How do you break up the DB story?

johnboy1 · Post by **johnboy1** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:36 pm

What I mean is, what is your preferred method for dividing the story into arcs? I personally see it as:

The Pilaf Arc: Issues 1-23
The 21st Tenka'ichi Budôkai Arc: Issues 24-54
The Red Ribbon Army Arc: Issues 55-96
The All-Seeing Crone Arc: Issues 97-112
The 22nd Tenka'ichi Budôkai Arc: Issues 113-134
The Great Demon King Piccolo Arc: Issues 135-161
The 23rd Tenka'ichi Budôkai Arc: Issues 162-194
The Saiyan Arc: Issues 195-241
The Freeza Arc: Issues 242-328
The Cell Arc: Issues 329-420
The Buu Arc: Issues 421-519

Although there's a bit of grey area there. Is Goku's first trip to the Kami's palace and the resurrection of Kame-Sen'nin and Kuririn the end of the Piccolo arc or the beginning the 23rd Budôkai arc? Should the Saiyan arc be divided between the two separate alien attacks? Do the completely aimless Great Saiyaman issues belong in the Buu arc, or do they form an interim mini-arc before the story finds some direction again?

Come to think of it, is there an official arc designation, or are the arcs simply fan creations based on natural breaks in the story?

Duo · Post by **Duo** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:50 pm

Dragonball Arc
21st Budokai Arc
Red Ribbon Arc
22nd Budokai Arc
Piccolo Arc
23rd Budokai Arc
Saiya'jin Arc
Namek Arc
Freeza Arc
Artificial Human Arc
25th Budokai Arc
Majin Boo Arc

Simple and safe? I'm not sure if there's anything official.

Rocketman · Post by **Rocketman** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:00 pm

The Early Years - Chapters 1-165
The Apogee - Chapters 166-328
The Decline and Fall - Chapters 329-519

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:07 pm

The DragonBall hunt that started it all.
The training under Roshi and the 21st Budokai.
The Red Ribbon Army and the old fortune teller.
The rival schools in the 22nd Budokai.
The return and fall of King Piccolo.
The demon reincarnate at the 23rd Budokai.
The attack of the Saiyans.
The conflict on Namek and fall of Freeza.
The boy from the future and the nutty monsters who followed him.
The ancient demon who blew up the Earth.
The sequel which shall not be named.

jjgp1112 · Post by **jjgp1112** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:16 pm

Pilaf Saga
21st World Martial Arts Tournament Saga
Red Ribbon Saga
22nd World Tournament Saga
King Piccolo Saga
Piccolo Jr. Saga
Saiyan Saga
Namek Saga
Ginyu Saga
Frieza Saga
Android Saga
Cell Saga
Cell Games Saga
Great Saiyaman Saga
[whatever number it was] World Tournament Saga
Buu Saga

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:17 pm

Pilaf arc
21st Tenkaichi Budoukai arc
Red Ribbon arc
22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai arc
Piccolo Diamao arc
Ma Junior/23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai arc

Saiyan arc
Namek/Freeza arc
Artificial Humans/Cell arc
Buu arc

It annoys me when people use terms like "Imperfect Cell arc" or "Gotenks arc". Stop splitting it into such small pieces!

B · Post by B » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:20 pm

Pilaf arc
21st Tournament arc
Red Ribbon arc
Baba arc
22nd Tournament arc
King Piccolo arc
23rd Tournament arc
Saiyan arc
Freeza arc
Cell arc
Buu arc

DB_Fan · Post by **DB_Fan** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:21 pm

Pilaf arc
21st Budokai arc
Red Ribbon arc
22nd Budokai arc
Piccolo Daimao arc
23rd Budokai arc
Saiyan arc
Freeza arc
Cell arc
Majin Buu arc

YouTube · Post by **Hujio** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:30 pm

Duo wrote:I'm not sure if there's anything official.

I love when I can just copy and paste things! (originally posted in this thread)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, it depends on the source and the company providing it (i.e. Shueisha or Toei Animation). Also, I have to point out that it really should be story arc rather than saga. I know that may sound "elitist" of me, but it's just a fact. The definition of a saga is "A long detailed report" which is typically a narrative. I'd say neither really applies to DragonBall. Whereas the definition of a story arc is "An extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media". I guess it's just one of those things that annoys me, like making up seasons that don't exist. But that's beside the point...

