Anyhow, here is Part I of this little project. Because of word count restraints I have to post this in chunks. Rather than Spamming with multiple posts in a row I figured I'd also give some time and room for people to comment on each section so I don't wind up playing all of my cards at once with nothing to show for it. The following is the first fifty episodes, containing the Dragon Ball arc, the twenty-first Tenka'ichi arc, and the Red Ribbon Army arc. I was actually pretty surprised I managed to get this covered in such a round number. Back in the day year-long anime series' were a bit more common so if anything this would at least have once been an affordable plan to follow.
Dragon Ball Arc:
Episode #1 (“Bulma and Son Gokû”): covers chapter #1 (Gokû meets Bulma).
Episode #2 (“Arararaa--! No Balls!”): covers chapter #2 (Gokû and Bulma camp).
*Notes: At first glance, there isn’t much difference between my plan and the actual Dragon Ball anime from 1980s. Because of the nature of the first two chapters being primarily standalone from each other, I felt it was best to reduce begin slowly instead of cramming too much into too few episodes. The first chapter is longer than the others, so that would hardly provide a single episode with little to cover.
Episode #3 (“The Turtle Hermit’s Kinto’un”): covers chapters #3-4 (Gokû gets Kinto'un from the Turtle Hermit).
Episode #4 (“The Shape-Shifting Demon! Oolong Appears”): covers chapters #5-6 (Oolong appears!).
*Notes: Episodes #3-4 cover two chapters each as they both provide conclusion to the new elements introduced in each chapter.
Episode #5 (“The Desert Bandit, Yamcha”): covers chapters #7-8 (the first encounter with Yamcha).
Episode #6 (“Gegege! Yamcha’s Greatest Weakness”): covers chapters #9-10 (the second encounter with Yamcha).
*Notes: Because the first meeting with Yamcha is four chapters, I decided that two episodes covering two chapters would be best, allowing for all of the characters to receive some room to breathe. I feel this is very important early on in a new series and it’s something I feel the film adaptations (The Legend of Shen Long, for instance) really simply handle well enough.
Episode #7 (“The Gyûmaô of the Burning Mount Fry Pan”): covers chapters #11-12 (Bulma and friends arrive at Mount Fry Pan, learn it's on fire. Gokû and Chichi go to find Muten Rôshi).
Episode #8 (“The Turtle Hermit-sama’s Kamehame-Ha”): covers chapters #13-15 (Muten Rôshi blows up Mount Fry Pan, Bulma’s group acquires the next Ball, and Gokû learns the Kamehame-Ha).
*Notes: Episodes #7-8 introduce Chichi and Gyûmaô. The pace remains the same with two chapters covered in each episode. We’re moseying along at a clip I think will best allow for the story to breathe but also give the actual production team some room to play around with in adding their own flair separate from Toriyama as the team of the 1980s production did.
Episode #9 (“Turned into a Carrot! The Terrible Rabbit Gang’s Boss”): covers chapters #16-17 (Gokû beats the Rabbit Gang).
*Notes: Episode #9 is really a stand alone, but I have to say I’m really impressed with how well Toriyama has made each new location very concise, especially for dramatization.
Episode #10 (“Come Forth, Shen Long!!”): covers chapters #18-19 (Pilaf captures the gang and begins summoning Shen Long).
Episode #11 (“Your Wish is Granted!! Beware the Monster that Comes Out at the Sight of a Full Moon”): covers chapters #20-21 (Oolong wishes for panties and the gang are recaptured. Gokû transforms into an Ôzaru when he sees the full moon).
Episode #12 (“Son Gokû’s Terrifying Secret Transformation”): covers chapters #22-23 (Ôzaru Gokû destroys Pilaf's castle. Gokû's tail is chopped off by Yamcha and Pu'erh. Yamcha and Bulma decide to hook up and Gokû goes off to train under Muten Rôshi).
*Notes: Episodes #10-12 are where the first real deviation from the 1980s series ends. Toei Animation animated chapters #18-19 each as their separate episodes. While it’s not painfully slow, it’s a little sluggish and can easily be tightened up a little. By making the Pilaf section of the arc three episodes I have effectively tightened the series down to twelve episodes for the first twenty-three chapters.
Twenty-First Tenka'ichi Budôkai Arc:
Episode #13 (“A Rival for Son Gokû!! My Name is Kuririn”): covers chapters #24-25 (Gokû and Kuririn meet and head off to get Muten Rôshi a pichi-pichi gal).
