Is Dragonball still popular in Japan?

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:22 pm

By this I mean, are new generations being introduced to it? The show's been off the air since 95 and DVDs are just now comming out. Is it mostly the generation who grew up with it that's keeping it alive?

jochickabee · Post by **jochickabee** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:32 pm

Being in Japan right now- the answer is definitely yes, but not to the extent as it was previously. The main market is the now-adults who grew up with it as others have pointed out.

But, DBZ is still everywhere. I recenlty saw a TV commercial with little kids dressed up as Goku- I can't recall the product, probably a handheld game. So gaming is one way the younger kids are exposed.

In general though, Japanese have a knack for creating idols through commericalization, e.g. Doraemon. So you can still buy a lot of DBZ paraphenalia, models, cards, etc.. that targets both young and old.

Android18 · Post by **Android18** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:27 pm

There are some new fans but the range of fans still in japan would be like 2-4 million , but thats because dragonball ended ten years ago.

Aoi · Post by **Aoi** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:34 pm

its true, people still are interested in it, which is incredible for a show that ended more than 10 years ago. Its odd that TOEI has not made even more movies or TV shows as they have made so many sequels to other legendary shows like: Dr Slump and now SAint Seiya (but Saint Seiya sequels are getting great reviews). TOEI is known to have no soul, so they will make money when they see the chance (thats why so odd not to see dragon ball movies anymore)

Android18 · Post by **Android18** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:37 pm

Aoi wrote:its true, people still are interested in it, which is incredible for a show that ended more than 10 years ago. Its odd that TOEI has not made even more movies or TV shows as they have made so many sequels to other legendary shows like: Dr Slump and now SAint Seiya (but Saint Seiya sequels are getting great reviews)

maybe they don't want to repeat failure they had without toriyama?(DBGT) plus they'd have to ask him again he'll be like.... "what the heck is dragonball?" i don't know anything about saint seiya but unlike dragonball you'll have to find a story point to begin first like if it ended with two kids fighting eachother you'll have to start from there.

Aoi · Post by **Aoi** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:44 pm

- I'm sure TOEI would not erase "GT" from their timeline. Because it would only drop the sales of their dragonbox and other toys. But if you ask most fans, they would want to start it at the end with Goku and Uub.

- But if you think about it, TOEI would not want a show that has no Goku who selles the most (the real Goku and not Goku Jr). And because they killed him in GT, they might go back to the end of "Z". I would not be surprised to see another movie or series soon, its almost criminal not to have anything new with the popularity it has on the world.

MajinVejitaXV · Post by **MajinVejitaXV** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:47 pm

Aoi wrote:TOEI is known to have no soul,

Hence all the comparisons to Disney that people seem to draw ;p

-Corey

Android18 · Post by **Android18** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:49 pm

The characters weren't the reason why the fans like the show, the action was the thing they liked not the characters.

Sebastian (SB) · Post by **Sebastian (SB)** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:42 pm

Android18 wrote:The characters weren't the reason why the fans like the show, the action was the thing they liked not the characters.

..........I'm done.

MajinVejitaXV wrote:
Aoi wrote: TOEI is known to have no soul.
Hence all the comparisons to Disney that people seem to draw ;p

True enough. Toei is pretty much the Japanese equivalent to Disney.

Busaiku · Post by **Busaiku** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:03 pm

Yes, seeing as though the latest 3 releases of the Dragonball Z DVDs managed to chart on Oricon (that's some indication right?).

Black Mist · Post by **Black Mist** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:31 pm

MajinVejitaXV wrote:
Aoi wrote:TOEI is known to have no soul,
Hence all the comparisons to Disney that people seem to draw ;p

-Corey

This could spell disaster think about Dragon ball Land *gasp* I don't want to fly to Japan just to wait in lain for the Goku-karts!

jochickabee · Post by **jochickabee** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:55 am

just to make another point about its popularity.

last week a japanese program had DVD sales ranking (for all DVDs) and DBZ DVDs took 1st, 3rd and 4th place, despite the last release being at least a couple months old. In 2nd place was the popular Downtown (mastumoto/hamada) comedic group (you can youtube them, some of their skits are very hilarious)

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:35 am

Android18 wrote:The characters weren't the reason why the fans like the show, the action was the thing they liked not the characters.

You're thinking of American fans. You know, the ones who constantly play fansubbed footage to hardcore rock or Linkin Park for AMVs. ;P

Especially considering Dragon Ball sure as heck didn't start off with fighting. Dragon Ball was being made by Toriyama still trying to phase out the Dr. Slump approach he used to take.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:53 pm

Tsukento wrote: You're thinking of American fans. You know, the ones who constantly play fansubbed footage to hardcore rock or Linkin Park for AMVs. ;P

I was thinking the exact same thing. American teenagers are easily entertained by the smallest ammount of violence. But back on topic, while watching the raw of Naruto Shippuden, they had a commercial for DBZ trading cards for boys and Sailor Moon cards for girls in Mcdonald's happy meals. I was thinking, does the happy meal age group even know what DBZ is? As in 8 years and under?

Undercooked Sausage · Post by **Undercooked Sausage** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:03 pm

Sun_Wukong wrote:
Tsukento wrote: , does the happy meal age group even know what DBZ is? As in 8 years and under?

The video games I'm sure educate them. Also, Dragonball has probably been instilled into pop culture over there.

For instance, the re-release of old Disney flicks on DVD that have been coming out recently will get a happy meal tie-in here, most any five year old knows who Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse are because they're iconic, as I'm sure Goku is in Japan.

Payne222 · Post by **Payne222** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:01 am

Didn't they also just release a new set of Data Cardass (or whatever the rock, paper, siccors game is)?

Rocketman · Post by **Rocketman** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:47 am

Black Mist wrote:This could spell disaster think about Dragon ball Land *gasp* I don't want to fly to Japan just to wait in lain for the Goku-karts!

Gokurts?

omae no kaasan · Post by **omae no kaasan** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:09 am

The main market is the now-adults who grew up with it as others have pointed out.

Yes, because nothing screams 'adult' like the new DBZ plastic lunchbox set and notebook pack.

DB continues to be aimed directly at children as it always has been, and, ironically, enjoyed by all.

I was thinking, does the happy meal age group even know what DBZ is? As in 8 years and under?

That's DB's biggest audience.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:13 pm

omae no kaasan wrote:
That's DB's biggest audience.

Really? Kids that young are still exposed to it?

Post by **VegettoEX** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:23 pm

Sun_Wukong wrote:Really? Kids that young are still exposed to it?

Of course they are. I've got all the McDonald's DBZ figures from last year's Happy Meals. They're certainly not targeted at me. Furthermore, we also learned via Podcast Episode #0030 that there's a lot of "hand-me-downs" going on. From their parents, from their older siblings, etc.