NTSC/Region1. In 1986, the animated adaptation of Akira
Toriyama's manga Dragon Ball debuted on Japanese television,
launching one of the most popular franchises in anime history.
Dragon Ball introduced a special mixture of male bonding,
rigorous training, martial arts fighting, slapstick comedy, and
sci-fi action that scored a huge hit with boys and led to the
follow-ups Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT.
.com
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In 1986, the animated adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga Dragon
Ball debuted on Japanese television, launching one of the most
popular franchises in anime history. Dragon Ball introduced a
special mixture of male bonding, rigorous training, martial arts
fighting, slapstick comedy, and sci-fi action that scored a huge
hit with boys and led to the follow-ups Dragon Ball Z and Dragon
Ball GT--and numerous imitators. A small boy from another planet,
Goku commands super-human strength, but he was raised in the
remote mountains by an old man and he knows little of the world.
Goku meets Bulma, who's trying to assemble the seven magical
Dragon Balls so she can wish for a boyfriend. The naive boy and
the hot-tempered girl join forces, then form a quarrelsome
alliance with Oolong, the shape-shifting pig, and Yamcha, a
dashing bandit with a metamorphic familiar, Puar. The heroes
compete for the Dragon Balls against the pint-sized Emperor Pilaf
(who wants to rule the world). After defeating Pilaf, Goku goes
to study martial arts with Master Roshi, a lecherous but
extraordinarily skilled old man. Goku and fellow student Krillin
develop formidable powers that they use in the World Martial Arts
Tournament. These episodes set the pattern for Dragon Ball and
numerous other series: humans and creatures of all description
train endlessly, then gather to pound the ramen out of each other
before an audience. Naturally, the hero wins in an extended final
match. The first adventures are lighter in tone and more broadly
comic than the beginning of the darker Red Ribbon Saga. For
years, the first13 episodes of Dragon Ball were only available in
the U.S. in the heavily edited set Saga of Goku, to the chagrin
of the fans. Following their successful release of the complete
Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT, Funimation is presenting Dragon
Ball uncut and digitally restored. The series probably looks
better now than it did when it premiered, as it was reportedly
filmed in 16mm. Note: The sight of the prepubescent Goku and
Krillin running around naked doesn't bother Japanese audiences.
(Rated TV 14, but appropriate for ages 12 and up: nudity, risqué
and toilet humor, cartoon violence, ethnic stereotypes, alcohol
and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
(1. Secret of the Dragon Balls, 2. The Emperor’s Quest, 3. The
Nimbus Cloud of Roshi, 4. Oolong the Terrible, 5. Yamcha the
Desert Bandit, 6. Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls, 7. The Ox-King
on Fire Mountain, 8. The Kamehameha Wave, 9. Boss Rabbit’s Magic
Touch, 10. The Dragon Balls Are Stolen, 11. The Penalty Is
Pinball, 12. A Wish to the Eternal Dragon, 13. The Legend of
Goku, 14. Goku's Rival, 15. Look Out for Launch, 16. Find That
Stone! 17. Milk Delivery, 18. The Turtle Hermit Way, 19. The
Tournament Begins, 20. Elimination Round, 21. Smells Like
Trouble, 22. Quarterfinals Begin, 23. Monster Beast Giran, 24.
Krillin's Frantic Attack! 25. Danger From Above, 26, The Grand
Finals, 27. Number One Under The Moon? 28. The Final Blow, 29.
The Roaming Lake, 30. Pilaf and the Mystery Force, 31. Wedding
Plans?)
