It wasn't easy, but I think I've decided on my personal top 5 events of the decade. I decided to create two lists, one dedicated to stuff impacting North America, the other dedicated to Japan (and, by extension, the rest of the world
).
NORTH AMERICA:
5. Daizenshuu 1 released
I don't think anyone expected this to happen, so it was an extremely pleasant surprise. The only problem here is, due to the fact that it's not text heavy at all, most of the people who wanted it had already imported it by this point. If not for that, and the fact that Viz has seemingly stopped putting out the Daizenshuu (
), it would be much higher on the list.
4. Emergence of video games
Besides Final Bout and a single NES game (I believe), North America had no Dragon Ball related video games until this decade. Now we have at least 20, some great, some crappy. Regardless, I think the games have had a pretty big impact on both the hardcore fans and the casual fans.
3. The Manga is released by Viz
Despite tons of controversy, Viz has provided us with all 42 volumes of the manga this decade. Or, 16 Dragon Ball volumes and 26 DBZ volumes.
2. The Anime is released on DVD
We got the show on DVD before Japan
Well, let me rephrase that. We got the show in acceptable quality, then in unacceptable quality, and now, in the quality we wanted all along. With the release of the Dragon Boxes in North America, it seems like FUNimation has finally stopped marketing Dragon Ball as the hip, cool thing they once did at the beginning of the decade. Ah, how far they've come over the past ten years!
1. Dragon Ball Z's Popularity in General
It's hard to argue against the following statement: Dragon Ball Z is the most popular anime to ever hit North America. It was popular when it aired, and it's popular today. I'm currently in grade 12, and my buddies legitimately
love the show. They could name every villian, every plot point, every filler, and a
bunch of them have even watched the Jump Anime Special. Of course, they'd complain that it was in Japanese, would never hit the audio button on their DVD remote, would never read the manga and wouldn't dare watch another anime, but damn it, they love their Dragon Ball Z cartoon
Japan
5. Resurgence of video games
The video games situation in Japan was a bit different than North America... they never really stopped over there. However, since Budokai's release, almost every DB game has shot to the top of the game sales chart over in Japan.
4. Dragon Ball Kai
I don't think anyone saw this coming. It's the show, with new music, re-recorded voice acting... but not reanimated. But there's filler cut out. And then there's some scenes re-animated, but it's more like re-tracing... UGH. Despite being confusing as all hell (and censored), Kai's ratings have been awesome and shows no signs of slowing down. It may seem low on the list, but I'll be honest, I'd happily erase Kai from the decade to keep the next three events...
3. The Jump Anime Special [NEW DRAGON BALL ANIMATION OMGWTF]
We never thought it would happen. But it did. This decade provided us with the first newly animated Dragon Ball material in over 10 years. As icing on the cake, we were able to view it online legally...
with English subtitles! Hopefully this decade will provide us with a DVD and/or Blu Ray release of the special, and new animation as well!
2. The Release of the Kanzenban/Guidebooks, a new ending to Dragon Ball, and a resurgence of popularity in Japan
In 2002, the manga was re-released in Japan with color pages in-tact and a new ending. This started the humongous resurgence of Dragon Ball in Japan that we are still feeling the effects of today. Hopefully they come to North American within this decade, along with all the awesome guide books!
1. The Dragon Boxes [Japan gets a home release of the entire series]
I can't imagine anything else being number one. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT and The Movies were remastered frame by frame into pristine quality for Japanese audiences in 2003, making their wait for the series on a home format well worth it.
Runner Ups: Cross Epoch, Dragon Ball Evolution.
It's been one hell of a decade!
Also, I don't quite understand this:
Let us begin right away by acknowledging that the current "decade" does not actually come to a close until the end of December 2010.
2000-2009 is a decade. The same way 1990-1999, 1980-1989 and 1900-1909 was a decade. I guess the only exception to the rule would be the years "1-9", as there was no year 0. But I get what you're saying Mike, stop making me think
.
