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South City: Difference between revisions

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Jpranevich (talk | contribs)
need to clean this up and figure out how to present the discontinuity
Jpranevich (talk | contribs)
long-winded explanation but I have spent a lot of time researching today
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| caption      =  
| caption      =  
| eng_name      = Metro South (Funimation)<br/>Southern Metropolis (Viz)
| eng_name      = Metro South (Funimation)<br/>Southern Metropolis (Viz)
| manga_debut  = [[Dragon Ball Chapter 32]]<ref group="note">Although Son Goku and the gang appear to visit the city in [[Dragon Ball Chapter 32]], later references imply that these scenes were actually on the nearby [[Papaya Island]].</ref>
| manga_debut  = [[Dragon Ball Chapter 32]] (Disputed)
| anime_debut  = [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 126]]
| anime_debut  = [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 126]]
| appears      = Manga & Anime<ref group="note"></ref>
| appears      = Manga & Anime<ref group="note"></ref>
Line 15: Line 15:
| galaxy        =  
| galaxy        =  
| planet        = [[Earth]]
| planet        = [[Earth]]
| location      = The eastern edge of Earth C-2, with the city's outlying islands partly in C-3
| location      = Area C-2
}}
}}
'''South City''', is a major metropolis in the world of ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' by [[Akira Toriyama]], squeezed between the coastline and a large desert. The metro area appears to include nearby [[Papaya Island]] and [[Amembo Island]]. Despite being referenced at several points in the ''Dragon Ball'' manga, it is ambiguous whether the city is depicted directly. [[Son Goku]] and his friends only unambiguously visit the city itself in the [[Dragon Ball (anime)|anime adaptation]]. This ambiguity is further confused by a localization difference introduced in the [[Viz]] Enlish-language translation of the manga.  
'''South City''' is a major metropolis in the world of ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' by [[Akira Toriyama]] located in the far southern part of the [[Earth]], in Area C-2. The city was initially visited in [[Dragon Ball Chapter 32]], but subsequent chapters appear to contradict the initial depiction. These contradictions extend into the supplementary material with [[Daizenshuu 7]] including two mutually exclusive explanations for the location. This ambiguity is exacerbated in English as the [[Viz]] translation of the manga offers a third location for the city. What is universally agreed is that South City is located nine kilometers northeast of [[Amembo Island]] as well as near (or possibly on) [[Papaya Island]].  


==General Overview==
==Continuity & General Overview==
{{Quotation|It seems that the fourth volume is a DragonBall "world guide". I think that the staff all worked very hard, particularly on the building's geometry, the maps, and whatnot. On top of just drawing things in a hit-or-miss fashion, there are many things that not even I had precisely determined. Were they not a bit fed up with how things didn't come together consistently? I'm very sorry. <br/>-- [[Akira Toriyama]], in the introduction to Daizenshuu 4}}
===Initial Depiction===
[[File:DBCh32-departure-for-tournament.png|thumb|150px|left|The Turtle Hermit reveals their destination: South City]]
South City was first introduced in the ''Dragon Ball'' manga in [[Dragon Ball Chapter 32|Chapter 32]], when the [[Turtle Hermit]] informs [[Son Goku]] and [[Kuririn]] that they will travel there for the [[21st World Martial Arts Tournament]]. The trio, plus [[Lunch]], are depicted driving to the airport, flying to South City, and taking a taxi directly to the Tournament grounds.<ref>{{Cite manga|Chp=32}}</ref> It is implied that they have traveled to South City as indicated in dialog, but it is possible that they only stopped over in South City en route to their final destination. Wherever they go, the group remains there until [[Dragon Ball Chapter 54|Chapter 54]] when Son Goku leaves on his second [[dragon ball]] hunt.<ref>{{Cite manga|Chp=54}}</ref>


When this sequence was adapted for the [[Dragon Ball (anime)|anime]], the connection to South City is strengthened: the city is mentioned earlier and more frequently in dialog (beginning in [[Dragon Ball Episode 17|Episode 17]]) and more emphasis is placed on the size of the city and Goku's awe at being there.<ref>{{Cite episode|Series=DB|Eps=17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode|Series=DB|Eps=19}}</ref> Bulma explicitly names the location as "South City" in [[Dragon Ball Episode 29]].<ref>{{Cite episode|Series=DB|Eps=29}}</ref> Together, these references place the tournament and adjacent adventures within the city. In this depiction, the city appears to be located on a large landmass and adjacent to a sizable desert.<ref>{{Cite episode|Series=DB|Eps=29}}</ref>


