Ways Dragon Ball makes you happy!

[Cure Dragon 255]

In apology for my other barebones thread, I have made this hopelly joyous thread!

-I love how it brings people together, its an epic that is truly reborn in the hearts of children. It will never die.
-Masako Nozawa is a truly marvelous and wonderful human being. I'm often brought to happy tears when I read her interviews.
-It has loads and loads of "News" that I can chew on with my friends. I'm always looking forwards for news about TV Deals, Dubs, Merch. I know it sounds really materialistic, but its evergreen status makes it so that following Dragon Ball News is never boring.
-Kanzenshuu is my place. I have never found a forum where I felt most welcome and at peace.

[Grimlock]

• Dragon Ball makes me happy when it adds great content. No matter if it is an OVA, a TV Special, a video-game, a movie, a manga chapter or an episode. If it brings a legit plot filled with good interactions and interactions never seen before, I'm all for it.

• Dragon Ball makes me happy when it gives other characters their moment to shine. When they are properly used without the need of the protagonist to be there. It's rarer when this happen but when it does, I'm also all for it.

• Dragon Ball makes me happy when it knows when to take advantage of its story, e.g. plot twists. It's also rare when this occurs, but also I'm all for it.

• Dragon Ball makes me happy when it leaves the comfort zone, when it does not play safe and when it brings the unexpected. That is... Uhm... When does this occur!? (at least we have Toyotaro when it comes to the main series, as well as the games nowadays)

• Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever I see my favorite characters doing stuff, appearing on-screen, getting some love. No matter if it is through the anime/manga or video-games.

• Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever I come across news about stuff I like the most these days, which mostly consist on information about Heroes and Xenoverse.

• Dragon Ball makes me happy when it gives some love to the Super Saiyan 2 transformation.

• Dragon Ball makes me somewhat happy when there is a new interview with Akira Toriyama and sometimes with Toyotaro as well. I know more info will be added, but there is a big downside with this.

• Dragon Ball makes me happy when it adds information about gods, their hierarchy and such.

• Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever Dragon Ball Online is used for something.


I think that's all.

[TrunksTrevelyan0064]

- Death having little to no lasting consequences (barring exceptions) in the Dragon Ball world, meaning I get to keep seeing my favorite cast of characters reunite time and time again.

- Discovering the original Japanese version has been such a joy for me. Since the year 2000 I've gone from preferring the FUNi dub out of nostalgia and/or ignorance, to accepting the Japanese voice cast in the video games, to developing a deep, profound appreciation for the charm and authenticity of the original version.

- Akira Toriyama's gorgeous artwork in the manga, and the fact that I can always go back to the Red Ribbon chapters and read about an adorably clueless Goku exploring a wacky world he is utterly invulnerable to. That pure, carefree feeling, that is the magical charm Dragon Ball has ensnared me with for life.

[sintzu]

I love seeing these characters grow and interact together. As much as I love the fighting, the characters are truly what bring DB to life for me and keep me coming back for more. I also love talking about it here and guessing the next plot developments with everyone.

[KBABZ]

- Akira Toriyama's gorgeous artwork in the manga, and the fact that I can always go back to the Red Ribbon chapters and read about an adorably clueless Goku exploring a wacky world he is utterly invulnerable to. That pure, carefree feeling, that is the magical charm Dragon Ball has ensnared me with for life.

THIS! I love the Kid Goku era stuff as he's so happy-go-lucky and enthusiastic about it all. In addition to the artwork, seeing it in full-colour is also joyous because it adds so much depth and a sense of "place" to Toriyama's already clear artwork, especially for the environments. IMO it even trumps watching the show in some ways since the linework is so on-point!

In much the same way as Nozawa is joyous to hear as Goku, I have the same for Nadolny as Kid Goku. The sound of her voice always brings a smile to my face, the way she's able to convey Goku's naivety, curiosity, book-dumb and pure-hearted outlook on life. It's to the point that I don't care how bad GT can get, hearing more original Kid Goku performances from her is well worth it for me.

[Cipher]

Reading or watching (but increasingly reading) Dragon Ball is both a comfort food and something that continuously offers up new ways to appreciate the level of craft involved. This it's not only one of few things I was into as a kid that I'm still super into, but also one of the few I enjoy more the older I get.

It also might have the only non-terrible fandom I've ever interacted with.

[DragonBallKing]

The grand feeling of adventure in a large wide fantasy setting makes me happy. Early Dragon Ball had this and I get the same feeling when watching early One Piece episodes.

[Nickolaidas]

I think I'm more of a character fan rather than a Dragon Ball fan, really.

- Dragon Ball makes me happy when the characters interact in ways that feel natural, original, or simply awesome.
- Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever there are tournaments and the entire gang was commenting and rooting for a particular member of the group other than the protagonist. It gave me a sense of family and camaraderie I really adore in the show.
- Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever characters I've grown to love (Krillin, Frieza, Roshi and Yamcha) show their bad-assery.
- Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever I see team-ups.
- Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever a threat causes the whole fighting group to form a party and deal with the threat (instead of just having Goku and Vegeta deal with it).
- Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever a character acts like his age and experience.
- Dragon Ball makes me happy whenever I can't wait for a new episode - that means the previous one did something very, very right.

[ABED]

There are many moments that give me the feels.

