Do you think the Dragonball anime is underrated?

[TheGmGoken]

I for on enjoyed the Dragonball anime and portion of the manga more than I did the Dbz anime and portion of manga. I know TFS isn't official but the joke they made is right. "No one watches Dragonball". Okay many people will say it's boring and doesn't have cool fighting like "DBZ" did. Most of these people are American, Canadian, or Australian. These countries got Dragonball Z first and never went past the first season of Dragonball because the lack of the kamehameha and final flash blasting everywhere. Some people will also say that Dragonball fights are not good because of the slower paced fighting. Would't that mean they're contradicting themselves? Majin Vegeta vs Goku, Freeza vs Goku, and Cell vs Goku being some of the best fights in the series starts off slow paced and an equal fight. An even fight for me is more enjoyable because there no telling who will win.

I never thought Jackie Chan would beat Goku. I never thought Tien would beat Goku(Through threw some strange truck). That's what I'm also talking about. Dragonball brings more plot twist and shockers than Dragonball Z. I think some of the fan-base should pay some more respect to the original the Dragonball series. Rather it's the causal fans or just people with nostalgia glasses on 24/7 and the reason why they brought dbz was because of Toonami. I mean that's the only way to know the complete franchise story. I never could find out why people could watch DBZ and not be confused, wonder how everyone know each other, or why Piccolo was consider a villain and him saving Gohan was such a character strange.

[Blade]

In my opinion Dragonball is a brilliant bildungsroman work in a shonen setting. I believe than an Anime can really only ever be as good as the quality of the scripts and source material, and for the Dragonball anime, the source material of the original work is at times the strongest of anything that Toriyama inked.

I personally enjoy the stretch from the start of 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai to the end of the Dragonball anime more than anything else.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

Yeah, the 22nd-23rd Tenkaichi Budokai portion of the story is second to none.

At the same time, as much as I love the Dragon Ball anime, I honestly feel that it doesn't have the same sort of replay value that Dragon Ball Z does. I can't tell you why exactly, I'm just saying this based off what I usually watch in my spare time. 9 times out of 10 I'll choose one of the DBZ movies, Dragon Boxes or DB(Z)Kai over my King Piccolo Madman releases which I've only viewed once.

The manga on the other hand...well, that's an entirely different story. I adore my Viz Bigs for the "Dragon Ball" portion of the story.

[TheGmGoken]

Yeah, the 22nd-23rd Tenkaichi Budokai portion of the story is second to none.

At the same time, as much as I love the Dragon Ball anime, I honestly feel that it doesn't have the same sort of replay value that Dragon Ball Z does. I can't tell you why exactly, I'm just saying this based off what I usually watch in my spare time. 9 times out of 10 I'll choose one of the DBZ movies, Dragon Boxes or DB(Z)Kai over my King Piccolo Madman releases which I've only viewed once.

The manga on the other hand...well, that's an entirely different story. I adore my Viz Bigs for the "Dragon Ball" portion of the story.

In terms of replay value. For me the most value is the Tenkaichi Budokai's. Watching those fights are wonderful for me watch. Now DBZ I admit I'll replay a lot of badass moments from DBZ such as Goku turning SSJ, SSJ3, and ect. But for fighting I'll re-watch DB.

[Looneygamemaster]

I don't know that I'd call anything about Dragon Ball "underrated," but yeah, Z is definitely more popular. At least, over in the US it is.

Which is a shame, because I've always enjoyed the original show much more. The thing I've noticed is that Shonen authors tend to be good at over the top fun and action, but not so good at drama--so if a title gets too serious, my interest starts to wane (hello Bleach and Naruto ). I much prefer Dragon Ball as a goofy adventure and martial arts parody, then the bloated "EPIC" series of battles it becomes. The anime portion's far better too--compare the level of effort in animation and writing to Z's and the difference is astonishing. And I LOVE Mystical Adventure. To me, it's the song perfectly representative of Dragon Ball.