===22nd & 23rd World Tournament===
[[File:DBCh113-departure-for-papaya.png|thumb|100px|right|Now, the tournament is on [[Papaya Island]]]]
Three years later, when the characters are traveling to the [[22nd World Martial Arts Tournament]], they are explicitly going to [[Papaya Island]] rather than South City. The aircraft announcement says that "this time" the tournament is being held on [[Papaya Island]], allowing for the possibility that it was previously somewhere else.<ref>{{Cite manga|Chp=113}}</ref> Despite this, the tournament complex looks nearly identical to what was depicted in the prior chapters. No further references are made to "South City" in the manga until the [[Cell]] arc. The manga does not name the location of the [[23rd World Martial Arts Tournament]], but the anime continues calling the location "Papaya Island".<ref>{{Cite episode|Series=DB|Eps=135}}</ref>


===Dragon Ball Z Movie 2===
[[File:DBZMovie2-near-south0-city.png|thumb|150px|left|A wooded area near South City.]]
In [[Dragon Ball Z Movie 2]], [[Dr. Kochin]] and [[Dr. Uiro]] destroy a wooded area near South City, transforming it overnight into a desert. South City itself is not depicted in the film.<ref>{{Cite features|Number=dbmovie2}}</ref>


==Name==
===Artificial Humans Arc===
South City is not mentioned again until the arrival of [[Future Trunks]]. He warns Son Goku that [[Artificial Humans]] will arrive on an island nine kilometers southwest of South City.<ref>{{Cite manga|Chp=335}}</ref> Although unnamed in the manga, this smaller island is named [[Amembo Island]] in the ''[[Dragon Ball Z]]'' anime. Unlike the ''Dragon Ball''-era depiction of South City as being Indonesian-inspired, Amembo's architecture and design more closely resembles that of the other "modern" cities in the series such as Bulma's [[West City]]. The [[Viz]] translation of [[Dragon Ball Chapter 338]] implies that the urban area on Amembo Island is called "South City"; this description is not in the original Japanese text.<ref>TODO: Cite Viz chapter 338</ref>


===Guide Books===
The discontinuity of the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament taking place at "South City" while the 22nd and later taking place on [[Papaya Island]] inspired the authors of the guidebooks to "solve" this problem:


* [[Daizenshuu 4]], released in 1995, describes South City and Papaya Island as separate locations. South City is placed in quadrant C-2, at the southern tip of a small continent and surrounded by deserts. Papaya Island is a smaller location to the east in quadrant C-3.<ref>TODO: Fix D4 reference</ref> The depiction of South City on a small continent and adjacent to a desert aligns with the view in ''Dragon Ball'' Episode 29. However, the Daizenshuu then ruins this by stating that South City was never depicted in the manga (mentioned in dialog only<ref group="note">Daizenshuu 4 specifically states that it was only mentioned in dialog ''once'', however that is also untrue: it was mentioned in chapters 32, 335, and others.</ref>) and that all of the tournaments were located on Papaya Island.
* [[Daizenshuu 7]], released in 1996, adds further confusion. It re-iterates the description and map provided in Daizenshuu 4<ref>TODO: Locate Daizenshuu7 reference</ref>, but also adds a contradictory explanation that South City is the capital city of Papaya Island, thus putting them together as a single location.<ref>TODO: Location second Daizenshuu 7 reference</ref> The two explanations in Daizenshuu 7 cannot be reconciled together.


==Continuity==
There is no flawless explanation for the disparity. The cleanest approach may be to follow Daizenshuu 4 and accept South City and Papaya Island as two distinct places, but discard the remainder of the explanation. In this case, the Tournament must have locations after being destroyed by [[Great Ape]] Son Goku.  
During the development of the ''Dragon Ball'' manga, Toriyama first introduced South City in [[Dragon Ball Chapter 32]] when the [[Turtle Hermit]] mentions it as the location of the [[21st World Martial Arts Tournament]].<ref>{{Cite manga|Chp=32}}</ref> They travel there for the tournament and remain in the vicinity until [[Dragon Ball Chapter 54]] when Son Goku leaves on his second [[dragon ball]] hunt. During this period of the manga, no mention is made of the tournament being held on an island and the group is able to travel by taxi from an airport to the tournament grounds. When this sequence was adapted for the anime, the connection to South City is strengthened: it is mentioned earlier (while Goku and [[Kuririn]] are still training in [[Dragon Ball Episode 17]]), more emphasis is placed on the size of the city and Goku's awe at being there, and it is explicitly placed on a continent adjacent to a desert in [[Dragon Ball Episode 29]]. These sequences imply that the Tournament is in South City directly, not on an island, and that the city is a large one.  


