Ways Dragon Ball makes you happy!

[KBABZ]

• Kikuchi and Tokunaga giving us some of the best scoring you'll hear in anything.

The Nimbus theme, Mystical Adventure riffs and the Dan Dan riffs make my heart sing every time! Also shout-out to the "Goku and Bulma" theme from Path to Power.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Oh boy, there are so many things i like and which make me happy about the series, both in terms of the manga and anime that it would possibly take forever for me to explain every single one. I'll just do a brief condensed run through of a few points that i find notable related to specific aspects of the series at large.

The artwork: Need i say more, Toriyama's art style for the series (and his other works by and large) is quite a unique thing amongst many of the the other famous manga artists with probably only Eiichiro Oda and One Piece coming in at close second.

The characters: They are all uniquely fleshed out/developed and have their own particular traits and quirks that set them part, good qualities and flaws included.

The mixing of settings/cultures: I like that the series takes from elements of various genres, ranging from the Journey to the West flavored overtones and more mystical style of the early parts up through the greater mix of magic and science fiction that the later arcs delve into.

The casts: Mixed between the original Japanese seiyuu and FUNimation's dub actors, Some to most of them all have particular voices for their respective takes on the characters that are always a delight to hear.

The music: I really like the overall tone of the Kikuchi score for DB and DBZ, it just has a really old fashioned style of charm that compliments the series very well.

[KBABZ]

The mixing of settings/cultures: I like that the series takes from elements of various genres, ranging from the Journey to the West flavored overtones and more mystical style of the early parts up through the greater mix of magic and science fiction that the later arcs delve into.

Another facet that I love! The sheer mix of cultures and stuff as you said that's also infused with the 80s gives it such a unique setting, at least on Earth.

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

The mixing of settings/cultures: I like that the series takes from elements of various genres, ranging from the Journey to the West flavored overtones and more mystical style of the early parts up through the greater mix of magic and science fiction that the later arcs delve into.

Another facet that I love! The sheer mix of cultures and stuff as you said that's also infused with the 80s gives it such a unique setting, at least on Earth.

Yeah, and also that it's basically taking place on a fictional alternate universe version of Earth from the real life world we know. I mean you have things like flying cars, living dinosaurs and anthropomorphic animal people mixed in with the human population. That's a particular aspect of the series i really like.

[KBABZ]

The mixing of settings/cultures: I like that the series takes from elements of various genres, ranging from the Journey to the West flavored overtones and more mystical style of the early parts up through the greater mix of magic and science fiction that the later arcs delve into.

Another facet that I love! The sheer mix of cultures and stuff as you said that's also infused with the 80s gives it such a unique setting, at least on Earth.

Yeah, and also that it's basically taking place on an fictional alternate universe version of Earth from the real life world we know. I mean you have things like flying cars, living dinosaurs and anthropomorphic animal people.

ON TOP OF native americans, futuristic igloos, The Jetson cities, arabic towns, ancient chinese wuxia (with milk delivering helicopters!), hidden austrian military bases, and more!

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Another facet that I love! The sheer mix of cultures and stuff as you said that's also infused with the 80s gives it such a unique setting, at least on Earth.

Yeah, and also that it's basically taking place on an fictional alternate universe version of Earth from the real life world we know. I mean you have things like flying cars, living dinosaurs and anthropomorphic animal people.

ON TOP OF native americans, futuristic igloos, The Jetson cities, arabic towns, ancient chinese wuxia (with milk delivering helicopters!), hidden austrian military bases, and more!

Exactly, and all of those things mashed together make it so unique and fascinating to me.

[Akamay]

Having grown up with the merchandise before seeing the series for myself, I do have some nostalgia for seeing certain scenes as I had no idea of the context when I first saw things such as Majin Vegeta vs Majin Buu or Gotenks and the Kamikaze Ghosts. Dragon Ball was just this thing that I knew was super popular in Japan that I felt that I would not see for myself.

I remember seeing the day that the first Cartoon Network ad aired and thinking I just imaged it, that it was too good to be true. Then suddenly just getting the entire series, manga and anime officially released. It was quite fun to get into something that for your entire early childhood you have only heard rumors about.

I love the characters, the fights, the comedy, the art, the music, the games, everything.
It's been quite fun seeing the series evolve and change over the years, getting more and more of it even when you thought the series was over.

It makes me happy to see how much Toriyama's work is universally loved by people, regardless of age, gender, nation, etc.

Things such as going to watch DBS Broly in the theaters and having the entire crowd cheering when SSJ God Vegeta was revealed, seeing an older couple just enjoying the whole spectacle of the fight between Goku and Broly, it just made me feel happy about being there with the crowd enjoying Dragon Ball.

[Rubens]

For me it's the simplicity and the wackyness of the stories and of course, the (most) engaging battles.

