What's your personal canon (again)?

Discussion regarding the entirety of the franchise in a general (meta) sense, including such aspects as: production, trends, merchandise, fan culture, and more.
User avatar
DBZGTKOSDH
Namekian Warrior
Posts: 12401
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:45 pm
Location: Greece

What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:33 am

I know there have been other threads like this again, BUT, not only there are new guys since then, but there is also the new movie, which could make others change their minds. So, what is your personal canon?
My manga canon is this:

Dragon Ball (Kanzenban + Full Color)
Dr. Slump (+ Dr. Mashirito & Abale-chan)
Neko Majin
Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and Friends Return!! (Manga Version)
Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (Manga Version)
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
Dragon Ball Online
Guidebooks & other sources:
  • Dragon Ball: Daizenshuu 2, 4, 7(minus anime-only stuff)
    Dragon Ball: Chozenshuu 1, 4(minus anime-only stuff)
    Dragon Ball Kanzenban Official Guides: Landmark & Forever
    Dragon Ball Super Exciting Guides: Story & Character Volumes
    Dragon Ball: Adventure Special
    Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods - Official Movie Guide
    Dragon Ball Online - Guidebook
    Information from Weekly Jump (minus anime-only stuff)
    Interviews from Akira Toriyama
    Interviews from the DBO developers
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.

User avatar
hleV
Banned
Posts: 3325
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:15 pm
Location: Lithuania

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by hleV » Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:53 am

It would probably help if you listed every possible thing that one may consider canon, so we wouldn't have to write everything down ourselves.
  • Manga - kanzenban - real colors unknown, the contradictions imply that they weren't done seriously most of the time
  • Guidebooks - only manga-focused, excludes inconsistent/contradictory things
  • Toriyama tidbits - including movie/filler-specific things that Toriyama came up with, but not the movies/fillers themselves
  • Possibly Dr. Slump
  • Possibly Neko Majin
  • Possibly Dragon Ball Online story
  • Very unlikely Battle of Gods

User avatar
bleed0range
OMG CRAZY REGEN
Posts: 893
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by bleed0range » Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:24 am

I definitely don't see how anyone could conisder neko majin canon... it is a parody.

User avatar
B
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 5563
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:15 am
Contact:

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by B » Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:41 pm

bleed0range wrote:I definitely don't see how anyone could conisder neko majin canon... it is a parody.
The Majin Buu arc is a parody of the entire series, so...

Anything with Toriyama-certified prints on the story hits my button. Obviously that's the manga(let's say Kanzenban. People overreact to Vegeta's line. It doesn't undo or tarnish his character evolution), Dr. Slump, and Neko Majin. Then you've got Dragon Ball Online, a project where everything is signed off by the guy before its put in the game, and a handful of character and mechanical designs are from him himself. The many guidebooks that focus on manga material are another; most of them have interviews with Toriyama, and to play devil's advocate, why do they exist if we weren't supposed to apply them to the manga? Animated projects he fielded are Yo! Son Goku and Friends Return and Battle of Gods.

Bardock is tricky. Obviously Toriyama didn't write either A Final, Solitary Battle or Episode of Bardock, but Bardock is included in the manga proper... And he is a part of Online... It would be best to say Bardock exists in my own personal canon, and he did stand up to Freeza... but anything involving time travel or avenging his team or Planet Vegeta is up to speculation.

Or, it would just be easier to say their canon since they don't muck up the consistency of the series too severely. And, while I don't hate GT, I do love how candidly Episode of Bardock just shits on the anime's idea of Planet Plant and the Tsufrians. Berry over Baby, baby.
Keen Observation of Dragon Ball Z Movie 4's Climax wrote:Slug shits to see the genki

User avatar
Insertclevername
I Live Here
Posts: 3208
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:27 pm
Location: Eastern Zone 439

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by Insertclevername » Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:45 pm

Insertclevername's personal canon

Dragon Ball (Kanzenban)
Non-contradictory Anime filler (too many examples to list out).
T.V special: A Final, Solitary Battle, The Father of Z-Warrior Son Goku, who Challenged Freeza (Bardock Special).
T.V special: Defiance in the Face of Despair!! The Remaining Super Warriors – Gohan and Trunks (Trunks Special, the Anime over the Manga).
Dragon Ball Z Movie 9: The Galaxy at the Brink!! The Super Incredible Guy
Dragon Ball Z Movie 13: Dragon Fist Explosion!! If Goku Won’t Do it, Who Will?
Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and Friends Return!!
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
Dragon Ball Online


All other stuff not listed like GT & the remaining movies take place in separate universes. They happen when they happen.

