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Dragon Ball Z |
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Dragon Ball was originally a comic that was serialized in the magazine,
Shuukan Shonen Jump, or Weekly Boy's Jump starting in 1984. Later, due to
popular demand, a cartoon TV series was launched, as well as Dragon Ball
animated movies (14 in all).
The TV series, which basically followed the book series but adding in more
detail and some new plot, was initially called Dragon Ball and then was
renamed Dragon Ball Z after Goku defeated Evil Piccolo Jr. and married Chichi.
The movies also changed their name from DB to DBZ.
After the comic series, which was always called "Dragon Ball,"
ended in 1995, the TV show and the movies wrapped up. A new DB TV series,
based on totally new stories, aired at the same time slot, Dragon Ball GT.
The main character of Dragon Ball is Son Goku, who starts off at
the beginning of the story as a young boy. As the story unfolds through
various adventures, we see him grow up and become an adult. He is learned in
the art of kung-fu (gong-fu) from his step father, Son Gohan; and through his
subsequent training (shugyou), he absorbs a tremendous amount of skills and
special techniques.
The characteristic features of Goku is his explosive hair and, in the
beginning, his tail (he loses his tail later on). The story begins when he
fatefully encounters a teen-age girl named Bulma. She is out in search for the
legendary Dragon Balls, which are 7 crystal spheres with the corresponding
number of stars in them. If one collects all of them and invokes the Shenlon,
a large dragon appears, granting the discoverer one wish. After the wish is
given, the balls shoot up in the air, scattering all over the world, and they
turn into stone until they reactivate a year later. She coaxes Goku to come
along on her journey. Thus begins the Dragon Ball saga.
The story continues as Goku and company encounter many new adventures. They
prevent a plot to take over the earth. Goku furthers his martial arts training
and enters a championship martial arts tournament. He tangles with the world's
most ruthless organization, the Red Ribbon Army.
Later, he is faced with the evil Piccolo Daimao, who is planning to
recreate a hell on earth. Afterwards, following more years of training, a
grown-up Goku enters another tournament, and the final match becomes a matter
of life and death for himself and the planet. It is during this game where
Goku abruptly marries.
Then comes the Saiyajin invasion, whence Goku fights off aliens (they look
just like humans) that are trying to take over earth. At this junction, the TV
series is renamed Dragon Ball Z. In addition, at this time, we find out that
Goku has a son, Gohan (named after his step father). The Saiyajin invasion
touches off a whole new phase of Dragon Ball, when Goku and Co. battle space
invaders and the cruel Freeza/Freezer.
During this time, Goku is able to reach the Super Saiyajin level of power,
which increases his strength manyfold. Back on earth, our friends are informed
of the impending arrival of civilization- destroying androids by a character
from the future named Trunks. While Goku and his comrades are concentrating on
these androids, an even more worrisome development occurs; a
biologically-created warrior named Cell begins marauding around.
However, unlike the androids, Cell is a real threat. After the evil
machinations of Cell are averted, the story jumps 7 years. At this junction,
Gohan has become a high schooler, and also has a little brother, Goten, who
was born after the Cell episode. During another TenkaichiBudoukai tournament,
where the dragon warriors are united again, an incident occurs that involves
them in a new adventure involving a cowardly, cold sorcerer creature who
conjures up a monster named Buu. The fight with Buu takes us to the end of the
long, epic story known as Dragon Ball.
Personally I like this series because of it's cool graphics and actions. I
haven't seen the anime, but I've read all the manga of DBZ. I even used to
collect the cards, well... that was a long time ago, I used to go to Singapore
every now and then for a few days in the holidays, and I go to the card shop
to buy a few packets everyday with my brother. In Australia, after Pokemon has
become somewhat less popular, now the main attraction is this DBZ, which is
pretty boring for me to hear these stories from my friend watching DBZ. ^.^ It
is worthed to watch it but I'm pretty sure you won't go nuts over this anime.
I prefer watching Evangelion or RK.
:: DBz Wallpapers ::
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