DragonBall: Greatest Anime Ever?

[MultilangDBZ]

They're well-known and mainstream in Japan. It's just that here they haven't caught on in popularity.

True, all three are very well known, though I would still say that Captain Tsubasa, Doraemon and Slam Dunk were mainstream, considering that in Japan and other Asian Pacific places like Hong Kong, Taiwan and China have all gone through the whole popularity phase long ago.

I disagree with the comment of most mainstream anime surpassing DB. Most mainstream anime, especially these days is okay or average at best. Things like "Cowboy Bebop" or "Vision of Escaflowne" aren't being pumped out of Japan in droves.

I haven't seen either unfortunately. I was drawing a comparison between DB/DBZ/GT with the three major ones I quoted that used to be mainstream and so, I concluded that most mainstream anime surpassed Dragon Ball in aesthetic respects like character handling etc. (listed my previous post).

What seperates the good series from the average ones is "staying power" and "Dragonball" definitely has proven itself to have that.

Sure, all of the Dragon Ball series have very strong staying effect with viewers and is possibly the strongest, although anime like Captain Tsubasa and Doraemon follow very closely behind I would think.

[Panda]

It's a fun thing to excersize your love for a favorite anime by proclaiming it to be the best, but lets be realistic.

I love the story of Dragonball (the entire trilogy at it's best) but I'll be one of the first people in real life to point out it's flaws.

-The art, it's outdated and scattered. One day you'll have beautiful, flowing animation and the next day it's dollar-bin crap. Also, the series has a major animation shift half way through that brings down it's marks.

-The story, while creative and intrique galor it's full of major plot-holes and struggles for realisim or fantasy-ism (real word?) that it begs for serious editing

-The characters, again very creative and unique but also very bland at times and are put to the side to die more than once throughout the series. So many of these amazing characters could have been used to the stroy's potential advantage but never see the light of day after their fifteen minutes in the spotlight.

I'd like to say the anime could be top-notch with a re-edition, but that's unrealistic in this realist thread. The Anime, Manga, Movies, and Games will always have a special place in my heart from childhood and into my progressing adult hood (I'm 14, in case you're confused) so I believe that by my heart it is the best, but by my standards it's there but not booming.




PS-I love Cowboy Bebop, also Sailor Moon.

[masenko]

Dragon Ball is more or less an outstanding acheivement and I think that the way it was able to gain such a huge popular following and make so much cash through all it's flaws just goes to show that the little bit of good that shines through the really bad episodes and filler is enough to show that Dragon Ball is still truly unbelievable entertaining.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

Come to think about it...Doreamon would probley be the greatest anime of all time. I never seen any episodes never seen a movie, never shown any intrest whatsoever but he is like there Mickey Mouse.

It's like saying who is the greatest American cartoon character of all time you would probley say Mickey Mouse not Superman. (I can understand Superman being way way up there though)

If there was a cartoon United Nations Mickey Mouse would represent America and Doreamon would definitly represent Japan. I'am I wrong?

[masenko]

Theres a difference between quality and popularity. Mickey Mouse is just extremely well known, that doesn't make him the greatest. Plus, I've never heard of Doraemon before you mentioned him so I guess he isn't THAT great if a 17 year old whose been to Japan twice has no idea who he is.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

Theres a difference between quality and popularity. Mickey Mouse is just extremely well known, that doesn't make him the greatest. Plus, I've never heard of Doraemon before you mentioned him so I guess he isn't THAT great if a 17 year old whose been to Japan twice has no idea who he is.

He's that blue cat with the red nose, you had to have seen him before.

[masenko]

I swear on Lunch's DBZ grave, I've never heard nor seen him before.

[gotenx]

Theres a difference between quality and popularity. Mickey Mouse is just extremely well known, that doesn't make him the greatest. Plus, I've never heard of Doraemon before you mentioned him so I guess he isn't THAT great if a 17 year old whose been to Japan twice has no idea who he is.

He's that blue cat with the red nose, you had to have seen him before.

Blue cat with red nose... Hmm... Never heard of him until now.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

No? Alright this topic is going way off topic.

[Jerseymilk]

Sure, all of the Dragon Ball series have very strong staying effect with viewers and is possibly the strongest, although anime like Captain Tsubasa and Doraemon follow very closely behind I would think.

Oh I never said those don't. Heck, Doraemon, along with Sazae-san are the longest running anime series in the history of Japanese animation. I obviously misunderstood you about the mainstream comment. I forgot you're view comes from what's "classic" and popular in Asia, having been more exposed. I was thinking along the lines of North America. My apologies for that.

[masenko]

If anyone here is from Japan or knows someone who lives there, please try to find out the general consensus of Dragonball as far as popularity and quality is concerned. I can see parents not liking it...

[Akira]

Dragonball was the first anime I ever really got into back when I was 14 or so. I am almost 25 now, and it is still my favorite. The best ever? Perhaps not, but it will always hold a special place for me. Nostalgia, great story, unforgettable characters, the series has all of these things. I have seen many other anime series', and own many of them on DVD. Dragonball remains my favorite, and probably always will. It is unique and the first of its kind. Others have better animation quality, better music, it is true.

Dragonball has a charm to it that can never be surpassed, and that is what will always keep it as my favorite, no matter how old I get. Once I have it all on DVD, I will keep it to show to kids of my own someday. Perhaps they will enjoy it as I did. When it comes down to it, the entertainment value and re-watchability of Dragonball does surpass all others. So in that way, it is the best ever.

[Panda]

If anyone here is from Japan or knows someone who lives there, please try to find out the general consensus of Dragonball as far as popularity and quality is concerned. I can see parents not liking it...

I think Dragonball can be comared to Superman. Parents in Japan (I imagine, having never been there myself) would like it much like parents here wouldn't mind Superman/Batman.etc.

