The popular martial arts anime series, Dragon Ball, got a new addition to the narrative in 2015. Also created by Akira Toriyama, The Dragon Ball Super series serves to rewrite the back end of the original Dragon Ball narrative.Â
What is Dragon Ball Super?
Arriving 12 years after the Dragon Ball Z series was terminated, Dragon Ball Super picks the tale up from where the Majin Buu saga left off. This story features our favorite Saiyan warriors, Goku and Vegeta, taking on greater challenges than ever before. Meanwhile, unlocking the new potential within themselves.
The narrative started as a sequel to the original Dragon Ball Z series. It first saw the light of day as a manga series in the Japanese manga magazine V Jump. The animated adaptation, by Toei Animation, was also released that same year.Â
The Dragon Ball narrative continues to be written by Toriyama, with Toyotarou providing illustrative artworks. The anime television series, developed under Akira Toriyama’s supervision, saw a total of 131 episodes run from 2015 to 2018. That followed up with the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie. The Broly movie was so successful that it became the highest-grossing animated film in the history of the Dragon Ball series.Â
Story of Dragon Ball Super
The story is set within the 10-year gap between the Majin Buu saga of Dragon Ball Z, and the tale that follows. It is intended to be a new story arc, which alters the Dragon Ball narrative. The main protagonist, Goku, under the behest of his wife, Chichi, has taken to a life of farming. Life is, pretty much, peaceful for him and the gang, following all the trials they’ve faced.
That’s when things change. The God of destruction, Beerus, awakens from a decades-long slumber. After recalling the existence of the Super Saiyan God, he immediately goes in search of the said being.
He makes a bee-line for Earth, where he encounters Goku and Vegeta. They were beaten up by him, as they could only get up to Super Saiyan 3 level at that point. Beerus spends time on earth but is infuriated by Majin Buu, who refuses to share his pudding with the God of destruction. That prompts him to threaten to do what he does best to the plane if he is not met by a worthy foe; the legendary Super Saiyan God.Â
Goku and Vegeta find the magical dragon Shenron who tells them how to become Super Saiyan Gods. Them two then go on to reach the transformation with blue hair – the legendary Super Saiyan God form.
They face Beerus, who still defeats them, but the good of destruction is so pleased with the battle that he spares the Earth. Goku and Vegeta then begin training under the God of destruction’s apprentice, Whis.
New upcoming movie
The series also sees the repeated return of the intergalactic tyrant, Frieza, as well as the appearance of new challengers. The tale culminates in a movie that features a retold origin story of the legendary rage-powered Super Saiyan, Broly. A new Dragon Ball Super movie – Super Hero is currently in the works and is set for a 2022 release.Â
Closing
Apart from a little criticism from fans of the series due to some episodes being poorly animated, the series has received a lot of positive feedback. Many critics praised the explosive combat sequences featured in Dragon Ball Super and touched on the nostalgia the series evokes.Â
If you were, or still are, a fan of the Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball Super may make a great addition to your collection. The story promises improvements to the original tale. Hopefully, it will make up for the whole Dragon Ball GT series, which was painful to watch.Â