[TheBlackPaladin]

This thread is, in my opinion, a welcome and necessary thread to counter all the horrifically depressing and otherwise unpleasant stuff about the Vic Mignogna thread. Thank you, Cure Dragon 255!

1) There are SO. MANY. THINGS. To talk about when you talk about Dragon Ball. There's something for everybody to get into. Do you want to discuss the artwork? There are enormous discussions to be had about who your favorite artist is. Do you want to talk about the story? Plenty to dive into there. Do you want to talk about the behind-the-scenes stories of the production of the original Japanese voice acting? What about the English dub(s!)? Or the other dubs? Or the music? Or the history of the show's pre-internet fansubbing? Or the manga and its various translations? How about the video games? I mean, good Kami...there is a ton talk about with this franchise! Literally something for everybody.

2) If we're not declaring animation as being "off-limits," then I would say Dragon Ball, DBZ, DBGT, and DBS have some of the most well-choreographed, adrenaline-packed fight scenes that I've ever seen committed to film. I thought it was amazing as a kid that Superman could fly, but you're telling me there's now a show full of people who fly, know kung fu, and shoot lasers at each other? If you'll allow me to temporarily dispense with more academic language and give into my inner man-child for a moment...HOLY S***, THESE FIGHTS KICK ASS! The action in these shows and their movies literally surpasses anything I've seen in any other TV show or movie, animated or otherwise. I still remember being blown away when I saw my first fight on DBZ as a kid...I had never seen anything like it, and I have yet to see anything surpass it. Well, OK, the first fight that I saw on DBZ was technically surpassed...by another DBZ fight.

3) The music. I freaking love the music (generally speaking), and that covers several different composers. I've got more English artists than Japanese artists on my iPod, but the artist with the most songs on my iPod is indeed Japanese...and it's none other than Hironobu Kageyama.

4) Easily the biggest thing for me...it inspires people. I've read and heard a ton of people who said that Dragon Ball inspired them to do different things with their life. For some, it inspired them to become incredibly talented artists. For others, it inspired them to work out and get in great shape (c'mon, you all know we've all seen at least one gym bro with a tank top in the design of Goku's gi). And me? Well, I'd be lying if I said I became a voice actor solely because of Dragon Ball, but I'd also be lying if I said that it wasn't one of the biggest reasons I wanted to become one. Dragon Ball is one of the most enthralling stories I ever experienced as a kid, and the voice actors were serving as one of the most important elements of the story-telling process. I decided that I wanted to be a story-teller like that as well for others. As Masako Nozawa said, "you've got to believe in the magic of anime"...true, she used the word "anime," but in context, what she was saying was that, as an actor, you can't think of yourself as just somebody talking in a voice, you have to believe in the power of the impact that the story you're telling will have on those who will hear it.

[Tian]

I'm not that kind of long poster but here are some ways DB make me happy:

1) Dubs: I am always happy to see when DB gets a dub. Even more if it's getting one in a country where no DB stuff was ever released. I love hearing (or watching) dubs of DB and other stuff. Thanks to it, I became a fan of several voice actors in the world like Éric Legrand, Paolo Torrisi, Yiannis Papaioannou, Vágner Fagundes, Santiago Ziesmer Cristina Cavalinhos and others more that I wish to mention but the list would be so big and I even learned some words in other languages.

2) Music: I'm a big fan of Akihito Tokunaga. GT may not be as great as its precedessors but the OST was incredible. A masterpiece. Some tracks were light hearted, comic, powerful and others were dark and mysterious.

Regarding games' OSTs, Budokai Tenkaichi 2's OST was, is and will be my favourite. It really has happy themes like So, Happy, sweet ones like Morning Dew and awesome ones like Little Light.

3) Art: I always liked Akira Toriyama's distinctive drawing style. I even tried imitate him with poor results in most cases.

Also, I like Shintani's work on DBS Broly. I like his "less detailed character, fluid movement" take than Yamamuro's "more detailed character, rigid movement".

When I saw the movie, I felt like my eyes lost their virginity (okay, I may be exaggerating with that) but I've never seen anything like that.

4) People: As an Aspie or somebody with Aspergers (not sure if I am the only one in this forum), I am really happy that DB helped me to create connections with people.

[KBABZ]

4) People: As an Aspie or somebody with Aspergers (not sure if I am the only one in this forum), I am really happy that DB helped me to create connections with people.

I'm one! Hi! I've explained before to Kunzait that while I don't think Goku is on the spectrum, his early struggles with being social around others, and general oddball nature of "...why did he just do that?" was something I related to, and Nadolny's performance of the character (whether intentional or not) really helped reinforce the idea that he just wasn't used to even talking to others in the first place. It makes it all the more heartwarming that he can make friends so easily.