I'd also like to mention that their is an episode of Superman where he goes around killing all of the Japanese in San Fransisco during the 1940's as a WW2 tribute. Does that say anything as far as parents not liking it?

[omae no kaasan]

Greatest Japanese animation ever?

Well, in whose opinion? Your own? Americans`? Japanese citizens`?

If it`s your own opinion then sure, why the hell not. But if you`re going to go so far as to rate it as the greatest Japanese animation ever that`s really bringing out the big guns. Sounds like you want to compare it to all other Japanese animation before it and yet to come.

And there really isn`t any simple answer either.

Japan usually has television specials yearly that rate such things as popular animated programs within their own country and around the world. Now as `most popular Japanese animation` outside of Japanese, Dragon Ball took first place in 2004. That still doesn`t mean it`s the greatest, but it does rank in as most popular.

Now consider that while Dragon Ball may be the single most important piece for founding today`s action and adventure comics (and you better damn well believe it is) that still couldn`t possibly deem it overall greatest (remember we`re still outside personal opinion) because it will come and go and one day be a legendary comic. Right now DB is in a new stage of life around the world. But believe me, before the spike of its popularity in the US and the MASSIVE campaign that surrounded the release of the kanzenban, DB was nowhere to be found in Japan as recent as 2001. If you go back to my shitty news archives I think you`ll even find my amatuerish `research` comments on the status of DB`s vacancy in Japan after my first visit. Now it is a very different story but that will all change again in a few years.

If you want to consider the greatest animated program of all time, it must be something that exceeds time and is thereby timeless. Although there are several strong candidates there is really only Doraemon left standing. Nothing has crossed time like Doraemon. I`ve seen grown men in tears begging for an Anywhere Door.

DB is one of the most important series ever but outside of any personal opinions, certainly not the greatest.

[masenko]

And there really isn`t any simple answer either.

Japan usually has television specials yearly that rate such things as popular animated programs within their own country and around the world. Now as `most popular Japanese animation` outside of Japanese, Dragon Ball took first place in 2004. That still doesn`t mean it`s the greatest, but it does rank in as most popular.

Where did it take first place??

[Chibi Mystic Gohan]

First place was the Gundam series.

[masenko]

Where? When??

[omae no kaasan]

Rather than where, it would be easier to say where it wasn`t. I believe I mentioned in the post it was ranked most popular in the world excluding Japan. The segment that announced it began with these African elementary school kids that looked like something out of a Sally Struthers CM doing `KaaaMeeeHaaaMeeeeHaaaa!` I even took video of it. Even as a fan the result shocked me. Naturally all the talents on the program were like, "Whaaa? I thought it was going to be Doraemon!"

First place was the Gundam series.

No it wasn`t.

If anyone here is from Japan or knows someone who lives there, please try to find out the general consensus of Dragonball as far as popularity and quality is concerned. I can see parents not liking it...

Saying everyone knows Dragon Ball in Japan would be false. In that case, everyone I can possibly think of that I`ve ever personally met, befriended, dated, home-stayed with, taught or hosted at our own home knows what Dragon Ball is so long as they`re of an age to be literate.

Of these people, which is in the hundreds, if not travelling into the realms of thousand, I have never met anyone of any age that dislikes let alone hates Dragon Ball. I`ve used it as a joke during a speech to a businessmen`s dinner and even as I sit here typing this, someone who never read a page of DB, my girlfriend`s father, has a Cell figure poised on the top of the family television.

Dragon Ball is a very, very large part of Japanese culture. It is beyond people "knowing the story", because like my girlfriend`s father who simply likes how Cell looks, you will watch TV and see DB come up in normal conversations, gags and special programs.

And furthermore, you`ll find that few people know much about Dragon Ball beyond Freeza and it`s even more rare to find a person on the street who knows a thing about the story after Cell beyond recognizing a face or two.

And if anyone has been to Japan twice and hasn`t seen or heard of Doraemon or any of the characters in passing or even heard the original theme song without recognizing it, I would have to imagine you either:

1. Don`t speak Japanese (well) Which is all well and fine.
2. Were walking around with plugs in your ears and a blindfold.
3. Avoided any and all things even slightly related to all children.

This time I`ve been here for just two weeks and I`ve already seen posters for the new Doraemon film every time I visit a mall or arcade not to mention goods in the arcade and a gag on TV that ripped on it.

And of course every time I enter a book store the Doraemon goods hit you like a shovel to the eye.

[Eclipse]

I remember seeing that like a few years ago. And I confused him with Hello Kitty. Heh


Is Dragon Ball the greatest anime ever? I don't think so. To me, there is no 'greatest'. Everything has its strengths and weaknesses. What I think is that Dragon Ball, the original, is more closer to that position than its sucessors, Z and GT. The animation never faltered or changed to look like crap depending on the budget, the music fit well, and the voices....The manga is a bit better, not THAT much, just a bit. But yeah. Dragon Ball could easily be the greatest anime ever. But we'll never know.

[Super Sonic]

Rather than where, it would be easier to say where it wasn`t. I believe I mentioned in the post it was ranked most popular in the world excluding Japan. The segment that announced it began with these African elementary school kids that looked like something out of a Sally Struthers CM doing `KaaaMeeeHaaaMeeeeHaaaa!` I even took video of it. Even as a fan the result shocked me. Naturally all the talents on the program were like, "Whaaa? I thought it was going to be Doraemon!"

First place was the Gundam series.

No it wasn`t.

I believe he was referring to the list here:

http://animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=7458

I saw that broadcast on a tape with my school's anime club and posted it on another board. Boy were some guys on that board mad that Bebop, Trigun, and Digimon weren't on that list.