Anyway, here's a break-down:

Shueisha / Anime (source: Daizenshuu 3, 5, & 10)
[The TV Animation daizenshuu split up each arc into smaller acts, but I'm not going to list all those.]
DragonBall; 5 arcs
- Son Gokou (episodes 001-028; 11 acts)
- Red Ribbon Army (episodes 029-068; 10 acts)
- 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai (episodes 069-101; 9 acts)
- Piccolo Daimao (episodes 102-132; 7 acts)
- 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai (episodes 133-153; 7 acts)
DragonBall Z; 12 arcs
- Attack of the Saiyan (episodes 001-035; 10 acts)
- Battle on Planet Namek (episodes 036-074; 11 acts)
- Terrible Emperor Freeza (episodes 075-107; 10 acts)
- Fight with Garlic Jr. (episodes 108-125; 7 acts)
- Android No. 16~20 (episodes 126-147; 7 acts)
- Over the Super Saiyan (episodes 148-165; 7 acts)
- Beginning of the Cell Games (episodes 166-194; 8 acts)
- Anoyoichi Budoukai (episodes 195-219; 8 acts)
- Majin Boo Returns (episodes 220-237; 5 acts)
- Appearance of the Super Saiyan III (episodes 238-254; 7 acts)
- The Final Fighter, Vegetto (episodes 255-268; 5 acts)
- The Final Battle (episodes 269-291; 6 acts)
DragonBall GT
- Nothing is ever officially given by Shueisha about the GT story arcs. The GT Perfect Files don't organize the episodes by arc, but by the location of each episode.

Shueisha / Manga (source: Daizenshuu 2)
- Search for the Dragonballs (chapters 001-023)
- Training with Kame-sennin (chapters 024-031)
- 21st Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 032-054)
- Red Ribbon Army (chapters 055-096)
- Uranai Baba (chapters 097-112)
- 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 113-134)
- Piccolo Daimao (chapters 135-165)
- 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 166-194)
- Saiya-jin (chapters 195-242)
- Freeza (chapters 243-337)
- Artificial Human (chapters 338-356)
- Cell (chapters 357-420)
- High School (chapters 421-429)
- 25th Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 430-445)
- Majin Buu (chapters 446-519)

Toei Animation (source: Official Websites)
DragonBall; 6 arcs
- Encounter with Bulma (episodes 001-013)
- 21st Tenkaichi Budoukai (episodes 014-028)
- The Search for the Four-Star-Ball (episodes 029-068)
- 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai (episodes 069-101)
- Daimao's Revival (episodes 102-132)
- 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai (episodes 133-153)
DragonBall Z; 4 arcs
- Saiyan (episodes 001-035)
- Freeza (episodes 36-125)
- Cell (episodes 126-199)
- Majin Buu (episodes 200-291)
DragonBall GT; 4 arcs
- Dark DragonBalls (episodes 001-022)
- Baby (episodes 023-040)
- Super 17 (episodes 041-047)
- Evil Dragon (episodes 048-064)

Now, as to exactly how "official" these are is up for debate. You'll note that on Kanzentai we (I, mostly) use a mix of all of them in some way. I personally split the series up into main arcs, and then divide some of those into smaller sub-arcs. I think it just makes things easier to follow, and it's easier for me to make pages for them. I know the Japanese Wikipedia DragonBall pages split things up similar to our pages. Basically, everyone splits the series up a little differently, pertaining to their specific tastes. You'll also note that FUNimation even splits the series up different than the Japanese companies, and of course they call them sagas, which as I noted above bothers me. Although it bothers me even more when they call them seasons... but alas, that's all old news by now.

Castor Troy · Post by **Castor Troy** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:49 pm

I love how FUNimation made arcs every 10 episodes for their old single releases.

Duo · Post by **Duo** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:50 pm

Well, Hujio sufficiently owned this thread in the face. Which is acceptable and joy-inducing.

johnboy1 · Post by **johnboy1** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:51 pm

Hmm... Interesting. So the second Daizenshuu doesn't have the Freeza arc ending until Androids 19 and 20 show up? I would've ended it when Trunks killed him at the absolute latest.

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:51 pm

Thanks for the info, Hujio. And I have noticed how things are broken up on Kanzentai, and I can see where you're coming from.