*Notes: A new story arc is beginning, so I feel it is best not to rush right in. The gags have enough time to play out while also leaving room for Kuririn to be properly introduced.
Episode #14 (“The Peculiar Girl, Lunch-san”): covers chapters #26-27 (Gokû and Kuririn bring back Lunch, a girl who changes personalities every time she sneezes).
*Notes: Again, Toriyama does two chapters standalone from the next set, but it allows for the plot to progress forward nonetheless. With Lunch introduced training can begin in the next episode and no plot-points will feel tacked-on.
Episode #15 (“Find the Stone with the Kame Symbol!”): covers chapters #28-29 (Gokû and Kuririn begin training! Kuririn cheats during a competition, however, and gets to eat dinner while Gokû doesn't. Rôshi and Kuririn wound up eating fugu, so they get sick).
Episode #16 (“The Turtle Hermit’s Intense Training Methods”): covers chapters #30-31 (Gokû and Kuririn begin their regular grind for the next right months until the Tenka'ichi Budôkai).
*Notes: I want to avoid having the training in only one episode. While the anime did it in three, I felt a 1:1 ration might be a little out of sorts with the general pace of the series, so I combined #30-31.
Episode #17 (“The Tenka’ichi Budôkai Begins”): covers chapters #32-33 (The time for the Tenka'ichi has come! Gokû and Kuririn enter and Kuririn miraculously wins a match, showing an incredible boost in strength).
*Notes: I figured most of the episode could be the preparation, leaving it on the end note that Gokû and Kuririn have really gotten stronger.
Episode #18 (“Aim to the the Number One Under the Heavens!”): covers chapters #34-35 (The gang make it into the final eight, the matches decided).
*Notes: I wanted to tie up the preliminaries here so that the final eight’s fights could be evenly adapted in the following episodes.
Episode #19 (“Kuririn’s Great Pinch!”): covers chapters #36-37 (Kuririn beats Bacterian and Jackie Chun beats Yamcha).
*Notes: Two fights takes place and conclude in one episode, covering only two chapters! Boy, the comic sure can be quick when Toriyama feels like it.
Episode #20 (“A Man of Honor! Namu versus Lanfan”): covers chapters #38-40 (Namu beats Lanfan and Gokû battles and defeats Giran).
*Notes: The first episode to cover a full three chapters. I was hesitant to introduce one of these so early into the series, but I wanted to keep the plot progressing in a uniformed manner. No episode before this would have to cover a full forty-two pages, but with mostly fighting going on I think it can work.
Episode #21 (“Kuririn versus Jackie Chun”): covers chapters #41-43 (Jackie Chun and Kuririn fight, Jackie Chun wins).
*Notes: Another episode that covers three chapters. The entire Jackie Chun versus Kuririn fight felt like it could best hold down an entire episode to itself, so I decided to gamble it.
Episode #22 (Namu’s Life-or-Death Battle! Son Gokû versus Namu”): covers chapters #44-45 (Gokû fights and beat Namu).
*Notes: We’re back to two chapters and episode, but while action-packed I would hope it provide a small breather from the speediness of the previous two episodes.
Episode #23 (“A Master and Student Clash?! Son Gokû versus Jackie Chun”): covers chapters #46-47 (Jackie Chun tells Namu of his identity and free water, Gokû and Jackie Chun begin their fight).
*Notes: Wrapping up the Namu story arc, we’ll slide into a cliffhanger of Gokû versus Jackie growing more and more heated.
Episode #24 (“Jackie Chun’s Fearsome Arsenal of Martial Arts Techniques! The Bankoku-Bikkuri-Shou!”): covers chapters #48-50 (Gokû and Jackie Chun continue to fight. Finally, Gokû sees the full moon and becomes an Ôzaru).
*Notes: I really felt that Gokû becoming an Ôzaru would be a great cliffhanger, so I decided to end this episode like so.
Episode #25 (“Incredible! The Kamehame-Ha That Destroyed the Moon!”): covers chapters #51-52 (Jackie Chun uses a Maximum Power Kamehame-Ha to destroy the moon. Gokû and Jackie continue their fight).
Episode #26 (“I Am the Winner of the Tenka’ichi Budôkai!! A Master’s Greatest Lesson”): covers chapters #53-54 (Jackie Chun wins the Tenka'ichi Budôkai and Gokû sets out to find the Four-Star Ball).
