Which ending do you prefer; the manga or GT?

[BrodieK41]

The idea for this question popped up as I just finished my first viewing experience of GT all the way through. I'd seen the last episode years ago fansubbed and, having seen Z's ending around that same time, remember thinking it was a perfect ending to the series; it tied up all loose ends, brought back most of the characters we knew and loved, and brought a sense of finality and closure the manga seemingly lacked.

As I was following the Manga Review of Awesomeness segment on the podcast over the years though, going back and re-reading the manga shined a new light on the ending in my opinion. I know a lot of fans take issue with Goku leaving his family to train someone he had just met and leaving the series on an open note but I actually think it's more inline with the tone Toriyama had set up with the series. I personally like seeing Goku still act like a kid as an adult in wanting to continue to surpass himself. It also brings a smile to my face to see characters like Piccolo and Vegeta, who once threatened to destroy him, smile with content and be understanding of his goals.

That's not to see I dislike GT's ending in comparison; I still enjoy the scenes with Goku interacting with Kuririn and Piccolo one last time and the ending montage is still as enjoyable as ever. It just feels too tied up and conclusive and in some ways depressing seeing all the characters part ways. Any thoughts? Also apologies if a thread like this has been made before.

[Doctor.]

I'm going to say GT, but my decision is most likely because of nostalgia. I don't like the fusion with the Dragon Balls thing, but I love seeing the ending montage, Goku fighting with Kuririn and visiting Piccolo. Gets a tear on my eye almost every time I re-watch those scenes.

However, I'm not one that hates the ending of the manga, either be it the redone or the old version. I do prefer the redone version.

[InfernalVegito]

They evoke totally different emotions in my view. The manga ends adventurously, conveying a sense of openness and future endeavors. GT evokes a feeling of finality, when it comes full circle with the Dragonballs and the story of Son Goku ends and he can finally rest.

In light of new stories the manga's ending is great and GT's acts as the final goodbye which it accomplishes amazingly.

[Vijay]

DragonBall is time-less, endless

I prefer Manga's ending. To be accurate, I prefer Z's ending. As the final episode, it helped preserve Son Goku's legacy. It a show about HIM. Ended with him.

Heart-touching moments (especially in the Jap version) with Goku & Pan speak volumes. Toriyama's EoZ sticks true to Goku's characterization. Ever-growing strength & desire to Fight "sugoi" guys reflects Goku's nature perfectly.

[sintzu]

The manga cause i like endings with all the main heroes alive

[Codarik]

The manga, it ended openly while leaving no questions left unanswered, just the way I like it.

[Cetra]

Dragon Ball GT, without any doubt.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

Yeah GT for me too, probably the only thing I can give it credit for.

[hleV]

Manga, because it doesn't end the adventures.

[TheAldella]

I prefer...um...A Hero's Legacy. lol

Nah, but GT's ending gives me loads of feels

[UltimateHammerBro]

I kind of prefer the GT ending because it has a better sense of closure IMHO. Even if it is vague, I think it allows for a certain degree of head canon without it being a bad thing. For example: did Goku die or not? I tended to think that he didn't, but now I prefer to think that he did. It just depends on how you view certain scenes.

And no matter what your head canon about the ending is, the last shots of Goku leaving are, to me, a better ending that him and Oob.

NOTE: The only part I don't like is the final words of the narrator in the English dubs, talking about how Goku will come back if he's needed or how the Dragon Balls will be there if there's trouble (correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that one of these speeches is from the Funimation dub, and the other from the Blue Water dub). I don't remember his words in Japanese, but the Spanish dub ends with "Well, kids, with this concludes the great story of the Dragon Balls".

[trick007z]

GT. The manga ending just sort of left me feeling conflicted. I get what it was going for but it bothered me for several reasons. They spent years building up Gohan as the successor to Goku, and they give it to some kid the audience just met and doesn't care about. Not to mention, for the first time since the Saiyan attack, Goku is alive and spending a prolonged amount of time with his family without the threat of a monster destroying Earth. So he just leaves them for an undisclosed amount of time because it's fun or something.

[Kurosakinelo]

I prefer the ending to GT it just seems to round out the series so much better with the flashback of most of the key moments then Goku saying goodbye. Not that there is anything wrong with the Manga ending but it just seemed a little rushed to me

[Son Edo]

The manga, it does everything better than GT, but GT is till a fun ride.

[EXBadguy]

Definitely GT, along with the whole Shadow Dragon saga. THAT should've been the last saga of Z.

[DBGod]

When talking about international dubs I particularly like Blue Water's ending of GT 64. It seemed to be the most faithful dubbed ending out of the many foreign dubs. I say this mainly because it used the original Dan Dan song during the ending montage, had the original Japanese credits rolling horizontally, and the narration seemed right for a closing to the franchise. I think it was most accurate when compared to the original Japanese ending. But that's just my opinion of course.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Honestly, while I feel both have their merits...I'd have to go with GT's ending, between these two options. I just like that sense of 'closure' it has, and it even manages to feel even more touching than the manga's ending, IMO.

Of course, between all of our various options, I'd still pick a majority of that DBO backstory stuff, as it manages to have a 'closure' feeling as well as a 'the story goes on' vibe about it.

[TheUltimateVegito]

Definitely GT.

It was a touching goodbye after defeating an enemy who is the result of overusing the Dragonballs - which is the perfect concept for the finale of a series that is, you know... called Drgonball. Although I felt like the whole Goku jr./Vegeta jr. thing was kinda cheap, and it wasn't all that clear what Goku absorbing the Dragonballs accomplished, it was still a great ending despite these.

The manga's ending was decent. It was nice to see everyone all grown up, but the ending felt more like Toriyama just wanting to stop the series rather than conclude it. If the manga ended at the Cell saga then I'd say the ending was better than GT's, as that saga's ending was the perfect conclusion for the series, IMO.

[Low Tone G]

GT of course. That's a real ending. And I definitely like the idea as Goku fused with Dragon Balls, he is the main protagonist and the series' name is Dragon Ball, this is an ideal ending.

[FortuneSSJ]

GT of course. That's a real ending. And I defintley like idea as Goku fused with Dragon Balls, he is the main protagonist and the series name is Dragon Ball, this is an ideal ending.

Couldn't say better so i will quote this one.