So everything is basically canon.
Cipher wrote:Also, you can seriously like whatever and still get laid. That's a revelation that'll hit you at some point.

User avatar
Makaioshin
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1443
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:51 pm
Location: Kokomo

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by Makaioshin » Sat Mar 30, 2013 1:02 pm

Manga with the latest Kanzenban changes
Yo! Son Goku and Friends Return...minus Gregory
Battle of Gods
Online kinda
Toriyama's Contributions to the Anime(stuff like Namekian's weakness)
Toriyama Interviews
Manga-related Guidebooks
Goku training Oob in Neko Majin

I think that if they try to do more DB material after this movie they will only consider the manga, the 08 special, and Battle of Gods. Everything else is secondary canon or something.

AnimeMaakuo
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1462
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:10 pm

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by AnimeMaakuo » Sat Mar 30, 2013 1:35 pm

My personal canon:

Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z.
-T.V special: A Final, Solitary Battle, The Father of Z-Warrior Son Goku, who Challenged Freeza - (Bardock Special).
-T.V special: Defiance in the Face of Despair!! The Remaining Super Warriors – (Trunks Special).

Alternate Universe:

-Dragon Ball GT (with the exception of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy).
-Dragon Ball Z Movies 1-13 (with the exception of Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans.
-Dragon Ball Movies 1-3 (with the exception of Goku's Traffic Safety & Goku's Fire Brigade).

[New Generation] Alternate Universe (which does not pertain to the original alternate universe):

-Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.
-Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!
-Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock.
Last edited by AnimeMaakuo on Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:52 am, edited 2 times in total.
My YouTube

Soppa Saiyjins from Dorgou Ballru Zetto is my favorite transformation everah, especially when Trounksoru did it in front of Seru and when Bejita did it when he faced Jingonigen-hachigo. But for real, I use the FUNi pronunciation. - Soppa Saia People

User avatar
Zephyr
I Live Here
Posts: 4416
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 9:20 pm

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by Zephyr » Sat Mar 30, 2013 1:41 pm

Main canon:
- Manga
- Bardock and Trunks TV specials
- Movie 7
- Movie 13
- JSAT
- Battle of Gods

Cherry Picking:
- Any information from guidebooks that do not contradict information from the above works
- Parts of GT
- Parts of DBO's backstory

User avatar
hleV
Banned
Posts: 3325
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:15 pm
Location: Lithuania

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by hleV » Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:15 pm

You can't include both the manga and Trunks' special.

User avatar
Zephyr
I Live Here
Posts: 4416
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 9:20 pm

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by Zephyr » Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:24 pm

What issues would arise from trying to fit them into the same continuity?

User avatar
Insertclevername
I Live Here
Posts: 3208
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:27 pm
Location: Eastern Zone 439

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by Insertclevername » Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:38 pm

hleV wrote:You can't include both the manga and Trunks' special.
Just take out the Trunks chapter. Simple as that. The anime version just overrides it.
Cipher wrote:Also, you can seriously like whatever and still get laid. That's a revelation that'll hit you at some point.

User avatar
JulieYBM
Patreon Supporter
Posts: 18518
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:25 pm
Location: 🏳️‍⚧️🍉

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by JulieYBM » Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:41 pm

Everything happens where everything happens. Whether I apply my emotional feelings of like or dislike is irrelevent to whether something 'exists' or not. Therefore, I'm much happier simply realizing that everything happens where everything happens.
💙💜💖 She/Her 💙💜💖

User avatar
hleV
Banned
Posts: 3325
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:15 pm
Location: Lithuania

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by hleV » Sat Mar 30, 2013 3:52 pm

Zephyr wrote:What issues would arise from trying to fit them into the same continuity?
The fact that originally, Trunks was already a Super Saiyan before Gohan died.
Insertclevername wrote:
hleV wrote:You can't include both the manga and Trunks' special.
Just take out the Trunks chapter. Simple as that. The anime version just overrides it.
That needs to be specified (like you did).

