Dragon Ball making references to other franchises?

[Kid Buu]

Updating...

I think cameos should have their own separated list from the major list.

[kaialone]

I know about a cameo of Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man and the cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz

I think that might also be Jack Pumpkinhead on the left there, one of the major characters from the Oz books, but not featured in the movie (since he didn't debut until after the first book)

Oh, I know that guy from the movie "Return to Oz". Also the guy right above Pumpkinhead looks like he might be a reference to something, but I dont know what. And that Gorilla kinda looks like Donkey Kong, but I´m not sure

[Masa95000]

It should also be noted that Akira Toriyama was also inspired by Sailor Moon for the Ginyu force. It was because of all the poses they struck, just like Super Sentai.

[Eire]

Sailor Moon had started in 1992, after Frieza portion was done.

[Herms]

Also the guy right above Pumpkinhead looks like he might be a reference to something, but I dont know what.

Looks like a Blues Brother to me.

[Kid Buu]

Is King Kai's Bubbles a reference to Michael Jackson's Bubbles?

[Kid Buu]

Is King Kai's Bubbles a reference to Michael Jackson's Bubbles?

[StarRot]

Pretty sure he is.
Someone once told me Vegeta's Badman shirt is a reference to Kaneda of Akira. Is this true? I don't really see it myself ... then again, it's been years since I've read/watched Akira, I can't remember if he has a pink shirt in it?

[Adamant]

Is King Kai's Bubbles a reference to Michael Jackson's Bubbles?

Yup. Confirmed by Toriyama himself.

[Drabaz]

Pretty sure he is.
Someone once told me Vegeta's Badman shirt is a reference to Kaneda of Akira. Is this true? I don't really see it myself ... then again, it's been years since I've read/watched Akira, I can't remember if he has a pink shirt in it?

I should know this. I literally just watched Akira 2 nights ago. Yea, I'm pretty sure I remember him with a pink shirt on. Obviously it didn't say Badman on it, but now that you mention it, it does remind of Kaneda shirt. But, it's still just a regular pink shirt

[SuperAndroid11]

When Roku returns from a dead and saves everyone, I believe that's a reference to the New Testament.

[kaialone]

When Roku returns from a dead and saves everyone, I believe that's a reference to the New Testament.

Avatar Roku?

I didnt even know he was in Dragonball XD

[StarRot]

Pretty sure he is.
Someone once told me Vegeta's Badman shirt is a reference to Kaneda of Akira. Is this true? I don't really see it myself ... then again, it's been years since I've read/watched Akira, I can't remember if he has a pink shirt in it?

I should know this. I literally just watched Akira 2 nights ago. Yea, I'm pretty sure I remember him with a pink shirt on. Obviously it didn't say Badman on it, but now that you mention it, it does remind of Kaneda shirt. But, it's still just a regular pink shirt

I think the guy who told me that was just really wanting to make a link - however tiny - to his two favourite manga, to be honest.

[tinlunlau]

I don't know if this counts but in the earlier episodes of Dragon Ball (this should be during the time Goku was fighting Jackie Chun in the Tenkaichi Budokai), they were clearly spoofing off Golden Harvest Pictures logo/title screen. Hong Kong cinema fans will fondly remember the 4 bricks thing except in Dragon Ball, it was forming the word "bu" (武). Dragon Ball anime also used a similar tone so the reference was blatantly obvious.

Back in the 80s, Jackie Chan would make movies exclusively for Golden Harvest.

[DBZ Mick]

I've heard Toriyama was a fan of Jackie Chan and vice-versa and that's where Chun got his name from...?

[jjgp1112]

I've heard Toriyama was a fan of Jackie Chan and vice-versa and that's where Chun got his name from...?

Drunken Master was what inspired him to write Dragon Ball in the first place, in fact.