When the [[22nd World Martial Arts Tournament]] is held beginning in [[Dragon Ball Chapter 113]], Toriyama writes that the tournament location is [[Papaya Island]] rather than South City. No further references are made to "South City" in the manga until the [[Cell]] arc. The manga does not name the location of the [[23rd World Martial Arts Tournament]], but the anime (in [[Dragon Ball Episode 135]]) continues calling the location "Papaya Island".
==Name==
 
South City is one of the four cardinal-direction cities mention in the manga, including [[West City]] (Capsule Corp Headquarters), [[East City]] (destroyed by [[Nappa]]), and [[North City]] (near [[Doctor Gero]]'s lab). In Japanese, 南の都 (''Minami no miyako'') does not need to be read as a proper noun and could also be translated as "southern city".  
Toriyama - "Were they not a bit fed up with how things didn't come together consistently? I'm very sorry." (Daizenshuu 4)
 
* [[Daizenshuu 4]] considers South City and Papaya Island as completely separate locations. South City is located on the Southern Continent in C-2, while Papaya Island is some distance to the east on a separate large island in C-3.
* [[Daizenshuu 7]] resolves the discontinuity by making South City the capital of Papaya Island, essentially making them the same place.
 
Amembo Island is an island nine kilometers southwest of [[South City]]. It is one of a group of islands which also includes [[Papaya Island]], where the [[World Martial Arts Tournament]] is held. The island features one large town and a mountain towering over it. Unlike Papaya which features architecture and temples resembling that of Indonesia, Amembo's architecture and design more closely resembles that of the other "modern" cities in the series such as Bulma's [[West City]].
 
 
 
The [[Viz]] translation of [[Dragon Ball Chapter 338]] implies that the urban area on Amembo Island is called "South City"; this description is not in the original Japanese text. [[Trunks]] describes the ''island'' as 9 km southwest of [[South City]], therefore the urban area on the island itself cannot be South City. However, given the proximity-- approximately the distance from Manhattan to the Bronx in real life-- Viz may have associated the settlement on Amembo Island as a suburb.<ref>TODO: Cite Viz chapter 338</ref> No separate name is provided for the town in either the manga or anime.


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 00:59, 3 November 2019

South City
南の都 (Minami no miyako)
Manga
South City (Manga)
Anime
South City (Anime)
English Name(s) Metro South (Funimation)
Southern Metropolis (Viz)
Manga Debut Dragon Ball Chapter 32 (Disputed)
Anime Debut Dragon Ball Z Episode 126
Appears in Manga & AnimeCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Locational Data
Planet Earth
Location Area C-2
v · d · e

South City is a major metropolis in the world of Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama located in the far southern part of the Earth, in Area C-2. The city was initially visited in Dragon Ball Chapter 32, but subsequent chapters appear to contradict the initial depiction. These contradictions extend into the supplementary material with Daizenshuu 7 including two mutually exclusive explanations for the location. This ambiguity is exacerbated in English as the Viz translation of the manga offers a third location for the city. What is universally agreed is that South City is located nine kilometers northeast of Amembo Island as well as near (or possibly on) Papaya Island.

Continuity & General Overview

It seems that the fourth volume is a DragonBall "world guide". I think that the staff all worked very hard, particularly on the building's geometry, the maps, and whatnot. On top of just drawing things in a hit-or-miss fashion, there are many things that not even I had precisely determined. Were they not a bit fed up with how things didn't come together consistently? I'm very sorry.
-- Akira Toriyama, in the introduction to Daizenshuu 4

Initial Depiction

The Turtle Hermit reveals their destination: South City

South City was first introduced in the Dragon Ball manga in Chapter 32, when the Turtle Hermit informs Son Goku and Kuririn that they will travel there for the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. The trio, plus Lunch, are depicted driving to the airport, flying to South City, and taking a taxi directly to the Tournament grounds.[1] It is implied that they have traveled to South City as indicated in dialog, but it is possible that they only stopped over in South City en route to their final destination. Wherever they go, the group remains there until Chapter 54 when Son Goku leaves on his second dragon ball hunt.[2]

When this sequence was adapted for the anime, the connection to South City is strengthened: the city is mentioned earlier and more frequently in dialog (beginning in Episode 17) and more emphasis is placed on the size of the city and Goku's awe at being there.[3][4] Bulma explicitly names the location as "South City" in Dragon Ball Episode 29.[5] Together, these references place the tournament and adjacent adventures within the city. In this depiction, the city appears to be located on a large landmass and adjacent to a sizable desert.[6]

22nd & 23rd World Tournament

Now, the tournament is on Papaya Island

Three years later, when the characters are traveling to the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, they are explicitly going to Papaya Island rather than South City. The aircraft announcement says that "this time" the tournament is being held on Papaya Island, allowing for the possibility that it was previously somewhere else.[7] Despite this, the tournament complex looks nearly identical to what was depicted in the prior chapters. No further references are made to "South City" in the manga until the Cell arc. The manga does not name the location of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, but the anime continues calling the location "Papaya Island".[8]

Dragon Ball Z Movie 2

A wooded area near South City.