[NessMudkip]

In my opinion the Dragon Ball portion is infinitely better than Z. Honestly, I sometimes wish Z had ended after Freeza just so more people would actually care about the first portion of the story. It's sad that so many people choose to skip it because there's no super fast fights. If anything, the fights are better in Dragon Ball than in Dragon Ball Z. I still stand by my choice of Goku vs Tenshinhan at the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai as the best fight in the entire series.

[Kuwabara]

Dragon Ball Z is definitely more popular, and I do think Dragon Ball is much better, but I don't think it's underrated at all. On the contrary, outside of people who would go on a forum like this, "I preferred Dragon Ball over Z, ugh..." is one of the trendiest, most regularly used quotes you'll hear from general anime fans.

[DonZ]

For me ..
better fights - DragonBall
better plot - Dragon Ball Z

i mean the Saiyan, Frieza and Cell arcs had far far more interesting storytelling than DragonBall, yeah .. this may sound weird, but i prefer the more serious plot to the gag one that doesn't take itself seriously, not that i hate the comedy in DragonBall, but i prefer the epic storytelling in Z more. and that's why i like Z a little little little bit more than the Original DB. but i like the adventure atmosphere in the Original DragonBall, i like it a lot!

but i agree with you, i awlays get mad when i see someone watching Z without watching the original, it's like you watch Shippuden and skip the original Naruto. DragonBall is so underrated.

[DBZAOTA482]

Dragon Ball Z is definitely more popular, and I do think Dragon Ball is much better, but I don't think it's underrated at all. On the contrary, outside of people who would go on a forum like this, "I preferred Dragon Ball over Z, ugh..." is one of the trendiest, most regularly used quotes you'll hear from general anime fans.

Ironically, Dragon Ball Z usually has higher overall user ratings on major anime databases.

[Ajay]

Maybe it's just the fact Dragon Ball is more story based and thus lends itself more to novella form but I much preferred reading the manga than watching the anime. The end of the series is much better in the anime but then again, it's a much more visual part of the story.

[Kuwabara]

Ironically, Dragon Ball Z usually has higher overall user ratings on major anime databases.

I'm just going by word of mouth myself, I don't doubt that at all. Chalk the ratings up to overzealous fans who think DBZ is the best anime ever.

Like DonZ, I'm actually not the biggest fan of Toriyama's humor either, which seems to be a rare view here. I don't think it's complete dog shit or anything, but not exceptionally funny or defining either. It's just kind of there. I find the Ginyu Force kind of funny, I guess. When the Pilaf Gang were revealed to be in Battle of Gods, there was basically zero interest there. "Woo, Pilaf Gang Wacky Epic Funnies For The Win!!!!! " Hopefully they won't be as obnoxious as I fear they'll be.

Some of the most entertaining parts of Dragon Ball for me are the serious parts, but more than anything I just enjoy that it doesn't feel as dragged out as Z.

[Anarchistguy]

(Off-Topic) To me, this splitting the anime in half (the DB/DBZ) and treating it like it's two different shows doesn't make sense since it's the same series (but it's Toei's decision, so I ain't surprised) !!!

As a result, people think that Pre-Raditz Dragon Ball is a prequel series ( a Dragon Ball zero, if you will), which is a load of crap!!!

(On-Topic) I do think that the pre-Raditz era of the anime is VASTLY under-rated, since it has actual (and KICK ASS) martial art combat!!! Not to mention the secondary characters were actually useful!!!

[Looneygamemaster]

Not to mention the secondary characters were actually useful!!!

Well...sort of. It's definitely not as callous about it as a lot of Z is, but the events as adapted by the first anime still have a bit of throwing characters to the sidelines.

[DonZ]

Side characters start to get thrown since the end of the Frieza arc. Kuririn played a big role in the Frieza/Namek arc. and in Saiyan arc they all had they're chance to fight.