User avatar
Hellspawn28
Patreon Supporter
Posts: 15693
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:50 pm
Location: Maryland, USA

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by Hellspawn28 » Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:10 pm

bleed0range wrote:I definitely don't see how anyone could conisder neko majin canon... it is a parody.
I agree, I view it the same way as I do with Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein being canon to the Universal Frankenstein movies (Most Universal horror fans view House of Dracula as the last in the franchise). I think having Dragon Ball characters and being created by the same creator does not make it canon. Other wise, we can consider Evangelion and Die Buster canon to TTGL since those characters had cameos in TTGL and are both created by Gainax.
She/Her
PS5 username: Guyver_Spawn_27
LB Profile: https://letterboxd.com/Hellspawn28/

User avatar
DBZGTKOSDH
Namekian Warrior
Posts: 12401
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:45 pm
Location: Greece

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:14 pm

bleed0range wrote:I definitely don't see how anyone could conisder neko majin canon... it is a parody.
That's purely your opinion. Officially, Neko Majin was never a parody. The Chozenshuu even acknowledge it as part of the "New Dragon World".
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.

User avatar
MDSTSSJ
Regular
Posts: 655
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:19 am

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by MDSTSSJ » Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:28 pm

My Dragon Ball personal canon:

- Manga ( black and white and full color )
- Anime ( Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Movies, TV Specials, Ova )
- Dragon Ball Daizenshuus, Dragon Ball Chozenshuus, Dragon Ball Kanzenban Official Guides, Dragon Ball Super Exciting Guides.

ShinRogafuken
OMG CRAZY REGEN
Posts: 805
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:07 am

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by ShinRogafuken » Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:51 pm

I think the anime is canon and the manga isn't.

User avatar
RandomGuy96
Kicks it Old-School
Posts: 8881
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:57 pm
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by RandomGuy96 » Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:56 pm

-Manga (never actually read it, but it does usually make more sense than the anime from what I've seen, so it overrides any contradictions).
-Side story filler that doesn't contradict anything (like Dabura becoming a hippy, the humans fighting the Ginyu Force, the driving filler, et cetera)
-The anime version of the Freeza fight (I just like it better). Also, Tien vs Drum and Gohan vs Buutenks.
-Guidebooks that do no contradict the source material or themselves.
-The Bardock special.
-Dead Zone (Movie 1).
-Cooler's first movie (Movie 5). Maybe his second movie (Movie 6) too.
-Bojack Unbound (Movie 9)
-Wrath of the Dragon (Movie 13)
The Monkey King wrote:
RandomGuy96 wrote:
dbgtFO wrote: Please elaborate as I do not know what you mean by "pushing Vegeta's destruction"
He's probably referring to the Bardock special. Zarbon was the one who first recommended destroying Planet Vegeta because the saiyans were rapidly growing in strength.
It was actually Beerus disguised as Zarbon #StayWoke
Herms wrote:The fact that the ridiculous power inflation is presented so earnestly makes me just roll my eyes and snicker. Like with Freeza, where he starts off over 10 times stronger than all his henchmen except Ginyu (because...well, just because), then we find out he can transform and get even more powerful, and then he reveals he can transform two more times, before finally coming out with the fact that he hasn't even been using anywhere near 50% of his power. Oh, and he can survive in the vacuum of space. All this stuff is just presented as the way Freeza is, without even an attempt at rationalizing it, yet the tone dictates we're supposed to take all this silly grasping at straws as thrilling danger. So I guess I don't really take the power inflation in the Boo arc seriously, but I don't take the power inflation in earlier arcs seriously either, so there's no net loss of seriousness. I think a silly story presented as serious is harder to accept than a silly story presented as silly.

User avatar
Bussani
Kicks it Old-School
Posts: 8041
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:35 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by Bussani » Sat Mar 30, 2013 5:18 pm

I kind of...don't have one...I think...

I mean, I can separate things into "this only happened in the anime" and "the manga did it this way" if I need to--and I'm more interested in looking at everything from the original author's perspective myself, which often makes me ignore anime-only things in discussions--but I don't feel the need or see the point in deciding on a single, personal canon for myself. At best I could say that I have multiple potential canons, but even those are pretty fluid and may only exist for a specific purpose before outliving their usefulness to me.

Maybe I'm just weird.
If TPP passes in your country it will be illegal for you to watch an imported DVD. Click here to learn more!

User avatar
FindKenshi
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1091
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:01 pm
Contact:

Re: What's your personal canon (again)?

Post by FindKenshi » Sat Mar 30, 2013 5:38 pm

hleV wrote:You can't include both the manga and Trunks' special.
You can't dictate that... what are you, the canon police?
"Allow me to show you... my further evolution!" -Evil Lord Freeza
The best and most powerful villain in Dragon Ball

Post Reply