Dragon Ball's Target Audience in JAPAN

[UnbiasedDBZfan]

Was it kids or adults? Duh the answer is kids of course! It's so obvious. But it can be enjoyed by all ages, a bit like Spongebob, but not quite as good as Spongebob or funny. Here's why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8_fqV20 ... re=related

[Pantalones]

Well, yeah... I think it's a pretty well-known fact that Dragonball's target audience was kids...

but not quite as good as Spongebob

*atomic bomb*

[TheDevilsCorpse]

but not quite as good as Spongebob

*atomic bomb*

Spongebob makes my eyes bleed, seriously...

[TheBlackPaladin]

It was most certainly intended for kids...according to Japanese cultural norms, of course. The difference in cultural norms has led to the common misconception from many international audiences that DBZ was a "very dark and violent show meant for adults."

[SHINOBI-03]

It's a matter of difference in culture. Something's okay in one part of the world, it's not in another. Like blood. Here, it's fairly okay to have blood in cartoons since that's what you should expect when you cut yourself. Killing is also acceptable ((In TV of course. not real life)).
But in America, blood and killing are big issue, and that's why American cartoons are not taken that seriously and considered too kiddish. Especially the action oriented ones.

And of course, with that you get the false image of "all anime is for adults because they are more violent and bloodier and more serious than American cartoons" which is completely false since anime can be as dumb as American cartoons as well as having American cartoons on par with Japanese cartoons in term of story and quality like the Transformers, Batman The Animated Series, Gargoyles, TMNT, Avatar: The Last Air Bender, Samurai jack, etc.

[dbboxkaifan]

But in America, blood and killing are big issue, and that's why American cartoons are not taken that seriously and considered too kiddish. Especially the action oriented ones.

And of course, with that you get the false image of "all anime is for adults because they are more violent and bloodier and more serious than American cartoons" which is completely false since anime can be as dumb as American cartoons as well as having American cartoons on par with Japanese cartoons in term of story and quality like the Transformers, Batman The Animated Series, Gargoyles, TMNT, Avatar: The Last Air Bender, Samurai jack, etc.

Don't the Americans find violence more acceptable than sex? Which seems to be their big issue.

Old fashioned mentalities and close minded people ruin the experience for others.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

I always hated this whole "adults are allowed to like DragonBall, and here's why..." argument.

Anyone of any age can like any show they want. No need to disect DragonBall to explain why adults can like it too.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I always hated this whole "adults are allowed to like DragonBall, and here's why..." argument.

Anyone of any age can like any show they want. No need to disect DragonBall to explain why adults can like it too.

I whole-heartily agree, I wish more people thought that way.

[Rukura]

But in America, blood and killing are big issue, and that's why American cartoons are not taken that seriously and considered too kiddish. Especially the action oriented ones.

And of course, with that you get the false image of "all anime is for adults because they are more violent and bloodier and more serious than American cartoons" which is completely false since anime can be as dumb as American cartoons as well as having American cartoons on par with Japanese cartoons in term of story and quality like the Transformers, Batman The Animated Series, Gargoyles, TMNT, Avatar: The Last Air Bender, Samurai jack, etc.

Don't the Americans find violence more acceptable than sex? Which seems to be their big issue.

Old fashioned mentalities and close minded people ruin the experience for others.

If I may quote Family Guy lol "It seems today that all you see is violence on movies and sex on tv." That to say that everyone (not just America) watches both.


I think this thread can be resumed to one word: Yup.

[dprez]

but not quite as good as Spongebob or funny.

You have got to be kidding me...

[Perfect]

but not quite as good as Spongebob

*atomic bomb*

Spongebob makes my eyes bleed, seriously...

I second this.

[dbboxkaifan]

Spongebob's hilarious I even bought the Blu-ray of the film to watch it in 1080p HD.

"It's Over 9000" and "But then I took an arrow to the knee" now these two things are damn annoying!

[dprez]

Gotta say, his ^ Sig seams to say it all.

DragonBall>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Spongebob ( Even when high on marijuana )

[Rukura]

Gotta say, his ^ Sig seams to say it all.

DragonBall>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Spongebob ( Even when high on marijuana )

Especially when high on marijuana. (A guy I knew from highschool said so lol)

[AgitoZ]

but not quite as good as Spongebob

Spongebob makes my eyes bleed, seriously...

I second this.

As bad (and as random) as it is to compare Spongebob to DB, I still have to ask. What have you seen of it? If Spongebob had ended after the first 3 seasons and movie it would have been one of the most perfect cartoons out there.

[dbboxkaifan]

Especially when high on marijuana. (A guy I knew from highschool said so lol)

Spongebob and Patrick getting on Squidward's nerve can get really silly but funny at the same time, it's like Nappa and Majin Boo irritating Cell (the perfect being).

[Perfect]

As bad (and as random) as it is to compare Spongebob to DB, I still have to ask. What have you seen of it? If Spongebob had ended after the first 3 seasons and movie it would have been one of the most perfect cartoons out there.

I stopped watching it around seasons 7-8. It was just one of those filler shows you'd put on when there's nothing else on. I wouldn't call the first three seasons anything great either, if anything I liked 4-5 the best (That isn't saying much since I don't really like the series to begin with). That's entirely opinionated though. There's also no such thing as a "perfect cartoon".

[Super Sonic]

I have a feeling if the voices of Spongebob, Patrick and Mr. Krabs had been in the DB franchise's dub, they'd be very well liked.

On topic, I think some people still have the idea, things aimed at kids are stupid for adults in America, but foreign things are acceptable. Some sentai series have things that are more kiddy and too silly for Power Rangers, but a lot of guys will admit more they watch Sentai and say with PR, it's nostalgia, they're babysitting, or watching only for the pretty girls, (and in some women's cases, the cute guys).

[AgitoZ]

That's entirely opinionated though. There's also no such thing as a "perfect cartoon".

Wow, really? I never would've known.

I wouldn't call the first three seasons anything great either, if anything I liked 4-5 the best (That isn't saying much since I don't really like the series to begin with). That's entirely opinionated though. There's also no such thing as a "perfect cartoon".

Sounds like you need to rewatch the first three seasons then. It was one of the most polished and well thought out cartoons out there. As unfair as it is to compare to DB, since what they're trying to accomplish is completely different, I still say it's a bit better. For what it was trying to be, a funny cartoon, it did a damn fine job at that. DB was trying to be a bit more by combing many more elements, but it also falls short on many of those.

[Perfect]

The problem here is, you're trying to push your opinion on me and isn't going to work.

Polished? Get real, a cartoon that allows paper underwater to be used for various reasons in one episode, but then disintegrates in the next is well polished? Not to mention the inconsistent colors and animation? Please, at least Dragon Ball the excuse of different studios here. The voices are mediocre in the first two seasons until the actors actually sound consistent and fluid in the third.

If you find Sponebob funny, that's entirely subjective to your humor, in which I honestly don't find any of it funny, with the exception of the episode where Squidward becomes handsome.

Whether or not you think DB falls short is your opinion, not fact. If anything, in terms of what I'd call very well polished for a cartoon, I'd look at Adventure Time, which easily trumps Spongebob in every category.