[DragonBallFoodie]

This is a curious one, but I love how much of it is not planned out at all! Akira Toriyama didn't think too hard or make a decades-long saga, he just thought up different villains and modified the story as it went along.

This makes me happy because it's not really an intellectual approach, but more an artistic means of making new stories and characters. It takes a great amount of skill to pull it off true, but on the other hand the fact that Toriyama goes with his instinct rather than his mind is in a curious way inspirational to me because he proved his success by following his vision, and not needing to strain his brain on things. He knew he was making simple action entertainment and he dished it out and everyone loved it, and still do I think in this age of complicated story/character arcs. I hope that makes sense.


And Goku makes me happy too, I find him really lovable that he's still a childhearted country dude even though he's reached god levels and is now a grandfather. He gives me optimism and hope.

[ABED]

This is a curious one, but I love how much of it is not planned out at all! Akira Toriyama didn't think too hard or make a decades-long saga, he just thought up different villains and modified the story as it went along.

This makes me happy because it's not really an intellectual approach, but more an artistic means of making new stories and characters. It takes a great amount of skill to pull it off true, but on the other hand the fact that Toriyama goes with his instinct rather than his mind is in a curious way inspirational to me because he proved his success by following his vision, and not needing to strain his brain on things. He knew he was making simple action entertainment and he dished it out and everyone loved it, and still do I think in this age of complicated story/character arcs. I hope that makes sense.


And Goku makes me happy too, I find him really lovable that he's still a childhearted country dude even though he's reached god levels and is now a grandfather. He gives me optimism and hope.

That's a weird way of putting it. You think intellect and art don't go hand in hand?

[90sDBZ]

For me its the simplicity of the story and themes. It spreads the positive message that you should never give up and that you can achieve anything with the right mindset. And also the friendships between the characters.

One moment that always makes me happy is right after Vegeta gets hit by the Spirit Bomb in the Ocean dub and it cuts to King Kai shouting "They did it!" and then cuts back to Krillin jumping for joy with Goku and Gohan smiling with relief and that really happy OST playing in the background. The happy simplicity of that scene in that particular version always makes me smile and takes me right back to my childhood. These guys all went through this horrible battle, had eachothers backs and managed to survive.

Another moment is the whole final sequence of the 22nd Tournament with Krillin and the entire crowd rushing out from the stadium to greet Goku and Tien and then lifting them up on their shoulders while the 2 look at eachother with mutual respect after putting their bad blood behind them. That and seeing the surprised look on Tien's face that the crowd are embracing him and then Roshi's line "The world could use a few new heroes".

And the final showdown between Gohan and Cell where everyone risks their lives to help and you hear Piccolo say how Gohan was the first person not to treat him like a monster, and Krillin blaming Goku and Gohan for changing him when he stands back up.

And of course the final moment of the Kid Buu battle where everyone shouts for Goku to "DO IT!".

[PacificOceanDub]

The absolute biggest way Dragon Ball makes me happy is probably the same for a lot of others. The nostalgia. I can come home from my stupid job and press play on my blu Ray player, picking up where I left off the night before, and I get lost in the story and the characters and the animation, and i’m immediately 6 years old again.

Also, the fact that the series as a whole is so long, that after the 6-10 months it takes me to get through it, I can just turn around and start over and still be entertained

[DragonBallFoodie]

That's a weird way of putting it. You think intellect and art don't go hand in hand?

It's just a preference of mine, I can appreciate complex tales (I enjoy mystery novels and spy stories) but I'm happier being entertained with fights and gags like what DB(Z) has.

Also I feel that currently a lot of stories try to be overly dark and complicated to get peoples' attention and critical acclaim, when they could tone things down and be a little lighter and funnier. The post above had mentioned simplicity in DBZ being a major part of its appeal and IMO it's true that simplicity helps a lot in appealing and getting across to people, a lot better than a complex saga.

I hope this makes sense.

[ABED]

I'm not talking about the type of story, I'm talking about the method of writing a story. Some writers make it up as they go. Others plan meticulously before they write a line of dialog. Maybe I misread you, but I don't think I did.

I get your point about simplicity and genre.

[Neo-Makaiōshin]

Whenever characters come out on top of in spite of their struggles and adversities, my personal favourites being:

1. Goku vs Piccolo.Jr
2. Goku vs Vegeta on the Saiyan Arc.
3. Goku vs Freeza.
4. Eveyone's Ki Genki Dama vs Majin Bu.
5. Future Trunks finishing Merged Zamasu.

[Cure Dragon 255]

I post here to mention the Dragon Ball Super Mexican broadcast in the streets. That will never be topped.

[Cure Dragon 255]

I know double posting is frowned upon but I do feel we need to remind ourselves about what we love about Dragon Ball and the things about it that makes us happy.

[KBABZ]

I love looking at the Full Colours with how much they make the panel composition both super clear and super appealing to look at.

[Robo4900]

• Even the supposedly irredeemable like Piccolo, Tenshinhan, or Vegeta find the way to the side of good; not through anyone manipulating or forcing them into anything, but just by their own free will as a result of the kindness extended to them. Even the slightly dickish like Kuririn undergo vast self-improvement over the run.
• Watching Goku grow and change as a person over 11 years of TV.
• Kikuchi and Tokunaga giving us some of the best scoring you'll hear in anything.
• Scott McNeil.