JulieYBM · Post by **JulieYBM** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:17 pm

Personally, I'm more a fan of splitting the DBZ arcs into the usual Saiyan, Namek, Artificial Human/Cell, and Majin Boo category. Dragon Ball's a bit more lengthy, with a Pilaf, 21st Tenka'ichi, RR Army, 22nd Tenka'ichi, Daimaô, and 23rd Tenka'ichi arc. With GT, I prefer the standard Baby, Super #17, Evil Dragons.

Post by **Herms** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:02 pm

johnboy1 wrote:Hmm... Interesting. So the second Daizenshuu doesn't have the Freeza arc ending until Androids 19 and 20 show up? I would've ended it when Trunks killed him at the absolute latest.

The guidebook story arc scheme is a little variable on this point. The other daizenshuu seem to follow with including Mecha Freeza's counterattack on Earth as part of the Freeza arc, but DB Landmark and Forever, which otherwise use the same story arc scheme as the daizenshuu, count the android arc as beginning with the arrival of Mecha Freeza.

johnboy1 · Post by **johnboy1** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:23 pm

Herms wrote:The guidebook story arc scheme is a little variable on this point. The other daizenshuu seem to follow with including Mecha Freeza's counterattack on Earth as part of the Freeza arc, but DB Landmark and Forever, which otherwise use the same story arc scheme as the daizenshuu, count the android arc as beginning with the arrival of Mecha Freeza.

Again, interesting. Do they do this with regard to the manga or the anime? If the manga, do you have the books on hand to list the differences between their sectioning and that employed in Hujio's post?

Sprite Satan · Post by **Sprite Satan** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:45 pm

Before GT: Some guys running around or something. what is this i dont even

Black Star Dragon Ball Saga!!
Baby Saga!!!
SUPER ANDROID MO'FO 17 SAGA!!!
EVIL DRAGONS HOLY SHIT AWESOME SAGA!!!!

Or... Pilaf, 21st Tournament, Red Ribbon, 22nd Tournament, Piccolo Daimao, 23rd Tournament, Saiyan, Freeza, Artificial Humans, Boo, Baby, Evil Dragons.

YouTube · Post by **Hujio** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:10 pm

johnboy1 wrote:
Herms wrote:The guidebook story arc scheme is a little variable on this point. The other daizenshuu seem to follow with including Mecha Freeza's counterattack on Earth as part of the Freeza arc, but DB Landmark and Forever, which otherwise use the same story arc scheme as the daizenshuu, count the android arc as beginning with the arrival of Mecha Freeza.
Again, interesting. Do they do this with regard to the manga or the anime? If the manga, do you have the books on hand to list the differences between their sectioning and that employed in Hujio's post?

DB Landmark and Forever are manga only guides that accompanied the kanzenban releases. The daizenshuu, depending on which ones you're looking at, are either manga only or anime only.

Here's what you'll find in DB Landmark and Forever, which you can compare to Daizenshuu 2 above. You'll notice it's a tad different.

Shueisha / Manga (source: DB Landmark and Forever)
- Search for the Dragonballs (chapters 001-014)
- Training with Kame-sennin (chapters 015-032)
- 21st Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 033-054)
- Red Ribbon Army (chapters 055-096)
- Uranai Baba (chapters 097-111)
- 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 112-134)
- Piccolo Daimao (chapters 135-164)
- 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 165-194)
- Saiya-jin (chapters 195-243)
- Freeza (chapters 244-329)
- Artificial Human (chapters 330-357)
- Cell (chapters 358-420)
- High School (chapters 421-429)
- 25th Tenkaichi Budoukai (chapters 430-444)
- Majin Buu (chapters 445-519)

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:54 pm

For the manga I saw it as this:

DB Quest
21st Budokai
Red Ribbon Army
Baba
22nd Budokai
King Piccolo
23rd Budokai
Saiyan
Frieza
Androids/Cell
Saiyaman
25th Budokai
Buu

MajinVejitaXV · Post by **MajinVejitaXV** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:10 am

Castor Troy wrote:I love how FUNimation made arcs every 10 episodes for their old single releases.

They were sagas, dammit. Get it right!

Gotta love how 'saga' was used though, even though it basically flies in the face of the actual definition of the word.

-Corey