In Dragon Ball Z Movie 2, Dr. Kochin and Dr. Uiro destroy a wooded area near South City, transforming it overnight into a desert. South City itself is not depicted in the film.[9]

Artificial Humans Arc

South City is not mentioned again until the arrival of Future Trunks. He warns Son Goku that Artificial Humans will arrive on an island nine kilometers southwest of South City.[10] Although unnamed in the manga, this smaller island is named Amembo Island in the Dragon Ball Z anime. Unlike the Dragon Ball-era depiction of South City as being Indonesian-inspired, Amembo's architecture and design more closely resembles that of the other "modern" cities in the series such as Bulma's West City. The Viz translation of Dragon Ball Chapter 338 implies that the urban area on Amembo Island is called "South City"; this description is not in the original Japanese text.[11]

Guide Books

The discontinuity of the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament taking place at "South City" while the 22nd and later taking place on Papaya Island inspired the authors of the guidebooks to "solve" this problem:

  • Daizenshuu 4, released in 1995, describes South City and Papaya Island as separate locations. South City is placed in quadrant C-2, at the southern tip of a small continent and surrounded by deserts. Papaya Island is a smaller location to the east in quadrant C-3.[12] The depiction of South City on a small continent and adjacent to a desert aligns with the view in Dragon Ball Episode 29. However, the Daizenshuu then ruins this by stating that South City was never depicted in the manga (mentioned in dialog only[note 1]) and that all of the tournaments were located on Papaya Island.
  • Daizenshuu 7, released in 1996, adds further confusion. It re-iterates the description and map provided in Daizenshuu 4[13], but also adds a contradictory explanation that South City is the capital city of Papaya Island, thus putting them together as a single location.[14] The two explanations in Daizenshuu 7 cannot be reconciled together.

There is no flawless explanation for the disparity. The cleanest approach may be to follow Daizenshuu 4 and accept South City and Papaya Island as two distinct places, but discard the remainder of the explanation. In this case, the Tournament must have locations after being destroyed by Great Ape Son Goku.

Name

South City is one of the four cardinal-direction cities mention in the manga, including West City (Capsule Corp Headquarters), East City (destroyed by Nappa), and North City (near Doctor Gero's lab). In Japanese, 南の都 (Minami no miyako) does not need to be read as a proper noun and could also be translated as "southern city".

Notes

  1. Daizenshuu 4 specifically states that it was only mentioned in dialog once, however that is also untrue: it was mentioned in chapters 32, 335, and others.

External Links

TBD

References

  1. Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball Chapter 32: "The Tenka'ichi Budōkai Begins!!". Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1985 #32. Japan: Shueisha, 09 July 1985.
  2. Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball Chapter 54: "Another Adventure!!". Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1986 #03/04. Japan: Shueisha, 10 December 1985.
  3. "With Life at Stake! Milk Delivery". Dragon Ball. Episode 17. Japan: Fuji TV, 18 June 1986.
  4. "The Tenka'ichi Budōkai Begins!". Dragon Ball. Episode 19. Japan: Fuji TV, 02 July 1986.
  5. "Another Adventure – The Roaming Lake". Dragon Ball. Episode 29. Japan: Fuji TV, 10 September 1986.
  6. "Another Adventure – The Roaming Lake". Dragon Ball. Episode 29. Japan: Fuji TV, 10 September 1986.
  7. Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball Chapter 113: "The Twenty-Second Tenka'ichi Budōkai". Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1987 #13. Japan: Shueisha, 24 February 1987.
  8. "The Eight Chosen People". Dragon Ball. Episode 135. Japan: Fuji TV, 23 November 1988.
  9. Dragon Ball: The Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle. Japan: 1987 Toei Cartoon Festival. 18 July 1987.
  10. Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball Chapter 335: "A Message of Terror". Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1991 #34. Japan: Shueisha, 30 July 1991.
  11. TODO: Cite Viz chapter 338
  12. TODO: Fix D4 reference
  13. TODO: Locate Daizenshuu7 reference
  14. TODO: Location second Daizenshuu 7 reference