*Notes: With only four chapters in the arc left, this was the only real course of action. I certainly did not want to rush the ending by placing four chapters in one episode.
Red Ribbon Army Arc:
Episode #27 (“The Terrible Red Ribbon Army”): covers chapters #55-56 (Gokû fight Colonel Silver and wins. Gokû hitches a plane to a snowy land to get the next Dragon Ball but is shot down. Snow carries him back home).
*Notes: The start of a new arc…and oddly enough, the Captain Silver stuff is nicely concluded in only two chapters. Amazingly enough, the 1980s series stretched these two chapters into an amusing six episode mini-arc where Chichi, Gyûmaô, and even Pilaf’s gang returned.
Episode #28 (“Go, Gokû! Attack on Muscle Tower”): covers chapters #57-59 (Gokû learns about the RRA from Snow's family. Gokû beats up two soldiers who come to Snow's house. Gokû begins attacking Muscle Tower and comes across Sergeant Metallic, defeating him).
*Notes: It’s a bit of a quick run into the Muscle Tower arc, but I figure with some good visuals (and an insert theme, maybe) Gokû could quickly bust into Muscle Tower and beat up Metallic after the stuff with Snow and her mom plays out.
Episode #29 (“Enter: Ninja Murasaki”): covers chapters #60-62 (Gokû comes across Murasaki and they fight. Murasaki summons Artificial Human No.
.*Notes: Toriyama’s starting to settle into a sort of three-chapter system at this point, holding off really good cliffhangers for every third chapter. What was originally about two episodes in the 1980s series will now be one.
Episode #30 (“The Peculiar Artificial Human No. 8”): covers chapters #63-65 (Gokû beats Murasaki and befriends Artificial Human No. 8; they fall through a trap door. Gokû and No. 8 beat Buyon).
*Notes: I didn’t want the end of the Jingle Village arc to feel rushed, at least in the final episode, so here we are with a bit happening in one episode.
Episode #31 (“The Fall of Muscle Tower”): covers chapters #66-67 (General White falls and peace returns to Jingle Village. Gokû learns Kinto'un is still alive and heads to Metro West).
*Notes: It seems like a lot happens in this episode, but it’s really only two chapters.
Episode #32 (“The City of the West! Son Gokû and Bulma Meet Again”): covers chapters #68-69 (Gokû meets up with Bulma, has the Radar fixed, and they head off in search of the next Ball).
*Notes: Kind of an obvious choice of cliffhanger, I think.
Episode #33 (“The Cunning General Blue”): covers chapters #70-72 (Gokû and Bulma arrive at Kame House, pick up Kuririn, and set off after the next Ball. Meanwhile, General Blue's forces give chase while keeping an eye on Kame House).
*Notes: Toriyama’s pacing is sort of weird in this set of chapters. I don’t want to cram too much in one episode, but it feels like not a whole lot happens either.
Episode #34 (“Chase into the Pirate’s Cave”): covers chapters #73-74 (Gokû, Bulma, and Kuririn make their way through the underwater cave, General Blue close behind. Finally, they find the Pirate's Harbor).
*Notes: Discovering the Pirate’s Harbor feels like a good, solid cliffhanger. In a way it feels like things are dragging…but stuff is happening in-chapter, so I think it’d transition to screen well.
Episode #35 (“The Pirate Cave’s Guardsmen”): covers chapters #75-77 (Gokû faces off with a Pirate Robot so Kuririn and Bulma can find the Dragon Ball. Blue misdirects Gokû. Gokû fights and eats an octopus. Kuririn gets beaten up by Blue. Gokû arrives, but with Blue's paralyzing technique he is in a real bind).
*Notes: A lot of stuff happens…and we end on a bit of a cliffhanger.
Episode #36 (“Escape the Pirate’s Cave”): covers chapters #78-80 (The gang escapes the cave, but Blue follows them back to Kame House and steals their Dragon Balls. Gokû gives chase on Kinto'un).
*Notes: A lot more happens…and we end on another exciting cliffhanger! Boy, Blue just won’t stay down (then again, it means more Furukawa for us to enjoy so…)!!
Episode #37 (“N’cha!! Arale-chan Appears”): covers chapters #81-83 (The Dr. Slump arc).
*Notes: This is actually a three episode arc in the 1980s series, but the three chapters here are so nicely grouped together I think if they trimmed a few things down it could flow nicely.
