T.A.O's: The Classics:

Review:

"Dragonball Z" is simply one of those classics that spews awesome originality. It has a list of characters too great to mention, landscapes unforeseen to the untrained viewer; and let, seemingly familiar in every respect. With cascades of greenery and humongous mountain ranges that play like remnants of ancient Asian martial arts films. True, the martial arts in Dragonball Z are simply what define the genre. In all its shapes and formes, Dragonball Z is foremost the definition of martial arts action cartoons.

Not a day goes by, from time to time that I find myself stumbling upon and watching Dragonball Z. Its fame has sky-rocketed, from the confines of late bed-time serials on Japanese television; to its present comfortable home on cable's "Cartoon Network" (Where it plays on the network's "TOONAMI" almost constantly), a place where it has displayed itself to the masses. Becoming the presently most talked about and commercially booming anime on the face of the planet.

And yet, it seems that such a show evokes as much adulation as it does criticism. Bearing that in mind, it's easy to forget just how great Dragonball Z really is. Its fan base is a list unheard of, within mere increments of measurable reason. And ironically, there's a good reason for that; its good qualities also make up an endless list of unmentionable speculation.

The show is rather famous for having in it some of the most peculiar and incredible martial arts sequences ever animated. And on that simple note, perhaps some of the greatest ever filmed. But it seems that as the years progress, devoted fans seem to overlook the most stunning examples of simple mastery; which is placed into the characterizations and its very sharp sense of humor. All in all, Dragonball Z really is a great show; and it's not hard to see why. Its characters (though numerous and often indistinguishable from one another) are apsolutely unforgettable.

The actual happenings of the show seem more left to the imagination, than they do invoke a sense of syncronization in plot devices. Dragonball Z is as clustered and contrived as they come, placing its basic emphasis on the exploitation of fights. Within the actual plot, for which it is famous for, it also employs a rustic charm which is only succeeded by its incredible sense of relentless humor and overall fun.

Thankfully for us, the show never takes itself too seriously. The main character (among many, many others) "Goku" is always bent on saving the world; but in all the mad glory his friends and training come first. And it is among this realization that the show grasps its true magic. It is this magic alone that I'm certain, draws its fans of every kind; again and again.

Dragonball Z chronicles several inherant generations of beings who thrive on a re-embodied form of Earth (it resembles our present home, though it is nothing like it). The show also merits its credit to the exploitation of several dimentia and your occassionally given "dimensions". Such exploits give great theatrical quality to the action sequences, which transcend time and space. Dimension and physical plains.

The original "Dragonball" saga followed the ever cunning exploits of "Goku", a potentially towering exerciser of huge power, all captured into a humble little pint-sized body. With the brain and tail of a monkey but with the heart of a courageous lion. Goku of course among others of the dragonball universe is one-of-a-kind in both look and feel.

Character designs which are often creative and unforgettable often spew enourmous hair sets which defy the laws of gravity and physics. Goku himself like other characters in "DBZ" (as its come to be known as) house peculiar and unique eye structures, which resemble huge oblong 'bean' shapes for eye balls; faces which are both oval-like in appearance and apsolutely lovable and harmless looking (which can instantly transform into rage). The characters in DBZ range from the incredibly stout to the inanely huge. It seems that bodily physics and irreparable sizes have no place in the realm of heroics. Or so it would seem.

As far as actual plots are concerned, it involves a constant battle for possession of magical orbs known as: (you guessed it!) "dragonballs". Carrying in them the power to turn bad luck into good, hence an incredible ability to grant their holders wishes (which are mostly utilized in the show to revive fallen warriors in the ever present struggle of good and evil).

Like most good martial arts films, the show follows a handfull of eccentric and colorful characters who proceed through a series of test training progressions; in order to fullfill the task at hand of recovering the dragonballs themselves. One elder "Master Roshii" (who is already immortalized for his constant exploits with beings housing pretty faces) is the trainer of a bunch of super-human fighting machines, who are all as colorful and quirky as a ragged bunch of old-western outlaws. And as naive and coarse as a group of kindergarden misfits, and we instantly fall in love with them.

They consist of (mainly): "Goku", the bald and lovable "Krillin", the often chatty blue-haried dame "Bulma", Goku's prodigy son "Gohan", "Master Roshii", Goku's friend "Yamcha", young heros "Trunks", "Goten" and the unforgettable and often brooding "Piccolo". On the villain palette we have: the sarcastic and wonderfully evil "Vegetta", the very jagged and very green "Zarbon", Captain Ginru", "Cell", "Majin/Buu", "Frieza" and "Garlic Jr" just to name a quiet few.

Among the most charming and creative of the show's terrain, is its rudimentary beginnings dealt with Goku and his best friends Krillin, Piccolo and his all-important son Gohan; who transcends the bounds of DBZ and remains the key edifice for the struggle's most daring occurrences (which would inevitably occur later in time). There are other characters all too numerous to list, which I dare not go into too much detail over in discussing; at least for those few anime fans who have indeed not seen Dragonball Z (which is however very unlikely).

But in the end, the main star of DBZ are the incredible action sequences, which have (sadly enough) unfortunately become unwanted charicatures. So dragged-out and repetative now in fact, that they have become inescapable fan-based adulation devices; on ends with the plethora of waves induced in DBZ fandom talk. Perhaps a quality in itself which embodies DBZ with its grand mastery.

Despite its apparent shortcomings, few disagree that the show is a breakthrough of animation techniques, storytelling and classic character exploitation. And quite honestly, when was the last time you ever saw an anime meriting itself so well past the bounds of well-over half 1000 episodes of fighting frenzy, while still maintaining space for humor and fun despite its apparent repetitiveness. All in enough time for Goku and his friends to save the world; and even manage time for our own imaginations to behold.

It's not easy to forget a handfull of animated characters you can easily identify with; existing within a story which is reliable and consistent. Delivery to its fans what DBZ fanatics crave most: Great action, memorable villians figures, lush vistas and groundbreaking visuals; which have inspired nearly two full decades of animes and even a plethora of underground Asian cinema, and (someday maybe) even a dash of Hollywood.

Foremost, the show is both entertaining and influential; perhaps the two most desirable qualities in all of cinema. It is these qualities which transcend time and bounds, drawing fans and non-anime viewers alike. And beckoning to us the quiet natures which entrall fans of animation cinema. These qualities never easily escape us, whether we will them to or not. In every sense, the characters in Dragonball Z are much like what Jones' "Looney Tunes" were to the American animation circuit. Reliably entertaining, touching and easily recognizable moving personalities; all who existed on plasic animation cells, as well as in our imaginations.

Thinking back to the sum of everything before this and my present love and admiration for cartoons. Life just doesn't get much better when you're sipping back a good soda, endlessly flipping channels at midnight, and then stumbling onto an action-packed episode of DBZ.

Now come on, admit it all you anime fans. You know full well in your hearts that you secretly love "Dragonball Z". As do the rest of us. Young and "Super-Seiyan" alike.

~This Has Been Yet Another One Of "T.A.O.'s" New Reviews Of Classic Anime Titles.~