Whether or not you are an anime or manga fan, it’s no secret that Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime series to date, and it’s not going away anytime soon. The well-known manga by Akira Toriyama first appeared in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, going on to become one of the best-selling mangas of all time, selling more than 260 million copies globally. The Dragon Ball brand has grown to include TV anime, movies, and video games. In 1996 the Dragon Ball series eventually made it to the US; all I remember is being mesmerized by the show good guys vs. bad guys, killer androids, super-saiyans, and don’t forget the Kamehameha. It is f**king epic and a franchise that has continued to captivate me for more than 25 years.
We have fallen short in content with the Dragon Ball franchise. Four years ago, we got the release of Dragon Ball Super: Brolly, and now fans have patiently waited for the release of this new movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. It takes place not long after the events of Brolly; the Red Ribbon army is back once destroyed by Son Goku and is now led by the son of General Red, Magenta (Martinet). They have created the ultimate androids Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, which leads Piccolo and Gohan to unlock some new strength and power to fight against these androids.
The film focuses a lot of attention on the Red Ribbon Army as the antagonist, which if you aren’t familiar with the lore of Dragonball, the film doesn’t judge you for that, whether you’re new to the series or a long-time fan, the film gives you a great amount of insight on into the antagonist, so there is no need to worry if you’re not fully up to speed on the lore. The Red Ribbon Army’s story blends in well with the narrative and makes perfect sense as to why they are reappearing, and gives you a good background story of Goku with the Red Ribbon Army. Focusing mostly on Piccolo and his (practically) adopted son, Gohan is tasked to go up against the army that was supposedly defeated by Goku back in the day (Gohan’s real father), but this army has made a comeback and is planning revenge against Gohan and Piccolo by going after Gohan’s daughter (Pan). Gohan and Piccolo must now go through various villains and challenges to bring the girl back home.
There is more to the plot, along with a return of a familiar villain in an unfamiliar form and a new chapter to Piccolo’s characterization that will hopefully carry on in the Dragon Ball Super series and other films. It’s no doubt Piccolo is the true star here; fans of the Dragon Ball series have labeled him as the best anime dad in history, sacrificing his life to protect Gohan. Piccolo’s love for Gohan is, yes, the “tough” love kind of love, but he has done more for Gohan and his family than the absent Goku has ever done for him. And this movie just continues on that still caring for adult Gohan and his family evening mentoring Pan; the scenes with them together are incredibly cute and heartwarming.
The animation style used in this film is something fresh for it. It’s similar to several of the latest games released on consoles and computers. This does not detract from the film in any way; it is incredibly well done and gives the anime a modern aesthetic while remaining faithful to its roots. I expected the fighting to be old and uninteresting after so many episodes of the anime and other movies, but it isn’t; these producers are still able to craft something you’ve never seen before, and it is hypnotic and a f**king fun to watch. However, there were some fresh, extra subtitles during these moments whenever specific characters would interact with one another; this isn’t necessary and doesn’t in any way advance the narrative. Dragon Ball has always been recognized for its comedy, and Super Hero doesn’t disappoint in that regard.
Whether you’re a new fan or a returning fan, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has something for everyone. It is f**king blast with a blast from the past that’s worth every minute of your time.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is currently playing exclusively in theaters courtesy of Crunchyroll.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9JHZwtObqs]
Whether you’re a new fan or a returning fan, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has something for everyone. It is f**king blast with a blast from the past that’s worth every minute of your time.
Codie Allen is a passionate trans and queer film critic and entertainment writer based in Orlando, FL. A Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, Dorian Awards member, and CACF member, they also contribute to The Curb and InSession Film. When they’re not writing about films, you can find them sipping way too much tea and listening to Taylor Swift.