Episode #38 (“The World’s Great Assassin, Tao Pai Pai”): covers chapters #84-86 (Gokû meets Bora and Upa. Tao Pai Pai kills Blue, then kills Bora, and thinks he has killed Gokû).
*Notes: I really love how the 1980s series handled this arc, but in order to be a bit quicker (but have the right cliffhanger), I’ve had to combine a lot.
Episode #39 (“Karin-sama of Karin-tô”): covers chapters #87-88 (Gokû is still alive. Gokû climbs Karin Tower and begins training. He learns it took the Turtle Hermit three years to acquire the Chô Shin Sui).
*Notes: A nice little plot progression mixed in with a good cliffhanger. I didn’t want to make it look like Gokû could get the water in just one episode, so I kept it to two chapters.
Episode #40 (“Chôshinsui, Get!!”): covers chapters #89-90 (Gokû gets the Water, his strength increased from the training; Karin thinks the boy might've surpassed Muten Rôshi. Meanwhile, Tao Pai Pai returns to the base of the tower to retrieve the Ball he left behind. Gokû returns and they begin their second fight).
*Notes: I expect the latter half of the episode would be the exciting rematch beginning, but I don’t want Gokû to get the water in the first two minutes and call it a power-up (er…day).
Episode #41 (“Son Gokû’s Counterattack!”): covers chapters #91-92 (Gokû beats Tao Pai Pai).
Episode #42 (“Red Ribbon Army Headquarters Under Assault! The Fall of the Red Ribbon Army”): covers chapters #93-96 (Red learns that it is Son Gokû who approaches and not Tao Pai Pai . Gokû mows through the RRA).
Episode #43: (“The Red Ribbon Army Falls”) covers chapters #95-96 (Black kills Red and takes over the army. Black uses a battle jacket to fight Gokû but is killed when Gokû smashes through it).
*Notes: Originally I was going to include chapter #93 in episode #42, but looking it over, while it was a great cliffhanger, it really left the storming of RRA’s HQ really lopsided. The 1980s series played it up a bit, and for dramatization purposes I think that it the best course of action. Splitting the assault on HQ into two episodes allowed for a more even and dramatic take on such a large scale ass-kicking that could play out very well in serial format.
Episode #44 (“Find the Last Dragon Ball! The Last Chance is Uranai Baba”): covers chapters #97-98 (To find the last Dragon Ball the gang visit Uranai Baba).
*Notes: And so we begin the Uranai Baba portion of this arc. I wanted this to be an easily episode after a string of big fights, especially considering the next string of episodes will be very battle-oriented.
Episode #45 (“Assault! We Are the Five Warriors of Uranai Baba”): covers chapters #99-100 (Dracula Man and Suke-san are beaten).
*Notes: Both fights only lasted one chapter so I felt it was a good idea to combine into one episode.
Episode #46 (“Mira-kun is Strong! Son Gokû Appears”): covers chapters #101-103 (Yamcha fights Mira-kun and loses. Gokû fights Mira-kun and wins. Gokû begins fighting Akkuman.).
Episode #47 (“The Terrible Akkuman and the Mysterious Fifth Man”): covers chapters #104-106 (Gokû beats Akkuman and takes on a Masked Man. The episode ends with the Masked Man using the Kamehame-Ha).
Episode #48 (“The Fifth Man is Son Gohan! Give Chase For the Final Dragon Ball”): covers chapters #107-108 (The Masked Man is really Son Gohan! After a teary reunion, Gokû learns of the location of the last Ball and gives chase).
*Notes: It’s weird pacing on Toriyama’s part, but in chapter #103 Gokû both beats Mira-kun and begins fighting Akkuman. Anyhow, #47 was planned so that we could get that killer cliffhanger of the Masked Man using the Kamehame-Ha. Of course, I still had three chapters to go, so those fit nicely into #48.
Episode #49 (“Pilaf-sama Re-Enters!”): covers chapters #109-110 (Gokû beats up Pilaf and gets the last Ball).
Episode #50 (“Meet Again in Three Years at the Twenty-Second Tenka’ichi Budôkai”): covers chapter #111-112 (The gang summon Shen Long and Bora returns to life. They learn that the next Tenka'ichi Budôkai is in three years and go their separate ways to train).
*Notes: Four chapters into two episodes. It is best that the arc have a evened out ending as it is, considering the next episode just jumps right into the next Tenka’ichi.
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