[Robo4900]

• All of the ridiculously-good opening and ending themes, and of course, the insert songs. How does one show have this many OP/ED/insert songs that are this damn good? It's almost unfair to other shows how good this stuff was. Just... DAMN!
• Whenever Roshi has a serious moment. I forget the distasteful side of his characterisation, and we see the goofy old man showing an incredible hidden wisdom. One of the best things about the Piccolo arc is how much of this we got; a rare treat.
• Chris Sabat

[Koitsukai]

-Greatly enjoyed watching the characters throughout their lives, seeing Goku go from a 12 year old hillbilly to a dragon god or whatever at the end of GT. Gohan growing up from coward little shit to a cocky worldstar that rapes Super Buu and later on hangs the gloves and forms a family. Pikoro going from lord sith to babysitter of his former's enemy granddaughter. Trunks from an obnoxious little shit to such a kind young man. So that is why i'm bummed out at being stuck at this pre-EoZ era.

-Goku sure lights everything up, conveys a positive energy that sticks with you. I remember binge-watching Original DB and after it having such a great attitude in real life, that positive, fun, naive, well-intentioned, inquisitive and engaging energy of his just transmitted through the TV and everything in my life became much better thanks to that carefree way of being Goku has. Sort of what happened to every villain on the show.

-Everybody paying his eternal respects to Goku by giving their lives to save his offsprings. Former assholes caring for this dork's family always makes me smile. Vegeta apologizing to Gohan when he fucks up or when he gets him killed.

[JohnnyCashKami]

Not sure it makes me happy but I sure do like to check out the various dubs made for Dragon Ball series. Some are kinda hard to acquire because they never received a home release.

[SHINOBI-03]

Had to drop by after going through the depressing war zone on Twitter.

I like Dragon Ball because it's one of the few franchises where I can say grew up with. First time watching and reading it gave me a different idea on storytelling that I wasn't familiar with growing up and I loved the fights that weren't the standards back then. But it's the characters that I loved the most with Goku being the top.

The production value, the art, the lore... I can't pick just one thing that makes me happy here. I may pick some things that annoyed me about it, but my love for it will always be there.

[KBABZ]

I like Dragon Ball because it's one of the few franchises where I can say grew up with. First time watching and reading it gave me a different idea on storytelling that I wasn't familiar with growing up and I loved the fights that weren't the standards back then. But it's the characters that I loved the most with Goku being the top.

Dragon Ball for me, especially the anime of the same name, epitomizes my childhood, even though after it stopped airing on Cartoon Network I didn't really give it much though until I got my hands on a Blue Brick rip later on in my early 20s.

[Lord Beerus]

Dragon Ball is one of the few forms of visual media that provide the wonderful escapism from the somewhat miserable life I have.

[Char Aznable]

Thanks to Dragon Ball, I've learned far more about audio and visual quality, aspect ratios, and how an anime series is produced (or at least was produced in the 80s/90s) and archived, so that's pretty cool.

[Robo4900]

Dragon Ball is one of the few forms of visual media that provide the wonderful escapism from the somewhat miserable life I have.

Starting on a similar note...

• Whenever I'm feeling crappy, I can put on Dragon Ball and just get lost in the fun characters on the grand adventure, full of humour, in a world I love. It's always been there for me, and it's always given me solace in bad times. Even thinking about the 21st Tenkaichi never fails to bring about a spark of pure joy.
• Even when there's bad Dragon Ball like Super, a good few of the movies, or the Episode Of Bardock OVA, I can get a lot of value and entertainment out of discussion and analysis. I've learned a lot by analysing what worked and didn't work, and why, in regards to Super, so much as I criticise that show, it has given me a lot of value.
• Dunno if this counts, but Dragon Ball brought Kanzenshuu about; the Kanzenshuu podcast is delightful, and we've got such a wonderful group of people posting here. People like Lord Beerus, Kunzait, Cure Dragon, KBABZ, VegettoEX, my good buddies Arian and sangofe... And everyone else I haven't mentioned, even those I've had huge arguments with. Wouldn't trade this community for anything, and I'm glad to be a member of it.

[KBABZ]

• Dunno if this counts, but Dragon Ball brought Kanzenshuu about; the Kanzenshuu podcast is delightful, and we've got such a wonderful group of people posting here. People like Lord Beerus, Kunzait, Cure Dragon, KBABZ, VegettoEX, my good buddies Arian and sangofe... And everyone else I haven't mentioned, even those I've had huge arguments with. Wouldn't trade this community for anything, and I'm glad to be a member of it.

!!!! Holy gosh am I flattered that you'd mention me in that list! I'm very thankful for this community too, and the site. Before I was a casual dub fan who wanted to go back to the 2000s eating pizza with my sis watching the dub, but now I feel like I have a much deeper understanding and appreciation of not just the show itself, but what I liked about it in the first place.