[Kamiccolo9]

Side characters start to get thrown since the end of the Freeza arc. Kuririn played a big role in the Freeza/Namek arc. and in Saiyan arc they all had they're chance to fight.

It starts way earlier than that. At least as early as the 23rd Budokai with everyone except Goku being helpless against Piccolo. And if you want to count non-fighters, like Oolong, he contributes nothing after stopping Pilaf's wish.

[DonZ]

Like DonZ, I'm actually not the biggest fan of Toriyama's humor either, which seems to be a rare view here. I don't think it's complete dog shit or anything, but not exceptionally funny or defining either. It's just kind of there. I find the Ginyu Force kind of funny, I guess. When the Pilaf Gang were revealed to be in Battle of Gods, there was basically zero interest there. "Woo, Pilaf Gang Wacky Epic Funnies For The Win!!!!! " Hopefully they won't be as obnoxious as I fear they'll be.

Some of the most entertaining parts of Dragon Ball for me are the serious parts, but more than anything I just enjoy that it doesn't feel as dragged out as Z.

Actually i like Toriyama's comedy, it's so pervert in a funny way even little things are funny in the beginning of DragonBall, like when Yamcha first meet ChiChi and beat her up in the head i was laughing like crazy at that moment. i think DB comedy one of the best. but i just like the "Serious" tone more.

[TheGmGoken]

In my opinion the Dragon Ball portion is infinitely better than Z. Honestly, I sometimes wish Z had ended after Freeza just so more people would actually care about the first portion of the story. It's sad that so many people choose to skip it because there's no super fast fights. If anything, the fights are better in Dragon Ball than in Dragon Ball Z. I still stand by my choice of Goku vs Tenshinhan at the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai as the best fight in the entire series.

Cell Arc would have been a good ending for me.

(Off-Topic) To me, this splitting the anime in half (the DB/DBZ) and treating it like it's two different shows doesn't make sense since it's the same series (but it's Toei's decision, so I ain't surprised) !!!

I don't split in have. It's just easier to say without confusion. I like to say Dragonball Part 1 and Dragonball Part 2(Z).

Side characters start to get thrown since the end of the Freeza arc. Kuririn played a big role in the Freeza/Namek arc. and in Saiyan arc they all had they're chance to fight.

It starts way earlier than that. At least as early as the 23rd Budokai with everyone except Goku being helpless against Piccolo. And if you want to count non-fighters, like Oolong, he contributes nothing after stopping Pilaf's wish.

I don't count the character as useless at the 23rd Budokai. Krillin did surprise Piccolo. I want to say Saiyan saga they became useless. Mainly because at the point if you're a human no matter how much you train, you're weak.

[DBZ Mick]

I'm not sure... since we're talking talking about the anime rather than the manga.

I really love the adventure approach, and the whole ensemble cast during parts much better than Dragonball Z, all 3 Budokais are just fantastic with great animation, voice work and fights. Also the music. I just adore the music...

Nozawa is just so super adorable as Goku, and the big one is Kouhei Miyauchi's Kame Sennin. Love his voice to pieces- great at the serious moments and hilarious at the comedy parts. He's in his prime during Dragonball.

[AJRR]

after reading some of these posts, i think youve convinced me that I'm going to watch DB before i decide to watch DBZ or DBGT again, and I'm looking foward to it!

[AnzuMazaki]

Of course it's underated, in fact I don't think many people outside the fandom know that 153 episodes happened between Frieza destroying Planet Vegeta and Raditz arriving on earth...

I happen to run an Original Dragonball fanclub on DeviantART and I see a lot of DBZ/GT fanart posted onto it despite my club's rules saying "This Group is dedicated to the Original Dragonball only, please post original DB fanarts" about all over the place.

I really wish those people could watch those 153 episodes, the TRUE past of the Z-warriors.The humans are my favourite characters and these people do not know that they were once useful and not just "That guy who was killed by a Saibaman/Nappa/Frieza/Majin Buu"