used-against-Android-17 and ends in something a lot like a Genki Dama. This set of moves lasts from about 1:23 through 1:40 in the video.
6) Finally, and the most telling, is the Stardust. They're these little hard to find items that, when you collect all 50 of them, your wish is granted. There's nothing summoned mind you, but your wish - which just happens to be to bring someone back to life, kinda - will be granted and fix what only they can fix. They're nigh impossible to find without a guide too, kind of like the Dragon Balls if you didn't have a radar.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
That's cool and all, but I'm pretty sure this thread is about the opposite. References to other franchises IN Dragon Ball.Gyt Kaliba wrote:*SNIP* The Legend of Dragoon Trivia *SNIP*
So something like the Baby Gamera Roshi had instead of Super Sonic.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Ack, I misread the title apparently. My bad.AgitoZ wrote:That's cool and all, but I'm pretty sure this thread is about the opposite. References to other franchises IN Dragon Ball.
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Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Doraemon is a talking blue cat, Karin is a talking blue cat, Masako Nozawa was in the series.
That time your teacher asked you to draw Cell in biology class.
This man is my hero:
This man is my hero:
To be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less about the fans a re-issue might alienate because if all they're concerned about is being able to scalp the people who were either unaware of the Dragon Boxes or couldn't afford them at the time, they're just leeches and deserve to have their greed backfire on them.
Re: Tributes/References in Dragonball from other franchises
Masako Nozawa even voiced Doraemon at one point; it's quite a sound to hear (I describe it as Goku doing a Yajirobe impression.)
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